Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The Town of Williston’s monthly council meeting included audit results, a new public works director, and police department updates.
Police update
Williston Police Chief James Gainey began his department update by thanking the council for their continued support.
“First off, I’d like to take this opportunity, Mr. Mayor, council, Mr. Beasley, to thank y’all for your support of the police department. You really don’t know how much it means to us for the support that y’all have given to us,” said Chief Gainey.
According to Chief Gainey, the Williston Police Department (WPD) is currently fully staffed with all certified police officers.
WPD Captain Roger Kaney has been actively issuing citations and sending letters requiring homeowners to maintain their properties in the town. WPD is also working on increasing traffic control.
“We have been working some burglaries and a lot of larcenies,” said Chief Gainey, who noted arrests have been made in this case.
The chief also shared statistics with the council: From August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022, WPD handled 285 cases.
In the next year, the number of cases nearly tripled to 835.
Public works hire
The council approved hiring a new public works director after the retirement of utilities director Mark Carroll.
“We took our time because we wanted to make sure we hired the right person in that position,” said Administrator Michael Beasley.
Dennis Williams was approved as the new public works director. Williams has over 15 years’ experience with a S.C. Class C Distribution License and a S.C. Class D Water Treatment License.
Williams will start in this position on August 16.
“Look forward to you getting in and really establishing a department,” said Beasley.
Once Williams starts, he will evaluate the department based on what is needed and see if more hires need to be made.
Audit recap
“It’s our pleasure to say it’s a clean audit opinion for the Town of Williston for June 30, 2022,” said Todd Highsmith of Highsmith & Highsmith Certified Public Accountants.
The total assets of the general fund were $2,213,139 with the total liabilities being $82,899.
The general fund balance is $2,124,166– $2,053,000 of which is unrestricted, meaning it can be spent on general activities for the town.
According to Highsmith, increases are due to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received by the town in the last fiscal year.
Total revenue of the general fund is $2,393,337 and total expenditures are $1,698,262. This shows an overall increase in the general fund balance of $695,075. This increase can be attributed to the ARPA funding, according to Highsmith.
Highsmith explained the audit broke down the fixed assets owned by the town, what liabilities are the towns, information on S.C. Retirement System and Profit & Revenue Optimization Software (PROS).
The audit explained the general fund compared to the budget prepared for the fiscal year.
Budgeted revenues were $1,611,803 while actual revenues were $2,393,337 showing a difference of $781,000.
“Which is primarily that ARPA money coming in,” said Highsmith.
Budgeted expenditures were $1,611,803 while actual expenditures were $1,698,262 showing a difference of $86,000. Highsmith explained this is due to spending ARPA funding that was not budgeted for in the previous year.
In the same vein of financial responsibility, town clerk Kayla Jerkins and Beasley have been evaluating what services the town is being charged for and seeing where savings can be found.
According to Beasley, they are predicting $20,000 in savings already.
Ordinance approval
Two ordinances were approved at the meeting; one on the first reading and one on the second.
Ordinance 2023-3 amended the business license ordinance for the town to update the class schedule required by the Standardization Act. It was approved on the second and final reading.
This ordinance pertains to business license tax in the town and complies with recommendations from the Municipal Association of South Carolina later adopted by state fiscal officers.
Amendments include updating the procedure for taxing businesses with billiard or pool tables under its “natural class for all gross income of the business excluding the gross income attributable to the billiard or pool tables,” states the ordinance.
It also amends the current business license ordinance to be in compliance with updates to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Ordinance 2023-4 authorized the town to enter into a lease agreement with Barnwell County’s new EMS service, Thorne Ambulance. It was approved on the first reading and is set to be on the next meeting’s agenda for the second reading.
Event approval
One out of two events were approved. The first is a homecoming parade for the Williston-Elko High School football team and the homecoming court on the night of homecoming – September 22 at 5 p.m.
The parade will travel from Church Street, behind Napa Auto Parts in Williston, down Main Street and then to Warren Street to the Williston-Elko baseball field. This event was approved by the council.
The event that the council requested more information on before approving is the community pep rally the night before homecoming on September 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The pep rally is requested to be held in front of the restaurant Meeting on Main and the Williston Post Office on West Main Street. Councilmembers expressed concern about the business’s standpoint as the road would have to be blocked off for public safety.
“If we approve having something downtown, we have to shut down a street in order to have safety for all involved,” said Mayor Brett Williams.
Meeting on Main is in business during the hours of the pep rally; they are not open during other events such as the town’s Christmas Tree Lightning, explained Councilman Eric Moody.
Mayor Williams spoke with the owners of the restaurant prior to the meeting who explained they are happy to have the event take place but would prefer the road not to be closed.
Council members suggested they look for an alternative downtown location for the pep rally to be held before approving the event, although all are in support.
