Ninety Six Town Council Termination of Clerk-Treasurer

News Summary

The Ninety Six Town Council announced the termination of Clerk-Treasurer Ketekash Crump-Lukie after six years of service. This decision follows a closed-door meeting addressing ongoing financial concerns, including delays in audits which have hindered the town’s fiscal management. The council aims to revise the job description to better align responsibilities with compensation, paving the way for new leadership to tackle the town’s financial challenges.

Ninety Six Town Council Makes a Big Decision

In a significant move, the Ninety Six Town Council announced the termination of Clerk-Treasurer Ketekash Crump-Lukie, effective Monday. This decision comes after Crump-Lukie dedicated six years to serving the community in her role, having taken office in 2018. Before this, she brought a wealth of experience to the table, working as an administrative assistant in the Greenwood County engineering department and serving as a clerk to the Greenwood County Council for an impressive twelve years.

Behind Closed Doors

The decision to let Crump-Lukie go was made after the council held a closed-door executive session to discuss what they termed a “personnel matter.” While the Mayor of Ninety Six, Gregg Brown, refrained from delving into specific reasons for the termination, it’s clear that the town has been grappling with a slew of ongoing fiscal challenges.

Audit Delays Raise Concerns

One of the sticking points for the council has been the troubling audit delays. The fiscal year 2021-22 audit was completed well past the state-required deadline, causing the council to face scrutiny. Several delays stemmed from communication issues with auditors, which only added to the concerns regarding the town’s financial management.

In a blow to the town’s finances, Greenwood County had to put a temporary hold on funding to Ninety Six until a clean audit report could be provided. This situation arose after the previous year’s audit also faced hurdles, winding up nearly 21 months overdue due to staff delays in providing necessary information.

Immediate Steps Forward

In light of these ongoing issues, current town officials are actively revising the job description for the Clerk-Treasurer position. They are aiming to better align compensation with the responsibilities that come with the role to ensure that the next person hired will be equipped to tackle the town’s financial challenges effectively.

Addressing Financial Issues

Mayor Brown noted that there are some noticeable challenges that the council is currently addressing. Issues with reconciliations of account balances, troublesome duplicate entries in the budget, and a lack of clarity on federal tax returns and invoices related to budgeting inconsistencies have all contributed to the town’s financial difficulties.

Looking to the Future

It’s a period of transition for Ninety Six as the Town Council works to set a new course. Once the revised job description is complete, it will be shared publicly for applications. This step demonstrates the council’s commitment to finding a qualified individual who can help restore confidence in the town’s fiscal management.

As the dust settles from this change, residents of Ninety Six will be watching closely. The hope is that new leadership in the Clerk-Treasurer role will bring fresh perspectives and solutions to the town’s financial hurdles, allowing Ninety Six to thrive in the future.

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Additional Resources

• Index Journal: Ninety-Six Council Ends Employment of Clerk-Treasurer
• Wikipedia: Ninety Six, South Carolina
• Index Journal: Greenwood County Council Passes Resolutions
• Google Search: Ninety Six South Carolina
• Daily Jeff: Ninety Six Candidates File for General Election
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Ninety Six