Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The Allendale Town Council during its regular Nov. 14 meeting.
At the Allendale Town Council’s regular Nov. 14 meeting, the council discussed the town’s job openings, a major water leak that occurred and legal advice for a potential class action lawsuit during executive session.
Hiring new employees
The Town of Allendale has several job openings it is looking to fill. However, at the November 14 meeting, council members said the town has struggled to fill the open positions, and is attempting to attract new applicants by offering higher wages. The town is looking to hire a town administrator and has three openings within its police department.
Across rural parts of the country, local governments and municipalities have struggled to hire enough town employees, an issue attributed to low job quality. Burnout, weak benefits and low pay among municipal workers are the most common reported causes for the county’s municipal workforce decline.
The Town of Allendale, like other local governments, has responded by increasing salaries to compete with other employers.
“We are actively seeking and advertising at as many places in the state as we can,” said council member Lee Harley-Fitts. “You just have to be able to compete financially and competitively as it relates to pay.”
Similarly, the Town of Fairfax also has failed to attract enough workers to fulfill the municipality’s demands. Recently, the Fairfax town council voted to approve two new holidays — the day after Christmas and Juneteenth — as paid time off for workers employed by the town. Additionally, the Fairfax town council is looking to increase the amount of annual leave town workers can take off, and give them larger bonuses.
Water leak
During the week of Nov. 5, the town experienced a water main leak that lasted for several days and had the town’s workers working for several days before the issue was resolved.
“You got water coming from four different directions,” said Lonzado Badger, Allendale’s public works foreman. “We couldn’t find nowhere to shut it off. We fight that thing from Thursday to Saturday trying to get back the town water.”
The town is in the process of applying for a grant from the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) to improve its water system. SCIIP distributes $1.369 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the state’s local governments for water system improvements. Council member Hattie Jackson said the town is currently working on the paperwork for the SCIIP grant.
Finance Report
Councilmember Kathy Tharin delivered an update on the town’s budget, saying that the town’s general fund currently has a deficit of $329,000, while the town’s water fund has a $73,000 surplus.
During fall months, local governments can often fall into a period of low revenues due to the timing of tax season. Similarly, the Allendale County council is dealing with the same issue, having issued a $1.5 million tax anticipation notice to borrow against future tax revenues.
Tharin and Lee Harley-Fitts said that although the town’s general fund is in a deficit, it is due to the timing of tax season.
“I want to make something very clear,” said Harley-Fitts. “We have deficiencies, but we’re in line with where we need to be. Our budget is solid.”
PFAS Class Action Lawsuit
During executive session, the town council discussed a “Receipt of Legal Advice Regarding PFAS Class Action Lawsuit (Water System)” Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (called PFAs for short) are a group of toxic chemical compounds often called “forever chemicals.” PFAS are linked to cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and issues during pregnancy, among other health effects.
Previously, The People-Sentinel reported on the high levels of PFAS in Allendale and Barnwell’s waterways. Testing done by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) found 133 parts per trillion of PFAS in Allendale’s Log Branch Creek, a level 33 times higher than proposed limits by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Across the country, local and state governments are creating class action lawsuits to seek damages caused by PFAs polluters. Following the November 14 meeting, council members Marlon Creech and Kathy Tharin declined to comment on details about the lawsuit but said they will release updates when action is taken.
