City Quick Connect Podcast From The Municipal Association Of South Carolina

The City of Simpsonville won the 2023 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Economic Development Achievement Award for the Simpsonville Arts Center, a project which redeveloped a historic school into a new facility to enhance both the arts scene and the economy of Simpsonville. City Administrator Dianna Gracely talks about the offerings and programming of the Arts Center, and the work that went into transforming a shuttered elementary school. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/848100092.

The Town of Chapin won a 2023 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its trail of art installations that include creatively painted sailboat displays, and public art connections with the Town of Chapin Nature Park. Town Administrator Nicholle Burroughs discusses the purpose behind the projects, the community impact of public art, and the town’s plans for the future of its arts and culture scene. See the award video at vimeo.com/848100280.

The Town of Cheraw won a 2023 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its network of cameras capable of reading license plate numbers automatically, expanding the ability of its police department to solve crimes and recover stolen property. Town Manager Rob Wolfe discusses how the system works and its positive impact in the community. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/848100152.

The Municipal Association of South Carolina, along with Main Street South Carolina, its downtown revitalization technical assistance program, created WeShopSC, a statewide e-commerce marketplace. Jenny Boulware and Jonathan Irick of Main Street South Carolina talk about what the service is, how it can benefit small businesses and how businesses can start using it. Learn more: https://weshopsc.com/

The Town of West Pelzer won a 2023 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its Rural Renewal Master Plan, which has succeeded in reversing the decline of its downtown Frankville Business District and turning it into a vibrant commercial space. Mayor Blake Sanders explains how the town developed the plan and pursued its recommendations, creating full occupancy of downtown commercial space. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/848100219.

The Municipal Association of SC and the SC School Boards Association will partner to bring their members an all-day verbal de-escalation training in Columbia on October 19. Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and SC School Boards Association Executive Director Scott Price talk with Harry Dolan, a retired police chief and head of the Dolan Consulting Group, who will lead the training. They talk about why civility-focused training for local elected officials and others is critical. Find more information and registration at https://www.masc.sc/bringing-civility-verbal-conflict-training.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton preview the Municipal Association of SC Regional Advocacy Meetings, which give municipal officials a time to share their thoughts on legislation and other ways the Association can serve cities and towns. They talk about what to expect, including discussion of legislation in the first half of the two-year session, as well as pending legislation on issues like short-term rentals.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk with two staff members of the SC Association of Counties: Owen McBride, assistant director of governmental affairs; and John Wienges, staff attorney. They discuss legislative issues that both the Municipal Association and Association of Counties have worked on together, such as regular updates to Local Government Fund funding in accordance with state general fund amounts. They also cover issues anticipated in the 2024 session, such as short-term rental regulation, and issues that the Association of Counties will address, including a lot cleanup bill, waste tire disposal bill and vehicle registration.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about the legacy of the late state Sen. John Scott, the recent meeting of U.S. Rep. William Timmons with 4th congressional district municipal leaders, as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief funding.

The Association’s field services managers travel the state to offer hands-on technical assistance and training to help all 271 municipalities address challenges. Naomi Reed, covering much of the Upstate, has joined Charlie Barrineau and Ashley Kellahan as part of the team. Hear from all three about the services they offer and the territories they cover. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/request-municipal-assistance

At the Municipal Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Greenville, Casey Fields and Scott Slatton interview state Sen. Ross Turner (R-Greenville). They discuss Turner’s career in the SC Senate and the changes in its makeup during his time, as well as how cities and towns can build relationships with their legislators. Turner spoke to the Association of South Carolina Mayors, and addressed hate crimes legislation currently in the General Assembly.

Association Executive Director Todd Glover discusses the importance of avoiding prohibitions on short-term rental regulation and the most recent expansions of the Main Street South Carolina program, including the WeShopSC e-commerce platform.

Outgoing Municipal Association President Rick Osbon, mayor of the City of Aiken, talks about the growth of the Association’s civility initiative and the Association’s Congressional outreach efforts. He also takes a look back on legislative victories of the past year.

Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy, newly elected president of the Municipal Association of SC, talks about municipal leadership, the Association’s civility initiative and its legislative successes in helping cities and towns provide valuable services for people and businesses.

At the Municipal Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Greenville, Casey Fields and Scott Slatton record a podcast episode in front of a live audience. They talk about the Municipal Association’s role in the Southern Legislative Conference, which took place in Charleston this year. They also talk about the Association’s participation in the National League of Cities’ State League Staff Workshop in Boston, covering such topics as municipal zoning authority trends nationwide.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk with Howard Duvall, at-large councilmember for the City of Columbia and former longtime executive director for the Municipal Association of SC. They discuss Duvall’s career in municipal government, beginning with elected office in the Town of Cheraw, and lessons learned from decades of legislative advocacy on behalf of cities and towns.

The City of Beaufort responded to Russia’s war in Ukraine by building a partnership with Ostroh, a city in western Ukraine, connecting them with needed support and supplies for refugees. Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray shares with Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover about how he helped Beaufort build this effort, how fundraising efforts made use of local artisans, and how they forged a new partnership with a South Carolina-based MRE manufacturer.

Casey Fields will bring in guests to discuss the South Carolina political system while the General Assembly is not in session, beginning with former South Carolina Senate Clerk — and Casey’s father — Jim Fields. They discuss topics such as the state’s 1975 Home Rule Act, revisions of the state’s constitution, the processes of civility and decorum of the past and present, and relationship building in advocacy work.

Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright discuss the governor’s vetoes on the state budget. They also talk about next steps for cities that will use a compilation of financial statements instead of a full audit, implementation of the squat truck ban, and how the state’s new first responder death benefit will work.

The House and Senate adopted the budget conference report this week for the new $41 billion state budget. Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Scott Slatton discuss the budget, which fully funds the Local Government Fund and which removed the proviso on short-term rental regulation. They talk about aspects of the budget involving transportation funding, state retirement system and health insurance contributions, first responder services and many other items.