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Volume 24 Number 2 

Sumter County’s 

New Judicial Center and 

Sheriff’s Office

2012-13 SCAC Officers 

President 

Charles T. Edens 

Sumter County Council Member 

First Vice President 

Joe Branham 

Chester County Council Member 

Second Vice President 

James R. Frazier 

Horry County Council Member 

Immediate Past President 

Joseph B. Dill 

Greenville County Council Member 

Secretary 

William T. Noonan 

Sumter County Special Projects Director 

Treasurer 

Belinda D. Copeland 

Darlington County Treasurer 

SCAC Staff 

Executive Director 

Michael B. Cone 

Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel 

Robert E. Lyon, Jr. 

John K. DeLoache 

M. Kent Lesesne 

Deputy General Counsel 

Robert S. Croom 

Assistant General Counsel 

Timothy C. Winslow 

Staff Attorneys 

Public Information Director 

W. Stuart Morgan III 

Director of Insurance Services 

Robert C. Collins, CPCU, CIC 

Director of Risk Management Services 

John D. Henderson, ARM, ALCM 

Risk Manager, SCCWCT and SCCP&LT 

Robert E. Benfield, ARM 

Program Coordinator, SCCWCT and SCCP&LT 

Pam S. Collins, ARM 

SCCP&LT Claims Manager 

John V. Jervey, AIC 

Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager 

Dennis L. Hicks, AIC 

Director of Administrative Services 

Melinda L. Suddes 

Controller 

Doug L. Brockhard, CPA 

Director of Research and Training 

Anna B. Berger 

Special Projects Coordinator 

Leslie M. Christy-Jennings 

Senior Research Associate 

Susan B. Turkopuls 

Meeting Planner/Administrative Assistant 

Nilda A. Padgett 

Administrative Assistants 

S. Ruthie Duvall 

Pearlena A. Khalif-Govan 

Dana M. Tomlinson 

Mary E. Williams 

Field Representative 

Rick K. Ucinski 

Assistant Program Coordinator 

SCCWCT and SCCP&LT 

Susan L. Chambers 

Procurement Officer 

Robert J. Lyon, CPPB 

Webmaster 

Jennifer M. Haworth 

Joshua C. Rhodes 

Jenna L. Stephens 

Contents 

Date of Issue: July 2013 

2 Aging: The Largest Community Challenge of Our Lifetime 

By Lieutenant Governor Glenn F. McConnell 

6 Sumter County’s New Judicial Center and Sheriff’s Office 

By W. Stuart Morgan III 

27 Boiler and Machinery: Are You Compliant? 

By Robert C. Collins, CPCU, CIC 

37 Looking at U.S. Supreme Court Cases That Affect Local 

Government: October Term 2012 

By Charles W. Thompson, Jr. 

Executive Director and General Counsel, IMLA 

45 A Roadside Guide to McCormick, County Seat of 

McCormick County 

By Alexia Jones Helsley 

COVER PHOTOS: TOP PHOTO — Standing in front of Sumter County’s new judicial 

center are Sumter Council Members James (Jimmy) R. Byrd, Jr., Artie Baker and Vivian 

Fleming McGhaney; Council Vice Chairman Eugene R. Baten; County Administrator Gary 

M. Mixon; Council Chairman Larry Blanding; Council Member Naomi D. Sanders; and 

Clerk to Court James C. Campbell. Sumter County Council Member Charles T. Edens was 

not available for this photo. BOTTOM PHOTO — Sumter County’s new sheriff’s office. 

(Photos by Stuart Morgan)(Photo by Stuart Morgan) 

County Focus Magazine is published quarterly by the 

South Carolina Association of Counties 

P.O. Box 8207 

Columbia, SC 29202-8207 

(803) 252-7255 

Fax: (803) 252-0379 

W. Stuart Morgan III, Editor 

Copyright is by the South Carolina Association of Counties. All rights reserved. No portion of the 

contents may be published or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. 

County Focus 1

Aging: The Largest 

Community Challenge of 

Our Lifetime 

O 

ver the next 15 years, South Carolina’s 

senior population is expected to 

double. The increase represents an 

approaching wave of baby-boomers 

that will test the strength of many 

systems we have in place and is often 

referred to as the “grey tsunami.” 

Upon taking this job in March 

of 2012 after the resignation of the 

former lieutenant governor, I realized 

that the Office on Aging had 

been overlooked for far too long. 

The office had been rarely discussed 

in the General Assembly, our state had 

no strategic plan in place, and we lacked 

an overall coordination of services and 

number of care options available for our 

seniors. I saw the Office on Aging as an 

ark at sea in need of direction, and as 

head of the Office on Aging, my responsibility 

was to point the office in the right 

course. 

Seeing room for improvement, in 

addition to the need to familiarize myself 

By Lieutenant Governor Glenn F. McConnell 

Lt. Gov. Glenn F. McConnell 

with the challenges seniors, caregivers, 

families, and facilities were facing, I 

spent several months last summer and fall 

traveling across the state to observe best 

practices in an effort to share those positive 

ideas with other parts of the state that 

were struggling and in need of assistance. 

Following this trip, I took my message 

back to the legislators in Columbia and 

shared some of what I found: 

l It is estimated that one in 11 seniors 

is at risk for hunger in our state. 

l One-third of seniors live on 

Social Security alone. 

l Fifty-one percent of those over 

age 55 have less than $50,000 saved 

for retirement. 

l The estimated cost to our state 

for a Medicaid nursing home bed is 

around $52,000 per year. 

l Across South Carolina, there are 

more than 8,000 people on a waiting 

list for our home and communitybased 

services. 

In this year’s budget request, the 

Office on Aging asked for additional 

resources to close this waiting list 

and add supplementary programs to 

our lineup of services that had been 

largely ignored in the past. Through 

this request, it was our intention to 

stay true to our goal of being proactive 

on the front end by using these 

resources to fund preventative measures, 

thereby lessening the number 

of seniors migrating to advanced 

forms of care, which, in the end, will 

cost taxpayers more money. 

While these additional resources 

will alleviate some of the inconvenience 

associated with the underfunded programs, 

more government is not always 

the answer. In fact, available federal and 

state resources and funds are dwindling. 

In the future, we must all learn to adapt 

by changing the way we do business and 

placing an increased dependence on communities 

to identify new funding streams 

to ensure adequate resources for seniors 

(See Lt. Gov. McConnell, P. 4) 

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County Focus 3

Purpose 

of the SCAC 

To promote more efficient 

county governments 

To study, discuss and 

recommend improvements 

in government 

To investigate and provide 

means for the exchange of 

ideas and experiences 

between county officials 

To promote and encourage 

education of county 

officials 

To collect, analyze and 

distribute information 

about county government 

To cooperate with other 

organizations 

To promote legislation 

which supports efficient 

administration of local 

government in South 

Carolina 

For more information 

about the SCAC, please 

contact: 

South Carolina 

Association of Counties 

P.O. Box 8207 

1919 Thurmond Mall 


(803) 252-7255 

scac@scac.sc 

Lt. Gov. McConnell 

... 

(Continued from P. 2) 

are available. After all, as Albert Einstein 

once said, doing the same thing over and 

over while expecting a different result is 

insanity. 

Being fully prepared for this enormous 

increase in population is possible, 

but it will take the combined effort of local 

relationships and community leaders 

to bring about real solutions. Partnerships 

with businesses, non-profits, faithbased 

groups, and civic organizations are 

crucial to weaving a fabric that will be able 

to support the surrounding community. 

Perhaps the power of these types of 

partnerships was best illustrated this past 

month when Leadership South Carolina’s 

Class of 2013 chose to highlight senior 

hunger in our state. You may not realize 

it, but South Carolina ranks in the top 

10 states for senior hunger. Leadership 

South Carolina’s class project was to 

bring awareness to this issue, and they 

answered the call by raising more than 

$100,000, which included a Public Service 

Announcement campaign in addition to 

providing two Honda minivans for use in 

underprivileged areas in South Carolina 

that needed help transporting seniors and 

meals to some of our state’s most vulnerable 

adults. 

This partnership with Leadership 

South Carolina was a step in the right 

direction, and it was a prime example 

of how various other groups around the 

state can also get involved to make a difference. 

Take, for instance, an elderly 

gentleman in a rural part of the state with 

whom I visited during my travels. He was 

raising his young grandson alone, and 

just a few months before I met him, the 

gentleman was struggling to cut his own 

lawn because of failing health. His grass 

had grown tall, and seeing an opportunity 

to lend a helping hand, the newspaper 

reporter accompanying us volunteered 

the assistance of his church to help the 

elderly gentleman. This story goes to 

show that opportunities to help others are 

all around us; you don’t have to search far 

to find them, especially if you slow down 

to take a look. 

In closing, I want to thank county 

leaders for their service as well as encourage 

them to always make an effort 

to embrace the needs of seniors in their 

communities. South Carolina is covered 

by 10 regional Area Agencies on Aging/ 

Aging and Disability Resource Centers 

(AAAs/ADRCs) that work closely with 

the Office on Aging to administer programs, 

distribute resources, and provide 

easily-accessible information to seniors 

and their families. Each center represents 

a specific area of our state, and these 

centers have staff members who are wellconnected 

with the resources available in 

communities across South Carolina and 

know the individual needs of senior adults 

in their area. It is my hope that we can all 

work together to make our government 

more people-friendly for our state’s aging 

population. Seniors are not looking for 

a handout; they’re looking for a helping 

hand. They want the American dream: 

to remain independent, as self-sufficient 

as possible, and to have the ability to chart 

their own future. 

We can all do our part to make a 

difference. Adopt senior centers. Talk 

to your elected officials and tell them 

that you support our efforts to control 

the migration of seniors so we can minimize 

the future budget-busters that are 

coming. And, above all, extend a human 

hand to these seniors — people who have 

paid their taxes and have paid their dues. 

They have worked hard all of their lives 

without expecting handouts, but, through 

no fault of their own, in a time when they 

need help because of the veil of age, we 

must do everything we can to make sure 

that a helping hand is available. We have 

to speak out for these seniors who, in 

their homes across South Carolina, are 

struggling to get by day to day and cannot 

make it alone. 

Glenn McConnell represented District 

41 (Charleston) in the S.C. Senate from 

1981 to 2012. He was chairman of the 

Senate Judiciary Committee and president 

pro tempore of the Senate from 2001 until 

he became lieutenant governor on March 

13, 2012. 


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County Focus 5

S 

By W. Stuart Morgan III 


New Judicial Center and 

Sheriff’s Office 

umter County recently opened a new judicial 

center and sheriff’s office. 

The $22.5 million judicial center, which 

officially opened on July 15, 2013, is designed 

to provide judicial services in a modern, safe 

environment and to enhance the efficiency of the 

community’s court operations. 

The facility is a new civic landmark, which includes a 

small park complete with trees, shrubbery, benches and lighting. 

It is located on a six-acre site at the corner of North Harvin 

and East Canal streets directly behind the historic courthouse, 

adjacent to the central business district in downtown Sumter. 

The Sumter County Judicial Center includes 80,000 square 

feet of space and houses, as follows: 

First Floor 

l Probate Court; 

l Public Defenders Office; 

l Jury Assembly Room; 

l Temporary Holding Facility; 

l Central Command Center; and 

l Secondary Control Room; 

Second Floor 

l Family Court Division of the Clerk of Court’s Office; 

l Two Courtrooms; and 

l Solicitor’s Office; 

Each department 

— Probate 

Court, Family 

Court, Clerk of 

Court, Solicitor’s 

Office and Public 

Sumter County 

See Map of South Carolina 

Counties and County Seats, 

Page 51 

Defender’s Office — includes a small conference room and a 

galley, a small room that includes a sink, counter space, cabinets 

and refrigerator. 

“(The Judicial Center) has been designed to meet 

the needs of our court staff, judges, attorneys and the 

public. It features advanced security and technological 

systems that should help ensure the utmost safety 

for all staff and court personnel, and the public.” 

— James C. Campbell 

Sumter County Clerk of Court 

Third Floor 

l Circuit Court Division of the Clerk of Court’s Office; 

l Two courtrooms; 

l Interview room for the Department of Social Services and 

Probation, Pardon and Parole; 

l Office for four court reporters; 

l Victim Waiting Room; and 

l Space for members of the local county bar and the county’s 

IT Department. 

Sumter County’s historic courthouse (c. 1907) (Photo Stuart Morgan) 


Each of the five courtrooms on the first, second and third 

floors includes two small adjoining conference rooms. Each 

floor includes public and staff rest rooms. Secure parking is 

provided for judges, law enforcement officials and detention 

center vans. Ample parking for staff and the public is also 

provided behind the building. 

“The new judicial center is a state-of-the-art building that 

has been designed with input from each department housed 

within it,” said Sumter County Clerk of Court James C. Campbell. 

“It has been designed to meet the needs of our court staff, 

judges, attorneys and the public. It features advanced security 

and technological systems that should help ensure the utmost 

safety for all staff and court personnel, and the public.” 

Sumter County’s previous courthouse, built in 1907, was 

remodeled and enlarged during the early 1960s. But the historic 

courthouse was not designed to handle all of the security needs 

required under federal and state law for judges, court staff and 

jurors. In fact, the S.C. Supreme Court in recent years had 

directed counties across the state to address safety issues in 

courthouses. 

The old courthouse also could not handle the growing volume 

of traffic and court cases, and lacked space to store legal 

records as required by state law. 

“Our old courthouse,” summed up Campbell, “had surpassed 

capacity, both in filing and office space needs.” 

Sumter County Administrator Gary M. Mixon said the 

county’s Capital Project Sales Tax Commission several years 

(See Judicial Center, P. 12) 

Standing in front of Sumter County’s new judicial center are Sumter 

Council Members James (Jimmy) R. Byrd, Jr., Artie Baker and Vivian 

Fleming McGhaney; Council Vice Chairman Eugene R. Baten; 

County Administrator Gary M. Mixon; Council Chairman Larry 

Blanding; Council Member Naomi D. Sanders; and Clerk to Court 

James C. Campbell. Sumter County Council Member Charles T. 

Edens was not available for this photo. (Photo Stuart Morgan) 

Sumter County’s new judicial center (Photo by Luke Lukens, Sumter County) 

County Focus 7

Sumter County Judicial Center 

Floor 1 

PROBATE 

COURT 

JURY 

ASSEMBLY 

ATM 

MEN 

COURTROOM 

1A 

PUBLIC 

CORRIDOR 

WOMEN 

PUBLIC 

DEFENDER 

Floor 2 

FAMILY COURT 

MEN 

COURTROOM 

2A 

COURTROOM 

2B 

PUBLIC 

CORRIDOR 

SOLICITOR 

WOMEN 

FAMILY 

Floor 3 

CIRCUIT COURT 

MEN 

COURTROOM 

3A 

COURTROOM 

3B 

DSS/ 

PROBATION 

PUBLIC 

CORRIDOR 

WOMEN 

Legend 

Courtrooms 

Departments 

Public Areas 

Elevators 

Stairs 

Restrooms 


Photos by Stuart Morgan 

The security check point at 

the public entrance of the new 

Sumter County Judicial Center 

includes metal detectors 

and an X-ray machine. 

ä 

äThe Jury Assembly 

Room, located on the 

first floor, is capable 

of seating 141 persons. 

The room may be used 

for other purposes. 

The Sumter County Historical Commission 

erected the marker (shown 

above) in 1953 in front of the county’s 

historic courthouse to tell the story 

of Sumter’s previous courthouses. 

The sign (front side, above) reads: 

“By Act of 1798, commissioners were 

named “to ascertain and fix upon the 

most central place for the erection 

of a court house in the district of 

Sumter”, and meanwhile “to fix upon 

a proper place for the sitting of the 

court.” During 1800-01, court was 

held in the John Gayle Home (N.E. 

corner, Main and Canal Streets) until 

a suitable courthouse was ready for 

use, Jan. 1802, though not completed 

until 1806.” The back side of the sign 

continues: “The second court house, 

designed by Robert Mills, was built of 

brick and stucco. It was authorized 

in 1820, completed in 1821, enlarged 

in 1848 and in use until 1907. Serving 

also as a place of public gatherings 

for years, this building remodeled is 

now occupied by the national bank of 

S.C. The present courthouse, authorized 

in 1906, was dedicated in 1907.” 

This hallway on the first floor leads from a large lobby to Courtroom 1A and the Public Defender’s 

Office. Hallways, like this one, on each of the building’s three floors feature large windows that provide 

daylight and views of East Canal Street and beyond. 

ä 

County Focus 9

Looking from the elevators across the lobby and toward the Family Court clerk’s office 

on the second floor. Each floor of the building includes a spacious lobby like this one. 

ä 

Looking from the hallway on the second floor toward the lobby, the elevators, the large 

window at the front of the building and the Family Court clerk’s office. 

ä 

Entrance to the Public Defender’s Office on the first 

floor 

ä 

äEntrance to 

the Solicitor’s 

Office on the 

second floor 

ä 

The service desk at the Clerk of Court’s Office on the third floor. 

10 10 Volume 24, 24, Number 2 2 

ä 

Interior view of the Clerk of Court’s Office

Two small conference rooms, similar 

to this one, flank the entrances of all five 

courtrooms. The conference rooms include 

video conferencing displays and equipment 

that can be used for a variety of purposes. 

Attorneys, for example, may use the rooms 

to meet with their clients in civil cases. 

ä 

The new Judicial Center includes 

five courtrooms — one on 

the first floor, two on the second 

floor and two on the third floor. 

Courtroom 3B (above), located 

on the third floor, is the largest 

courtroom and the only one that 

has a center bench. 

ä 

Courtrooms 3A and 3B have jury 

boxes. The jury boxes (shown at 

left) include monitors that allow 

jury members to view exhibits during 

court cases. 

ä 

ä 

Courtroom 3A on the third floor 

Non-contact attorney/client conference 

rooms, like the one below, are provided on 

each floor. 

ä 

ä 

County Focus 11

Judicial Center ... 


ago recognized the need to replace the county’s outdated and 

overcrowded courthouse, and drafted a recommendation for the 

county to approve. Sumter County Council then approved the 

recommendation, drafted a $75 million “Penny for Progress” 

referendum to fund the construction of the judicial center and 

58 other projects. 

Citizens voted to approve the referendum in November 

2008. Sumter County officially then broke ground for the project 

on Sept. 13, 2011. 

“Our new judicial center was one of the projects funded 

with an allocation of $18 million,” Mixon explained. “But we 

determined early on that additional funds would be needed to 

complete this project. Therefore, we had to issue an additional 

bond of $4.5 million to construct it.” 

The judicial center’s modern approach to security, which 

uses a system of corridors to separate public areas from restricted 

spaces and secure holding cells to separate inmates from the 

public, is the building’s most important feature, according to 

Mixon. The building’s secure courtrooms — where justice 

is served — are the only spaces where court officials, county 

S 

employees, the public and inmates ever meet. 

Security is divided four ways: 

1). Judges are provided secure, private car parking and building 

access, and their offices and office entrances are private; 

jury deliberation rooms are private as well; 

2). County personnel must use cards to access restricted areas, 

which are separated from public areas; 

3). Inmates are delivered through a sally port at the rear of the 

building on the first floor that is completely locked down and 

secured when they are transported to and from temporary 

holding cells and the courtrooms; and 

4). Public access is only permitted at the front entrance, which 

is equipped with metal detectors and an X-ray machine, and 

staffed by security officers. 

“The responsibility of our state justice system begins many 

times at the local level, and Sumter County takes this responsibility 

very seriously,” said Sumter County Council Chairman 

Larry Blanding. “Our citizens expect and deserve such, and we 

are fortunate to have the majority of the voters in Sumter willing 

to financially support the construction of a new state-of-the-art 

judicial center by voting to pass the Capital Penny Sales Tax 

referendum in 2008. 

“The willingness to invest in ourselves,” Blanding added, “is 

what continues to make Sumter County a better place to live.” 


New Sheriff’s Office 

umter County’s new $3.5 million sheriff’s office, located at 

1281 N. Main St. in Sumter, was dedicated on May 24, 2013. 

Like the county’s new judicial center, the new 17,000-squarefoot 

sheriff’s office features state-of-the-art security — surveillance 

camera systems, and controlled access points that separate 

restricted work areas from public areas and victims from 

plaintiffs. 

The facility, designed to blend in with other structures in 

the surrounding area, includes: 

l Secure front entrance lobby for the public; 

l Meeting rooms; 

l Multi-purpose room for training and emergency operations 

l Interview rooms, equipped with dependable video and 

audio recording systems; 

l Media room; 

l Large room with cubicles, providing efficient office space; 

Sumter County’s new sheriff’s office (Photo by Stuart Morgan) 


l Climate-controlled evidence storage and lockers; 

l Moving records storage racks; 

l Break room; 

l Large parking area for the public, and a secured employee 

parking lot for law enforcement officials; and 

l A standby generator that 

can maintain the total 

functionality of the building 

for up to seven days if 

power is lost, for example, 

due to a natural disaster. 

The Sumter County Sheriff’s 

Office previously shared a 

building on E. Hampton 

Street in Sumter with the 

City of Sumter Police Department. 

The building 

lacked space and needed 

major repairs. So, the 

sheriff’s office was also 

forced to use several other 

buildings located elsewhere 

in the county. 

“Sumter County 

prides itself on providing 

efficient and effective services 

to its citizens,” said 

Sumter County Administrator 

Gary M. Mixon. 

The new Sheriff’s Office is “a top-notch law 

enforcement facility” that resolves issues of safety, 

security and overcrowding and provides space for 

future expansion. 

— Anthony Dennis 

Sumter County Sheriff 

Larry Blanding 

Sumter County 

Council Chairman 

Gary Mixon 

Sumter County 

Administrator 

“The sheriff’s office’s operations are critical core functions of 

county government, and as such, should provide the basic essential 

of a safe, professional work environment. So, our county 

council supported our sheriff’s request for a new facility, because 

additional space was needed. 

Speakers at Opening Ceremony 

Anthony Dennis 

Sumter County Sheriff 

“Council recognized,” 

Mixon added, “that the space 

allocated in the old city/county 

law enforcement center was no 

longer adequate to perform 

the duties and responsibilities 

of a modern law enforcement 

agency.” 

A sheriff is a county’s 

chief law enforcement officer. 

In Sumter County, 

for example, the sheriff 

provides security for 

the judicial center. The 

sheriff is also responsible 

for the service and execution 

of the civil judicial 

process in the county and 

criminal investigations 

and Homeland Security 

at the local level; and 

(See Sheriff’s Office, 

P. 16) 

Practically everyone who attended the ceremony on May 24, 2013, to officially open the new Sumter County Sheriff’s Office stepped forward to 

participate in the ribbon-cutting. (Photo Stuart Morgan) 

County Focus 13

Photos by Stuart Morgan 

The lobby, located within the front entrance of the new Sumter County Sheriff’s 

Office, includes two HD TVs — one just visible top-right near the entrance 

and the other in the top-left corner at the opposite end. One TV runs a news 

channel, and the other scrolls departmental information and safety tips. The 

doorway at the far end of the lobby leads to secure working areas within the 

building. 

ä 

Looking 

toward the service 

window in 

the lobby, which 

allows the staff 

of the Sheriff’s 

Department 

to serve the 

public. 

ä 


The multi-purpose room, capable of seating 163 

persons, includes two HD TVs and an overhead 

projector for training. The roll-away tables and 

chairs can be stored in an adjacent storage room 

if the space is needed for other purposes, including 

defensive tactics training. 

ä 

Media room, with lighting and audio setup for press 

conferences 

ä 

ä 

Exterior front entrance 

The Patrol Room includes a cubical desk, complete 

with telephones and computers, that allows 

officers to finish paperwork. The room also includes 

a found property room, an interview room, 

and a suspect toilet room that allows an officer to 

control the water source from outside the room. 

ä 

The investigative 

division includes work 

stations for investigators 

and interview 

rooms with audio/ 

video recording equipment 

that allows officers 

to view interviews 

from their desktop 

computers. 

ä 

Conference 

room, capable 

of seating up 

to 16 persons, 

includes an 

HD TV and a 

speaker phone 

for meetings and 

interviews. 

ä 

äStephanie 

Baker shows the 

evidence lockers, 

which include 

multi-sized 

compartments and a refrigerator. Evidence can be removed 

later from the opposite side by an evidence custodian. 

County Focus 15

Sheriff’s Office ... 


Conference room, capable of seating 6, located adjacent to the 

sheriff’s office. 

ä ä 

ä 

The office of the sheriff’s administrative assistant. The office 

includes a courtesy counter that provides privacy for sensitive 

paperwork. 

Sheriff’s office 

provides enforcement for animal control, litter control, traffic 

enforcement and drug enforcement. 

Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis described the new 

sheriff’s office as “a top-notch law enforcement facility” that 

resolves issues of safety, security and overcrowding and provides 

space for future expansion. 

“Communication has already become more efficient now 

that the sheriff’s office is located at one location,” Dennis added. 

“The location provides faster access to other government offices 

in the area, and it is closer to the Sumter/Lee Regional Detention 

Center. We also have more parking for officers, which is 

required when there are emergencies or the sheriff’s office hosts 

agency meetings.” 

Dennis also said the sheriff’s office is committed to insuring 

the welfare and safety of the citizens of Sumter County. But 

in doing so, he added, its employees are due the same sense of 

security and safety while performing their ascribed duties and 

responsibilities. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allowed 

Sumter County to issue a bond to fund the construction 

of the sheriff’s office and three other projects. Sumter County 

originally budgeted $4 million for the sheriff’s office project, 

which officially began on May 31, 2012. 

“A pleasant work space is the right thing to provide 

for public servants who in some way put their 

lives on the line to protect our citizens. Victims of 

crime now have a safe and private experience when 

speaking with law enforcement officers.” 

— Larry Blanding 

Sumter County Council Chairman 

“The layout of the new sheriff’s office seems to be very 

functional and purposeful, and I’m very pleased that our sheriff 

and his staff have a very professional office to conduct day-today 

operations,” said Sumter County Council Chairman Larry 

Blanding. “Public safety is often taken for granted in a community 

the size of Sumter.” 

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has more than 130 

officers. 

“A pleasant work space is the right thing to provide for public 

servants who in some way put their lives on the line to protect our 

citizens,” Blanding said. “Victims of crime now have a safe and 

private experience when speaking with law enforcement officers. 

The morale of officers is high, because they know that citizens 

of Sumter County care about their well-being and appreciate 

their service. 

“‘Protect and serve’,” he added, “is more than a motto. It’s 

a mutual experience.” 

The front office/data clerks room includes a high density filing 

system, work stations for data clerks, and an adjoining office 

where officers can take reports in private from walk-ins. 

16 Volume 24, Number 2 

ä

A New Standard of Quality and Service in South Carolina 

• Industrial Park Master Planning & Design 

• Site Certification 





• Water & Wastewater Planning & Design 

• Grant Application/Administrative Assistance 



“Developing alliances 

one county at a time.” 

— Deepal Eliatamby, P.E. 

County Focus 17 

Bluffton, SC | Charlotte, NC | Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC

For more than a century, NBSC has been committed 

to the needs and dreams of individuals and families 

seeking financial advice and insight. Today, this heritage 

of financial responsibility is embodied in unquestioned 

integrity, exceptional service and seasoned expertise, and 

delivered through a personalized relationship that is 

defined solely by your preferences and goals. 

Visit or call an NBSC Banker to discuss your needs. We look 

forward to putting our unique combination of services to 

work for you. 

www.bankNBSC.com 

1-800-708-5687 

NBSC is a division of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, 

is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple 

trade names across the Southeast. Divisions of Synovus Bank are 

not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to 

deposit customers is that of one insured bank. 

Offering web, sheetfed and digital printing; 

promotional products and design. 

1730 Old Dunbar Road 

West Columbia, SC 29172 

803-796-4000 

Two locations! 

310 Greystone Blvd. 

Columbia, SC 29210 

803-343-6775 

www.proprinters.com 


County Focus 19

SCAC 

Corporate Supporters 

SCAC appreciates its corporate supporters — all 99 of them! If your company 

would like to support the Association and receive sponsorship benefits, please contact 

the SCAC Office at (803) 252-7255. 

Patrons 

Ariel Third Party Administrators, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

BB&T Governmental Finance 

Columbia, SC 

Carolina Office Systems, Inc. 

Wando, SC 

Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina 

Cayce, SC 

Energy Systems Group 

Irmo, SC 

Musco Sports Lighting, LLC 

Columbia, SC 

Pope Zeigler, LLC 

Columbia, SC 

Progress Energy/Duke Energy 

Florence, SC 

Santee Cooper 

Moncks Corner, SC 

SCANA Corporation/SCE&G Company 

Columbia, SC 

South Carolina Power Team 

Columbia, SC 

SouthData, Inc. 

Mount Airy, NC 

Southern Health Partners, Inc. 

Chattanooga, TN 

Tax Management Associates 

Charlotte, NC 

ABM 

Alpheretta, GA 

Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc. 

Bluffton, Columbia and Greenville, SC; and 

Charlotte, NC 

American Engineering Consultants, Inc. 

Cayce, SC 

Amick Equipment Company 

Lexington, SC 

Analog Digital Solutions, Inc. 

Fuquay Varina, NC 

Archer Company, LLC 

Rock Hill, SC 

Asphalt Zipper, Inc. 

Simpsonville, SC 

AT&T 

Columbia, SC 

Bamberg Board of Public Works 

Bamberg, SC 

The Benefit Bank of South Carolina 

Lexington, SC 

Berkeley Electric Cooperative 

Moncks Corner, SC 

Black River Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Sumter, SC 

Blanchard Machinery Company 

Columbia, SC 

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Pickens, SC 

Broad River Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Gaffney, SC 

Carithers Real Estate 

Anderson, SC 

CDM Smith Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

Clemson University 

Cooperative Extension Service 

Clemson, SC 

Coastal Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Walterboro, SC 

Coast2Coast Rx Discount Card 

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 

Community Eye Care, LLC 

Charlotte, NC 

Corporate Concepts, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

DataMax/Interstate Credit Collections 

Winston-Salem, NC 

Davis & Floyd, Inc. 

Charleston, SC 

Sponsors 

Dennis Corporation 

Columbia, SC 

DP3 Architects, Ltd. 

Greenville, SC 

FacilityDude 

Cary, NC 

Fairfield Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Winnsboro, SC 

Five Star Computing, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

Florence & Hutcheson 

Columbia, SC 

Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

GMK Associates, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

Greene Finney & Horton, LLP 

Mauldin, SC 

Hazen and Sawyer, PC 

Raleigh, NC 

Horry County Solid Waste Authority 

Conway, SC 

Horry Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Conway, SC 


Howell Linkous & Nettles, LLC 


Hulsey McCormick & Wallace, Inc. 

Piedmont, SC 

Hybrid Engineering, Inc. 

Irmo, SC 

J.M. Wood Auction Company, Inc. 

Montgomery, AL 

Johnson Controls, Inc. 

North Charleston, SC 

KeyMark, Inc. 


Lowcountry Billing Services, Inc. 

Lexington, SC 

Marlboro Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Bennettsville, SC 

MBAJ Architecture 

Lexington, SC 

M.B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

McNair Law Firm, PA 

Anderson, Bluffton, Charleston, Columbia, 

Greenville, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and Pawleys 

Island, SC; and Charlotte, NC 

Mead & Hunt, Inc. 

Lexington, SC 

Michael Baker Corporation 

Columbia, SC 

Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Lexington, SC 

Motorola Solutions – Palmetto 800 

Columbia, SC 

Municode/Municipal Code Corporation 

Tallahassee, FL 

NBSC 

Columbia, SC 

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP 

Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, 

Myrtle Beach, SC; and Washington, DC 

Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Newberry, SC 

Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc. 

Hilton Head Island, SC 

Palmetto Management Partners, LLC 

Chester, SC 

Piedmont Natural Gas 


Pike McFarland Hall Associates 

Myrtle Beach, SC 

qPublic 

Deland, FL 

QS/1 

Spartanburg, SC 

Robert S. Segal, CPA, PA 

High Point, NC 

Siemens Corporation, Inc. 

Irmo, SC 

Siemens Industry, Inc. 

Norcross, GA 

Simplified Office Systems, Inc. 

Irmo, SC 

S.C. Association of Community 

Development Corporations 


South Carolina 811 

Columbia, SC 

S.C. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

South Eastern Road Treatment 

Evans, GA 

Southwest Securities, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

Spirit Communications 

Columbia, SC 

Stevens & Wilkinson 

Columbia, SC 

Stewart l Cooper l Newell Architects 

Columbia, SC 

Terrell, Hundley & Carroll 

Right of Way Services, Inc. 

Lawrenceville, GA 

Thomas & Hutton 

Mount Pleasant, SC 

Thompson Turner Construction 

Sumter, SC 

Time Warner Cable 

West Columbia, SC 

Total Comfort Solutions 


Upstate South Carolina Alliance 


URS Corporation 

Columbia, SC 

VC3 

Columbia, SC 

Vismor, Ricketson & Associates 

Anderson and Columbia, SC 

W.K. Dickson 

Charlotte, NC 

Woolpert, Inc. 

Columbia, SC 

WORLDNET AUCTIONS, INC. 

Greeleyville, SC 

Attention 

Corporate Supporters 

To continue receiving your sponsorship 

benefits without delay, please contact 

SCAC’s Public Information Office 

at (803) 252-7255 or smorgan@scac. 

sc if your contact information changes. 

We don’t want you to miss anything! 

Purpose 

of the SCAC 

To promote more efficient 

county governments 

To study, discuss and 

recommend improvements 

in government 

To investigate and provide 

means for the exchange of 

ideas and experiences 

between county officials 

To promote and encourage 

education of county 

officials 

To collect, analyze and 

distribute information 

about county government 

To cooperate with other 

organizations 

To promote legislation 

which supports efficient 

administration of local 

government in South 

Carolina 

For more information 

about the SCAC, please 

contact: 



P.O. Box 8207 

1919 Thurmond Mall 


(803) 252-7255 

scac@scac.sc 

County Focus 21

Building Stronger Counties for Tomorrow 

Need Information? Visit SCAC’s 

Website at www.sccounties.org 

The South Carolina Association of Counties’ website is the primary Internet resource for 

information about South Carolina’s counties and issues affecting county government. The website 

is a dynamic tool that provides access to information about services such as education and 

training opportunities, research capabilities and legal assistance. 

Visitors to sccounties.org will find conference schedules, legislative initiatives, and numerous 

Association publications. The website has information on key financial programs offered 

by SCAC, unique county-specific publications, legislative monitoring and ad hoc surveys. 

The site provides general information for all 46 counties—including contact information for 

county officials, links to county websites, and job postings. Sccounties.org is also a conduit 

to a number of other resources such as the National Association of Counties, the S.C. General 

Assembly, U.S. Congress, federal agencies, as well as national and state associations. 

The SCAC staff remains ready to receive and assist with any special requests. To facilitate 

this communication, please refer to the SCAC staff list on page 25 to obtain respective email 

addresses. 


P.O. Box 8207 

Columbia, S.C. 29202-8207 

Telephone: (803) 252-7255 

1-800-922-6081 (Toll-Free in South Carolina) 

Email: scac@scac.sc 

Fax: (803) 252-0379 

22 22 Volume Volume 24, 24, Number Number 2 2

SCAC Officers 

First 

Vice President 

& 

Board Members 

Second 

Vice President 

Immediate 

Past President 

president 

Charles T. Edens 

Sumter County 

Council Member 

Secretary 

Treasurer 

NACo 

Board Member 

Joe Branham 

Chester County 


Waymon Mumford 

Florence County 


James R. Frazier 

Horry County 


Joseph B. Dill 

Greenville County 


SCAC 

Proudly Serving 

South Carolina’s 

46 counties since 1967. 

William T. Noonan 

Sumter County 

Special Projects 

Director 

David K. Summers, Jr. 

Calhoun County 


Belinda D. Copeland 

Darlington County 

Treasurer 

S.C. Counties Workers’ 

Compensation Trust and 

Property and Liability 

Trust Chairman 

Diane B. Anderson 

Laurens County 


Julie J. Armstrong 

Charleston County 

Clerk of Court 

John Q. Atkinson, Jr. 

Marion County 


William Banning, Sr. 

Lexington County 


R. David Brown 

Fairfield County 


Gonza L. Bryant 

Greenwood County 


James A. Coleman 



Franklin Fulmore, Sr. 

Williamsburg County 


Charles Jennings. 



L. Gregory Pearce, Jr. 

Richland County 

Council Vice Chairman 

Lois H. Roddey 


Probate Judge 

R. Carlisle Roddey 


Supervisor 

R. Archie Scott 

Dillon County 


K.G. “Rusty” Smith, Jr. 


Administrator 

Claude Thomas 

Abbeville County 


Joel R. Thrift 

Oconee County 


F. Pickens Williams, Jr. 

Barnwell County 

Administrator 

Johnnie Wright, Sr. 

Orangeburg County 


Ronnie Young 

Aiken County 

Council County Chairman Focus 23

Preparing Counties for Tomorrow ... 

What is the SCAC? 

Conferences 

Education 

S outh Carolina Association of Counties, 

chartered on June 22, 1967, is the county officials to meet and learn, among them: 

SCAC provides many opportunities for 

only organization dedicated to statewide 

representation of Mid-Year Conference — Held in late winter 

county government in Columbia, this conference enables all county 

in South Carolina. officials to become better informed about the 

A nonpartisan, Association’s legislative program. The Association 

also hosts a reception for all members of 

nonprofit organization 

with a full-time the Legislature during this conference. 

staff in Columbia, Annual Conference — Held in August, this 

SCAC is governed conference is open to all elected and appointed 

by a 29-member officials. The conference includes a business 

Board of Directors session, general session, workshops, group 

selected by county meetings and exhibits of county products and 

officials at the Association’s Annual Conference. 

Legislative Conference — Held in December, 

services. 

Counties have made tremendous this conference allows members of the Legislative 

Committee to discuss and adopt a legislative 

progress since the enactment of the Home 

Rule Act in 1975. A lot has changed, and program for the upcoming year. The committee 

so has county government. As county is composed of each Council Chairman along 

government becomes more important to with the Association’s Board of Directors. 

the quality of life in the state, SCAC is 

committed to preparing county officials 

for tomorrow. 

The Association, in cooperation with the 

Institute for Public Service and Policy Research 

at the University of South Carolina and the 

Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University, 

conducts an Institute of Government (Level 

I, Level II and Advanced Level) for County Officials. 

This certificate program helps county officials 

enhance their skills and abilities. Courses 

are offered at the Annual and Mid-Year Conferences 

and at the County Council Coalition 

Meeting in the fall. 

SCAC also sponsors a number of continuing 

education webcasts for county officials and 

employees throughout the year at no charge to 

counties. Within a few weeks after the webbased 

training is broadcast live, county officials 

and employees are able to access the session as 

a video on demand from the webcast library on 

the SCAC website at http://www.sccounties. 

org 

Financial Services Legal Assistance Setoff Debt Program 

SCAC offers a number of financial services 

to its member counties. SCAC sponsors three 

self-funded insurance Trusts designed specifically 

to meet the needs and requirements of local 

government agencies, including the Workers’ 

Compensation Trust, the Property and Liability 

Trust and OPEB Trust. In cooperation with 

the National Association of Counties Financial 

Services Center, SCAC now offers purchasing 

cooperative agreements with Independent Stationers, 

GovDeals and tax audit services with 

Tax Management Associates, Inc. 

SCAC provides legal assistance to county 

governments by rendering legal opinions, preparing 

Amicus briefs, drafting ordinances and 

consulting with other county officials. 

The Association provides support to counties 

involved in litigation that might affect other 

counties. It also sponsors the Local Government 

Attorneys’ Institute, which provides six hours of 

continuing legal education for local government 

attorneys. 

South Carolina counties are able to collect 

delinquent emergency medical services debts, 

magistrate and family court fines, hospital 

debts as well as other fees owed to the counties 

through SCAC’s Setoff Debt Collection 

Program. 

Debts are submitted through the Association 

to the South Carolina Department 

of Revenue to be matched with income tax 

refunds. The debt is deducted from a refund 

and returned through SCAC to the claimant. 

Legislative 

Information 

Public 

Information 

Research and 

Technical Assistance 

The South Carolina General 

Assembly convenes each January 

in Columbia and adjourns sine die 

in June. One in every four bills 

introduced affects county governments. 

SCAC monitors each bill 

as it is introduced and keeps its 

members up-to-date on all legislative 

activity with a weekly Friday 

Report. The Association also dispatches 

Legislative Action Alerts 

and publishes Acts That Affect 

Counties each year. 

SCAC publishes an annual 

Directory of County Officials 

listing addresses and telephone 

numbers of county offices and their 

elected and appointed officials. The 

Association also publishes Carolina 

Counties Newsletter five 

times a year to keep the Association’s 

membership informed about 

legislation and various county 

news. County Focus Magazine 

is published four times a year and 

features articles on county trends, 

innovations and various other subjects 

of interest to county officials. 

The magazine includes a section 

called “County Update.” 

SCAC provides research and 

technical assistance in many areas 

to those counties that request it. 

The Association staff annually 

responds to hundreds of inquiries 

from county officials ranging from 

simple requests for a sample ordinance 

to more complex questions 

requiring considerable research. 

The Association also develops 

technical research bulletins and 

conducts surveys on a variety 

of subjects. Regular publications 

such as the Annual Wage 

and Salary Report, Acts That 

Affect Counties, Home Rule 

Handbook, A Handbook for 

County Governments in South 

Carolina, and Case Law Affecting 

Local Government are 

made available to county officials. 

SCAC’s website address is: 

http://www.sccounties.org 

The site provides county officials 

with the latest information 

on SCAC programs, services and 

meetings as well as legislative 

information, research and survey 

results and links to other local 

government resources. 

SCAC 1919 Thurmond Mall P.O. Box 8207 Columbia, S.C. 29202-8207 

(803) 252-7255 Toll-Free in S.C.: 1-800-922-6081 Fax (803) 252-0379 E-mail: scac@scac.sc 

www.sccounties.org 


SCAC Staff 



P.O. Box 8207, Columbia, SC 29202-8207 

(803) 252-7255 

General office email: scac@scac.sc 

Website: www.sccounties.org 

Robert S. Croom 

Deputy General Counsel 

rcroom@scac.sc 

Robert E. Benfield, ARM 

Risk Manager 

rbenfield@scac.sc 

Douglas L. Brockhard, CPA 

Controller 

dbrockhard@scac.sc 

Leslie M. Christy-Jennings 

Special Projects Coordinator 

ljennings@scac.sc 

Robert C. Collins, CPCU, CIC 


rcollins@scac.sc 

S. Ruthie Duvall 

Administrative Assistant 

rduvall@scac.sc 

John D. Henderson, ARM, ALCM 

Director of Risk Management Services 

jhenderson@scac.sc 

John V. Jervey, AIC 

Property & Liability Claims Manager 

jjervey@scac.sc 

M. Kent Lesesne 

Staff Attorney 

klesesne@scac.sc 

W. Stuart Morgan III 


smorgan@scac.sc 

Joshua C. Rhodes 


jrhodes@scac.sc 

Melinda L. Suddes 

Director of Administrative Services 

msuddes@scac.sc 

Dana M. Tomlinson 


dtomlinson@scac.sc 


Executive Director 

scac@scac.sc 

Robert E. Lyon, Jr. 

Deputy Executive Director 

and General Counsel 

blyon@scac.sc 

Timothy C. Winslow 

Assistant General Counsel 

twinslow@scac.sc 

Anna B. Berger 

Director of Research and Training 

aberger@scac.sc 

Susan L. Chambers 

Assistant Program Coordinator 


schambers@scac.sc 

Pam S. Collins, ARM 

Program Coordinator 


pcollins@scac.sc 

John K. DeLoache 


jdeloache@scac.sc 

Jennifer M. Haworth 

Webmaster 

jhaworth@scac.sc 

Dennis L. Hicks, AIC 

Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager 

dhicks@scac.sc 

Pearlena A. Khalif-Govan 


pkhalif@scac.sc 

Robert J. Lyon, CPPB 

Procurement Officer 

rlyon@scac.sc 

Nilda A. Padgett 

Meeting Planner/ 


npadgett@scac.sc 

Jenna L. Stephens 


jstephens@scac.sc 

Susan Turkopuls 

Senior Research Associate 

sturkopuls@scac.sc 

Rick K. Ucinski 

Field Representative 

rucinski@scac.sc 

Mary E. Williams 


mwilliams@scac.sc 

County Focus 25

SCAC-Sponsored Insurance Trusts 

History of the Trusts 

The S.C. Workers’ Compensation Trust dates back to Nov. 1, 1984, when 11 counties began the fund with less than a 

half million dollars. More than 25 years later, the Trust has grown to include 42 counties with total discounted premiums 

in the $19 million range. The Trust also provides workers’ compensation coverage for 47 additional agencies with ties to 

county government. The Property & Liability Trust began on Aug. 1, 1995 with four initial members. The membership 

has grown to 16 counties and 8 county-related agencies. 

Boards of Trustees 

The Trusts were designed by and for county government with the goal of providing insurance to counties at the lowest 

rates possible, while providing services uniquely tailored to the needs of county governments. The Boards of Trustees are 

made up of county officials who are elected by the SCAC’s Board of Directors. Although not a requirement, both boards 

currently share the same membership. 

Risk Management 

Because member contributions (premiums) are based both on the accident histories of the individual counties (experience 

modifiers) and on the membership as a whole, both Trusts employ very aggressive risk management strategies. The 

philosophy adopted by the Trusts is that, if accidents are caused, they can be prevented. Risk Management services are 

provided by the SCAC staff. The payoff is lower premiums and a safer working environment. 

Claims Administration and Management 

Ariel Third Party Administrators provides workers’ compensation claims administration for the Workers’ Compensation 

Trust. The SCAC Staff provides claims administration for the Property & Liability Trust and provides the administration 

of both Trusts. n 

Boards of Trustees 

for 

South Carolina Counties 

Workers’ Compensation Trust 

and 

Property & Liability Trust 

CHAIRMAN 

David K. Summers, Jr. 



VICE CHAIRMAN 

James A. Coleman 



Gonza L. Bryant 




I 

Boiler and Machinery: 

Are You Compliant? 

n 2006, South Carolina became the 50th state to enact laws 

concerning jurisdictional inspections of boilers. The S.C. 

Boiler Safety Act is intended to help prevent potentially serious 

accidents by making sure this equipment is in compliance 

with state codes and standards. Although some boilers may be 

exempt, the new law covers a range of businesses and institutions, 

including detention centers, hospitals, office buildings and 

many other places of public assembly. Boilers are commonly 

used to generate heat and hot water and for steam production 

and processing. The hot water heaters commonly used at many 

detention centers fall under the Act. 

The S.C. Boiler Safety Act mandates that any new boiler 

installed and operated after Dec. 31, 2005, must be designed 

and constructed in accordance with the American Society of 

Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code. 

Due to the explosion potential of boilers, the Boiler and 

Machinery policy is a separate line of insurance coverage and 

periodic inspections are critical. In addition to boilers, certain 

water heater tanks are governed by ASME criteria when 1) the 

heat input is 200,000 BTUs or higher, 2) the water temperature 

is 210 F or above, and 3) the tank capacity is 120 gallons or 

more. If ANY of these three requirements for hot water heaters 

is exceeded, the tank must be stamped with the ASME code 

of construction. Therefore, before purchasing or installing a 

new boiler or hot water heater (that meets ANY of these three 

criteria), please ensure that they are ASME compliant. 

In fact, it was brought to our attention that a large, local 

commercial plumbing contractor was not aware of the S.C. 

Boiler Safety Act and recently installed several non-ASME compliant 

water heater tanks. Both “code” and “non-code” tanks 

continue to be manufactured so it is important for you to be 

familiar with whether or not your tank is compliant. Ultimately, 

the responsibility of complying with the S.C. Boiler Safety Act 

By Robert C. Collins, CPCU, CIC 


rests with the end user and installer. 

The S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 

is the governing body that oversees boilers and has required 

that each boiler used, or proposed to be used, in South Carolina 

must be registered and inspected annually or biennially. Most 

boilers are included in the law, with some exceptions such as 

boilers owned and maintained by a public utility for reproduction 

of electricity, agricultural use and boilers used in private 

residences. 

The S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 

will not perform any jurisdictional inspections. However, if your 

property and liability coverages are provided by the S.C. Counties 

Property and Liability Trust (SCCP&LT), your boilers will 

be inspected by an employee of Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB). 

The SCCP&LT includes these important inspections as part of 

our standard insurance coverage at no extra cost. In contrast to 

some other insurance companies, HSB includes jurisdictional 

inspections in their standard insurance coverage. HSB is the 

premier provider of jurisdictional inspections in the United 

States, with the largest number of certified, experienced and 

knowledgeable inspectors. 

The inspection process has been slowed primarily due to 

the large number of boilers across the state. However, please 

be aware that boiler inspectors are making their way across the 

State with greater expediency. Moreover, HSB may not have 

information on all of your boilers. HSB uses its insurance data 

to help identify insured equipment that needs periodic jurisdictional 

inspections. 

When the inspection requirement is fulfilled, you are issued 

a registration certificate based on the inspection and report 

from a HSB inspector. In general, these jurisdictional boiler 

operating certificates are required to be posted near the equip- 

(Continued on next page) 

Clyde B. Livingston 



Waymon Mumford 



F. Pickens Williams, Jr. 

Barnwell County 

Administrator 

R. Carlisle Roddey 


Supervisor 

SECRETARY/ 

TREASURER 


Executive Director, SCAC 

County Focus 27


Directory 

of 

County Officials 

Want to know “Who’s Who” in South Carolina 

county government? Order a copy of the 

2013 Directory of County Officials while 

copies are available. Or order a copy of the 

2014 Directory, scheduled to be published 

in February. 

The Directory identifies all elected and 

appointed county officials in the state. This 

popular, award-winning publication also identifies 

SCAC’s Officers, Board of Directors, Past 

Presidents, Corporate Supporters, Regional 

Councils of Government, Federal and State 

Officials and State Senators and Representatives. 

Addresses and telephone numbers are 

included for all county officials, state officials 

and members of the S.C. General Assembly. 

The cost per copy is $25.00 (including tax, 

postage, shipping and handling). 

To order your copy of the 2013 or 2014 

Directory of County Officials, please 

contact: 




P.O. Box 8207 

Columbia, S.C. 29202-8207 

(803) 252-7255 

Boiler and Machinery ... 


ment. This is similar to the certificates that you see in most 

elevators. Boiler operating certificates let people know that 

your equipment has been inspected and that the certificate 

is current. 

If an operating certificate is not posted, fire department 

and municipal code enforcement officials, or inspectors with 

the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health 

Administration (OSHA) may be prompted to look closer at 

compliance in additional areas of your business. Posted boiler 

operating certificates help inform the public and other government 

agencies that you are taking care of your equipment. 

I hope I have helped to answer questions you might 

have about the South Carolina Boiler Safety Act. As always, 

don’t hesitate to call on me and your SCAC staff at any time. 

You also can call the South Carolina Department of Labor, 

Licensing and Regulation at (803) 896-4300. n 

l Representing you before Congress 

and the Administration 

l Helping you better serve your 

residents 

l Saving you and your taxpayers’ 

money 

l Raising public understanding of 

county government, and 

l Restoring the Federal - County 

Partnership 

The Voice of 

America’s Counties 

www.naco.org 

28 28 Volume 24, 24, Number 2 2

On Time. On Budget. On Your Side. 


County Focus 29

All of These Companies Have 

Two Things in Common ... 

2 million square feet 

2.1 million square feet 

1 million square feet 

500,000 square feet 

Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., 

Recognized as the 

Leading Economic Development Engineering Firm 

in South Carolina by 


They Chose South Carolina. 

They Chose Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc. 





Building Alliances 

One Project at a Time 



County Focus 31

Building Alliances One Client at a Time 

lliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., 

A is a professional civil engineering 

firm providing technical consulting 

services to County Governments, 

Municipalities, Developers, Industry, 

School Districts, Healthcare Providers, 

Architects and other private entities. 

Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., was 

founded on the concept that our clients 

want in-depth personal involvement for 

today’s complex projects. Our hands-on 

approach guides the client from conceptual 

planning through final design, permitting, 

and construction. Using traditional 

business practices and state of the practice 

technology, our mission is to demonstrate 

our commitment to our clients by providing 

a quality product in a timely manner. 

Our project personnel have extensive 

planning, design, and permitting 

experience in water, wastewater, 

roadway, storm drainage and solid 

waste facilities design. We also offer 

Grant Application and Administration 

Services, as well as Construction 

Administration and Observation. 

Our experienced staff offers professional 

design services, comprehensive knowledge 

of regulatory requirements, and familiarity 

with local and regional construction 

practices. Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc.’s 

approach to streamline and efficient 

project execution encompasses our staff’s 

professional expertise, local knowledge 

and partnerships, and the use of the latest 

computer technology. This approach, 

coupled with our commitment to providing 

a quality product enables Alliance 

Consulting Engineers, Inc. to provide our 

clients with a cost-effective and efficient 

solution to their engineering needs. 

Our Services: 

• Industrial Park 

Master Planning & Design 

• Water & Wastewater 

Planning & Design 

• Industrial Site Certification 





• Grant Application & 

Administrative Assistance 


Visit us online at 


for a complete listing 

of services. 

Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc., has offices in 

Bluffton, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina, 

and Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Charlotte Regional Office 

4421 Stuart Andrew Blvd. 

Suite 307 

Charlotte, NC 28217-1551 

P: 704 527-4474 

F: 704 527-5228 

Midlands Regional Office & 

Corporate Headquarters 

Post Office Box 8147 


P: 803 779-2078 

F: 803 779-2079 

Lowcountry Regional Office 

10 Pinckney Colony Road 

Suite 102 

Bluffton, SC 29909-4127 

P: 843 757-5959 

F: 843 757-6659 

Upstate Regional Office 

124 Verdae Blvd. 

Bonaventure II, Suite 505 

Greenville, SC 29607-3843 

P: 864 284-1740 

F: 864 284-1741 


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Looking at U.S. Supreme Court Cases 

That Affect Local Government: 

October Term 2012 

E 

very year the U.S. Supreme Court 

decides cases that affect local government 

and this year was no exception. We’ve 

written about a few of the earlier decisions 

in preceding issues. 

The following cases include some 

wins and some losses for local government, 

but they are all cases in which 

IMLA participated on behalf of local 

government as an amicus. We thank 

our members for their support of our 

efforts and hope that if you are reading 

this and are not a member of IMLA that 

you will join our effort to protect local 

government authority and protect against 

increased local government liability. 

Dan’s City Used Cars, Inc. v. Pelkey 

— FAAA, Preemption, Towing 

Companies 

This case concerned the preemptive 

scope of the Federal Aviation Administration 

Authorization Act of 1994 (Act) 

as applicable to motor carriers. The provision 

in question, 49 U. S. C. §14501(c) 

(1), reads: “[A] State . . . may not enact 

or enforce a law, regulation, or other 

provision having the force and effect of 

law related to a price, route, or service of 

any motor carrier . . . with respect to the 

transportation of property.” 

Robert Pelkey (Pelkey) left his 2004 

Honda Civic in the parking lot of his 

apartment complex after a snowstorm, 

impeding snow removal. In accordance 

with its rules, the complex had the car 

towed by defendant-petitioner Dan’s 

By Charles W. Thompson, Jr. 

Executive Director and General Counsel, IMLA 

City Used Cars (Dan’s City). Pelkey was 

hospitalized and in bad health and did not 

receive notice of the towing from Dan’s 

City, or notice of its intent to auction 

the vehicle. Pelkey’s lawyer contacted 

Dan’s City to pay for towing and storage 

charges and arrange for the car’s return, 

but Dan’s City eventually traded the car 

away without compensating him for loss 

of the vehicle. 

According to Pelkey, Dan’s City 

failed to comply with New Hampshire’s 

provisions governing the sale of stored 

vehicles and the application of sale 

proceeds, in violation of the State’s 

Consumer Protection Act. Dan’s City 

responded that the New Hampshire statutes 

were preempted by the Act, which 

covered towing services. The lower court 

had held for Dan’s City, agreeing that the 

Act preempted state law. 

The New Hampshire Supreme Court 

reversed and held for Pelkey, finding that 

the state law claims in question were not 

preempted by the Act. 

The Supreme Court agreed. In a 

unanimous decision, Justice Ginsburg 

upheld the New Hampshire Supreme 

Court decision that Pelkey’s state law 

claims were not preempted. 

The Act dealt principally with “the 

transportation of property.” In this case, 

the state law claims stemmed from the 

storage and disposal of a car once towing 

had ended. As such, those claims were 

not sufficiently connected to a motor carrier’s 

service with respect to the transportation 

of property to warrant preemption 

under the Act. Justice Ginsburg pointed 

out that the New Hampshire law involved 

did not regulate any towing services or 

carriage of property. Instead, it focused 

on custodians of stored vehicles seeking 

to sell them. 

The Act was intended by Congress 

to promote competition among motor 

carriers and to limit local intervention 

in interstate commerce. Although the 

Act did reference “storage” and “handling,” 

it did so only in the context of 

“transportation.” Here, all the relevant 

facts stemmed from activity once the 

transportation had ended. Congress did 

not displace the State’s regulation of that 

activity by any federal prescription. 

IMLA was represented in this case 

by the Emory University Supreme Court 

Clinic. 

http://www.supremecourt.gov/ 

opinions/12pdf/12-52_l537.pdf (last accessed 

May 25, 2013) 

(Continued on next page) 

County Focus 37

McBurney v. Young, No. 12-17 (Apr. 

29, 2013) Privileges and Immunity, 

Commerce Clause, Public Records 

Two non-Virginians, McBurney and 

Hurlbert, were denied access to records 

held by Virginia state agencies, because 

of a “residents-only” limitation that regulates 

access to most Virginia agencies. 

McBurney, a citizen of Rhode Island, 

wanted to know why there was a ninemonth 

delay in his collecting child support 

after his former wife defaulted on her 

obligation, and requested all information 

relating to himself, his son, his ex-wife, 

and his case and the handling of child support 

cases when one spouse lives abroad. 

Hurlbert, a citizen of California, operated 

a business that requests real estate tax 

assessment records for clients from state 

agencies. He sought assessment records 

for certain real estate parcels in Henrico 

County, Va. 

Both were denied access to records 

because they are not citizens of Virginia. 

McBurney and Hurlbert filed suit seeking 

to have the Virginia FOIA-style law 

invalidated because the statute violated 

the Privileges and Immunities Clause and 

the dormant Commerce Clause. 

The issue before the Court was 

whether a state can lawfully preclude 

non-residents from enjoying the same 

right of access to public records that the 

state affords its own residents. 

Virginia’s citizens-only FOIA provision 

does not violate the Privileges and 

Immunities Clause, because the right to 

access public information is not “fundamental.” 

Virginia’s FOIA also does not 

violate the dormant Commerce Clause, 

because it neither prohibits access to an 

interstate market, nor imposes burdensome 

regulation on that market. 

McBurney and Hurlbert alleged four 

different “fundamental” privileges or immunities; 

(1) The opportunity to pursue 

a common calling, (2) The ability to own 

and transfer property, (3) Access to the 

Virginia courts, and (4) Access to public 

information. The court concluded that 

the first three items on this list are not 

abridged by Virginia’s FOIA, and that the 

fourth is not protected by the Privileges 

and Immunities Clause, in large part 

because the citizen requirement does not 

have a protectionist aim. In dicta, the 

court pointed out that the distinction between 

citizens and noncitizens recognizes 

that the citizens of a particular state foot 

the bill for the record keeping. 

The Court then addressed the Petitioners’ 

claim that the law violates the 

dormant Commerce Clause because it 

denies noncitizens the right to access 

public information on equal terms with 

citizens of the State. The common thread 

among dormant Commerce Clause cases 

is that a state interferes with a natural 

interstate market, either by prohibiting 

specific actions or creating overly burdensome 

regulation. Insofar as there is an 

interstate market for public documents 

in Virginia, the Court held that the law 

neither “regulates” nor “burdens” such 

commerce. 

IMLA filed an amicus brief in this 

case, authored by Stuart Raphael of 

Hunton and Williams. The decision was 

favorable for municipal attorneys. We 

thank Mr. Raphael for his excellent work. 


opinions/12pdf/12-17_d1o2.pdf (last accessed 

May 2, 2013) 

Maryland v. King — Privacy Rights, 

Due Process, Self Incrimination, 

Search and Seizure 

This case pits the tough-on-criminals 

law enforcement advocates against the 

privacy rights advocates and is a facial and 

as-applied constitutional challenge to that 

portion of the Maryland DNA Collection 

Act (the “Act”) that purports to authorize 

State and local law enforcement authorities 

to collect DNA samples from individuals 

who are arrested for a crime of 

violence, an attempted crime of violence, 

a burglary, or an attempted burglary. 

Maryland Code (2003, 2011 Repl. Vol.), 

Pub. Safety Art., § 2-504(3). King, was arrested 

in 2009 on first- and second-degree 

assault charges. Pursuant to § 2-504(3) of 

the Act, King’s DNA was collected, analyzed, 

and entered into Maryland’s DNA 

database. King was convicted ultimately 

on the second-degree assault charge but, 

pending his trial on that charge, his DNA 

profile generated a match to a DNA 

sample collected from a sexual assault 

forensic examination conducted on the 

victim of an unsolved 2003 rape. This 

“hit” provided the sole probable cause 

for a subsequent grand jury indictment 

of King for the rape. A later-obtained 

search warrant ordered collection from 

King of an additional reference DNA 

sample, which, after processing and 

analysis, matched also the DNA profile 

from the 2003 rape. King was convicted 

of first-degree rape and sentenced to life 

in prison. 

The Maryland Court had previously 

concluded the Act constitutional when 

applied to convicted persons, but in this 

case determined that the Act authorizing 

collection of a DNA sample from a mere 

arrestee is unconstitutional as applied to 

King but while likely unconstitutional 

when applied to arrestees generally, there 

exists the possibility that there may be a 

basis to support obtaining a DNA sample 

to identify an arrestee accurately, so did 

not accept the facial challenge to the Act. 

Instead, it crippled it. 

The Supreme Court granted certiorari. 

IMLA, with others, filed a brief in support 

of the State of Maryland. On June 

3, 2013, the Supreme Court reversed in 

what has been one of the most celebrated 

cases of the term. The Court split 5 to 4 

with what is now a growing trend of unity 

among Justices Scalia, Ginsburg, Kagan 

and Sotomayor when it comes to criminal 

law and privacy issues. 

In writing for the majority, Justice 

Kennedy noted that all agree that the 

use of a buccal swab on the inside of a 

person’s cheek is a “search.” Nevertheless, 

he concluded that “The fact than 

an intrusion is negligible is of central 

relevance to determining reasonableness, 

although it is still a search as the 

law defines that term.” Justice Kennedy 

advanced two reasonable governmental 

bases for requiring the DNA capture: 1) 

identification of the accused; and 2) the 

long held right of the authorities to search 

a person in custody. To support its position, 

the majority noted that since the mid 

19th Century, jailers have attempted to 

identify their arrestees using progressively 

better techniques moving from mug shots, 

to the Bertillon Identification technique 

to fingerprinting. 

Addressing the concern that the 


collected DNA could be used for other 

purposes thereby violating the arrestee’s 

privacy, Justice Kennedy noted: “the 

Act requires that “[o]nly DNA records 

that directly relate to the identification of 

individuals shall be collected and stored.” 

Md. Pub. Saf. Code Ann. §2-505(b)(1) .” 

In short, “When officers make an arrest 

supported by probable cause to hold for a 

serious offense and they bring the suspect 

to the station to be detained in custody, 

taking and analyzing a cheek swab of the 

arrestee’s DNA is, like fingerprinting and 

photographing, a legitimate police booking 

procedure that is reasonable under 

the Fourth Amendment.” 

Justice Scalia, writing for the dissenters, 

characteristically blistered those who 

did not agree with him with this verbal 

assault: 

“It is obvious that no such noninvestigative 

motive exists in this case. 

The Court’s assertion that DNA is being 

taken, not to solve crimes, but to identify 

those in the State’s custody, taxes 

the credulity of the credulous. And the 

Court’s comparison of Maryland’s DNA 

searches to other techniques, such as 

fingerprinting, can seem apt only to those 

who know no more than today’s opinion 

has chosen to tell them about how those 

DNA searches actually work.” 

In an interesting sidelight to the 

decision, Justice Scalia remarked on two 

statements by Maryland officials reported 

in the press at the time certiorari was 

granted: 

“The Governor of Maryland, in 

commenting on our decision to hear this 

case, said that he was glad, because “[a] 

llowing law enforcement to collect DNA 

samples ... is absolutely critical to our 

efforts to continue driving down crime,” 

and “bolsters our efforts to resolve open 

investigations and bring them to a resolution.” 

Marbella, Supreme Court Will 

Review Md. DNA Law, Baltimore Sun, 

Nov. 10, 2012, pp. 1, 14. The attorney 

general of Maryland remarked that he 

“look[ed] forward to the opportunity 

to defend this important crime-fighting 

tool,” and praised the DNA database 

for helping to “bring to justice violent 

perpetrators.” Ibid. Even this Court’s 

order staying the decision below states 

that the statute “provides a valuable tool 

for investigating unsolved crimes and 

thereby helping to remove violent offenders 

from the general population”— with, 

unsurprisingly, no mention of identity. 

567 U.S. ___ , ___ (2012) (ROBERTS, 

C. J., in chambers) (slip op., at 3 ).” 

Does this mean that the Justices follow 

the press coverage of cases before the 

Supreme Court? Perhaps attorneys with 

cases before the Court need to assess not 

only how they brief the case, but how they 

market it. 


opinions/12pdf/12-207_d18e.pdf — 

Horne v. U.S. Dept. of 

Agriculture – Takings 

This case provides facts unusual for 

local governments, but the issue is strikingly 

important. The case was brought 

under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 

Act of 1937 (AMAA). Under 

the AMAA, production of grapes and 

raisins are regulated under a cooperative 

program designed to provide price support 

for the industry and prevent wide 

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County Focus 39

variances of price from year to year. As 

part of the program, handlers, but not 

producers of grapes, must divide their 

grapes into two market cohorts: “free 

tonnage” and “reserve tonnage.” The 

free load grapes are sold at market price 

and the handlers paid accordingly. The 

reserve load grapes are held back and 

used for programs such as the free lunch 

program and other non-market uses, 

unless sufficient demand and product 

exist in the market to perpetuate a fairly 

consistent market price. If the reserve 

load grapes are sold, the handlers are 

paid their share after the costs of the 

program are paid. 

The Plaintiffs in this case are producers 

who have produced grapes for 

raisins for at least two generations. As 

the 21st century began, they entered the 

field of handling grapes; i.e., processing 

them into raisins and were advised that 

as handlers they were subject to the 

regulations affecting market and price. 

Rather than complying, the Plaintiffs 

ignored the regulations, the regular admonitions 

of the USDA and ultimately 

sought to avoid paying penalties and 

charges for those violations through the 

administrative process by asserting in 

part that the regulatory scheme constituted 

a “taking” in violation of their Fifth 

Amendment rights. 

At the Ninth Circuit, the court discussed 

the Fifth Amendment claim and 

concluded that the Plaintiffs were not 

entitled to compensation. Following a 

request for rehearing, the Ninth Circuit 

amended its decision and for the first 

time sided with the government’s position 

that the Plaintiffs could not raise the 

“takings” claim to defend their actions, 

but had to file suit under the Tucker Act 

for damages if they felt they had a claim 

for compensation. The Supreme Court 

granted certiorari and on June 10, 2013 

unanimously rejected the Ninth Circuit’s 

reasoning holding; “Petitioners’ takings 

claim, raised as an affirmative defense 

to the agency’s enforcement action, was 

properly before the court because the 

AMAA provides a comprehensive remedial 

scheme that withdraws Tucker Act 

jurisdiction over takings claims brought 

by raisin handlers.” 

The Court pointed to a dispute in 

the Plaintiff’s status as a major factor in 

its decision concluding that the Plaintiff’s 

claim that they were “producers” 

and therefore not subject to the Act’s 

set aside requirements as opposed to 

“handlers” who were subject to the 

Act’s requirements formed a different 

argument from what the Ninth Circuit 

assumed was their “takings” claim. 

Instead, the Court concluded that the 

argument raised a valid defense to the 

fine. 

The Court discussed the framework 

for deciding when a Tucker Act claim can 

be brought through alternative proceedings 

and described in the context of the 

Act why a “takings” claim amounted to 

a valid defense to a regulatory enforcement 

action: 

“The AMAA provides that the handler 

may not be subjected to an adverse 

order until he has been given “notice and 

an opportunity for an agency hearing 

on the record.”§608c(14)(B). The text 

of §608c(14)(B) does not bar handlers 

from raising constitutional defenses to 

the USDA’s enforcement action. Allowing 

handlers to raise constitutional 

challenges in the course of enforcement 

proceedings would not diminish 

the incentive to file direct challenges 

to marketing orders under §608c(15) 

(A) because a handler who refuses to 

comply with a marketing order and waits 

for an enforcement action will be liable 

for significant monetary penalties if his 

constitutional challenge fails.” 

The Court seemed moved by the 

practical realities of the claim in this 

case, noting that it did not make sense 

to make a person challenge a regulatory 

fine, pay it and then file a “takings” claim 

under the Tucker Act to recover the fine 

when a single proceeding allowed the 

issues to be fully litigated at one time. 

As noted by Lyle Denniston, “The 

ruling, while coming in the context of 

government regulation of farming, may 

have a considerably broader impact.” Its 

broader impact, beyond the agricultural 

marketing field, will depend upon how 

lower courts interpret the language of 

the Court’s opinion in different factual 

settings. 

For local governments, the case 

raises the concern that people can 

violate regulations with impunity by 

claiming that the regulations involve a 

“taking” and use that claim to defend 

against enforcement actions. IMLA 

believes that we must protect against 

such a scenario and litigate “takings” 

claims in the appropriate forum in actions 

for compensation, rather than to 

justify non-compliance with regulatory 

measures. Our brief was authored by 

John Echeverria of the Vermont University 

Law School. We will continue to 

resist efforts to allow a “takings” defense 

to regulatory enforcement actions. 


opinions/12pdf/12-123_c07d.pdf (last 

visited June 10, 2013). 

IMLA provides assistance to local government 

attorneys whose municipalities are 

members and it supports local governments 

throughout the United States as an amicus 

in many cases at the Supreme Court and 

in the federal circuits and in state supreme 

courts. We provide local government attorneys 

with a forum to seek help and to gain 

understanding of the law. If you or your 

county is not a member of IMLA, consider 

joining. We offer a number of low cost programs 

each year to help attorneys and city/ 

county managers keep abreast of emerging 

issues or to refresh their knowledge of local 

government law. For more information on 

membership, programs or getting involved 

with IMLA contact Chuck Thompson at 

cthompson@imla.org or call him at (202) 

742-1016. 


County Focus 41

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County Focus 43

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A Roadside Guide to 

McCormick, County Seat 

of McCormick County 

“W 

e’re sittin’ on a gold mine,” 

McCormick’s motto celebrates the 

town’s uniqueness. The town owes its 

existence to William Dorn’s gold mine. 

Between 1847 and 1852, according to 

Stephen Kenney, Dorn and his slave 

force removed gold ore valued between 

“$900,000 and $2 million.” The Dorn 

mine is one of the most significant gold 

discoveries in South Carolina. Under 

different ownership, the mine operated 

into the 20th century. 

In time, the settlement that developed 

around the mine was known as the 

Dorn’s Gold Mine or Dorn Mine Post 

Office. Noted inventor, Cyrus Mc- 

Cormick, purchased the mine in 1871. 

In addition, although he never visited 

the area, he had the town surveyed 

and attracted a spur of the Augusta 

and Knoxville railroad. 

The Greenwood and Augusta 

Railroad constructed the town’s first 

depot in 1882. The Charleston and 

Western Carolina Railroad later 

built another station. The third train 

depot, built by the Charleston & 

Western Carolina Railroad (c. 1911), 

was added to the National Register 

on Dec. 12, 1985. McCormick’s 

investments not only contributed to 

the town’s prosperity, but also to its 

design and development. 

Cyrus Hall McCormick (1809 

– 84) was a native of Virginia and 

is better known as an inventor. He 

perfected the design for a reaper — 

a horse-powered machine — that 

By Alexia Jones Helsley 

www.historyismybag.com 

harvested wheat. In 1834, McCormick 

patented the invention and began manufacturing 

and selling the reapers. In 

1847, McCormick 

moved to Chicago 

and established the 

McCormick Harvesting 

Company 

(later the International 

Harvester 

Company). The 

company prospered 

from its location 

in Chicago, 

and by 1858 his 

Have you ever Heard about… 

the person for whom Paris Mountain was named? 

the man who bought the town of Pleasantburg? 

the time when Greenville was the 

capital of south Carolina? 

istorically, Greenville County owes much to its natural 

Hadvantages of scenery, location and abundant water, but it 

has also benefited from its colorful characters, such as Richard 

Pearis, Vardry McBee and the Earle family. Hidden History of 

Greenville County details the personalities, places and events that 

have given Greenville its progressive, diverse environment. Join 

archivist and history professor Alexia Helsley as she explores 

some of these individuals and their contributions, as well as littleknown 

events in the area and the ever-fascinating “Dark Corner.” 

From mansions to murders, learn things about Greenville County 

history that you’ve never encountered before. 

$24.00 Postpaid (Includes 

tax, shipping and handling) 

$??.99 

To order, write: 

AJH Historical Enterprises 

P.O. Box 3684 

Irmo, S.C. 29063 

H i d d e n History of Greenville County Helsley 

See Map of South Carolina 

Counties and County Seats, 

Page 51 

company was the country’s main producer 

of farm equipment. 

In 1882, the S.C. General Assembly 

Visit: www.sccounties.org 

AlexiA Jones Helsley 

County Focus 45

incorporated the town as McCormick. 

Its name honored Cyrus McCormick. 

The new town had another distinction 

— it was “dry,” reflecting the temperance 

sentiment of its residents. On the 

national level, prohibition lasted from 

1920 to 1933. 

Religious life in early McCormick 

included mission outreach by Buffalo 

Baptist Church. Buffalo Baptist Church 

held weekly services at the mine during 

the 1870s. Eventually, in 1878, Dorn’s 

Mine Baptist Church was organized. The 

Rev. Mr. B. F. Miller was the first pastor. 

Since 1882, the church has been known as 

McCormick First Baptist Church. Cyrus 

McCormick, a man of faith, donated land 

for the church. Members built their first 

building on that site in 1884. 

By the early 1900s, McCormick had 

a newspaper — The McCormick Messenger 

— and town boosters lobbied the 

legislature for a new county. Finally, in 

1916 their efforts paid off and the South 

Carolina legislature created the new 

county of McCormick. The names of 

both the county and its county seat reflect 

the investment and influence of Cyrus 

This publication traces the evolution of the 

Palmetto State from the Proprietary Counties 

of 1682 to the boundaries of our modern state. 

It explains how each of the counties was formed, 

provides maps showing the changing face of the 

state as counties were established, and lists the 

counties alphabetically with founding dates, 

explanations of their names, and the county seats. 

To order your copy, send your name, shipping 

address and telephone number to 

SC Department of Archives & History 

8301 Parklane Road/Columbia, SC 29223-4905. 

Please make check for $4.75 payable to 

Archives and History. 

Also, remember to visit the South Carolina 

Archives & History Center website and on-line 

store at www.state.sc.us/scdah for information on 

other available publications. 

What Columbia has lost Can noW be found in these pages… 

ising from the banks of the Congaree 

RRiver, Columbia is the center of south 

Carolina, in reality and in spirit. this volume 

traces the twists and turns of the city’s history, 

from its creation by the General assembly in 

1786 through the dark days of secession and 

Civil War to the “New south” boosterism 

of the early twentieth century. using rare 

and never-before-seen images, archivist and 

educator alexia Jones Helsley reveals the 

lost history of south Carolina’s capital, writ 

large on the city’s ever-changing face. 

$??.99 

McCormick. 

Among the older houses in McCormick 

are the Henderson House, built 

c. 1889 by Otway Henderson and the 

M.L.B. Sturkey House built c. 1895. M. 

L.B. Sturkey operated a hardware and 

general merchandise store on the town’s 

Main Street. Both houses are listed on 

the National Register. 

McCormick’s courthouse, built in 

1923, still serves the needs of the county. 

G. Lloyd Preacher, an Augusta architect, 

designed the building which was added to 

the National Register on Dec. 12, 1985. 

The Joseph Jennings Dorn House, 

built c. 1917 on Gold Ave., now houses 

a museum. The Dorn House was one 

of the first brick houses erected in Mc- 

Cormick. The man who built the house 

was president of the Dorn Bank and a 

member of the S.C. State Senate until 

his death in 1936. Joseph Jennings Dorn, 

nephew of William Dorn who operated 

Dorn’s Mine, was also the co-owner of 

McCormick Manufacturing Company. 

The Dorn House is listed on the National 

Register. 

In the early 20th century, McCormick 

was an important railroad center, 

shipping timber and cotton. Its commercial 

district developed near the rail lines. 

Unfortunately, fires in 1910 destroyed 

Lost Columbia: Bygone Images of 

South Carolina’s Capital City (Charleston: 

the History Press, 2008) 

Lost Columbia combines an overview 

of the turbulent history of Columbia 

with rare and little seen images of the 

city’s destruction in 1865, the Assembly 

Street farmers’ market, the 

changing face of Main Street and lost 

institutions and 

neighborhoods. 

C o l u m b i a Lost Columbia 

is available 

BYGONE IMAGES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA’S CAPITAL 

in bookstores 

such as Barnes 

& Noble, from 

Amazon.com, 

or by mail from 

AJH Historical 

AlexiA Jones Helsley 

Enterprises, 

P.O. Box 3683, Irmo, SC 29063. 

Lost CoL umbia HeL s L ey 

much of the town’s commercial district. 

Businesses rebuilt. Among the significant 

surviving commercial structures are the 

Farmer’s Bank building (McCormick 

Messenger Building), erected c. 1911 and 

the Hotel Keturah, constructed c. 1910. 

Today, McCormick sits amid Sumter 

National Forest — a result of the Civil 

Conservation Corps and other federal 

efforts to reclaim depleted and eroded 

lands. Its location near the Clarks Hill 

Reservoir has earned the town a new 

nickname — “a sportsman’s paradise.” 

The town is also a destination on the 

South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. 

The McCormick County Arts 

Council (MACK) housed in the old 

Keturah Hotel is the cultural center for 

the country. 

In 2006, the town celebrated its 

125th anniversary. Modern McCormick 

is a charming town that cherishes and 

celebrates its unique history. 

Want to know “Who’s Who” 

in South Carolina county government? 

If so, order a copy of the 

2013 Directory of County Officials 

by contacting. The 2014 

edition of the Directory will be 

published in February. 

South Carolina Association of 

Counties 

Public Information Office 

P.O. Box 8207 

Columbia, S.C. 29202-8207 

(803) 252-7255 



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SCAC’s Magazine and Newsletter 

Highlight County Achievements 

SCAC’s publications, Carolina Counties Newsletter and 

County Focus Magazine, highlight county achievements. Articles, 

which focus on significant county achievements, are published 

on a space available basis in Carolina Counties Newsletter. Indepth 

articles are published in County Focus Magazine. 

For more information, please contact SCAC’s Public Information 

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County Focus 47

Counties Reporting in 

This Issue of County 

Update: 

Abbeville 

Aiken 

Allendale 

Anderson 

Bamberg 

Barnwell 

Beaufort 

Berkeley 

Calhoun 

Charleston 

Cherokee 

Chester 

Chesterfield 

Clarendon 

Colleton 

Darlington 

Dillon 

Dorchester 

Edgefield 

Fairfield 

Florence 

Georgetown 

Greenville 

Greenwood 

Hampton 

Horry 

Jasper 

Kershaw 

Lancaster 

Laurens 

Lee 

Lexington 

Marion 

Marlboro 

McCormick 

Newberry 

Oconee 

Orangburg 

Pickens 

Richland 

Saluda 

Spartanburg 

Sumter 

Union 

Williamsburg 

York 

County Update 

This section of County Focus Magazine 

provides South Carolina county officials 

an opportunity to submit newsworthy items 

that may be of interest to the magazine’s readers. 

For more information, please contact 

SCAC’s Public Information Office at 1-800- 

922-6081. 

See South Carolina 

County Map, 

Page 51 

Keeping you informed 

about what’s happening in 

South Carolina’s counties. 

Beaufort County 

SCAC Presidents 

l Beaufort County Library has added 848 

images since 2004 to the S.C. Digital Library, 

a regional hub for the Digital Public Library 

of America (DPLA) that quietly appeared on 

the Internet on Apr. 18. The bombing at the 

Boston Marathon earlier this year prevented 

a high profile launch of the DPLA that was 

previously scheduled to be held at the Boston 

2012 Charles T. Edens 

Sumter County 

2011 Joseph B. Dill 


2010 R. Carlisle Roddey 


2009 Diane B. Anderson 


2008 L. Gregory Pearce, Jr. 


2007 K.G. “Rusty” Smith, Jr. 


2006 Belinda D. Copeland 


2004–05 Waymon Mumford 


2004 Barrett S. Lawrimore 


2003 Gonza L. Bryant 


2002 James A. Coleman 


2001 Steve S. Kelly, Jr. 

Kershaw County 

2000 James H. Rozier, Jr. 

Berkeley County 

1999 Polly C. Jackson 

Lancaster County 

1998 Robert R. Nash, Sr. 

Pickens County 

1997 Alzena Robinson 

Bamberg County 

1996 Betty T. Roper 

Clarendon County 

1995 George E. Bomar 


1994 Raymond C. Eubanks, Jr. 

Spartanburg County 

1993 William L. McBride 

Beaufort County 

1992 Belle J. Kennette 


1991 James R. McGee 


1990 Kenneth R. Huckaby 


1989 Lowell C. (Butch) Spires 


1988 David K. Summers, Jr. 


1987 Danny E. Allen 


1986 O.V. Player, Jr. 

Sumter County 

1985 Sue H. Roe 

Aiken County 

1984 Charlie I. Crews 

Hampton County 

1983 James P. Whitlock 

Pickens County 

1982 Lonnie Hamilton III 


1981 Alfred B. Schooler 

Georgetown County 

1980 Howard A. Taylor 


1979 Marjorie H. Sharpe 


1978 Berry L. Mobley 

Lancaster County 

1977 E.E. Johnson 

Hampton County 

1976 Harold L. King 


1975 Jack Q. Gerrald 

Horry County 

1974 Arthur H. Burton 


1973 James O. Thomason 


1972 J. Hugh McCutchen 

Williamsburg County 

1971 John L. Greer 

Union County 

1969–70 J. Mitchell Graham 


1967–68 Charles W. Lawrimore 



Public Library. Search “Beaufort, SC” on the 

Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) 

home page at http://dp.la/ The DPLA is 

designed to establish a national network out 

of the over 40 state/regional digital libraries 

and large digital libraries in the U.S., and to 

bring together digitized content from across 

the nation into a single access point for end 

users and an open platform for developers. 

The S.C. Digital Library is one of seven service 

hubs identified for the initial DPLA project, 

and Beaufort County Library has been associated 

with the S.C. Digital Library since 2004 

as a pilot project to test whether the inclusion 

of digital materials from public libraries into 

the S.C. Digital Library was feasible. 


l Charleston County celebrated its 8th Annual 

Backhoe Rodeo on May 1 to showcase 

the skill and talent of local operators. The 

competition consisted of events that focus 

on operational requirements and emphasize 

safety. Competitors on backhoes were 

challenged to maneuver materials through 

small, tight spaces under strict time limits. 

The following three public works employees 

beat 14 other public works employees in six 

different skill events: Matthew Bishop of 

Adams Run placed first, Marvin Green of 

Awendaw placed second and Kevin Brown 

of Ladson placed third. The S.C. Chapter 

of the American Public Works Association’s 

Regional Backhoe Rodeo promoted National 

Public Works Week from May 19 to 25. 

l Community Pride, Inc. of Charleston 

County held its 47th Annual Awards Luncheon 

on May 17 to honor the following 

Incentive and Pride Award winners for their 

outstanding efforts to improve the community 

in 2013: GARDEN CLUBS AWARDS 

– Environmental Education Award — 1st 

Place, South Windermere Garden Club; 

Community Improvement Award — 1st 

Place, Magnolia Garden Club; ADOPT-A- 

HIGHWAY AWARDS – 3rd Place, Coca-Cola 

Bottling; 2nd Place, Boeing South Carolina; 

1st Place, Seabrook Island POA; JOHNNIE 

DODDS EDUCATION AWARD – 2nd Place, 

Whaley’s Landscaping and Irrigation; 1st 

Place, Jane Edwards Elementary; CAPTAIN 

PRIDE AWARDS – Ashley Cooper Stormwater 

Education Consortium; Charleston 

ENT; Charlestowne Estates I Neighborhood 

Association; Durlach Associates; First Federal 

Bank of Charleston, Sam Rittenburg Location; 

MUSC Grounds Department; MUSC 

Office of Health Promotion and Sodexo; 

Roper St. Francis Food and Nutrition De- 

partments; and S.C. Department of Natural 

Resources SCORE Program; SPIRIT OF 

COOPERATION – Alhambra Garden Club; 

SCAC’s 2013-14 Conference Calendar 

Aug. 3 & 4 

Aug. 4 – 7 

Aug. 19 

Oct. 17 

Oct. 18 

Nov. 22 

Dec. 5 – 6 

Jan. 29 & 30 

Feb. 19 

Feb. 20 

July 19 – 23 

March 1 – 5 

Broadcast Location: SCAC Office 

October 24, 2013 

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon 

Managing Your Time and Stress at Work 

For more information, please contact Leslie Christy-Jennings, 

SCAC, at (803) 252-7255 or ljennings@scac.sc. Or visit SCAC’s 

Webcast page at: 

http://www.sccounties.org/services/education/webcast-training.aspx 

institute of Government 

Annual Conference 

Hilton Head Marriott 

Setoff Debt/GEAR 

Embassy Suites, Columbia 

institute of Government 

County Council Coalition 


S.C. Local Government Attorneys’ Institute 

DoubleTree, Columbia 

Legislative Conference 

Renaissance, Charleston 

2014 

S.C. Insurance Trusts Membership Meeting 

Myrtle Beach Marriott 

Mid-Year Conference 

Institute of Government 


NACo’s 2013-14 

Conference Calendar 

Annual Conference & Exposition 

Fort Worth Convention Center, Ft. Worth, Texas 

2014 

Legislative Conference 

Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. 

Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy; and 

Mount Pleasant Waterworks; Mamie Williams 

AWArd - Sue Schweikart; Gene 

County Focus 49

Ott Award – Edward “Skip” Condon; and 

Barrett S. Lawrimore Award – Trish 

Bender. 

l Fifty-four county employees were recently 

recognized for positive performance 

during the second quarter of 2013 (Apr. 

- June) at a Positive Performers Breakfast 

on May 8: Administrator’s Office — Sasha 

V. Fimiani, Jennie Flinn and Lori Lambert; 

Assessor’s Office — Elizabeth Clark, Vicky 

Seigler, Chris Zerbst and Walter Ziegler; 

Building Services — Elizabeth A. Turner; 

Clerk of Council — Beverly Craven, Kristen 

Salisbury and Marie Schultz; Community 

Services — Victoria Marshall; Consolidated 

9-1-1 Ctr. — Amy Fletcher, Lisa Nickel and 

Denise Thompson; Economic Dev. — Janel 

Spencer; EMS — Charles Millican; Facilities 

(Judicial) — Ray Herring, Richard J. Query, 

Robert B. Smalls and Barney Strock; Finance 

Office — Angela Kraft; Human Resources 

— Dominic Disandro and Margie Gamble; 

Human Services — Sue Frost and Karen 

Green; Magistrates — Marietta Kelly, Jennifer 

Knight, Teri Mantilla and Margaret 

Snyder; Planning — Sally Brooks, Joel Evans 

and Fran Wilbanks; Public Works — Lisa 

Blackwell, Willie Carpenter, Corey Fields, 

James Grant, Donald Green, James Jenkins, 

Kevin Limehouse, Pat Miner, Paul Porter, 

Jackie Proveaux, Pam Robinson, Raymond 

Robinson, Corey Rouse and Vernon Smith; 

Solicitor’s Office — Teri Porcel; Technical 

Services — Siva Angadi, Bhujang Gaikwad, 

Mattia Galanda, Donald Giacomo, Atanu 

Pani and Bill Tunick. 

l The American Public Works Association 

(APWA) announced in May that Charleston 

County Assistant Administrator James D. 

(Jim) Armstrong had been named “2013 

Manager of the Year – Transportation” in 

its nationwide competition. Armstrong will 

receive the prestigious award later this year at 

the annual International Public Works Congress 

and Exposition in Chicago. Amstrong 

has been part of Charleston County since 

1988. 

“Jim has been tireless in his efforts to 

promote and manage our Transportation 

Sales Tax Program,” said Charleston County 

Administrator Kurt Taylor. “He is equally 

comfortable in meeting with highway commissioners 

and the governor as he is inspecting 

road construction. Jim is gracious to all, and 

a true pleasure to work with. In short, I am 

proud to work with Jim, and am proud of all 

he does to represent Charleston County.” 

Armstrong’s role as a leader came to 

the forefront as the Transportation Sales 

Tax projects grew in size and scope. He put 

together a skilled team of engineers who 

developed a specific strategy to bring these 

projects to fruition. Most notably, Armstrong 

started a new design-build method that saved 

the County both time and money on the Palmetto 

Commerce Parkway and the Johnnie 

Dodds Boulevard Improvement projects. The 

projects are funded with tax dollars straight 

from Charleston County citizens. With that 

in mind, he searched to find other funding 

streams in the form of grants at the local, 

state and federal level. Finally, construction 

can be a difficult process for people dealing 

with the traffic delays, noise and other side 

effects. To minimize the stress, Armstrong 

encouraged communication with the public 

using traffic alerts and news releases through 

the local media and on the County’s website 

and social media sites to keep people updated 

and informed. 

Dorchester County 

l Dorchester County EMS was named 

the S.C. Large EMS System of the Year for 

2012 at the S.C. EMS State Symposium, held 

March 21 – 23 in Myrtle Beach. Dorchester 

County EMS Director Doug Warren was 

also named the 2012 S.C. EMS Director of 

the Year. 

In April 2012, Dorchester County’s 

EMS department became the second EMS 

agency in South Carolina to receive the highest 

level of accreditation from the Commission 

of Accreditation of Ambulance Services 

(CAAS) and the 144th EMS agency in the 

nation to successfully complete the voluntary 

review process by a team of national experts 

in emergency medical services. 

The S.C. Large EMS System of the Year 

Award recognized the Dorchester County 

EMS Department’s accreditation; the EMS 

department’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and 

improve its facilities; and the collaborative 

effort in the fall of 2012 between the EMS 

Department, county council and county administrator 

to replace cardiac monitoring 

equipment for the department. 

The award also recognized the EMS 

Department’s community education efforts 

promoting injury prevention through partnership 

with the High School Injury Prevention 

Coalition and the Vial of Life program, 

which provides a means for important information 

to be readily available to EMS crews 

for elderly patients or those with chronic illnesses; 

and the department’s regional mass 

casualty exercise in May 2012, which involved 

the EMS agencies from Charleston, 

Berkeley and Dorchester counties and many 

other entities in the area. The exercise was 

so successful that the EMS Department has 

been asked to plan another mass casualty exercise 

for early summer 2013. 

CAAS, established in 1990, is a nonprofit 

organization designed to encourage 

and promote quality patient care in America’s 

EMS system. 



l A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in 

April for the new 26,000-square-foot Waccamaw 

Regional Recreation Center in Parkersville 

Park. The center opened on May 6. 

l Keith Ziegenhorn, a firefighter/EMT 

with Georgetown County Fire/EMS, was 

chosen as the Emergency Services Employee 

of the Quarter for his outstanding service and 

willingness to go above and beyond in his job. 

Ziegenhorn was nominated by his battalion 

chief, Ryan Allen, and was presented with a 

plaque on April 16 by County Administrator 

Sel Hemingway. 

l Davis Aircraft Products, a maker of aviation 

tubing systems, recently announced that 

it will relocate its manufacturing operations to 


Counties and County Seats 

of South Carolina 

its new Georgetown County facility. The $5.5 

million investment is expected to generate 100 

new jobs. The company, which will produce 

its patented Wolfbend product line used in 

fuel delivery systems of aircraft, is expected to 

begin operations in spring 2014. The company 

will begin hiring for the new positions in spring 

2014. 

l Georgetown County recently welcomed 

new employees: 

Katrina Cohens, the new administrative 

assistant to the public services director, 

previously worked at Blueprint Leadership 

Academy. She is a graduate of Webster University 

and Limestone College. 

Ken Baker, a new field appraiser in the 

Auditor’s Office, previously worked for the 

Hemingway Police Department and came 

to the Auditor’s Office by way of the Boys 

and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee area. He is a 

graduate of Francis Marion University. 

Rich Fazioli, a new appraiser in the 

Assessor’s Office, has 28 years of appraisal 

experience. Before moving to the area from 

Ticonderoga, N.Y., he owned his own appraisal 

business. He has an associate’s degree 

in banking, insurance and real estate and is an 

approved instructor. 

D’Asia Green, a new public information 

intern, is a native of Kingstree. She is a thirdyear 

public relations major at the University 

of South Carolina. 

Kristal Infinger, a new data entry clerk in 

the county’s building department, is a Georgetown 

native. She was previously employed by 

Logic eXtension Resources. 

Karen Worzalla, a new accountant in 

the finance department, was a Pawleys Island 

resident of six years and is a former resident of 

Appleton, Wis. She was previously employed 

as an accounting assistant/bookkeeper at 

Webster Rogers in Litchfield. 

l Georgetown County Public Services 

recognized several outstanding employees in 

May during Public Works Week celebrations. 

ricky Washington, a heavy equipment 

operator, received the Leadership Award for 

demonstrating outstanding leadership in his 

everyday duties. 

Hal Moon, a project designer, received 

the Team Player Award for his efforts coordinating 

with the community and other departments 

within the county. 

Shamaine White, an administrative assistant 

and scalehouse coordinator, received 

the Green Earth Award for her conscientious 

efforts to preserve county resources by reusing 

and repurposing supplies and decorations for 

county events. 

County Focus 51

Horry County 

l Horry County hosted a re-opening and 

ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bucksport 

branch of the Horry County Library on Apr. 

30. 

l The Horry County Architectural Review 

Board’s High School Video Contest has been 

awarded the prestigious Preservation Service 

Award for 2013. S.C. Governor Nikki Haley 

presented members of the Horry County 

Architectural Review Board with the award 

in Columbia on June 11. The Palmetto Trust 

for Historic Preservation, the S.C. Department 

of Archives and History, and the Office 

of the Governor recognize exceptional accomplishments 

in the preservation, rehabilitation 

and interpretation of South Carolina’s 

architectural and cultural heritage with the 

statewide Historic Preservation Awards. In 

September 2012, the Horry County Board of 

Architectural Review sponsored its first ever 

High School Video Contest. The objective of 

the contest was for area high school students 

to create a local history related video, which 

told the story of a building or site within Horry 

County that was at least 50 years old. By the 

contest deadline in late November 2012, the 

Architectural Review Board received nine 

videos and had selected three winners. 


l Richland County recently received an 

Award of Merit in the Grass Roots Initiative 

category for its 8th Annual Neighborhood 

Planning Conference, held Oct. 13, 2012, 

at the Columbia Convention Center. The 

conference, “Taking Your Community to the 

Next Level with Planning,” featured Mitchell 

J. Silver, AICP, president of the American 

Planning Association. Richland County 

Council and the county’s Planning and Development 

Services Department have made it 

a priority to address the struggling nature of 

urban communities and rural neighborhoods 

in the county and created the Neighborhood 

Improvement Program to address such challenges 

head-on. 

l The S.C. Society of Professional Engineers 

(SCSPE) awarded Ismail Ozbek, P.E., 

the 2013 Engineer of the Year Award at the 

2013 S.C. Engineering Conference, held on 

June 15 at the Embassy Suites Charleston 

Area Convention Center in North Charleston. 

Ozbek, county engineer for Richland 

County Public Works, oversees and coordinates 

the work of 90 employees and an annual 

budget of $12 million. He is responsible for 

planning, administration and enforcement 

of county development regulations, and for 

planning, organizing, and directing activities 

relating to engineering, stormwater, and roads 

and drainage divisions. 

Ozbek serves on the SCSPE Board 

of Directors and is a past President of the 

SCSPE, Columbia Chapter. He previously 

served as President of the American Society 

of Civil Engineers, S.C. Chapter and Midlands 

branch (ASCE SC). He was also instrumental 

in creating the S.C. Engineering Conference 

while serving on the Executive Boards of 

SCSPE and ASCE SC. 

Ozbeck is a member of the S.C. Vocational 

Rehabilitation Business Advisory Council 

and many other organizations. He received 

his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering 

in 1979 from Ankara State Academy of Engineering 

and Architecture in Ankara, Turkey. 

Ozbeck was born in Turkey, and he 

and three of his seven siblings have pursued 

careers in civil engineering. His brother, Dr. 

Gungar Ozbek, visiting from Turkey, attended 

the recent conference to be with Ozbeck when 

he received his award. 

Sumter County 

l Sumter County dedicated its new 

17,000-square-foot, $3.5 million sheriff’s 

office on May 24. The county next plans to 

dedicate its new $22.5 million, 80,000-squarefoot 

judicial center in July. The cover story 

for this issue of County Focus Magazine 

focuses on both new buildings. n 

Advertising Index 

Alliance Consulting Engineers, Inc. 5, 17 & 29-32 

American Engineering Consultants, Inc. 44 

Ariel Third Party Administrators, Inc. Inside-Back Cover 

Christopher S. Inglese, Esq., AICP 39 

Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Inside-Front Cover 

Emergency Billing, LLC 34 

Florence & Hutcheson 35 

GEL Engineering LLC 41 

Hidden History of Greenville County 45 

Lost Columbia 46 

National Association of Counties 28 

NBSC 18 

PrintSouth 34 

Professional Printers 18 

QS/1 42 

Santee Cooper 43 

SCANA/SCE&G 3 

The Formation of Counties in South Carolina 46 

URS 19 

The Palmetto 

Directory Index 

LISTINGS: 

(See page 47) 

Alliance Consulting 

Engineers, Inc. 

BB&T Governmental Finance 

Christopher S. Inglese, Esq., 

AICP 

Florence & Hutcheson 

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