By Betsy Finklea
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young and Dillon County Council Chairman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr. were recently the guest speakers at the Latta Rotary Club meeting.
Finklea introduced Young. Finklea said he had been on council for two years now, and they had gotten a great deal accomplished. He said that his service on county council had been challenging and interesting and one thing that he had learned in two years was that Dillon County had one of the best county administrators in the state. Finklea said that Young pretty well singlehandedly got Wyman-Gordon to come. He said for well over a month before Wyman-Gordon decided to come that Young was on the phone five to six hours a day talking to company officials.
Finklea talked briefly about Young’s experience. He has been county administrator for Dillon County since January 2010. He has 23 years experience in city and county government. In the past, he has served as county administrator for Kershaw County, Hampton County, and Dillon County before leaving for a brief period and returning. He has served as city manager for Chester and Hanahan. He was the finance director for Lancaster County. He also served as the Economic Development Coordinator for the Lowcountry Council of Governments and worked for the South Carolina legislature. Young received his BA degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree from Webster University.
Young then took the podium. He said that Dillon County had been busy the last couple of years. He said something that he learned a long time ago was that if you are not growing, you need to figure out what the problems are and address them. Young said he thought that they had done that in the last two years. Young said they have begun to accomplish many things, and he feels like they are moving in the right direction.
Young said they have been doing many good things. They have built a new Dillon County Justice Center, a two to three year project which is nearly complete. Major improvements have been made including resurfacing, new lighting, and they are in the process of getting a new terminal building. This was paid for through the state, a grant match, and the FAA.
Young said they had been very successful in economic development. They landed Wyman-Gordon. Young said they had actually been working on the project for about a year and a half before it actually came out in Dillon County. He said they competed against three South Carolina counties (Horry and two counties in the upstate) and two counties in North Carolina.
“Wyman-Gordon is a game-changer for Dillon County,” said Young. He said it was something they had been looking for years and years. It will be a $115 million investment and 400+ jobs. The jobs are high-tech and technical-type jobs.
Harbor Freight has done a major expansion. This is a one million square foot expansion which brings their building to a two million square foot building. Young said this is probably one of the largest in the state and said “it is something to see.” He said they had to re-automate to move products back and forth because it was such a large space. He said they do group tours.
Young said in 2001 they looked at economic development and knew to solve the problems they would have to grow their way out of it. He said that’s what they wanted to do. He said if a community can grow that will lead to fixing many problems.
Young said at the groundbreaking of Wyman-Gordon Governor Nikki Haley asked what Dillon was doing that other counties should be doing. Young said he told the governor they started the process years ago, and they were seeing the fruits now. He talked about water and sewer development in the area and said if you get water and sewer in the right place, development will come.
Young discussed the capital projects sales tax. He said the council wanted to use 100% of what it was generated for and it was put as a line item in the budget. He said they are working with Lake View on the use of the Lake View infrastructure money, with the Town of Latta on the Highway 38 infrastructure, and on infrastructure at Wyman-Gordon.
Young said there was about $280,000 left in the Highway 38 funds. He said if the Town of Latta is successful in getting sewer/water grants, they hope to help the Town of Latta further.
Young said the county was flown and aerial photos were taken for the GIS office and to update county tax maps. He hopes these will be available by late summer, and they will be available online. Young said all tax information is available online and all financial information is online.
Young said they are getting some interest at other sites for economic development. He said everywhere they can get water and sewer they can get development.
Young also noted that the county has not had a millage increase in six years.
Finklea spoke briefly on how the county had helped the Town of Latta. He said the county gave the town over $300,000 in infrastructure funds.
Approximately $20,000 went to Latta area recreation. Finklea said they are trying to help Latta all they can, but their hands are tied on some things. Young said Finklea was doing a good job for Latta.
Young also touched on the gas line issue with Wyman-Gordon.
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To see video clips of this meeting, please visit www.thedillonherald.com and search for “County Administrator Clay Young Speaks to Latta Rotary” under “Clubs.”