By Betsy Finklea
Two new councilmen and one longtime councilman took the oath of office, and a new chairman and vice-chairman were elected at a called meeting of the Dillon County Council on January 7th.
District Five Councilman Harold Moody was sworn into office by Clerk of Court Gwen Hyatt.
District Six Councilman Robbie Coward was sworn in by Probate Judge Teresa Campbell. He was accompanied by his daughter, Madison, and grandson, Nicholas, as he was being sworn into office.
District Seven Councilman Stevie Grice was sworn in by Clerk of Court Gwen Hyatt. He was accompanied by daughters, Logan and Cierra, as he was being sworn into office.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Councilman Randy Goings gave the invocation, and the agenda was approved.
The election for chairman then commenced. The only secret ballots cast by council are those for chairman and vice-chairman. Ballots were distributed and cast, and the tally was given by Clerk to Council Jamie Sue Stephens. She read out three votes for Archie Scott, three votes for T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., and one vote for Randy Goings. Goings said he signed the bottom of this ballot and that he did not vote and was not going to vote. Scott said if this was the case then he would vote for Finklea for chairman. A motion was then made to elect Finklea by acclamation.
The election for vice-chairman was then held. Scott won this election with five votes cast in his favor. After the election of chairman and vice-chairman, the employment contract of William Clay Young, the county administrator, was taken up. Scott made a motion to table this matter as he said it was the first time the council was viewing it as a whole body. This motion failed.
The council then went into executive session to discuss the contract.
After returning to open session, the council voted to give Young a new two-year contract upon a motion by Councilman Bobby Moody. This was seconded by Councilman Harold Moody.
The motion passed on a 5-2 vote with H. Moody, B. Moody, Grice, Finklea, and Goings voting for the contract and Scott and Coward voting against it.
