Seeking common ground

Firefighters, sheriff’s office
looking at funding alternatives

June 7, 2006

By JOANIE BAKER
Index-Journal staff writer

Whenever there is a fire, within minutes, the red lights and loud siren of the local volunteer firefighters are there for whomever needs their services.
But who’s there for the firefighters, helping them to fight their own battles?
Though the Volunteer Fire Organization’s funding from Greenwood County government was intended to be supplemental — as they are not county agencies — many of the departments’ members say they have become dependent on the funds, and are struggling to make ends meet as the disbursements have lowered during the past three years.
While hash sales and donation pleas have yet to fill in the gaps for some departments, many chiefs began throwing up their hands and wondering how to keep the departments from going under.
Recently, officials from the Public Safety Division of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, which, as of December, supervises the county funding to the VFOs, met with local fire chiefs to discuss ways to create additional revenue and to reassure them that the division will not allow the departments to fail.
Public Safety Division Commander George McKinney and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Frederick said they are working to not only make sure the departments do not fail, but that departments are safe, efficient and accountable for the county funding they receive.
“Primarily, and the thing the chiefs are missing, is that we’re turning a 10-year ship, which you don’t do in 170 days,” Frederick said, referring to the goals of the new public safety division. “The longer we’re at it, the better it’s going to be. The county is taking a holistic approach to this.”
Greenwood County Manager Jim Kier said the annual supplemental contributions to the fire departments rose from $198,875 in the 1997-98 fiscal year to the present $847,542 in an effort to improve the fire ratings within the areas served by the volunteers.
“We’ve yet to see those improvements,” Kier said. “Yet, we continue to provide supplemental funding at these higher levels.”
Kier said the new system, under McKinney’s supervision, will improve the accountability of the departments through audits, which will allow firefighters to standardize and improve their equipment.
Greenwood County Councilman Ron Bussey, a member of the public safety, health and welfare committee, said he is in favor of doing anything that will benefit the local fire departments.
Bussey said he does not think residents would mind a small tax increase if they understood that $20 more a year could save them $200 a year in homeowner’s insurance with the lower fire department insurance ratings.
“Our funding method we have been doing now has been working well,” Bussey said. “It’s harder to keep people available and it would be nice to have one paid personnel (at each department), but I don’t know how feasible that would be without a tax increase.”
At a meeting with the fire chiefs on May 25, Frederick and McKinney suggested ways the departments could find additional funding. One revenue source suggested was for the departments to collect money from homeowner’s insurance for each fire they respond to.
The departments could receive $450 for each house fire and $250 for each car fire from an allotment already set aside by insurance companies.
Frederick said the departments also could save money by standardizing equipment, and then buying it in bulk to save money.
But Callison Fire Department Chief Roland Temple said he doesn’t think that will help the departments with funding too much. He said the departments often have bought items in bulk in the past with each other or with other departments in the state such as Abbeville or Anderson.
“I won’t say they’re trying to reinvent the wheel,” Temple said, “but a lot of this isn’t anything different than what we’ve been trying to do anyway.”
He said he is worried about relying on grant writing and fundraisers, as the department’s last two fundraisers did not bring in any income, but rather broke even with the expenses.
Temple said he agrees with Frederick that better communication is needed among the county and the fire departments, and said he hopes to see that improve with future work sessions.
But Temple said he thinks the solution to the funding problem is for the county to issue a fire fee, much like the landfill fee already in place, to county residents.
He said county council, through a non-binding referendum 10 years ago, agreed to collect the fee and support the departments through those funds. He said the county began distributing supplemental funding to the departments to help lower the insurance ratings without ever collecting the fees, and is now cutting back on that funding. He said the county’s money to fire departments could have been provided by that fire fee.
Kier said he proposed the idea of having a dedicated amount of money generated by a countywide fire fee for several years. Ten years ago, when county council had a non-binding referendum on the issue, the fire fee was seen favorably by a majority of county residents.
“There was a favorable vote for it,” Kier said.
But county council never implemented the fee, he said.
Kier said the fire fee grew out of concerns that the county’s appropriations to fire departments were ballooning, from $110,000 a year to $900,000 a year. Even with the increase, though, there was no set amount of county money generated by a single source of revenue going toward fire protection, he said. Now, without that dedicated source of revenue for the fire departments, what Greenwood County has to decide is how much to spend for the service and whether the departments can exist on the county’s supplemental funding.
Though there is a bit of an admitted rivalry among departments, Frederick said another way to save money for the departments is to regionalize their missions and services.
For instance, Frederick said there is no reason for all 10 stations to have ladder trucks. Rather, one station could have a ladder truck to take to assignments for two other stations as well.
“Nobody was supporting each other; it was like ‘it’s mine,’” McKinney said. “And I’m not saying they did that on purpose, but what I’m trying to do is bring them together to work as a whole verses working independently. You’ll get more accomplished.”
Franklin Cloninger, public information officer at Highway 34 Fire Department, said he is optimistic about the sheriff’s office’s promises to assist and readjust things for the better of the departments. While he said he will wait to see how things “all play out,” he said it made a lot of the firefighters glad to know they had the county’s assurance that their departments would not go under.
“I appreciate them putting their necks on the line and saying you can take our word that we’re not going to let you guys go under,” Cloninger said, “and we appreciate that.”
Temple said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the proposals to help find additional revenue, “simply because they don’t have a grasp on these revenue streams. And I would like to see the county do what they said they were going to do for the fire department budgets.”
Frederick told the fire chiefs at the meeting that he wanted to “squash” any rumors that the sheriff’s office was going to try to take over the independently operated departments.
But “any plan ‘A’ without a plan ‘B’ sucks,” Frederick said later.
Frederick and McKinney said that when they saw in The Index-Journal that firefighters were talking about striking, because of funding concerns, they began researching alternative fire protection for the county.
Though trying to improve the current system is the first priority, Frederick said if the system is unable to work, a countywide fire department has been discussed and is not “off the table.”
“There’s a good chance we can make it work with the current system,” Frederick said, “but they are going to have to sign on to our budget requirements and they’re going to need to agree to reduce some of this duplication, especially in high-dollar apparatuses, which is just not an effective use of the money.
“The state law has it set up so that there are certain things we have to do that we can do statutorily but not at a supervisory level. (The volunteer firefighters) could come on in and say pound sand (walk off) but, realistically, that’s not going to happen because we’ve still got the checkbook. These guys have let their budgets get to the point where they rely on us as their primary funding instead of being their supplementary funding,” Frederick said.
Northwest Fire Department Chief Tim Norman said he can’t speak for the other volunteer departments’ chiefs, but said that he is optimistic about the future plans. Though he doesn’t think everyone is backing it 100 percent yet, he said he hopes everyone will come together.
“I want everyone to work together,” Norman said, “because we are here to do one thing and that is serve the community.”

Anita Brooks

GREENWOOD, SC — Anita Brown Brooks, 83 of 526 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC, wife of Carroll H. Brooks died Monday, June 05, 2006 at Self Regional Hospital.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, March 12, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Palmer H. and Katherine Glissman Brown. Mrs. Brooks was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection and St. Ann’s Guild.
She was preceded in death by her brother James A. Brown and her grandson Sean Biggart.
Mrs. Brooks is survived by her beloved husband of the home after sixty-one years of marriage; a son Barry D. Brooks and wife Joy of Emporia, Kansas; a daughter Karen Biggart Whitfield of Columbia, SC; four grandchildren, Bryan Biggart of Columbia, SC, Cherie (Andres) Acevedo, Megan (Andrew) Flack and George (Jessie) Brooks all of Kansas; three great grandchildren; a sister Dorothy Moore of Liberty, Missouri; and the entire Brooks family of Greenwood, SC.
Services will be 2:00 PM Thursday at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, with the Reverend Peter Hawes officiating. A private family burial will be held following the service.
Pallbearers will be Gerald Brooks, Mims Mobley III, John Newlon, Michael Whitfield, Steve Fisher and Charles Long.
The family will receive at Harley Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 PM.
The family has requested that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, PO Box 3283, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to a charity of ones choice.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory are in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harleyfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY

Allie Mae Crawford

ABBEVILLE — Allie Mae Crawford, 70, of 405 Branch St., widow of Norris Odell Crawford, died Sunday, June 4, 2006.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Mamie Robinson. She was a meat cutter with Greenwood Meat Packing Plant. A member of Little Mountain AME Church, she was a member of the church choir, Steward Board and Usher Board.
Survivors include two sons, James Maxwell Pressley Jr. of Abbeville and Author Eugene Thomas of Spartanburg; seven stepdaughters, Sarah Darden, Ruby Power, Geraldine Power, Janie Ruth Smith, Helen Chiles, Irene Evans and Lula Crawford, all of Abbeville; three stepsons, Norris Odell Crawford Jr. and Frank Allen Crawford, both of Abbeville, Sammie Crawford of Greenville; a brother, Robert Robinson of Abbeville; two sisters, Gladys Wardlaw and Sarah McClinton of Abbeville; a grandchild reared in the home, Stephanie M. Crawford.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Little Mountain AME Church, conducted by the Rev. Beulah S. Reagins. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Viewing is 11:30-7 today at Richie Funeral Home.
Visitation is at the home or at the home of a stepdaughter Lula Mae Crawford, 200 Raymond Road.
Richie Funeral Home is in charge.

Ethell Mason Graham

SALUDA — Ethell Mason Graham, 67, of 109 Hamlet Lane, widow of Charlie Graham Sr., died Sunday, June 4, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Susie Mason. She was a member of Penn Creek Baptist Church and Mine Creek Burial Aide Society.
Survivors include five sons, Charlie Graham Jr., Richard Graham, Curtis Graham and Kentrall Graham, all of Saluda, Albert Graham of McCormick; two daughters, Barbara Smith of Johnston and Sallie Jean Graham of Saluda; a brother, James Mason of Saluda; a sister, Sarah Etheredge of Saluda; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Services are 4 p.m. Thursday at Penn Creek Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. George Key, assisted by the Rev. Willie C. Bryant. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are family and friends.
The family is at the home of a daughter Sallie J. Graham, 1535 Old Charleston Road.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Ernest Jones Jr.

SALUDA — Ernest Jones Jr., 76, of 971 Denny Highway, died Saturday, June 3, 2006 at his home.
Born in Saluda County, he was a son of the late Ernest and Laura Mobley Jones. He was a member of New Salem CME Church and a retired truck driver for Safe Way, Washington, D.C.
Survivors include a daughter, Ernestine Jones of Wheaton, Md.; two stepsons, Julius Loftin Jr. of Los Angeles and Eddie E. Loftin of Washington, D.C.; two stepdaughters, Alice A. Loftin of Washington, D.C. and Valleria Estella Holton of Oxen Hill, Md.; four sisters, Mary Lee Chappells of Saluda, Hattie Coats of Edgefield, Queen Esther Copeland of Maryland and Ethel M. Anderson of Pelion; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Thursday at New Salem CME Church, conducted by the Rev. Doris Hicks. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 12.
Pallbearers are nephews.
Flower bearers are nieces and friends.
The family is at the home of Sue Anna Shealy, 971 Denny Highway.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.

Leroy Martin

ABBEVILLE — Leroy Martin, 63, of 607 Rock Hill Road, died Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at Anderson Area Medical Center.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Richie Funeral Home.

Stanley Olin “Ted” Merritt

Augusta, GA — Mr. Stanley Olin “Ted” Merritt, of Evans, GA., beloved husband of Mrs. Bernice Whitmire Merritt, entered into rest on Sunday, June 4, 2006 at Specialty Select Hospital at University Hospital. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 in Rehoboth Methodist Church Cemetery, Greenwood, SC. with Rev. Kevin Steele officiating.
Additional survivors include three sons, Stanley W. Merritt and Meril of Evans, GA., Don Merritt of Augusta, GA. and David Merritt of North Augusta, SC.; a brother, William Edward Merritt and Ellen of Miami, FL.; a sister, Rose Payne of Lantana, FL.; a grandson, Joshua A. Merritt.; numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Mr. Merritt was preceeded in death by his sisters, the late Elizabeth Ross and the late Dorothy Bell Hines.
A native of Fingerville, South Carolina, Mr. Merritt was the son of the late Stanley Olin Merritt and the Late Annie Ross Merritt. A graduate of Erskine College, Mr. Merritt was retired from Richmond Academy where he taught for thirty- five years, touching thousand of lives. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army in Italy. Upon retuning home, form W.W.II, where he played the saxophone in a Jazz Band in Greenville, South Carolina. He was an avid outdoorsman and had a great love of music.
Stanley and Bernice recently celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
If so desired, memorials may be made to Rehoboth United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 656, Greenwood, SC 29646
Platt’s Funeral Home, 337 North Belair Road, Evans, Georgia, 30809, 706-860-6166.
PAID OBITUARY

John Ollie Payne

HODGES — Services for John Ollie Payne are 2 p.m. Thursday at Second Damascus Baptist Church, with the Rev. Leroy Robertson presiding and Bishop Emanuel Spearman officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Billy Goode, Johnny Madison, Jonathan Madison, Doug Lockhart, Wayne Lockhart and Murry Rollinson.
Flower bearers are cousins.
Honorary escorts are Black Cats Motorcycle Club and Greenwood High School Class of 1979.
Visitation is at the home, 413 Freetown Road.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge.

Jimmy Sharpe Jr.

CROSS HILL — James “Jimmy” Edward Sharpe Jr., 60, of 503 N. Main St., husband of Carolyn Vaughn Sharpe, died Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at Hospice House.
Born in Newberry County, he was a son of Ruth Atchison Sharpe and the late James Edward Sharpe. He was owner and operator of Sharpe’s Garage and a member of First Baptist Church of Cross Hill.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Cross Hill; two daughters, Mrs. Dan (Karen) Kirby of Greenwood and Mrs. Kevin (Sandra) Croft of Waterloo; a sister, Brenda DeHart of Moore; four grandchildren.
Services are 3 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Cross Hill, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Cartledge. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Ronnie Swink, Don Price, Rodney Jones, Marshall Wilkie, Alan DeHart and Michael DeHart.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Harley Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.
The family is at the home of a daughter Sandra Croft, 355 Ridgewood Harbor Road, Waterloo.
Harley Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenwood, is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

GeDelle Young

GeDelle Brabham Young, 92, of Wesley Commons, widow of Martin D. Young, died Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at Hospice House of Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Post 20 at home tonight

June 7, 2006

By JIM JOYCE
Special projects editor

Greenwood Post 20 did something out of the ordinary Monday night at Legion Field. The local boys pounded Easley in a League VII game called after seven innings because of the spread in the score.
The “mercy rule” was used, the rule stating that any time a team is ahead by 10 runs after seven innings, the game is called at that point. Post 20 won 16-1.
At 7:30 tonight, the Greenwood team, made up mostly of new faces this season, hosts Union in a non-league game, and, even though they won easily Monday night, coach Billy Dean Minor says “be ready.”
“As young as we are, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said of Monday’s first game. “I’m happy about the way they responded. But, in Legion baseball, you’ve got to come out here and be ready to fight every night. It all depends on who’s on the mound.”
Playing errorless ball was not really surprise to Minor, but the overall hitting production was pleasing.
“I thought we would be all right on defense,” Minor said. “And, I thought Miller (pitcher Brandon Miller) would pitch well, but we hadn’t been hitting the ball very well during preseason games, and I didn’t really know how we would do.
“I am very happy to see us hit that way because we faced a pitcher who has pitched college ball for two years at Anderson (University).”
Probably drawing the pitching assignment tonight for Post 20 is Justin Lawson, a first-year Legion player who pitched at Greenwood High School.
After tonight, Post 20 travels Thursday to play Belton at Westside High School in Anderson.

Lawmakers pull fast one on the vetoing governor

June 7, 2006

Was it smart politics? Or, was it a mark of disrespect for South Carolina’s taxpayers?
House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, both Charleston Republicans, as is Gov. Mark Sanford, refused to sign a completed $6.6 billion state budget last Thursday. That means the governor cannot get the budget until Harrell and McConnell sign it ..... and they say they won’t do that until after the June 13 primary elections.
What that does, of course, is keep Sanford’s vetoes from being on the record until after the elections. That way, lawmakers won’t have to answer to their constituents for the decisions they make on the vetoes.
Savvy politicians know the ins and outs in political oneupsmanship. It’s a shame their constituents aren’t just as tricky. Nevertheless, voters aren’t dumb. They don’t have to be rocket scientists to know when they’ve been had. Some lawmakers make it appear like a contest of gamesmanship. Trouble is, for taxpayers it’s not a game. It’s their lives and their money.