Questions About
The Assistant
County Administrator

To The Editor:
In response to Mr. Houston Manning’s letter to the Herald, I too have some questions concerning the Asst. County Administrator. Was this job advertised? How extensively? Were resumes collected and the most qualified hired? What were the requirements for this job? I understand the pay is $50,000 plus a county car? How many other SC counties have Asst. County Administrators?
I also understand there is a county hiring freeze now? Was Mr. Coward hired before or after this freeze? How about the dates please (of the freeze and his hiring)?
Is our county administrator that overburdened?
I would hope that others in our community would like to have some answers on this.
Sounds like a good story for an investigative reporter about (corruption or incompetence), take your pick.
Larry Monahan
Turkey Ridge Dr.
Dillon, SC 29536

Your Time Is Up

To The Editor:
This past Sunday, January 7, 2018, Oprah Winfrey delivered a touching speech at the Golden Globes and something she said grabbed my attention: “What I know for sure is speaking [the] truth is the most powerful tool we all have.” I believe countless people in our community fear that if they speak the truth they may face repercussions and backlash. I fear that if we, Dillon County, do not speak the truth we will lose our county. I fear that a select few of our county councilmen are putting a greater emphasis on their own personal well-being instead of serving the citizens they represent. The purpose of the county council is to promote our county in a way that allows us to grow and prosper collectively and individually. Citizens have the opportunity to get on the right side of history and elect someone who has their best interests in mind rather than electing someone who will continue to push forward an agenda that is self-centered. In just a few short months citizens will have the power to stand up for what is right and begin to put an end to what I believe is political corruptness in Dillon County.
I believe it is important for citizens to realize that their previous councilmen neglected their needs and concerns and that if they do not take a stand, they will continue to be neglected. As a county, we are in a critical part in our history. Dillon County has seen unprecedented growth as a result of the additions of several factories and the Inland Port. In order to continue to grow as a county we need qualified, transparent, and trustworthy people in office. As tax payers, you deserve to be heard and you deserve better. As citizens of Dillon County we all deserve to be heard. Government is at the will of its people! In a democratic society governments work for the people—not manipulate or control the people but serve the people. It is selfless service to the people, service that takes your agenda out of the question and in my opinion, some in our county have abused their power: I’m saying this as respectfully as I can: YOUR TIME IS UP!
All in all, it is time to clean up the dirty deeds of Dillon County politics. Citizens take action and do yourself and your neighbors a favor and speak the truth that we all know—vote political corruptness out of power! May God continue to bless our Dillon County, our great state of South Carolina, our great United States of America!
Godspeed,
Jacorie McCall
P.O. Box 1808
Dillon, SC

A Violation Of Trust

Editor:
I would like to comment on the recent hiring of a Deputy County Administrator for Dillon County.
Local government works best for the people they serve by having a component of trust in the relationship. In my opinion, the Dillon County Council and its administration has violated this trust on all fronts multiple times. Just recently, the County Administrator, Mr. Rodney Berry, initiated a hiring freeze throughout all departments of Dillon County. Soon after this notice was sent out to department heads what does Mr. Berry do? He hires a brand new person to fill the position of Deputy County Administrator. The position is stated to pay $52,000 per year but this is not all it’s going to cost the taxpayers. In my opinion, office space, staff, and benefits are also going to be paid to name a few.
I also would like to ask this: why doesn’t the County Council follow the lead of other municipalities in not hiring former council members for a period of six months to one year before taking on a full-time position?
Mr. Berry stated it was his intention to devote much of his time to economic development. If that’s the case, what are they going to do with the current Economic Development official, Mr. Tonny McNeil?
Are we now going to pay for two economic development positions?
Our prior County Administrator, Mr. Clay Young, who was instrumental in Dillon County landing the Inland Port Dillon, did not need an assistant administrator.
Rather than doing what was not in the best interest of Dillon County, Mr. Young resigned rather than compromise his standards of how this position is supposed to be carried out.
Is the job too much for Mr. Berry to handle?
After reading the job requirements for the Deputy Administrator which included such tasks as coordinating the development, implementation and evaluation of a County strategic plan, monitors and evaluates department budgets and expenditures and revenues to name a few. Does this sound like a position that does not even require a high school education?
Mr. Berry’s hiring decisions are questionable at best and downright irresponsible. Even before hiring Mr. Coward as Assistant Administrator, Mr. Berry hired Mr. Coward’s son, Brad, as Fire Engineer! Again, what other more qualified applicants were passed over to hire the former councilman’s son?
These and other decisions by our County Council and its Administrator should raise more than a few eyebrows throughout Dillon County.
If we allow this to take place, then what other aggregious decisions are they going to feel free to make?
Sincerely,
Alan McDaniel

2231 Kentyre Rd.
Dillon, S.C. 29536