City Quick Connect Podcast From The Municipal Association Of South Carolina

Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy offers the report of the Municipal Association’s legislative committee, and the Association’s advocacy team talks through numerous key issues currently debated at the State House. Hear from Scott Slatton, director of advocacy and communications, as well as legislative and public policy advocates Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright.

Dr. William McCoy, director of Clemson University’s Rutland Institute for Ethics, discusses the causes of civility and its impact on ethics, as well as the work that local leaders can do — both personally and in the community — to stop the spread of incivility.

Todd Glover, executive director of the Municipal Association of SC, highlights the importance of legislative advocacy for municipalities, the Association’s new branding and new website, its first-ever Small Cities Summit that will take place before the Annual Meeting in July, and the ongoing civility in local government initiative.

Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon, president of the Municipal Association of SC, takes a look at recent legislative successes, such as Act 84 of 2019, requiring the Local Government Fund to increase as the state’s general fund increases, and Act 176 of 2020, streamlining business licensing tax processes. He also discusses current legislative movement on issues such as fentanyl trafficking, allowing a financial statement instead of an audit for smaller towns, and short-term rentals.

Senate President Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee) and House of Representatives Majority Leader David Hiott (R-Pickens) discuss the General Assembly’s work in the 2023 session, including criminal penalties for fentanyl, squat truck regulations, local government funding, and relationship building between legislators and municipal officials. Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon moderates.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss legislative action on the different fentanyl trafficking bills, the proposal for an Heir’s Property Commission, and what day-to-day advocacy work looks like at the State House. They also preview Hometown Legislative Action Day, coming on February 7.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields discuss the impacts of the abortion debate and SC Supreme Court election on the legislative session, as well as subcommittee work on the bond reform bills and progress on H3503, the bill that would increase penalties for trafficking fentanyl.

The Association’s legislative and public policy advocates Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright return to talk about legislative action on bills that would penalize the trafficking of fentanyl, prohibit squat truck modifications and regulate municipal election dates. They also discuss the latest on American Rescue Plan funding as well as healthcare and retirement costs through the SC Public Employee Benefit Authority.

Casey Fields talks with legislative and public policy advocates Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright about the beginning of the 2023 – 24 South Carolina legislative session, including organizational changes in the House and Senate, the Municipal Association’s testimony on funding through the Local Government Fund, and the bill on American Rescue Plan funding allocations.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields preview the Association’s new Advocacy Initiatives, including preserving local authority to regulate short-term rentals, expanding local economic development incentives, enhancing local public safety tools, passing statewide hate crimes legislation and others.

The Municipal Association of SC launched its civility in local government initiative at its 2022 Annual Meeting. Executive Director Todd Glover discusses his experiences talking about civility in front of many diverse audiences in the time since then, and where the focus on civility will go in 2023. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/Pages/resources/Civility.aspx

In January, the first half of the 2023 – 2024 session of the General Assembly begins. Scott Slatton, director of advocacy and communications; along with Casey Fields, manager for municipal advocacy; explain changes coming to the State House with an unusually large incoming freshman class of legislators, as well as what is happening with prefiled bills and committee assignments.

The City of Laurens won the 2022 Excellence on Main Street Award for the Laurens Lights Up the Night festival, an Independence Day event with music, fireworks and for the first time a light-mapping video display customized for projection onto the façade of Laurens’ historic courthouse. Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn and Main Street Laurens Executive Director Jonathan Irick discuss the event as well as upcoming projects in downtown Laurens, including a restoration of the courthouse. See the video at vimeo.com/731394098.

The Town of Bluffton won a 2022 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its multifaceted program promoting officer wellness and normalizing mental health assistance. Mayor Lisa Sulka and Councilmember Bridgette Frazier discuss everything from the community-focused parts, including the creation of a mental health advocacy position, to the promotion of good mental health among officers, including a sabbatical benefit. See the award video at vimeo.com/732155399.

City and town residents need to be able to contact their mayor and councilmembers to raise issues of concern, but exactly how much elected official accessibility should exist is a frequent question. Municipal Association of SC Field Services Managers Ashley Kellahan and Charlie Barrineau discuss.

The City of Florence won a 2022 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its work to spur new development in a corridor running alongside its downtown, reducing the area’s food insecurity and finding new uses for historic warehouses. Florence City Manager Randy Osterman and Assistant City Manager Clint Moore explain projects in the district, including the establishment of a grocery store and the City Center Market, a venue for a farmers market and startup food businesses. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/732157829.

The City of Rock Hill won a 2022 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its rapid deployment of a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic in early 2021. Rock Hill Communications and Marketing Manager Katie Quinn explains how the city helped with logistics, volunteers, transportation and communication, and the lessons learned for ongoing city initiatives. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/732160538.

The Municipal Association invited the South Carolina Policy Council to join its podcast after the SCPC published a report on short-term rental regulations. Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss how cities and towns are handling regulatory decisions on short-term rentals with SCPC Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse and SCPC Senior Policy Analyst Bryce Fielder.

When city councils and other public bodies choose to have public comment periods, they should take care to set rules and expectations, handle speakers consistently and make sure they keep the meeting effectively and efficiently. The Municipal Association’s field services managers, Ashley Kellahan, Charlie Barrineau and Jeff Shacker, discuss issues and approaches to consider when managing public input.

Beaufort won a 2022 Achievement Award from the Municipal Association for its project creating upgraded new drainage infrastructure for an area beset by heavy rains, king tides and storm surges. Director of Special Projects Neal Pugliese talks about how the effort brought together numerous entities into a multijurisdictional task force, since the water itself is heedless of what jurisdiction it’s in. See the award video at https://vimeo.com/732149816