Simpsonville's ‘official’ problem draws ordinance change

The Simpsonville City Commission passed a resolution to deal with an “official” issue at its meeting Tuesday night.

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But this time the issue concerned officials for games in the city’s recreational basketball leagues: There’s a shortage of qualified and available whistle-blowers.

New Parks Director Chris Truelock wrote a letter to Mayor Steve Eden in which he outlined the problem and asked the commission to waive ordinance No. 94-10 , an act that would allow city and parks employees to be called on to officiate – and be paid the according $10 or $15 per game – if necessary.

Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution, which amends the ordinance that was written to protect against conflicts of interest for city officials and employees.

In his letter, Truelock, who started in January as the city’s first full-time parks director, wrote that “we are happy with the program and the direction it is taking with the exception of game officiating. We simply lack the ability to recruit and retain quality officials due to a lack of local experienced game officials.”

Some members of the parks board, however, do have that experience but were prohibited from being paid to officiate by the ordinance, he said.

“There are two or three board members who are qualified [to officiate],” City Administrator David Eaton said.

“This would only be in an emergency situation,” Eden said before the commission voted. “The parks director had to put on the whistle the other night.”

City Attorney Hite Hays said that the commission needed a “resolution to address the rule of necessity” to waive the ordinance in those situations.

Partial sewer payment

On the recommendation of the project engineer for the Cardinal Club Force Main sewer project, commissioners approved a partial payment of $20,232.11 to Salmon Construction for work completed as of Jan. 31.

Eaton said there remains approximately $15,000 to be paid on the project that is largely complete, with some paving work to be done when weather permits and some significant clean-up at the entrance to Cardinal Club.

“We’re holding back some [of payment] because of substandard work at the entrance to the Cardinal Club,” Eden said. “We promised the president of the Cardinal Club Homeowners Association that we would make it good, and sometimes the only way to keep a contractor working is to hold some of his money.”

Also at the meeting, commissioners:

§       Approved on second reading an ordinance annexing 82.356 acres on the southeast corner of Buck Creek Road and Interstate 64. The land, owned by a partnership called Trio Realty, is for sale, and there are no immediate development plans.

§       Authorized spending $14,016 to have Window World replace the second-story windows in the educational building that is leased by Corpus Christi Academy. Because of the age and style of the windows, they have to be built, so that work will begin. The windows won’t be installed until the school term is finished in June.

§       Heard from Eaton that Police Commissioner Scott McDowell and Police Chief Chip Minnis have been interviewing candidates and conducting background checks for the open position in the police department. He said he expected a recommendation to the commission at its next meeting.

§       Because of an oddity of the calendar this month, the commission will meet again Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.