Town Council of Ninety Six Parts Ways with Clerk-Treasurer

News Summary

Ninety Six Town Council has terminated Clerk-Treasurer Ketekash Crump-Lukie amid ongoing accounting issues that have delayed the town’s annual audit. Concerns raised by Mayor Gregg Brown highlighted the need for improvements and a reevaluation of the Clerk-Treasurer position. The town collaborates with the state municipal association for a new job description. Residents remain watchful as the council addresses leadership changes and financial challenges.

Big Changes in Ninety Six: Town Council Parts Ways with Clerk-Treasurer

Ninety Six, a small but vibrant town, buzzed with activity at the recent Town Council meeting held at the Ninety Six Visitors Center. The spotlight was firmly on the decision to terminate Clerk-Treasurer Ketekash Crump-Lukie.

What Led to the Decision?

The vote to part ways with Crump-Lukie occurred during a private executive session, where matters regarding personnel were discussed. After serving the town for six years, Crump-Lukie had become a familiar face since her appointment in 2018. Before taking on the role of Clerk-Treasurer, she spent 12 years working as a clerk for the Greenwood County Council and also held a position as an administrative assistant for Greenwood County engineering.

Despite her experience, Mayor Gregg Brown expressed concerns about ongoing accounting issues that have plagued the town, which ultimately led to the termination being decided without any stated cause. The officials at the meeting were candid about the difficulties the town has faced with its financial auditing processes.

Ongoing Accounting Hurdles

Ninety Six has been wrestling with considerable delays in completing its annual audit for the fiscal year 2021-22. The situation is compounded by the previous year’s audit, which was almost 21 months overdue. The community has experienced missed deadlines which surpassed the state-required timeframe, raising eyebrows and concerns among local residents.

It seems the problems run deeper than just a few late reports. Issues identified included a slew of errors such as incorrect account reconciliations, duplicate budget entries, and a lack of clear explanations for discrepancies in fund amounts across different budgets. These challenges haven’t gone unnoticed by Greenwood County, who even temporarily halted funding to Ninety Six until a satisfactory audit report is finally delivered.

What’s Next for Ninety Six?

In light of these tribulations, Mayor Brown announced that the town officials are collaborating with the state municipal association to reevaluate and refine the job description and compensation related to the Clerk-Treasurer position. Once this new job description is finalized, it will be made publicly available for potential applicants to review.

Mark Your Calendars!

Switching gears, the Ninety Six Town Council meeting took place at 6 p.m., but there’s more on the agenda in the region. An Abbeville County Council budget workshop is set for Saturday at 9 a.m. in the Abbeville County Administrative Complex. This gathering will cover a range of important topics, including discussions centered around the Freedom of Information Act, alongside the budget issues that have raised significant interest among the community.

Whether you’re a resident of Ninety Six or just keeping an ear to the ground regarding local governance, there’s a lot happening that might affect you. With changes in leadership and ongoing accounting concerns, it will be interesting to see how the town navigates these challenges and moves forward in the months to come!

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Additional Resources

• Index Journal: Ninety-Six Council Ends Employment of Clerk-Treasurer
• Wikipedia: Ninety Six, South Carolina
• iHeart: Wake Up Call with Amy King
• Google Search: Ninety Six Council meeting
• Medium: Japan Fintech Observer