Community Relations Division - The fate & future of its departments & staff

       IMHO (there ya go, proof-seekers, how's that), most of those were targeted by Eddie Moore for elimination/reductions, Centrist. Those are all those "warm and fuzzy" projects they don't like because they don't see the importance of them.
       My guess is the groundwork has now been laid for the elimination of a number of individuals and, possibly, entire programs.
        In something of a nod to Art here, it also seems to me that the only thing standing between such things as the Farmer's Market and oblivion right now is Rusty Burns - and even he won't be able to stop the juggernaut once Moore and Council figure out how to recover from a few early missteps (such as allowing their rabid supporters to gloat and holler all over town about how the new Council is going to ruthlessly fire people they don't like in direct violation of S.C. Code of Laws 4-9-660.)

Anderson budget calms fears for now
By Mike Ellis (Contact)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
[url]

The community relations division has been eliminated and its employees have been moved to other areas of the county,.....

What is the fate & future of the following Community Relations Division Departments and those employees:
Community Relations Division
A - Anderson County Farmer's Market and the Anderson County Farmer's Market Pavilion

JK

-centrist-view

So, what is the fate and future of the Farmer's Market & its staff?
JK

-centrist-view

Well cv, it's a money pit and one that either needs to be managed better or leased to a group or company that can run a "farmers" market profitably.

       IMHO (there ya go, proof-seekers, how's that), most of those were targeted by Eddie Moore for elimination/reductions, Centrist. Those are all those "warm and fuzzy" projects they don't like because they don't see the importance of them.
       My guess is the groundwork has now been laid for the elimination of a number of individuals and, possibly, entire programs.
        In something of a nod to Art here, it also seems to me that the only thing standing between such things as the Farmer's Market and oblivion right now is Rusty Burns - and even he won't be able to stop the juggernaut once Moore and Council figure out how to recover from a few early missteps (such as allowing their rabid supporters to gloat and holler all over town about how the new Council is going to ruthlessly fire people they don't like in direct violation of S.C. Code of Laws 4-9-660.)

-jdtippett

JD reference posts where supporters of the new council were gloating that people would be fired. I know I am old but I remember posts about the infamous "list" and responses from those who called that misinformation or BS.

Ask Michelle Strange to verify that the night Burns became the new interim administrator he told her to stop worrying about getting fired. Despite the fact that department was "eliminated",  she has been asked to stay on as a consultant after her resignation becomes effective.

      
       My guess is the groundwork has now been laid for the elimination of a number of individuals and, possibly, entire programs.

-jdtippett

News articles from Greenwood show that in order to balance their budget, they closed their civic center. It is in need of major upgrades, and is rarely used. Maybe this is something we should consider. Except for a couple of redneck "rastlin" shows and a couple of gospel shows, nobody uses this building, much less rents it out. I bet $500k to $1 mil could be saved by just closing the building down.
To make the farmers market "profitable" revenue would have to be created. Who is going to pay the revenue? Farmers? Why pay rent in the pavillion when you can sell food on any street corner for free.
We could close up Special Population (mentally and physically challenged people) and Senior Citizen programs. Here's an idea, why don't send those people out to pick up trash along the roads. Then we could do away with KAB.

Let's close up the animal shelter. Why do we need a big mansion for mangy muts anyway? If the animal control would stop picking up people pets, we wouldn't need the animal shelter. Let's do away with animal control.

Museum? Is there really anything in that building worth spending 10 minutes looking at?

dickdriver is against zoning so we can do away with the zoning people. Except when somebody wants to build cheap housing for low income people right next to his trailer. Then see who comes screaming to the Council.

Before anybody thinks I'm a left wing liberal, I am a conservative that is just a couple of inches right of center. I just know that sometimes, local government should do those little extra things to make our lives just a little bit better.

"Well cv, it's a money pit and one that either needs to be managed better or leased to a group or company that can run a "farmers" market profitably. "

Why can't it just be a service that the county runs for its citizens, like the library.  Does the library make a profit?  I hope this council doesn't intend to get rid of everything that makes this county worth living in in favor of some ridiculously low tax rate.  I just looked today to see what my county property taxes were, and it seems like a deal.  I'd pay more to see that our roads were properly maintained though. 

The museum is the one I wonder about.  Usually exhibits, like the quilt display, are at the public library.  It seems like the library has the space and more people could enjoy the stitchery.  The library also has conference rooms. Just seems like the museum is unnecessary.

Does anyone know how much the museum costs the taxpayers of Anderson County? I know they have some dedicated volunteers. But I also know they have paid employees as well as being located on some prime real estate.

Can Anderson county afford this expense that will always be there and continue to grow through the years. Face it, your children and grandchildren will still be paying to operate it. Is the prestige of having a museum of this size paid for by the taxpayers, worth it to the taxpayers?

Can it be changed to charge admission? Or is the patronage to small to make a difference?

        I have no idea how much it costs to operate that museum, but any community that doesn't understand and honor its past has no future.

D - Human Relations Council/Omega Project

-centrist-view

JD, it seems like there are several underutilized bldgs which have space to house all the history anyone needs.  Personally, I think if more people worried about the present rather than the past, we might be better off.

1-Opinion
I agree with IB.  The Farmers' Market is a service offered by the county to the citizens of this county.  I go there at least once a week during the summer to buy fresh vegetables.  Everything seems quite efficient and effective to me.  Just what is it that you find wrong with the FM?  It doesn't make a profit.  Tell me what government entity does turn a profit?  

JD, it seems like there are several underutilized bldgs which have space to house all the history anyone needs.  Personally, I think if more people worried about the present rather than the past, we might be better off.

-confused

No wonder you are confused.  What's that quote about those who don't remember the failures of the past are doomed to repeat them?  We have a wonderful museum.  We should all support it more than we do.  It is something that adds to the quality of life here in Anderson.  We need more stuff like that.  

Ellie, just what percentage of people in Anderson would you say actually have ever entered the doors of the museum to have their quality of life improved?  And I'm not confused at all about where you stand, nor where I do.

.... We should all support it more than we do.  It is something that adds to the quality of life here in Anderson.  We need more stuff like that.  

-elliefant

ellie what is it you want done to "support it more than we do"? Do you want a bigger budget, more employees, more attendees (more attendees = more maintenance), a bigger facility? What do you think should be done? Do you think anything can be done to stop it from being a constant, forever, drain on tax dollars?

Good roads add to "the quality of life" much more than the museum. In fact I daresay good roads are a necessity, while a museum is a luxury.

My last question is what do you mean by "We need more stuff like that."? What else do you think we need? How do you propose to pay for whatever these things are? 

        I have no idea how much it costs to operate that museum, but any community that doesn't understand and honor its past has no future.

-jdtippett

jd are you saying that a museum is necessary for a community to "understand and honor its past"? If so it may come as a shock to tens of thousands of communities that understand and honor their past without a taxpayer funded museum.

Museums are not necesarily for the Adults of the community, but the youngsters, who should learn the history of their community. THAT'S where the enhanced mission of Museums come from.  Teaching.   Unless it's up to ETV and History channel to teach kids.

News articles from Greenwood show that in order to balance their budget, they closed their civic center. It is in need of major upgrades, and is rarely used. Maybe this is something we should consider. Except for a couple of redneck "rastlin" shows and a couple of gospel shows, nobody uses this building, much less rents it out. I bet $500k to $1 mil could be saved by just closing the building down.To make the farmers market "profitable" revenue would have to be created. Who is going to pay the revenue? Farmers? Why pay rent in the pavillion when you can sell food on any street corner for free.We could close up Special Population (mentally and physically challenged people) and Senior Citizen programs. Here's an idea, why don't send those people out to pick up trash along the roads. Then we could do away with KAB.
Let's close up the animal shelter. Why do we need a big mansion for mangy muts anyway? If the animal control would stop picking up people pets, we wouldn't need the animal shelter. Let's do away with animal control.
Museum? Is there really anything in that building worth spending 10 minutes looking at?
dickdriver is against zoning so we can do away with the zoning people. Except when somebody wants to build cheap housing for low income people right next to his trailer. Then see who comes screaming to the Council.
Before anybody thinks I'm a left wing liberal, I am a conservative that is just a couple of inches right of center. I just know that sometimes, local government should do those little extra things to make our lives just a little bit better.

-edwinjones

That is obviously a sarcastic tongue-in-cheek post!  Any left-winger would NEVER say such things.