The Town of Pacolet has some detractors, and they continue to keep things stirred up. The election on Tuesday should be interesting. Even more interesting will be what unfolds between now and the end of the evening on Election Day.
The group of people who are keeping things stirred up do so by imaginations, insinuations, accusations, and lies. The old adage “an empty can makes the most noise” applies nicely to these people. Flitting around and squawking the same old mess, like a bunch of parrots. (No disrespect meant to parrots) You could almost call it a coffee klatch.
There has been much banter related to the town’s administration. There have been issues with the Town Administrator following ordinances, as well as doing things that he isn’t assigned to do. One particular issue that I’ve found interesting is the Freedom of Information Request, and how others have defined the “rules” concerning such. There’s a website called SunshineRequest.com that handles public records requests for those wishing to use their services. It is a public service and totally free.
I found the SunshineRequest site a year or so ago, and have used it regularly, just searching for something that may help me in doing my research. And, I just happened to find a request for the Town of Pacolet. In the reply from the Town of Pacolet Administrator, there are some statements made that may cause some folks to doubt other statements from this person.
Below, is the request in its entirety:
Does anyone believe that someone making $110 per hour would be sitting at a desk searching a database for emails? Do the math. $110 per hour X 40 hours = $4,400 per week. $4,400 X 52 weeks = $228,800 per year.
Take me to your leader! The entity, regardless of size, will not pay an employee $110/hour to redact and /or search for documents. Read the Citizens Guide linked below.
The Town Council members all have a townofpacolet.com email address, according to the website. These are not private/personal email addresses. They are part of the public records. Also, if one prefers, digital copies are available at a much lower cost than paper copies.
Below, is the FOIA form from the Town of Pacolet website:
FOIA / Public records Request form on town’s website
Ctizen’s Guide to South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act
Citizen’s Guide to FOIA/Public Records Requests
The only form of transparency that is being seen, is not quite what some think it is. It’s more like, “people can see through” all the fog of bickering and innuendoes. It’s a known fact, as well as a natural conclusion, towns prosper and grow via multiplication, not division. The damage being done by a small faction hurts the entire town. If one doesn’t have “skin in the game” and no history with the town or the people, influencing (manipulating) people is a tough sell.
Just a little oddity I’d like to share. Why is there only one candidate for Town Council who used his business address when he filed to run for office?
[Click on image to enlarge]
Hopefully, the people of Pacolet will make the right choices as they decide on the future of their town.
[Ed: I have an interest in this outcome, even though it is not an outcome that would personally be of benefit to me. I was born and reared in Pacolet, and was a student in Pacolet schools through grade 10. My father was a Baptist minister, and we moved to North Carolina after my dad accepted the call to a church in the city of Morganton. All of my friends were in Pacolet, (some are still in Pacolet) as were most of my immediate family and relatives. The years that I was afforded to spend in this community enabled me to be taught and molded by some of the best people ever.]
