The Regional Medical Center and chicken houses. Although wildly different, the two hottest issues before Orangeburg County Council over the past year have had a common thread, and that's District 3 Councilman Harry Wimberly.

The vice chairman has emerged as a leading voice in both debates, challenging the management of TRMC on one hand while advocating the rights of farmers on the other.

Between fielding calls at his Cattle Creek Road home about malfunctioning farm irrigation equipment, the 12-year council veteran and statewide agricultural leader discussed both issues and his role at the forefront.

At times both reserved and outspoken, Wimberly stunned many last fall when he seemingly took aim at TRMC and fired County Council's first shot in a war of words that has continued. As other council members cited their own concerns, the unanimous body called for an independent study of the hospital and its management company, Quorum.

It all boils down, Wimberly explains, to what he felt was a lack of candor by TRMC officials during a joint meeting between Orangeburg and Calhoun county councils and the hospital some three years ago. And for someone who expects plain talk and straight answers, that raised red flags.

"When you start listening to a person and he talks around in circles, but never directly, then my curiosity rises and I start to look at and see what's going on," he said. "I guess the reason I kind of took the lead is receiving the financial statement and seeing losses there ... That (factor) and we were not given answers led me to believe something needed to be done."

And, he continued, "When I set my mind to something, I want to get answers. Tell me the truth, not what you want me to hear ... The study really came from the lack of information being furnished by the hospital."

During that first joint meeting, Wimberly says, council asked a lot of questions concerning the quality of health care, the lack of specialists in certain areas and the financial condition of the hospital.

"Basically, the financial statement we received was a moving target," he said. "And we were very concerned about employee benefits."

According to Wimberly, when TRMC President Tom Dandridge was asked what would happen to a retired employee who loses health insurance months after retirement, the response was the employee could come back to TRMC as an indigent patient. And, he said, the only retirement is some type of 401K plan.

"That's totally unacceptable. For a person working 25 years, that's not much of a morale builder," he said. "Much to my surprise, eight or 10 of the board members all have state retirement. But they don't see fit to give employees of the hospital state retirement."

Reaction to his stand

Since council has gone on record with its concerns, Wimberly says he's heard from a number of employees, both present and past. And, most of those, he says, agree with council.

"Most of my constituents' reactions have been positive. If the general public was polled, it would probably be at least two to one with complaint-type issues," he said. "That turns back to management ... For the most part, the employees who work at the hospital are dedicated to the patients and are looking after their well-being ... But people have to get up and go to work with a positive attitude."

In addition to requesting the study, council also warned the TRMC board not to borrow money until that study is complete.

"Borrowing money isn't necessarily bad; but, at the same time, I think their timing is off. In that the study is being completed, they should wait until after the study," he said. "I also read in the paper that it is not uncommon for the hospital to borrow $10 million to $15 million a year. I was a little surprised at this, because our ordinance plainly states that any borrowing in excess of $500,000, when assets are used as collateral, must have County Council's approval."

With the study expected in a few weeks, Wimberly says he'd be surprised if it comes back without a recommendation.

"My hope is the study will tell us exactly where we need to go in the future, as far as management and future plans," he said. "Just as farming has changed in the last 20 years, so has health care, but we've been doing the same thing out there. What physicians we have out there under their specialties is fine. What problems I have is where we don't have specialists and send them elsewhere."

If TRMC is to compete with other hospitals, Wimberly says, it has to stay in the forefront.

"If we operated the county like we did 20 years ago, we wouldn't be one of the leaders. We're providing services at a minimum cost," he said. "We took big steps in making this county one of the forerunners in the state. And it's time for the hospital to do the same. Step up to the plate and be competitive. It's at a strategic location and can draw patients from 35 miles in either direction."

While he does have his own critics, Wimberly maintains those are people who are satisfied with the way things are at TRMC. But, he says, "if you look deeper into it," those same people visit hospitals outside the county.

"My whole thing about this hospital is I think there is room for improvement and I can make a difference. People can say Harry Wimberly is trying to make a name, but I've got plenty to do without trying to make a name for myself," he said. "This hospital is still operating under the same management team that was there 10 years ago and what worked 10 years ago ... I don't know what the future holds for TRMC, but I do know we need to make improvements to be competitive."

Council making difference

Only since County Council has become more actively involved in TRMC, Wimberly contends, has progress been made. He cites Councilwoman Janie Cooper's complaints about rape exams not being done at TRMC, an issue that was quickly resolved after a sit down between TRMC, law enforcement and County Council. Also, Council Chairman John Rickenbacker hammered on the issue of employee benefits.

"Now you see where they are concerned about employee benefits. We see where the pension fund, which had been a shortfall every year, has been fully funded. It seems to me as soon as council starts to act, the TRMC board starts to act," he said. "My opinion is the hospital is basically run by executive committee and when the board met it was just asked for a stamp of approval. Although some board members didn't agree, it didn't matter because they were in such a minority."

Complaining about the board's "mindset," Wimberly notes that every public body in the county notifies the public of its meetings. But, he says, "I've yet to see a public notice of the hospital. And this is a public body, appointed by County Council ... and council is supposed to receive a monthly financial statement. Someone said, 'just call.' Why should we call when they're supposed to send it to us."

The bottom line, Wimberly says, is all about accountability.

"Anytime you're working -- be it an appointed position or a paid position -- for the citizens of Orangeburg County, you need to be accountable and I don't think the hospital management or trustees have been accountable to the citizens as they should have," he said. "I don't want people to come to the conclusion I'm against the hospital. It's a blessing what we've got; but, at the same time, we need to serve the needs of the people."

Asking TRMC employees to "bear with council," Wimberly says that only by publicizing concerns have improvements been made.

"The hospital is the biggest investment Orangeburg County has," he said. "It's probably one of the most useful investments we have and, therefore, it should be the best investment we have."

Poultry houses

Wimberly's role in the chicken house controversy is a no-brainer. The third-generation farmer, who lives in the same house he was born in, has solid agricultural credentials. A former president of the South Carolina Young Farmers, he's on the County Board of Directors for the Farm Bureau, he's served as county president and state director, and he's participated on various statewide study committees. With his son and son-in-law, he farms some 2,000 acres of row crops and raises Angus beef cattle, in addition to operating a trucking business. And with about 30 employees, he says, that makes him one of the largest employers in his community.

"My belief is a country or county's economy is no stronger than its agriculture," said Wimberly, explaining how agriculture attracts related industries. "So an agricultural base definitely effects economic development in creating jobs and a better quality of life."

That's why, Wimberly says, he was so concerned when a five-member majority of council supported moratorium efforts that would limit the expansion of poultry houses in the county.

"The issue on council was primarily out of reaction without any documented evidence. Since I've been on council, I've never seen any issue roll so quickly," he said. "I don't necessarily agree with contract farming; but, by the same token, the way things have changed in the last 30 or 35 years, it's the only way the family farm can maintain enough income off any commodity to survive. Most folks with poultry operations have other incomes. It provides an opportunity for folks who couldn't farm on a daily basis to have a tie back to the land."

Although he came up on the short end of the 5-2 council vote, Wimberly is pleased the state Legislature appears poised to make the issue moot. A bill that was passed by the Senate and is now in the House would require the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to regulate all agricultural areas, while zoning in non-agricultural areas would still be up to the counties.

The legislation also includes some types of buffer zones, which is what council had discussed, Wimberly said.

"Buffers are good most of the time; out-of-sight, out-of-mind," he said. "With DHEC doing the regulations on livestock operations, hogs or poultry or whatever, they're leveling the playing field across South Carolina where one county doesn't have an advantage over another."

Acknowledging the concerns of others, Wimberly says he wasn't "totally against setbacks when it comes to certain areas of the county."

"But when it comes to rural areas, I felt that DHEC regulations were sufficient," he said. "I have no problem with setbacks from industrial parks and residential areas and areas zoned strictly commercial; but I do have a problem in rural areas, such as where I live."

And that brings to mind another controversial issue, coming down County Council's pike eventually, that is a prime concern of Wimberly's.

"Zoning -- that's a whole other issue ... I hit the ceiling," said the councilman, recalling some of the proposed regulations and ordinance language he feels are way out of step for Orangeburg County. "That's just not common sense."

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 83-533-5545.

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