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Important Notice: Letters of interest and detailed resumes should be emailed to Clay Killian at clay@parkerpoeconsulting.com no later than November 22, 2024.

Position: Fairfield County Administrator

Office: Administration

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

Fairfield County is located in the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, about twenty-five miles north of the state capital. Per the 2020 Census, the County population was 20,948. The County seat is Winnsboro and there are two other incorporated municipalities, Ridgeway and Jenkinsville.

Fairfield County operates under the Council-Administrator form of government. County Council consists of seven members, each elected from single member districts for overlapping four-year terms. The Council Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are elected by the members each January, following a general election and serve two-year terms. The Council appoints the County Administrator and Clerk to Council and also hires the County Attorney, who is not a full-time employee, but rather a member of a local law firm placed on retainer, by the Council. There are seven positions elected county-wide to run specific departments of the County: Sheriff; Solicitor; Clerk of Court; Probate Judge; Coroner; Auditor and Treasurer. All other department heads are appointed by, and report to, the County Administrator. The County is a full-service county providing traditional services such as road maintenance, solid waste collection and disposal, recreation, animal control, detention facilities, planning and zoning, building permits and inspections, code enforcement, law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical services, emergency management, transit services and others. The County also operates the public transit system, historical museum, library system and a regional, general aviation airport.

Fairfield County’s annual Operating Budget is approximately $46 million dollars and the County currently has approximately three hundred full-time employees.

History

Established in 1785, Fairfield County has a long and rich history, with more than one hundred historical buildings, churches and homes that predate the Revolutionary War. There are many significant Revolutionary War sites and monuments including the house in which General Charles, Lord Cornwallis resided and made his headquarters during England’s southern campaign. The Town of Winnsboro boasts the longest continuously running town clock in America. The narrow building that houses the Town Clock, was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia and is located in the center of Historic Downtown Winnsboro. The original structure did not include the clock. That feature was added to the structure in 1837 and has operated continuously since the installation; the building has since been known as the Town Clock.

The County Courthouse, designed by famed South Carolina architect Robert Mills, was built in 1823. It is designed in the Greek Revival style and is also located at the center of Historic Downtown Winnsboro, directly across the street from the Town Clock. The structure is currently in the finishing stages of a major renovation, comprised of three phases, which should be completed by early 2025.

Until the 1900’s, agriculture was the primary element of the economy. Early settlers brought cotton to the County in the mid-1700’s and it remained the main crop until the 1920’s. Granite deposits led to the early development of quarrying, with the county’s signature blue granite, known as the “Silk of the Trade,” being used in buildings and monuments worldwide.

Geography/Points of Interest

The County is approximately 710 square miles in area and is mostly rural in nature. It is bordered on the east by the Catawba River/Lake Wateree and on the west by the Broad River/Lake Monticello. Fairfield County is also home to a portion of the Sumter National Forest and Lake Wateree State Park. The County is served by U.S. Highway Interstate 77, U.S. Highway 21 and U.S. Highway 321, as well as several major state highways, including SC 200, SC 213, SC 215, SC 269 and SC 901.

Fairfield County is located approximately one hour south of Charlotte, North Carolina and twenty-five minutes north of Columbia, South Carolina. Charlotte is home to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport; Columbia is home to Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Both airports provide non-stop service to major airline hubs in the eastern and mid-western United States. The County also operates a general aviation airport. The Ports of Charleston and Savannah are approximately a two and three-hour drive, respectively. The South Carolina Department of Commerce recently identified this rural county as South Carolina’s next big growth area. There are multiple reasons for this prediction, including its proximity to Charlotte, Columbia, the new SCOUT Motors facility and Interstate 77.

SCOUT Motors, located just south of the Fairfield County border, is an exciting new development in the area that will significantly impact the Economic Development and residential growth of the County. Since the announcement of SCOUT, Fairfield has become a major target for site selectors and investors. With SCOUT bringing nearly 4,000 jobs to its facility, there is significant interest in businesses and potential suppliers locating here. Residential Development interest has also heightened since the announcement of SCOUT Motors.

Fairfield County offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, boating and hiking. The County is also home to Carolina Adventure World, (Home | Carolina Adventure World) one of the premier camping and al-terrain vehicle parks in the Southeastern United States, that provides a venue for personal, group and corporate recreational opportunities. The South Carolina Railroad Museum (South Carolina Railroad Museum) one of the biggest tourism draws in the County and the only railroad museum in the state where you can take an actual train ride. Do you prefer the mountains or the beach? The Grand Strand area of the South Carolina coast requires just over a three-hour drive or you can be in the Appalachian Mountains with a short two-hour drive.

Challenges Facing Next Administrator

The County is a member of the Fairfield Joint Water and Sewer System. This organization was founded with the major purpose of developing a regional wastewater treatment facility. A preliminary engineering report has been completed and the property where the plant will be situated has been purchased. Final design for the facility should begin by early 2025. Funding for the plant will come, at least in part, from a legal settlement between the County and Dominion Energy. Depending on final cost, the Joint System may have to secure grants or seek additional financing to complete the project. Completion of this facility is critical to future growth in the County.

Aside from this facility, infrastructure in general is a major concern throughout the County, with particular interest along the Interstate 77 corridor. The County properties designated for industrial development lie within this corridor and are in need of upgraded utility infrastructure to make the sites more attractive for development. This includes the County-owned I-77 Megasite, which is located between exits 34 and 41 and has a commanding presence overlooking the interstate.

The development of the regional wastewater plant and the necessary infrastructure should help the County grow and diversify the economy and the tax base. Currently, a large portion of the overall tax base of the County is made up of the V. C. Summer Nuclear Plant. Getting elements in place to promote growth will be essential. Overall, the financial condition of the County is good, but as with any small, rural county, managing limited financial resources will always be critical.

The next administrator will need to be a relationship builder, helping to bring together the various municipalities, civic organizations, the local media and others to move the community forward. While Fairfield County’s population has declined in recent years, that trend is expected to reverse given the significant economic development activity occurring in the region.

To access the Job Listing, visit: https://www.fairfieldsc.com/job-openings/county_administrator

For more information about the Fairfield County Administrator Position, visit:

https://www.fairfieldsc.com/uploads/uploads/Fairfield_County_Administrator_Job_Functions.pdf

Letters of interest and detailed resumes should be emailed to Clay Killian at clay@parkerpoeconsulting.com no later than November 22, 2024.