On Monday, community members’ growing resentment boiled over at a Pickens City Council meeting.”Everybody’s eyes is wide open,” Edwina Long cried out to a room overflowing with onlookers. “So if you can’t help us, we can’t help you.”For most, the grievances go back to November, when beloved Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Enoch was suddenly fired after more than a year of service by City Administrator Charlene Carter. “He put forth effort in what a director of the rec department should be,” said local Steven Smith. “He encouraged children to come play sports and their families as well to show support. The rec department ranked its highest in people signing up for sports.”Locals and Enoch believed he lost his job because of his work with a homeless man, offering him volunteer opportunities at the rec center.Soon after, Pickens City Council called a special meeting. Hundreds of people showed up to speak in Enoch’s favor. Council voted 4 to 2 against reinstating him. “If I could’ve gotten up and made a motion to vote you out, I would’ve done that night,” Long continued during Monday’s public comment portion of the meeting. “I would’ve done it that night.”Since then, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order to suspend Donald Edward McKinney from the city council. He was charged back in October for allegedly groping and performing oral sex on a teenager.Tensions were still high at Monday’s council meeting toward council members and City Administrator Charlene Carter. “My four children will not don a Pickens jersey for the rest of their career,” said Paige Hallums during the meeting’s public comment portion. “I will put them in Central because I do not want them to put on a Pickens jersey and turn their back to everything that I have taught them to be in life.”Community members said they found any explanations, or lack thereof, from the council unsatisfactory, sparking rumors about their motives. “All the city council that voted against him were white. And I’m not making this a race issue, but only the two Black members stood up to vote him back in,” said longtime resident Barbara Robinson.Council and Carter declined to speak with us after Monday’s meeting and have not responded to our emails and calls.
On Monday, community members’ growing resentment boiled over at a Pickens City Council meeting.
“Everybody’s eyes is wide open,” Edwina Long cried out to a room overflowing with onlookers. “So if you can’t help us, we can’t help you.”
For most, the grievances go back to November, when beloved Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Enoch was suddenly fired after more than a year of service by City Administrator Charlene Carter.
“He put forth effort in what a director of the rec department should be,” said local Steven Smith. “He encouraged children to come play sports and their families as well to show support. The rec department ranked its highest in people signing up for sports.”
Locals and Enoch believed he lost his job because of his work with a homeless man, offering him volunteer opportunities at the rec center.
Soon after, Pickens City Council called a special meeting. Hundreds of people showed up to speak in Enoch’s favor. Council voted 4 to 2 against reinstating him.
“If I could’ve gotten up and made a motion to vote you out, I would’ve done that night,” Long continued during Monday’s public comment portion of the meeting. “I would’ve done it that night.”
Since then, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order to suspend Donald Edward McKinney from the city council. He was charged back in October for allegedly groping and performing oral sex on a teenager.
Tensions were still high at Monday’s council meeting toward council members and City Administrator Charlene Carter.
“My four children will not don a Pickens jersey for the rest of their career,” said Paige Hallums during the meeting’s public comment portion. “I will put them in Central because I do not want them to put on a Pickens jersey and turn their back to everything that I have taught them to be in life.”
Community members said they found any explanations, or lack thereof, from the council unsatisfactory, sparking rumors about their motives.
“All the city council that voted against him were white. And I’m not making this a race issue, but only the two Black members stood up to vote him back in,” said longtime resident Barbara Robinson.
Council and Carter declined to speak with us after Monday’s meeting and have not responded to our emails and calls.
