Traveling and thinking about books and things

For the second time in this crucial midterm election year, Anson County is without an elections director after Neva Helms resigned out of the blue this week.

The board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing county staff to seek state funding to study PFAS/PFOS contamination and potential local treatment at a former landfill after the county manager cited prior detections at the old Lisle landfill.

County staff detailed the water system repair work after a 10–11 day boil‑water advisory, including parts purchases, ebilling rollout and metering problems. Commissioners asked whether residents should receive credits and whether the county should apply for state disaster reimbursement.

Commissioners questioned why a $400,000 state appropriation earmarked for a standby generator was reappropriated to the Anson Economic Development Corporation for a sewer connection, and whether ADC or its contractor tied into county sewer lines without proper county review; motions to freeze ADC funding failed on a 3–3 tie and the board agreed to withhold the September allocation pending further documentation.

Anson County commissioners adopted a 10-year Capital Improvement Plan covering water, wastewater and resiliency projects; managers described the 10-year program as approximately $181.18 million in planned investments and the board approved the resolution by voice vote.

Staff presented five billing-credit options to compensate customers after service disruptions; commissioners and staff preferred investing in infrastructure upgrades and moved forward with grant/loan resolution submittals to fund repairs and pump-station work instead of broad credits.

After debate over how often the countys lobbyists report back, the board voted 4–3 to terminate the lobbying contract with Almond & Minor with notice; the chair asked staff to request an on‑the‑record update from the firm before the termination becomes effective.

After a lengthy presentation and a heated exchange over an AEDC-constructed sewer tie-in and alleged reappropriation of state funds, the board voted 4–3 to immediately defund the Anson Economic Development Corporation; commissioners asked county attorneys to examine permit compliance and ethics concerns.

Upheaval comes amid new complaints against Anson County board member

County officials said the local elections office was locked and the director left amid a personnel incident; the county deferred operational control to the State Board of Elections, which the local chair has asked to provide support and personnel while the matter is sorted.

County managers detailed a July trunk-line break that drained system pressure, described multi-county mutual-aid repairs and lab testing, and the board approved an emergency declaration to authorize payment for urgent repairs while pressing for long-term fixes and monitoring upgrades.

After pausing to review newly distributed budget amendments, the Anson County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the amendments, adopted the 2627 budget ordinance (with two commissioners opposed), and approved the 2627 fee schedule; commissioners and staff raised concerns about reliance on fund balance.

The county manager and AEDC asked permission to connect a 10‑inch force main into an existing 8‑inch gravity line to serve a 45,000‑sq‑ft shell building; county consultants warned the configuration will not support full 80‑acre buildout without further engineering and easements. Commissioners asked Hazen & Sawyer to present flow findings before deciding.

At a packed public hearing, residents urged commissioners to adopt a revenue‑neutral rate after a countywide revaluation produced large assessed-value increases; county staff explained collection rates, foreclosure timing and budget tradeoffs including a proposed 0.5915 rate tied to preserving the current levy.

With the recommended budget due to be distributed, commissioners discussed moving to a revenue‑neutral tax rate (estimated about 59.15¢) versus keeping the current 77.7¢ rate; staff said achieving revenue neutrality would require transferring roughly $4 million from fund balance, prompting debate about fiscal risk and service impacts.

Leon Gatewood and Cynthia Wallace asked commissioners to recognize and support a countywide 'Anson Coalition for Peace' to coordinate violence‑prevention work; presenters cited a town hall turnout of 80 and program data that models community‑led violence reduction.

The board voted 4–3 to renew a $5,000-per-term lobbying contract with Almond & Minor, requiring quarterly reports; commissioners debated urgency versus oversight. County staff also reported a $1.7 million building reuse grant approval for Project Pima/Project FEMA with an estimated 96 jobs (58 in the first two years).

Anson County social services director presented the likely local impacts of House Resolution 1 on SNAP and Medicaid: reduced benefit allotments over time, expanded work requirements, limits on noncitizen eligibility, decreased federal administrative match (50% to 25% from Oct. 1) and an estimated additional county cost in FY27 of roughly $132,000.

Rep. Mark Brody asked the Anson County Board of Commissioners to consider restoring funding for the Anson Economic Development Corporation in the next budget cycle while attaching reporting and performance requirements after years of slow progress on development projects.

Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on Anson County’s financial statements while identifying two areas the Local Government Commission flagged: operating net loss (cash flow) and low capital asset condition ratio in water and wastewater funds; county staff said they are preparing responses and asset management plans.

A resident asked the board to enact an ordinance to prohibit ICE facilities in Anson County and to create a legally binding plan to shield residents from federal immigration enforcement activities; commissioners asked the manager and county attorney to research legal options and report back.

Assistant county manager said Anson Stone LLC expects roughly $25 million in capital and site investment for a 491-acre quarry, plans to hire at least 15 full-time workers, and expects state permits within three months before breaking ground in spring or summer.

Friends of the Anson County Animal Shelter reported recent operating results, explained grant accounting held by the county, described repair work and a contractor dispute over FRP panels that has restricted access to parts of the shelter, and said the county aims to reopen affected areas by March 1.

The county manager said a property at 605 McLaren is pending sale, staff will survey an old hospital parcel before disposition, and the county is coordinating with DEQ on illegal dumping, PFAS at closed landfill sites and a permitted quarry in Lisle moving forward with development.