Irmo Council Meeting Erupts in Dispute Over Town Official, Grant for Veterans Park

This story has been updated. 

A $50,000 grant for the Irmo Veterans Park and accusations that Mayor Hardy King threatened to fire the town's public services director was the center of some heated exchanges at Irmo Town Council's special meeting Tuesday. 

The issue came to a head after a meeting was held last week between King, town administrator, Bob Brown, and public services director, Whitt Cline.

Patrick Donlon, an Irmo resident, had contacted town officials inquiring about the grant, which was from the state's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT).

The $50,000 grant was used to develop the park located on Palmetto Wood Parkway.  

Donlon asked who submitted the application for the grant. Both King and Brown said the town had not submitted the application.

Originally, the Irmo Arbor Day Committee applied for the grant, said Jake Moore, a founding member of the Irmo Arbor Day Committee and town attorney. 

Moore said a PRT representative later told him that the town had to apply for the grant, not the committee, so he worked with Cline to complete the grant application. 

Donlon filed a Freedom of Information request to get a copy of the application and saw the town of Irmo was listed as the organization requesting the funds and was signed by Cline.

Both King and Brown said they did not know Cline had submitted the application in the town's name.

King said he talked to Brown in order to meet with him and Cline to find out what happened.

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Councilman Harvey Hoots said he also attended that meeting, but when he arrived King asked to speak with Brown alone.

Brown said King tried to put pressure on him to fire Cline — an action King denies. 

King said he didn't intend to go into the meeting to talk about firing Cline.

During the discussion, Cline yelled out that King did talk about firing him. 

Cline attempted to address the issue, but King said he could speak during the public participation, which caused some people in the crowd to yell to let Cline speak. 

King said he did, however, ask Brown if Cline signing off on the application was a fireable offense. 

Brown said he didn't think Cline needed to be fired and he wasn't going to fire him unless council had directed him to.

Cline was suspended for two days with pay, Brown said, for not telling him he signed for the grant using the town's name. 

Grant Process

Standing before council and a room of at least 50 supporters of the park and Cline, Moore detailed how the town ended up with the grant. 

Moore said the Irmo Arbor Day Committee acquired the land from Dr. SurbGuram to develop a park and they decided to build a park to recognize veterans from all branches of the military. 

Moore said he received a call from state Sen. Jake Knotts about the park and was told there was a PRT grant available to help fund it, but they needed to submit the application soon because the deadline had passed. 

Moore said he called Cline to help create the design for the park and the budget, before submitting the application.

A PRT representative later told them that the grant had to be in the town’s name, he said, so Cline signed the application. 

In April, town council accepted the deed to the property. 

Moore said it wasn’t the first time that a department head has asked for a grant without the permission or knowledge of the administrator or council.

“It happens all the time and I hope it continues to happen because it gets money for our town.”

The question that's being asked is whether the town violated the state's open meeting laws since there was no discussion with council about the grant being submitted in the town's name. 

Both Moore and Cline said they did nothing wrong.

Moore said he invites anyone to do an investigation into the development of the park.

“All you have is good," he said. 

Moore said the Irmo Arbor Day Committee has a long history with the town when it comes to beautification projects.

“It has been a wonderful partnership for 13 years which has resulted in over a million dollars worth of value added to this town by of beautification,” Moore said. 

He said the committee would raise the funds for the projects, and the town's public service workers would do the labor. 

Currently, the town has no policy on who can and can't write grants. 

Brown said anyone can apply for a grant as long as the person doesn't commit any town funds. 

Council would have to approve any action with grants that required matching funds from the town. 

Public Participation

Twelve of at least 50 residents, some of which lived near the park, spoke during the public participation section on the Irmo Veterans Park. 

Many said they enjoyed the park and didn't understand why the green space was being criticized. 

One resident said the park was beautiful and he has already used the exercise equipment featured along the walking trails. 

He said if no laws have been broken, he wanted to thank those involved in the project.

Some residents also stood up to defend Cline and praised the work he has done in the town. 

Cline said he has obtained a lawyer since he has been accused of violating state law.

Cline said he designed the park, filled out application, and town employees did the installations of equipment.

"If we’re guilty of anything, that’s what we’re guilty of," he said.