43 comment(s) on this story

Big Difference :  8/15/2008

Honoring a commitment made in public meetings two years ago by a full committee is not lying. Not paying attention to what is happening in your community until decisions are made and announced is the fault of those who fialed to participate in those public meetings. There was plenty of TV and newspaper coverage on the public meetings all the way back to 2006. Investigate it and you'll find that out.

What is the difference? :  8/15/2008

What's the difference between lieing and eluding questions?

What lies??? :  8/14/2008

It is not a lie to tell someone there has been private donations contributed on a community project in order to explore incorporation with a group of area residents (more than 100 have participated so far on this). A group of citizens has compiled information to present to the state in order for the people to have a choice to incorporate. The information presented in public meetings consisted of the research collected on the application. Citizens have been able to make their own mind up based on that information. If anyone sits in the middle of this subject and looks at the issue without clouded lenses, they can see that Senator Ryberg obviously ignored the regulations that SC follows as it relates to the Freedom of Information Act and acted outside of his district without merit. He acted alone, because every public official he approached about it refused to ignore the laws that govern FOIA in SC and especially since this is a community effort and not a public one YET. State law is in place to protect both sides of the issue. No one, including our legislative body, should act without following state guidelines. You can have your opinion and you can vote the way you want to. I have my opinion and I plan to vote the way I want to. I just know that I took the time to talk (not yell - not judge) the people who have worked on this project from day one and then I took it a step further and asked the state. I also looked up the laws that pertain to incorporation on their websites (www.masc.sc and www.sc.gov) to find out what was really truth and what was fiction on the street. I also spoke to established towns and cities to find out both pros and cons on the issue. My research concluded that voting YES to incorporation is how I plan to vote on August 26th.

Point :  8/14/2008

Speaking of attacking people the chairman of the committee sure jumped on Ryberg (attacking the person not the problem).No one hates the committee members just because they withhold the truth-- it just the way they do business.I am expected to believe they are right in not releasing the "donors" names.If this is so honest then why do we not have the names.Money has swayed this process and I believe it will sway any officals that are elected.You can not form a government based on half truths and lies---still there has been no budget shown.Only guesses--in the "meeting"you seem to be so proud of when a question they did not like was asked the subject was changed or we do not know was the answer.When are we going to get the questions answered.Are the "donors" going to continue to run our new area like they have run the committee.Again if you do not sign your name then you must be lying--------or a "donor"-----

I REST MY CASE!! :  8/14/2008

You just proved my point. Those who don't have the answers attack the PERSON - NOT the issue. I thank GOD I don't hate people who don't agree with me. People who do must be really lonely OR at least gather in small numbers. That might be the reason no meeting concerning their information ever took place from the NO crowd. You think?

The truth comes out :  8/14/2008

I'm sorry you hate us.I do not hate you,I just think your a bit naive and very gullible.See, I was nice I did not say stupid.

What deals with developers??? :  8/13/2008

Ben and Bobby - What developers have you met with who could have told you our local residents have made a deal to sell their neighbors away? You have both admitted you did not get involved in this issue until last August, when enough information and research had been put together to present in a larger setting than our local churches, as in previous public meetings. Everything both of you have hinted as truth is nothing more than mere speculation. Water being pumped to our residents and the new developments by our water companies (that would include Valley Water) will happen with or without incorporation. There has been no announcement that our local water company(ies) plan to "go public" and join the city for city water services, if incorporatno is voted in. Pointing fingers at people without a smoking gun is nothing more than ugly politics. Committee members are only able to present information and material needed on the application the state provides under state law. Go to the website listed - www.masc.sc - and read the bylaws required in order to request incorporation through an application process. Hating people because they don't agree with you is just sad.

:  8/13/2008

You should reread what I said--I said a subdivision(Subdivision" means the division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land into two or more lots)meaning any subdivision can vote not to be annexed by an already incorporated area.Such as some people were worried that if gvw did not get voted in Burnettown could annex them without a vote. Next Aiken county has nothing to do with the quantity of water that breezy hill pumps out of the ground. When the ground water is depleted we are out of luck so incorporate and bring more development and we can be like Atlanta crowded and out of water.Little miss corrections--have you had a say in the forming of this farce--private donors--do you know who they are---what reason do you have to think the new area will not have the same "private business" that we are too stupid to know about.Most of this "open" business has been behind closed doors and will remain so even after "elected officals" take over.Money will run things as usual--it swayed the committee it will sway the officals-- the average citizen will have little or no say so in the "map area".

Share :  8/13/2008

Thats right,our tax dollars get SHARED across the county.Quit being so stingy and wanting it all for Graniteville.We are not against developers,just developers using tax dollars to help them get richer.Once they buy it , it is theirs,they can do what they want to with it.Thats what it is all about to you people,grant money----free money.I have a question,were does grant money come from?Does it just magicaly appear,or does it grow on trees?

Annexation :  8/13/2008

As far as annexation law goes, re-read the law. You only need 75% of the total landowners within the area requested to annex. If ONE landowner retains more than 75% of that annexation request, that could be approved. Isn't that kind of like Weldon Wyatt or Fine Deering? North Augusta does it all the time on Ascauga Lake Road and Sudlow Lake Road. Big developers are approaching from that side. It is all about interpretation by the city and at the state level. Look up any information on the website: http://www.masc.sc/ or call the director.

Corrections :  8/13/2008

No one has advertised free money. What was presented is that more than half of our own tax money that is given to other areas in the state that are incorporated now or is spent at the county level mostly in the incorporated communities. As far as the developers go in our towns, the real fact is that they were already there and established and are developing as we speak. The county okayed their subdivisions. Did you have a say so on the developments being approved in our towns? Our county council did. Do you mind that the county will continue to make decisions for our town thru the developers now and in the future without our having much to say about it? As far as the water, the county oversees the water companies to a degree in our county. As far as grants available, the economic development board has stated that if we incorporate, our grant capability will substantially increase, due to the major events in our town, yet we don't have a government to request funds for our specific area. Any special funds requested for our area can be spent at the county level any way they choose by vote. Since population count is a major factor with incorporation funding, the 7,000+ citizens listed in 2000 will most likely almost double in the next census count in 2010 (just 1 - 1/2 years). The only new franchise fees announced in the proposed budget were on the electric and regular telephone services, since insurance and cable are already established. How do I know??? I called the state and asked these specific questions after I attended a meeting. Also, if incorporation becomes a reality, the state will encourage and train the new government the people elect to work with the budget that the state approved on the application. Where did you get your information????

web address for ground water for map area :  8/13/2008

http://sc.water.usgs.gov/publications/abstracts/WRIR-02-4075Abstract.html Use this address to look up water usage facts not guesses by a "committee"

people people people :  8/13/2008

Show me where it is written in stone that we will get all this wonderful free money from the government.I keep hearing about all this "free" money---are the yes voters willing to sell their houses if this money is not there to pay the bills. All of this development that "they" want is going to finish off our resources--look at the water supply they already get water from outside sources that as time goes by will not be available.Let us face the facts most of the mess is because outside people have put money in this for their own ends---it has nothing to do with helping us.The only "grants" will be to clean up the old mills for condos or the like that will not benefit any long time resident.Sure they may throw a little our way to look good but it will not be enough to do what is promised.Look at the budget cuts in government--the first things to go are services and so called free money--the balance will come from us the new taxpayers.Again they have not shown how to pay the operating costs and maintenance of all the free stuff.Some have been scared into voting yes because they say another city will annex us--it takes a 75% vote of all residents for a subdivision to be annexed--look it up.All I am saying is check before you vote-- nothing is FREE someone pays.

Dear Ms .H :  8/13/2008

All I was doing was stating facts.All this personal "attack" stuff you people keep talking about is misleading don't you think.I do help people but I do not go around making sure everybody knows about it.What is a textile revitilisation grant or whatever you call it?Who owns most of the textile property now?If it walks like a duck , talks like a duck , Can't one safely assume with some facts that it is a duck without being acussed by PETA of attacking a duck.

P.S., B.S. :  8/12/2008

It's true about the No crowd. They don't attack the issue, they attack the person. Makes your story less credible.

B.S. :  8/12/2008

Before this fight for your personal property rights, what have you done to help the community? Postcards may cost .23 each, but flyers cost regular postage unless you qualify for bulk mail. Since the donors are anonymous, you have accused the backers to be both fine deering and wyatt. Accusations can run high or low, but with no proof all your accusations a just accusations. The information on the no literature is accurate, based on which post office you speak to. Postage was charged on some of the letters originally distributed on some mail boxes. How'd you get your research completed? Looks like guessing to me.

Dear Ms.H :  8/12/2008

Post cards are .27 cents a stamp.It is not illegal to tape public info to someones mailbox pole.The "Study committee" has plenty of anonymous corperate money to do a mailling.Who was warned?Do you call what you said lies or half truths.Thats only the first three sentences,must I continue?You sure do a lot of research.

Meetings :  8/12/2008

The vote is in TWO WEEKS. Meetings take planning and a place to hold them. Mailings are quite expensive (.43 per piece to mail). Multiply that by 5,000. Blaming the committee at this stage doesn't help. Those opposed to incorporation realized how expensive it could be and posted their material illegally on many mailboxes in the community, before the post office was alerted and they were warned about this practice with future mailings. It can be quite easy to criticize a committee at this stage of the game after two years of efforts to educate people in public meetings, but not worry about the practices of those opposed who have not bothered to hold a meeting of any kind these past eight months. Since most of those in charge of this "NO" effort are not originally from the area nor have they ever participated in any community affairs to support the local citizens I am aware of, I have been curious as to what motivates any long-time resident who does believe their claims against the committee officers and many residents who do support incorporation? Not only that, the claims do not actually refute the facts, but attack the committee members' characters, tell only parts of the actual facts presented in public meetings and try to make people believe that long-time residents would conspire with out-of-town developers to make a personal profit. The public meetings by the committee volunteers that were held in the spring and advertised were not attended in great numbers and the application to the state was not approved until sometime in June. Once the application was approved, the Sec. of State has been in command of the election process. It is now out of the committees' hands and now in the hands of the residents to decide. If you found this website, you can search for all the public meetings and articles in the past on incorporation to review the research collected. I did and read it with an open mind.

Mailings :  8/11/2008

I believe that people should have spent all that money on stamps to send us letters concerning whether to vote "yes" or "no" should have spent it better. How many people in GVW attended the meetings? Did anyone think to invest some money in flyers to let us know dates and times of meetings? I have been contacted and even issued my email address to people in the community to keep me updated by email of dates. I have not once been contacted in months concerning times and dates. I am a full time student, wife, volunteer, and mother of two. I AM a Warrenville resident. Instead of fussing and arguing about what is right and wrong, do something great by taking the time to make us aware of meetings. Do our potential leaders realize that we are a community of the "working poor" and retired? We do not have much time on our hands after juggling homes and our current finances. I personally don't always have time to slow down to read the newspaper. Send me some information on some dates I can place on my calendar. A big part of leading a community is keeping us well informed and organized. So show me responsible, organized people who take the time to make sure I know when I can be there. Then you might have my vote.

SEEK THE TRUTH :  8/11/2008

After all the pure bull that has been spread around not one actual figure of the cost to operate has been shown to be accurate.How can you believe anyone that can not tell what the operating budget will be, only guesses have been shown.At the "meeting" when a question was asked either the subject was changed or WE do not know was the answer.As far as helping the people in the "map" area with jobs that has not been shown either..Does anyone know the start-up expense and what it will cost us the taxpayers? Why do the donors not want their name to be known.There are way too many unanswered questions.As far as me attacking these people, they are trying to get in my wallet and I need answers before I spend my money.

Are you eligible to vote? :  8/11/2008

Living in the "map" area and being eligible to vote are two different things. Maybe Bobby is a convicted felon and ineligible to vote.

No Crowd Brutal :  8/10/2008

This incorporation issue can be hard on the best person. I'm glad I'm not involved in it. I would certainly hate to be the ones who volunteered to help the communties. I certainly can see why most people would not post their true name on a statement on this website, especially for those who don't agree with their opinion to see. If some of the individuals who don't agree with incorporation find out a name, they attack with no mercy - not on the issues, but attack a good person's character. Some of the no crowd does not fight fair. At least those in favor of incorporation seem to have stuck with the issues and have refused to attack people by calling names and making accusations against any person who doesn't agree with their opinion.

yes :  8/10/2008

I live in the "map" area and I have been registered to vote for over 30 years. If you can sign your name then do not comment

Public record :  8/10/2008

The queston is...are you a voter and do you reside in the map area? Public record says no. I do. I don't have to put my name out in cyberspace, but truth is far more powerful than any name - that is not a movie quote, but it's the truth!

no name :  8/10/2008

How can anyone believe anyone that is afraid to put their name on what they call the truth.............

Say What? :  8/9/2008

Not one person objecting to incorporation has yet convinced me that the people on the ocmmittee or in the surrounding communities are dumb old hick crooks, as their story implies - you know, you've told it enough - the committee members made deals with the devil to make a profit of their own. Since state law has to be abided by in order to be accepted by the state and must contain information from local and state agencies, the committee has done nothing but present the research collected to the public - those who are both for and against incorporation. However, in order to get the local folks attention, those who oppose incorporation would be wise to locate information that would contradict those facts, not attack the people. By doing that has made any attempt to get people's attention less believable. By continuing to attack anyone who doesn't agree with your philosophy, it makes you even less believable. In addition, telling people the committee will appoint the town government is just a figment of someone's imagination, since state law requires voters to run for office.

Forrest :  8/9/2008

I believe if you look closely at Mr. Nicholson’s comment on franchise fees you will see that he stated these fees would increase, not that they didn’t currently exist. Your entire remark is based on your own incorrect interpretation of Mr. Nicholson’s statement. I have in fact attended several public meetings since the first one held at Aiken Tech. To date I am unaware of any concrete information available on the benefits of incorporation. The only projected budget I have ever seen for this proposed municipality was at best a joke. Many questions from concerned citizens have in fact been voiced with no reply or a “we don’t know response”. As for the statements regarding the location of Bobby Nicholson’s residence- once again how many of the members on the incorporation committee are GVW residents????? Give me a break! I can assure you Bobby Nicholson is a resident of Graniteville- not only am I his neighbor but also his daughter. Oh and Forrest- we only howl at full moons!

Dear Bobby :  8/9/2008

Bobby,you cannot rashion with socialistic scum.For instance-They are worryed about YOU living in gvw,but don't worry about the the fact that the people pushing this against our will do NOT live in gvw.See what I mean.Its ok for them but not for you,because they "know whats best for you "ok.

forrest(still no real name) :  8/9/2008

I am well aware of all fees that are collected and how they are spent. The fact is these clowns that are trying to set up this farce are going to raise all the fees.Should you be able to pry yourself from your thesaurus looking up words to try and impress us maybe you would have time to research the proposed incorporation.It will not benefit any of us in the area that pay taxes--by the way we will STILL pay county taxes --are you willing to pay double taxes on vehicles and your home.Check the taxes in other areas ours will go up to match theirs.By the way I do live in the area and I worked 2nd shift at the Gregg Plant while I was in school.

Forrest and jennie :  8/9/2008

My friend showed the maps at the christen heritege meeting.Mr Hillton could say nothing but run around in circles.We have been to several meetings and they were nothing but dog and ponie shows.At one meeting they even told us there will be no questions.We are trying to to it our way,have you not been paying attention?VOTE NO TO INCORPERATION!!!!!!!!You people need to move to europe.The land of the semi-free,as long as its ok with big brother.

Bobby ain't hooked on phonics :  8/9/2008

Bobby Nicholson, who apparently does not live in the GVW area anyway obviously chooses to engage in hyperbole and rumor mongering through distribution of inaccurate, false and misleading information. Don't you know that you are already paying a franchise fee on your cable TV bill to Aiken County? The County already imposes a franchise fee on cable television in the unincorporated areas of the County. Then Chuck Smith and Gary bunker spend those franchise fee revenue in North Augusta and Aiken instead of in our area. Instead, that SAME Cable TV franchise fee will be returned to the new GVW municipality for our purposes instead of theirs. Of course, Bobby Nichols may not realize that as he is probably howling at the moon most nights as he attempts to train his antenna just right so he can pick up a couple of Augusta channels as he obviously does not have cable and has never noticed the Aiken County Cable TV franchise fee on his bill. Next.

Epilogue---2015 :  8/9/2008

jennie and forrest can no longer afford cable due to rising franchise fees---they will now not be able to write on the internet because they can not use quotes from movies.It is a sad life in gvw most long time residents have moved, the taxes have been too much.The state attorney general continues the investigation on where the money collected went--maybe back to the UNNAMED "donors" All in all it was a nice ride for the developers---people still look at the map and wonder why it did not go further down 421 and others ares but up in the old Graniteville Co. land.William Gregg has rolled over in his grave at what once was an honest hard working community taken over by people that over built and over taxed all the HONEST people out.........but it was "voted in by well meaning uninformed people---RIP---Graniteville you are still in the history books.....

Resident discussion :  8/9/2008

Interesting. Doesn't Bobby Nicholson live in New Ellenton? That's not in the map on display, is it? Can't find a Bobby Nicholson living in GVW. Talk about not playing fair.

Question to Bobby :  8/9/2008

Why are you involved in this? You don't even live here, do you?

No Contest :  8/9/2008

That's find by me. A test of will works both ways. At least I know through your statements that you have not researched this thoroughly. I stand by my right in cyberspace to comment at will. I can see you have no desire to find out the truth through research now or in the future. May the force be with you!!

jennie and forest :  8/9/2008

still no names---therefore I refuse to have a battle of witts with an unarmed and unnamed person...........

Thanks, Forrest :  8/9/2008

You can't do better than name calling and empty accusations? You can't make people believe what you can't prove. Since there is proof of public meetings held and signatures that prove a BIG interest in incorporation, that outways all the fluff being told to people. The people who are for incorporation have asked many questions, including questioning the statements posted on mailboxes and behind the scenes statements that this committee will appoint the future leadership of the town. Since the developers and wyatt will benefit whether or not the incorporation is successful, there was no reason to involve them in the first place. That was a wise decision the committee made.

Empty accusations :  8/9/2008

First of all, the "empty" land you described was original Graniteville Company land. The fact that the land is in the map does not mean or suggest the land developers are involved. Only active imaginations and failure to come to meetings have added up the empty accusations. These items were discussed at length in the process of working with the state on the map. People who are interested and attended meetings realize that if that "empty" land is excluded, it would deny our towns the future potential to tax the new houses to benefit the entire town's future budget totals, helping to keep the millage rate low for a long time to come. Focusing on the negative all the time colors the ability to realize there are both negatives AND positives to incorporation. The people YOU elect to run the town makes or breaks the effort. I'm glad there are folks looking outside their own property line and see the needs of others. At least they're trying to make a difference.

Jennie ?????? :  8/9/2008

First off you are like the rest afraid to put your name by what you have been lead to believe. How can you look at the map and not see who the benefactors of this farce will be.You are like sheep being lead to slaughter, if they say it loud enough and long enough it must be true.If this is an honest process then why are the money people not being named.Sure we can get some grants BUT who is going to pay the bills after the grant money stops.All the freebies they sre proud of are not free taxes will put a stain on low income and retired people.Put your last name if you speak the TRUTH.

Good Job, Forrest :  8/8/2008

Ben and Bobby - Why didn't ya'll form a committee and research all your material and come up with a map the way you say you can (maybe for free) and get by the state laws and try and incorporate the area you say you can and do it your way?!? Come on, if you had listened all along like everyone else and attended the public meetings like other people did, you'd know the truth has been presented by this committee. State laws limit any and everything anyone tries to do and you know it. If you cared, you'd try to help the community - not tear everyone else down. I agree with Forrest.

Maps :  8/8/2008

We have purchased maps of the proposed area,census tracks,census blocks,voter precincts.Everything we have been told by the "committee"is an out right lie as to why particular peoples land is not in the area.Also why is so much developers land in the area,didn't you need so many people per sq. mile?sure seems odd there is so much uninhabited land owned by developers when you could have easily put much more popullated area in that would have helped the people per sq. mile requirement.Go blow it somewere else ,that goes for all of you anonymous yes voting anonymous corperate doner accepting liers.Leave your name if you are so proud of what you are doing?

Momma Says :  8/8/2008

You can't fix stupid.

Map :  8/8/2008

Go to this website and look at the map.www.aikencountysc.gov. You can see that the majority of the land area is where the crooks are developing and looking for us to pay the bills. WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. This is not for the people who live here now.This is for the dishonest board members and developers to tax us for their benefit.