SWANSEA -- An investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division into missing funds from the Town of Swansea has been dismissed because of insufficient evidence, Mayor Ray Spires announced at the Nov. 12 town council meeting.

Spires read a letter from Capt. Paul A. Grant, SLED special agent in charge, Midlands Region. Grant stated in the letter that Lexington County Deputy Solicitor Dayton Riddle had made the determination that no charges would be filed in the case because there was not enough evidence.

"No money is missing, and nobody did anything wrong," Spires said. "Everything has been cleared, and we are very pleased with that."

Spires said an independent auditor, Williard Polk, had examined the town's records and concluded that the problems were mostly because of recording errors.

Also during the meeting, the mayor briefly described a new Web site that is available through Lexington County and shows overhead photos of the entire county.

"We can see individual properties and houses when called up on the computer," he said, noting that the site will be beneficial for the police department and for annexation purposes.

Spires also reported that he would be involved in the Local Update Census Address Program in preparation for the 2010 census. He noted that all addresses and properties will have to be accounted for.

"In the past, the census was not accurate," Spires said. "It reported the population of Swansea as 523 when it should be over 1,200."

He said accurate figures would increase the amount of grant money and state aid the town is eligible to receive.

"In the past, we were fortunate to get what we did, but we could probably get more if the figures were more accurate," the mayor said.

In other business:

* Swansea Police Chief Clif Hayes reported that, except for an increase in assaults, things had been fairly quiet for the past month. He said the numbers of tickets, warrants, accidents and reports were down from October.

* Hayes introduced Nikki Green, the new clerk of court and victim's advocate, to the mayor and council.

* It was announced that George Hutto Jr., planning and zoning administrator for Swansea, had stepped down and that a search for a new administrator will be initiated in the next few weeks.

* Council voted to accept the 2006 audit and to close out the Community Block Development Grant.

* Spires mentioned details about the upcoming Christmas festivities scheduled for Sunday, December 2. He said the parade will start at 4 p.m. The tree lighting will be held at Rast Park at approximately 5 p.m., with fireworks to follow at 6 p.m. Spires said he has requested local businesses and companies to make donations towards the fireworks display so that it could last for 35 to 40 minutes. Applications for participation in the parade are available at town hall and the police department.

* Upcoming work sessions for council are slated for Nov. 19, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3. The mayor said several additional meetings may have to be scheduled because there were a number of items to be resolved before the next council meeting.

T&D Correspondent Loretta Demko can be reached by e-mail at eeshtenem@yahoo.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.