Latest news with #Pro-Tem
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cayce mayor claims funds for employee bonuses came from grant. Staff disagrees
Last year, amid a tense budget season for the city of Cayce, the city council axed a proposed pay bump for staff and instead adopted a one-time retention bonus. Last year's decision became a point of contention during this year's budget season, with the city's mayor and its staff disagreeing on where the money came from. At the city's last council meeting in June, Mayor Elise Partin called out Councilman Hunter Sox for comments he made at a May meeting about last year's budget process and how he found money in the budget for staff retention bonuses. Sox also posited there had been enough money for the cost-of-living adjustments, which were ultimately cut from the budget in favor of the one-time bonuses. 'I also understand [that money] was recurring and we could've used that for a cost-of-living adjustment then,' Sox said at the May meeting. At the next meeting, in June, Partin encouraged Sox to set up a meeting with the finance director to make sure he understood the numbers. 'What [the finance director] told me about that money was vastly different from what you shared in the last meeting. It actually included using some money that was a gift from the Boyd Foundation and another grant so I know you want to get that right,' Partin said, during the June 3 council meeting. But the money for staff bonuses didn't come from the Boyd Foundation, a Columbia-based nonprofit that funds a number of projects throughout the Midlands, or from other grants, a city staff member clarified after the meeting. The bonuses were directly funded by excess operating revenues at the end of the year, city spokesperson Ashley Hunter confirmed in a statement to The State. 'The public accusation that our Cayce financial staff utilized charitable donations from the Boyd Foundation or another grant to fund staff retention bonuses is something we take very seriously,' Hunter said. 'If the allegation were true, this would be a misappropriation of funds, a breach of the public's trust and could have caused a revocation of our Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting ... our city staff and leaders worked tirelessly to make sure this was a fiscally responsible budget.' The $2.1 million grant from the Boyd Foundation was allocated to be used for a visitor's center building at the city's 12,000 Year History Park. Sox said he believed Partin targeted the comment at him during the council meeting in an attempt to discredit his work on the previous year's budget and that it was disrespectful to the city's finance staff. 'She knows it'll be a campaign talking point for me and wants to find a way to not get me re-elected and not let me have any sort of win,' said Sox, who will be up for re-election alongside Mayor Pro-Tem Tim James in the fall. 'I don't need to win. The win is for the taxpayer and for staff, not for me.' Partin said she wasn't immediately available to answer questions, but said in a statement that she had a meeting with the finance director and 'took notes and understood that there was not money left over' during the last budget process. 'At the time, I was sharing information that I had gotten directly from the city's finance director, and I was not aware that it was incorrect. If it is I still need information that would explain my notes and what was said,' Partin told The State over text. The spat is another in a long line of disagreements and tense conversations that've happened within the walls of Cayce's city hall in the last few years, as Partin and other council members have sparred over everything from seats on various government boards to disagreements over whether to take something into executive session. 'It's simply the mayor trying to continue to be divisive and build up ill will in the community. It's sad, but that seems to be the climate right now,' Councilman Phil Carter told The State. At the May meeting, things were tense between Partin and Mayor Pro-Tem Tim James as the council voted to go into executive session to discuss the search for a new city manager. Partin advocated for discussing the matter in open session. Council members pushed back. After consulting the town's attorney, who explained the matter was something that can be discussed during executive session, James and Carter argued for taking the matter into executive session, which council ultimately did. 'If council doesn't want to take a vote on it, doesn't want to be transparent, that's fine,' Partin said. 'We're very transparent,' James responded. The friction comes as a number of top administrators in the city have either left or announced plans to leave. Within the last year, Cayce has cycled through two police chiefs and two city managers. At a May council meeting, outgoing City Manager Jim Crosland announced that the city's finance director was also set to leave.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Augusta shoots for middle May to complete debris cleanup
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – T.J. Ferguson pays a lot of attention to his garden, but doesn't feel the storm cleanup in his south Augusta neighborhood got enough attention.'They forgot about us out here. Go up there, go over west, all over and nothing looking like this,' he months after Helene, tree debris remains, especially the stumps and root balls, and these are the priorities as crews return from their Masters and Easter break.'Some of them are heavy. They got to bring in a bigger truck to haul them plus, they got to be separated because they have a lot of dirt in them get different grinders and things like that it's been a slower process,' said Augusta Debris Manager Steve been a slow process for Kendell Gardner. He still has stump and storm debris out front. He's called the city, but is frustrated by the response.'They're going to try they don't know we told them it came from hurricane Helene,' he leaders are still seeing debris and hearing from residents about cleanup.'I spent about an hour and a half riding around District 3 there's a lot of work that still needs to be done and I'm still getting calls about it too,' said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.'We're going to have 13 trucks coming back. They're going to start off most likely in the south end and move north. Do I have full confidence everything is going to be picked up? Yes,' said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle. 'We spent the time off marking things and getting ready so we can try to do this thing organized and methodical,' said Cassell. 'Give me a deadline.' 'May 15th is what we're shooting at,' he said. The city has its day set, to have all the remaining debris set aside. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unofficial election results: Kennedy, Ballard and Van Dyke ahead in the polls
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) – The City of Grand Junction's unofficial results currently have District A incumbent Cody Kennedy ahead while Robert Ballard and Ben Van Dyke are leading their races. The unofficial results say Kennedy has 8,947 votes while his challenger, Alexis Hitzeroth, has 6,020. In the District E race, Ballard is holding off current Mayor Pro-Tem Randall Reitz. According to the unofficial results, Ballard has 8,044 while Reitz – who previously held the at-large position before running District E – has 6,727 votes. Speaking of the at-large seat, Van Dyke is ahead of hopeful Ken Scissors with a vote difference of 7,240-6261. Laura Houston, who dropped out of the race but still had her name on the ballot, has 1374 votes. District D candidate Laurel Cole – who ran unopposed – received 11,222 votes. Dennis Simpson currently has the seat but decided not to run for re-election. Meanwhile, one ballot measure looks on track to pass while another seems likely to fail. The unofficial results say 9,325 voters approved Measure 2A while 4,686 residents said no. This ballot issue changes the date of the general municipal elections to November in odd-numbered years beginning in 2027. Measure 2B – which would increase the salaries of the mayor and city council members – seems to be shot down by voters. According to the unofficial results, 8,243 residents said no to the ballot issue compared to 5,979 voters who approved it. Up-to-date election results can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sorrento council member race set for March 29 election
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Voters in the Town of Sorrento will cast their ballots on Saturday to elect five council members. Seven candidates are competing for the five available council seats. Five of the seven candidates are running for reelection. The candidates are: Incumbent Randy Anny, Democrat. Harrison 'Jake' Benson, Republican. Incumbent Wanda LeBlanc Bourgeois, Republican. Incumbent Mayor Pro-Tem Chad Domingue, Republican. Incumbent Darnell Gilbert, Democrat. Incumbent Duane Humphrey, Democrat. Patti Melancon Poche, Democrat. Incumbent Mayor Chris Guidry was automatically reelected after no other candidates qualified to run against him in January. Absentee ballots: Ballots must be returned by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Poll hours: Voting will take place on March 29 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where to vote: Voters can find their polling place and view a sample ballot on the GeauxVote app or . Identification required: The Louisiana Secretary of State reminds voters to bring a valid ID to the polls. What Louisiana voters need to know before March 29 election Sorrento council member race set for March 29 election Senate hearing examines deadly DC air crash between passenger jet and US Army helicopter Senate committee presses Pentagon watchdog for answers on Signal chat Is the new Genesis GV80 the SUV we've been waiting for? A pilot in Alaska survived a night on a frozen lake after the plane began sinking. So why is the FAA taking disciplinary action? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Palm Beach asks West Palm to reconsider fireworks in Fourth of July celebration
Palm Beach's town council recently approved its sponsorship of West Palm Beach's annual 4th on Flagler Fourth of July celebration — and asked its neighbor city to consider doing away with fireworks for the popular event. Mayor Danielle Moore sent a letter to West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James imploring the city to reconsider its use of fireworks, about which council members shared concerns regarding environmental and noise pollution. "Traditional fireworks, while visually appealing, have well-documented environmental consequences," Moore wrote in the letter dated March 5. She pointed to air and water pollution, plastic and metal waste, and effects on wildlife and domesticated animals. "As environmental stewardship remains a priority for our community, we encourage the exploration of sustainable alternatives" including drones, rice paper confetti cannons and bubble displays, Moore wrote. Council President Bobbie Lindsay raised the issue at the March 4 meeting as council members approved Palm Beach's annual sponsorship — which is $12,000 for this year's event — and was the lone dissenting vote. Council member Julie Araskog was absent. Lindsay watched last year's 4th on Flagler display and said she left the celebration wondering about the effects of the fallen fireworks debris on wildlife in and near the Intracoastal Waterway. Citing additional concerns about noise pollution and concerns for dogs and people who are affected by loud noises, she suggested the town should take a stronger stance to 'lead and not follow' on the issue, pointing to other places where drones or lasers are used instead of fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. West Palm Beach at this point most likely is moving forward with fireworks for this year's event, Moore noted during the meeting. In her letter to James, Moore said that Palm Beach's council is willing to offer a larger annual contribution for the 4th on Flagler event, given the potential increase in costs should West Palm Beach switch to a fireworks alternative such as drones. During the council meeting, President Pro-Tem Lew Crampton suggested that a letter from Moore could remind West Palm Beach 'of how great they are on environmental issues, but pointing out the incongruity of these polluting fireworks.' Council members Ted Cooney and Bridget Moran said that they would support increasing the town's contribution in future years to cover the possible additional cost of a non-fireworks option. Fireworks explode and release lung-damaging gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, according to the American Lung Association. Fireworks also can startle wildlife and birds, leading to serious injuries or deaths, according to an NPR report. But fireworks companies, supporters and advocates, including the National Fireworks Association, have said that fireworks have value for entertainment and other purposes, while emphasizing the importance of following safety guidelines. Many large cities throughout the U.S. have transitioned to drone shows instead of fireworks because of concerns for the environment. The drones, which have LED lights, can be programmed to create myriad shapes and patterns in a range of brilliant colors, CBS News reported in 2023. Florida cities including Miami Beach, Lauderhill and Ocala now use drones instead of fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations, according to multiple media reports. Some places that are dry and prone to fires — Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado, among them — also transitioned to drones because of concerns about falling fireworks debris causing blazes, Newsweek reported. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach asks West Palm to consider not using fireworks on July 4
