Dear: Butch Kirven, Chairman, Committee on Finance
Over the past several weeks, our organizations have been actively investigating agenda item F-7. This investigation will be concluded within a week. We believe this agenda item has been introduced to impede our efforts to bring it to the attention of citizens and relevant authorities.
Agenda item F-7 pertains to the transfer of approximately 15 acres of real property to the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority. This is the same property involved in the lawsuit, Margaret Wells Lee vs Greenville County Council. During the discussion of this agenda item, the County Council’s attorney advised that the Council was operating in a “gray area “regarding ordinance passage. In this case, Ms. Lee’s civil liberties and property rights of citizens were violated. The Council disregarded these concerns then, and they should exercise caution moving forward.
Several Council members who were involved in the ordinances concerning Ms. Lee’s property have provided us with statements. Additionally, they voted on the proposed moratorium by Councilman Ennis Fant, which effectively halted the sale and development of her property. After reviewing the lawsuit, these Council members expressed feeling bamboozled and misled by Councilman Fant.
Our investigation into this matter and other related issues involving Councilman Ennis Fant and County Administrator Joe Kernell has revealed a lack of transparency in their handling of this and other county business. Specifically, Councilman Fant deliberately withheld information related to Ms. Lee’s property from the County Council. Evidence suggests that Councilman Fant engaged with third parties regarding Ms. Lee’s property and other properties in District 25. He and the Council blatantly disregarded established rules.
Additionally, there are significant questions regarding the purchase of the 15 acres by Greenville County without a clear explanation or public discussion. Our understanding is that County Administrator Joe Kernell purchased the property to both prevent and protect Councilman Fant from being deposed in the Margaret Wells Lee lawsuit.
In the interest of transparency and respect for the citizens of Greenville County, I am requesting that you, as chairman of this committee, along with Liz Seman, Dan Tripp, and Ennis Fant, recuse yourselves from voting on agenda item F-7. We also recommend that item F-7 be deferred to the incoming council.
Sincerely,
Paul Guy,
Executive Director, Justice Intervention Initiative
