Vote Was Seven to Five in Favor
On a 7 to 5 vote, Greenville County Council COW (Committee of the Whole) approved a motion by Councilman Willis Meadows to reconsider a previous vote denying a Meadows proposal regarding the county road program.
Meadows has studied the cost figures in great detail and contends that the County could save as much as $661,000 annually by eliminating the current method of hiring a single contractor to manage road work. His proposal will be taken up at the next meeting of the COW.
Councilman Tony Trout has been a critic of the county road program since his first year as a member of Greenville County Council; however, his methods of dealing with the matter have accomplished little or nothing, other than creating anger.
Trout insisted that he had conducted “a pretty good investigation” of the road program for three years and had gotten it all the way to a Grand Jury and that he understood that three staff members were “about to be fired” when a “crooked” solicitor and Judge stopped the Grand Jury from meeting.
“I think you are out of order,” said Chairman Kirven.
“”I’m not out of order,” Trout responded.
Kirven repeated: “You are out of order.”
“It’s a very crooked program,” Trout said with a raised voice.
“Your comments are not germane,” Kirven said as he pounded the gavel and added: “I’m going to be voting against” the motion.
“I done told you what you can do with that little gavel one time. You want me to tell you again?” Trout blurted out.
“You come over here… and we will discuss it,” Kirven responded.
Lottie Gibson interrupted the confrontation. “Hey, hey, hey, hey,” and called for the vote. The roll was called by the clerk.
Trout, who has two challengers in the upcoming June 10, 2008, Republican primary election, voted with the majority in favor of reconsidering the road program vote. He was joined by Meadows, Joe Dill, Lottie Gibson, Xanthene Norris, Dr. Sid Cates, and Dr. Bob Taylor.
Chairman Kirven, Jim Burns, Judy Gilstrap, Cort Flynt and Fred Payne, voted to deny reconsideration.
The State Law Enforcement Division conducted an investigation into “potential criminal activity” involving communications between Trout and David Smith, chairman of the Grand Jury. A decision on the matter reportedly rests with the State Attorney General.
|
