Police Chief Darrell Dawkins

Woodruff Police Lieutenant Darrell Dawkins was announced as the new Woodruff Police Chief Monday night at the regular council meeting. Having served in law enforcement for 13 years, Chief Dawkins’ ascension to this post was both deserved and popular.

Ever since the search for a new chief began several months ago, Woodruff citizens and leaders from all walks of life called me or stopped me to say they hoped Dawkins would be named chief. As a life-long resident of Woodruff, a former football standout and as a career law enforcement officer, Darrell is a popular, recognizable figure. His devotion to the community is unmatched. And his reputation among all citizens is unimpeachable.

Darrell will be faced with some challenges as he goes forward as chief, challenges he began to address during his audition for the job over the last few months. First, street-level drug dealers have plagued some of the older sections of Woodruff for many years. Over the last few months however, Darrell and his fellow officers have raided multiple homes to crack down on this neighborhood cancer. As a result, numerous other active drug houses have shut down voluntarily for fear they were the next to be raided. And they were right. Chief Dawkins will not tolerate this illegal activity and his actions since October prove this.

Second, Darrell will have to manage the myriad issues that will pull at him. From complaints about speeding to solving crimes like the Advance Auto Parts robbery, his attention will be diverted in many directions. So long as he is able to manage the multiple issues he will face daily, he will succeed. Nothing I’ve seen from him over the last three and a half years indicates he will falter.

When it was announced Monday night that Darrell had been named chief of police, the standing room only crowd stood and cheered. It was a testimony to his popularity and the confidence the public has in him. I’m proud that one of my final official acts as city manager was naming Darrell as chief. I wish he and the Woodruff Police Department all the best as they continue their dedicated service to our city

Out of work today and tomorrow with the boy, who's sick. Fever of 103 yesterday and 102 today. There goes his perfect attendance at school!

Weekly Update 12-15-06

TO: Woodruff City Council

FROM: Scott Slatton

SUBJECT: Weekly update

DATE: 15 December 2006

Administration Department
1. Attached is the December council meeting agenda.
2. Beverley agreed to act as interim city manager as requested by council.
3. The ad for a city manager was distributed to the MASC, NCLM, USC and App. State University with a January 19 deadline for submission of applications. ACOG’s Donna Kazia will assist the city during the search process.
4. Attached is the city’s response from Terry Clark’s office to the FOIA request made two weeks ago.

Fire Department
1. Chief Godfrey completed the sale of the department’s mini-pumper in anticipation of the department’s acquisition of another aerial apparatus.

Police Department
1. The investigation and search for a third suspect in the Advance Auto robbery continued this week.

Street Department
1. Two new city welcome signs arrived this week. One will be installed next week on the monument at the intersection of West Georgia Street and West Hayne Street. Money for the project were provided by the city’s legislative set aside fund obtained by former SC Rep. Phil Sinclair.

Sewer Department
1. Routine week.

The Spark

With the completion of the Highway 101/146 expansion, it was only a matter of time before development followed in Woodruff. The photo of the sign above, located at the intersection of Hwy. 101/146 and Main Street, is evidence of that fact. Food Lion is coming to Woodruff much to everyone’s delight.

The developer who will construct the project visited city hall a few months ago with his plan. Though we couldn’t talk about the project publicly at that time, we were all very excited. After the sign above went up over the weekend, there was no doubt the development fire was lit in Woodruff.

The challenge now will be how to control and manage the growth we know is coming. Already the city council is working on that management, specifically through the city sewer system expansion study. Private property owners are planning for that future growth also. One owner has undertaken a massive overhaul of an existing shopping center here in town and the clearing of vacant property around it.

All of this means good things for city residents. More shopping options and an expanded tax base are among the benefits growth will bring to Woodruff. Unlike the uncontrolled growth that exists in unincorporated areas of Spartanburg County, Woodruff’s growth will be planned and well-managed to create an attractive place for people to shop and live.

Moving On

Mayor Paul V. Bell
Woodruff City Council
City of Woodruff
231 East Hayne Street
Woodruff, SC 29388

Dear Mayor Bell and City Council:

In accordance with the employment agreement between the City of Woodruff and myself dated September 27, 2004, this letter serves as notice of my resignation as Woodruff City Manager effective January 5, 2007. I have accepted a newly-created position with the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority.

It has been my distinct pleasure to have served you and the citizens of Woodruff for the last three and a half years. And what a successful three and a half years they have been! From emerging from fiscal insolvency to winning nearly $1.5 million in grant funds to upgrading city facilities and equipment to planning for the future to cutting property taxes, our success has been unmatched and evident to the citizens of Woodruff. This success has been due to your leadership and the hard work of the dedicated, professional members of the city staff. I sincerely hope it continues.

Pleas allow me to thank you and the citizens of Woodruff for the opportunity to learn and grow as a professional, local government manager and, more importantly, as a person.

Sincerely,
Scott Slatton

Weekly Update 12-8-06

TO: Woodruff City Council

FROM: Scott Slatton

SUBJECT: Weekly update

DATE: 8 December 2006

Administration Department
1. Attached is a memo that discusses a request from staff for council to consider retiree benefits for future city workers. This subject will appear as a December meeting agenda item.
2. The court date for the owner of the burned house on Fairview Street has been scheduled for December 11. If the owner does not appear in court, or refuses to clean up the property, then it will be cleaned by the city and a lien will be placed upon it for the cost of the work.
3. Mayor Bell, Mayor Pro Tem Gist and Council members Kennedy and Norman attended the Elegant Nails Salon grand opening.
4. The repaired McKinney Park playground equipment was delivered this week. Installation is scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.

Fire Department
1. The department assisted firefighters in Laurens County with a large woods fire this week.

Police Department
1. Asheville Police arrested another suspect in the Advance Auto Part robbery from last month. The suspect was booked into the Spartanburg County Jail and released on bond after Woodruff Police made charges against him.
2. Officers executed several search and arrest warrants resulting in seizures of marijuana and the arrest of multiple persons for drug offenses.
3. The final open patrol officer position was filled this week with the hiring of Alan Burden, who previously worked for the department.
4. Scott met with District 4’s Clark Simpkins to discuss terms for moving the department to BJW.

Street Department
1. Christmas lights were installed on the decorative poles downtown this week.

Sewer Department
1. The new Edwards Road and Cavins Road pump station control panels were installed this week. The installations mark the conclusion of the city’s 2004 CDBG sewer project. A closeout public hearing will be held on December 19 at city hall.

Parade Lineup

Well, the Woodruff Christmas Parade lineup is complete. Curt Dillard, Dana Chumley and I worked on it this morning and I finished just now. Seventy some odd entries for the parade Sunday. City staff will contact each entrant's representative with their lineup number and the controlled chaos that is the lineup will begin on Sunday around 1:30PM. If you haven't been to a Woodruff Christmas Parade, you ain't been to a parade! The parade starts at 3PM, so get a spont on Main Street early or else you might miss out!

More Register Information

About six weeks ago it was announced that Woodruff City Hall, the former Woodruff High School, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since that time, we’ve received the plaque (pictured) that will adorn the entryway here at city hall. And, the building has been listed on the SC Department of Archives and History’s National Register inventory website. Check out the SCDAH’s listing of city hall. It has some good photos of the building and a link to the Register nomination form

Worker's Comp Reform = Property Tax Reform

Worker’s compensation insurance reform in South Carolina is at the top of many business’ lists for action in the upcoming legislative session that begins next month. As I’ve blogged before, this reform is at the top of cities’ lists as well. Along with worker’s comp reform, dissolution of the obsolete (and aptly named) Second Injury Fund (SIF) is critical. (As you’ll see below, the SIF will provide a second injury to cities next year) Last week’s annual meeting for the SC Municipal Insurance Trust (SCMIT) further underscored why worker’s comp reform and dissolution of the SIF are so badly needed in our state.

SCMIT is the local government worker’s comp pool to which the City of Woodruff belongs. Since 2002, SCMIT’s rates have risen 53%. Woodruff’s premiums have risen approximately 67% in the same span. In 2007, the city will pay $36,874 in premium and then pay a SIF “assessment” of approximately $2,858. Grand total: $39,732 for worker’s comp insurance.

So what, right? Everyone is paying more for worker’s comp insurance. Costs for all goods and services are rising, right? How does that affect me? If you’re a property owner or resident in Woodruff, here’s how. $40K equals one of the following: 5.8 mills of the property tax rate; a $2.25 reduction of all residents’ monthly garbage collection fees; salary and benefits for a full-time police officer; 2 new police cars. There’s more, but you get the picture. Then there’s this.

According to an Oregon study, South Carolina had the 49th lowest worker’s comp premiums in the nation in 2004. In 2006, it has the 25th lowest, the highest worker’s comp premiums in the entire Southeast. From the most competitive in the Southeast to the least competitive in three years. If no reform is passed in 2007, how much more uncompetitive will our state be in three more years?

For all of the complaining I’m doing on the city’s behalf, I suppose I should be happy Woodruff’s SIF assessment is only 7%. Other governments, like the school districts, will pay up to 20% in SIF assessments next year. Where will the funds come from for these cost increases? Well, starting next year the state legislature will have to answer that question since this year’s property tax “reform” bill stripped local districts of their operating funding. You know, now that I think of it, that may be the key to worker’s comp reform in South Carolina. If the legislature is on the hook to pay for school districts’ worker’s comp insurance, maybe it will finally understand the need to fix worker’s comp. And then maybe the legislature will realize that worker’s comp reform could help achieve lower property taxes, thus making property tax “reform” unnecessary.

Weekly Update 12-1-06

TO: Woodruff City Council

FROM: Scott Slatton

SUBJECT: Weekly update

DATE: 1 December 2006

Administration Department
1. Attached is a FOIA request from attorney James G. Carpenter of The Carpenter Law Firm, P.C., related to the procurement of goods and services since 2003, including McKinney Park. Scott forwarded this request to Terry Clark so he may prepare a response.
2. ACOG’s Joe Newton has January 27, 2007, available for the goal-setting retreat. Please pencil this date in on your calendar.
3. Scott attended the annual SCMIT/SCMIRF meeting in Columbia to learn about insurance rate increases for the coming calendar year.
4. The Enoree Christmas parade will be held this Sunday, December 2 at 3PM. If you plan to ride in the parade please call Buster Lawson at 969-2570.

Fire Department
1. Chief Godfrey attended the Spartanburg County Emergency Management pre-winter meeting.

Police Department
1. After a thorough investigation, the Woodruff Police Department made an arrest in the Advance Auto Parts store robbery from two weeks ago. A former employee of the business has been charged.
2. Lt. Dawkins attended the Spartanburg County Emergency Management pre-winter meeting.
3. Eighteen applications for the vacant police chief’s position have been received. Review of the applications will take place next week and information about them will be forwarded to you.

Street Department
1. Crews cleaned several ditches along Hawthorne Avenue after residents dumped leaves into them, which caused clogs and street flooding last week.

Sewer Department
1. Representatives from O’Steen Electrical Contractors met with Buddy and Lee to finalize details for installation of the new Cavins Road and Edwards Road pump station control panels. The panels were delivered this week.