Council OKs Legal Fees After Walkout

By Greg Wilson

     Anderson County Council approved the payment of legal fees and reimbursement of legal bills Tuesday night in spite of a maneuver by a pair of council members aimed at preventing the vote.
      A pair of votes, both of which eventually passed by a 3-2 vote,
were marked by delays and confusion after two council members recused themselves and two others walked out of the council chambers in opposition to the issues going to a vote.
      The first resolution asked the county to pay fees for previous work by the Tallon Group, Inc., and Palmetto Investigating and Consulting. The second requested the payment of legal expenses incurred by Bob Waldrep stemming from early legal battles with former Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston.
      After council members Bob Waldrep and Eddie Moore recused themselves from both votes, questions were raised by council members Gracie Floyd and Ron Wilson over the resolutions. After a series of questions, Wilson announced he would simply leave the room to deny the body a quorum because "what you're doing here is just wrong." Floyd followed Wilson from the chambers, leaving the remaining three council members to seek the a ruling from Anderson County Attorney Mike Pitts as to how to proceed.
      Following a brief recess, Pitts said a quorum could be established if the the councilmen who recused themselves were in the room, even if they did not vote. Both resolutions were then passed 3-2.

      In other business council unanimously:

• Passed a resolution endorsing the Upstate's Roundtable long-range infrastructure planning for a five-county area.
• Approved a resolution to honor Anderson native Jim Ed Rice by renaming the Civic Center road "Balloonfest Blvd" to "Jim Ed Rice Parkway."
• Endorsed the county abandonment of Goldmine Road.
• Accepted Spring Brook Subdivision Phase II into the county road system.
• Approved, on second reading, the tax-break agreement between Anderson County and Orian Rugs.

     The following requests were also submitted and approved by the council.
Ron Wilson: $5,000 for the Tri-County Soccer Club in the Wren area.
Tom Allen: $4,500 for the Townville Recreation Department; $3,000 to the Anderson Veterans Association for their carillon project; $2,000 to the New Light Community Center; $485 for a bike rack system for Pendleton.
Gracie Floyd: $10,000 to the Broadway Lake Fire Department Fund.
Bob Waldrep: $900 for bike rack system for Civic Center.
Cindy Wilson: $3,000 to the Honea Path Fire Department; $1,000 to the Anderson County Veterans Association carillon fund; $2,000 to the Honea Path free clinic; $5,000 to the Honea Path Recreation Program; $485 for bike rack for Honea Path; $500 for a sign for the Broadway Fire Department on Old Williamston Road.
Eddie Moore: $485 for back rack system for the Starr walking track.
Tommy Dunn: $485 for bike rack system for Wellington Ball Park.