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Comments by ACEDO
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Posted on June 26 at 10:29 a.m.
The breaking down of bills as you describe is misleading, nxsadk. What was said is that the individual billings and receipts from a conference or training go into different categories. For example, fuel is charged to "fuel", while food is charged to "meals". Hotels are charged under a different account. You make it sound as though we are taking a single bill and making it into smaller such invoices to "fly under the radar." That is not what was said nor is that standard operating procedure.
On The future of Anderson County Council is unfolding, but what does it all mean?
Posted on June 20 at 10:19 a.m.
Maybe I didn't drive home the point about "how I got my job" enough for you. I got my job off of my resume. I got my job because of my experience in administration as well as my work in economic development. I got my job because I have worked in the richest and poorest counties in the state and know what its like to be in both positions, much like the various districts of our county. I got my job because I worked as a single, white, female in a county where the minority ws 70% of the majority in racial makeup and I was well-liked and well-respected in all "communities" within that county. I got my job because I was on the Board of the Savannh River Site Re-development Authority, where we had to figrue out what to do after 2000 people were laid off. Maybe I got it because, I serve on the Board of Directors for the 700 member SC Economic Developers Assocation, have graduated from the Internation program known as the Economic Development Institute, or the Georgia Tech Economic Development School. Could be because I am a SC Certified Economic Developer. Then maybe it was my work in solid waste with the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority or my work in water and air quality as a Board Member of the Savannah River Site Citizens' Advisory Board. Could be that I am a certified community consensus leader through my work with the Kettering Foundation and served on its Community Politics Baord. Not sure, if this does it, but I am tired of writing about myself. Hopefully, some of this will make people see that my position was not gained by anything other than professional experience, associations, and education. End of story!
Posted on June 20 at 10:07 a.m.
cwilson4,
I am the "head" of economic development. Bill McAbee, as you know, is not a county employee, but a council member. I have no authority over council members, only the county employees. Mr. McAbee is the county council appointee to the Economic Development Advisory Board. Any travel that a council members takes would not be run by or through me, so I am not "not" answering your question, simply not commenting on that which I have no authority over. Making comments over such items that I have no responsibility over or authority over approving would be wreckless.
I was the Executive Director of the Greater Beaufort-Hilton Head Economic Partnership. Its now called the Lowcountry Economic Network. Its the sole economic development authority for Beaufort County and is a 501 c(3). I did not work for the County persay, but did get a check from the county as well as carry their benefits. Its a public-private entity.
I met Joey Preston the day that I came to Anderson to interview for this position. I did not know him prior to this time. I did not know him when I applied for the job. I did not meet him in a bar. I did not meet him on a trip. I did not get the interview because I am blonde, as he did not know me, before I arrived. So, please, please, understand this....the Barbie commercials and inferences are not only distasteful, but both commercials have been filled with lies and untruths about me, as well as several others.
Of all the things that this blog and WAIM have claimed me to be guilty of, the only one that I am aware of to be true, is my guilt of driving a County Yukon, not a Denali, a YUKON. Furthermore, the claims that I drove it home a month or so ago, wrong. I did travel to Hilton Head for a meeting, but that's not what was said. And Hilton Head, is not where my family lives. And, here is another point that never makes it to the press, that I go into the office most weekends. Just becuase you see me in my vehicle after 5 pm or on a weekend, doesn't mean I am joyriding or doing personal business. I sometimes stop at the store on my way home. I am guilty of that. Then there have been weekends when I have ridden around to parts of the county that I can't get to during the week. Its a big county and if I didn't ride around on weekends, some of the more rural areas would get overlooked. Its hard to keep up with turned dirt sitting in an office downtown. I have to be out in the community and checking on new sites and developments.
And just so I can beat everyone to it, I have a work related meeting in Landrum tomorrow at 1, and will be leaving at 10:30. Have the agenda to prove it, so I expect that to sniff out that rumor on Monday! ;-)
Posted on June 20 at 9:32 a.m.
I cannot speak to "economic development" charges over which I have no authority or may have occurred prior to my employment with Anderson County, but I can vouch for ACEDO charges since my employment. This is my only statement. I am not inferring any opinion of "Right v. Wrong" about the "economic development" charges, simply stating that all of my staff and I sleep very well at night, and can say without a doubt that we have not mislead the taxpayers or misused the citizens' money. Its just that simple. We are all tired of being made out to be "criminals", which we are not.
Posted on June 20 at 8:46 a.m.
CWilson4,
I don't remember saying that I left my position as County Administrator to come to Anderson County nor do I remember posting that I took a pay cut? Can you clarify your question and/or information and I will be happy to answer you. Just curious where you go your info. :-)
I was in Allendale County beginning in early 99 for over 4 years. Beaufort County after that.
Posted on June 20 at 8:12 a.m.
Thank you and I apologize as well. A little bit touchy about the various tangents of attacks that people find to throw at me.
Posted on June 20 at 8:11 a.m.
Not arguing the point, but just a point of record, the money made off the parks in Anderson County, do not necessarily come back to Anderson County. There is some legislation in Congress being reviewed by USACE where they look at a more equitable distribution of the fees reaped from the parks and how the parks with the most money get that back. So, just because we have state and fed parks in the county, doesn't mean we are getting our fair share. A little off subject, but germain to the overall discussion.
Posted on June 20 at 8:07 a.m.
Again, cwilson4, you are incorrect. There was not such person at the Historic Courthouse that day. My entire staff was present and accounted for. Now, can I tell you if someone was over there lying and saying differently? No I cannot. Since several of you are still asleep this morning, even back when the credit card review your refer to took place, we did not have 12 people on County payroll for economic development. Please quit citing false information in your posts. I have already cleared this up for you multiple times.
As is county policy, my staff and I stay at the host hotel as is required by this policy, unless that host hotel is full. In that case we then look for a reasonably priced hotel in close proximity where we won't find ourselves on the news the next day. So, as far as those employees which I oversee, NO, we do not just look for the hotel that turns us on and disregard price. Same with restaurants or any other expenditures. In fact, my employees use per diem, as when they travel it is almost always for trainig and there would be no prospect involved. Please reread this statement. Yes, I said per diem. I, however, use both per diem and the credit card depending on what it is. You must request per diem 2 weeks in advance, and prospect activity isn't that planned, nor could we afford a french fry for the prospect if we had to use our per diem rates.
So, I am also saying that the lion's share of travel within our office, the ACEDO, is mine. That which is approved as part of the budget ordinance. And, something that never makes it into the media. All but 2 of my out of state trips, have been paid for by scholarship in full, reimbursed to the county. Several of my staff find themselves in the same situation, with a scholarship, because BELIEVE IT NOT, we don't want to waste taxpayer money so we seek other sources. We afterall pay taxes here, too.
Posted on June 20 at 7:52 a.m.
HE did not attend high school in Anderson County. Yes, he has attended TCTC since he has been here, no different than Mr. Freemantle or anyone else. I am not sure what your point is? Do you not support TCTC? Or do you not support County Employees bettering themselves at their own expense? Let me repeat since you seem to still be asleep, Anderson County did not pay for him to attend ANY class at any institution of higher education. And, he was attending school before we moved to Anderson, and that was at our own expense. So, NO, you as a taxpayer have not paid any differently for my husband to go to school than you have for anyone else in Anderson County doing the same.
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Posted on June 26 at 10:34 a.m.
Thank you for pointing out that the organizers of conferences and training seminars do not ask our opinions as to whether we would like the conference in Greenville, SC or Las Vegas, NV.
Its also interesting to me that the comment posted in response to yours acts as though the entire economic position that we find ourselves in rests on the ACEDO. I didn't know we were that powerful. I think folks should take their blinders off and consider the fact that nationally the trends have changed, and not for the better. Whether or not we are doing our jobs has not caused the entire county's problems. Despite the slowing of the economy we have still announced over 400 jobs so far this year. Not so shabby!
On The future of Anderson County Council is unfolding, but what does it all mean?