ANDERSON COUNTY — Interim Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns spoke at an Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday about his vision for the county.
“I could be here today and be gone tomorrow,” he said, because of his interim status. Burns said that uncertainty made him want to do as much every day as possible.
He offered business people gathered for Toast ‘N Topics at Tucker’s Restaurant an overview of what has happened in the county over an eight-month period, which is how long he has been administrator.
Burns said 10,000 people in Anderson County are unemployed.
“These are not bums or people who don’t want to work,” he said. “These are husbands and wives who have worked somewhere for 25 years and have lost their jobs.”
He said the county is looking at $1 billion of potential projects and funding.
“Can I guarantee we’ll get any of that? No,” Burns said. “But we are no longer in the process of making long trips to exotic locations to meet with other economic developers. We have revitalized the Anderson County Economic Development Department.”
He said the county has an economic development plan with concrete goals.
Burns also touted a new Web site the economic development department launched earlier this week.
When questioned at the end of his speech, Burns said that next year’s budget would be tougher both from additional property tax appeals and a decline in state revenue support.
“It’s going to be absolutely brutal next year,” he said.
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Comments » 17
edwinjones writes:
If only they could recover the $750,000+(so far) spent looking for a few dollars worth of beer receipts. ABSOLUTE MOORE-ONS!!!
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
Did Rusty Burns actually say, "We have revitalized the Anderson County Economic Development Department.”
What? How's that again?
From 1995 through 2008, inclusive, Anderson County consistently ranked among the top 5 counties in the state in new capital investment. Since this new council has taken over and hired Rusty Burns Anderson County is on track to finish 46th in new capital investment. And note there are only 46 counties in South Carolina.
Spider_Huff writes:
Sources?
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
It is available in the annual reports from the South Carolina Department of Commerce. http://www.sccommerce.com/
You will also find there the announcements of new capital investments around the state and the lack of announcements by Anderson County.
colobuff writes:
the only real thing rusty has accomplished in his 8 months is being the best $%$#% kisser in anderson county. he is enjoying collecting his check while the county goes down the tubes because of m cindy and bob w.
devilsinthedetails writes:
Sounds to me like Rusty Burns thinks he's a legend in his own mind! He's revitalized economic development just by giving the heave-ho to party girl? They have an economic development plan ... done by one of party girl's college friends? And $1 billion in investment is just waiting to come into the County? How utterly preposterous ... as is Mr. Burns! He must think we're all idiots!
Carlos_Pellegrini writes:
Also, did anyone catch the number he threw out there? One billion dollars. That's billion with a "B." He claimed that was the value of the projects looking in Anderson County. To give an example of what that equals you would have to have a project with the same investment as Boeing as well as an additional 250 million dollars. Considering that since the first of the year there have been no announcements of any new capital investments I believe that number was created out of thin air.
tigertbone writes:
Still waiting on that "paperback novel" that was promised in June. Will it and the one billion dollars in projects appear at the same time?
WendellWilkie writes:
"Never confuse activites with results." Alambama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
yankee writes:
He sounds like someone that believes his own BS.
1catlover writes:
Notice the warning about budgets folks?
Well, well, well. The jerkwads who wanted to go balls-out and spend-spend-SPEND to find who bought a Budweiser at the Chicola turned into a true cluster-f**k of a deal. I say send those FOUR morons who spoke endlessly at the county council meetings ( easy to identify them on record) doing JUST that be sent the bills. Maybe they can borrow the money from their mommies?
{ Ummm, shouldn't be hard to find them, their heads are permanetly stuck up MCW's posterior!}
Even BOD this morning has not a clue as to the results, other than saying we'll be pleased ( yeah, pleased they're CONCLUDED finally!).
Next year, I say anyone hired this calendar year be FIRED. Webmaster, Veterinarian, Lawyers, Auditors, fake investigators, right on down the list. THAT will bridge the budget gap, and maybe recind the retroactive pay increases for about a DOZEN six figure employees as well!.
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
B as in Billion, Mr. Burns?
Really? REALLY?!?!
You know, I recall a company who's name starts with a B. They were recently in the news. Boeing? In fact that reminds me of a phrase that starts with the letter B - brought back. Yes, the General Assembly was brought back into session to essentially ... wait for it ... another B word ... bankroll the movement of Boeing to North Charleston (you know, the area north of the BAY).
Now ... if you recall, sir, the General Assembly was only looking for $750 million dollars worth of investment. In other words, three-quarters of a BILLION dollars (there is that B word again).
Now if the General Assembly will hold a special session and roll out the red carpet for three-quarters of a BILLION DOLLARS worth of investment, why are they not in session for your claimed BILLION DOLLARS worth of investment for Anderson County, hmmm?
I BELIEVE that is BULL excrement on your BOOT, BURNS.
- SSHM
1catlover writes:
BRAVO!
DWade writes:
That BBBBB....illion word he uttered was the voices in his head (Eddie Eugene abuser Moore-on, Wilson and Waldrep) telling him to utter that word at their direction?
1catlover writes:
If it was Moore, Cindy or BOD, the words uttered would rhyme with BullSlip, not Billion.
By the way, the deadline for MCW's next missed Ethics meeting is only HOW MANY DAYS AWAY.....?
Twelve days and counting ( counting on another reason to MISS it!)
The irony of that day is unmistakebly funny!
DWade writes:
NEWSFLASH.....UPDATE ON THE RUMOR MILL.
Apparently that couple, who possibly has separated (and I say possibly, because this is a rumor, and no public documents, yet, to support the "rumor").......apparently,according to this source, it is the husband, that has taken a liking to men, not the wife taking a liking to other women, as I had previously heard the rumor. And now, this rumored person, as I understand it is quite possibly a prominent member of the "CAVE" crowd.
Now, doesn't this just sound....hypocritical for someone that might have possibly presented himself to be a "manly man", and now, if he is a well-thought of member of the CAVE crowd, does this mean possibly one or more of the other CAVE crowd members are the object of his desires?
Now, according tom my unnamed "rumor source", this tidbit of information has been circling the wagons in Anderson County for 6 months.
I just had a feel those comments I made about them hanging out over at Darwin Wright for meetings might have some substance to them.....you know....sort of like an old person feels when rain is about to come in their bones?
WHAT A STUNNING REVELATION!!!!
For those of you (males) that attend public meetings in Anderson, maybe it would be wise to sit in the back now? Could be checking you out if you don't?
Fake SSHM (SDHM) or JDTrippett....know anything about these rumors? BTW, how is Bubba these days? Think he might know anything about these rumors? Don't think it's him, do you? Now since I don't know who any of ya'll are, for all I know, it could be one of ya'll (JDTrippett or fake SSHM (SDHM)), Bubba, or someone else?
StupidShouldHurtMore writes:
How about a few more "B" words, BURNS?
Boot ... which is what a certain segment of the population was advocating earlier in the year as it relates to our National Guard Unit here in Anderson.
Butt-in ... which is what certain members of County Council did by injecting themselves into the middle of a PRIVATE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION involving said National Guard Unit.
Bypass ... which is what economic development has done in Anderson County. We see growth and development surrounding us, yet avoiding Anderson County.
Really ... what business would want to invest in Anderson County when you have a group of vocal nuts advocating being rid of their NATIONAL GUARD unit?
Talk about a hostile and unwelcoming community.
- SSHM
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