Annual Meeting opening session brings insight, elections and a couple of surprises

Walterboro Mayor Bill Young, president
Municipal Association of SC

New officers, graduates of the Municipal Association’s Municipal Elected Officials Institute, an inspiring keynote address and recognition of a state legislator headlined the opening session of the 2017 Annual Meeting.

Keynote address focused on cities finding their niche
 
The keynote speaker, Ed McMahon, with the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C. had lots to tell attendees of the Annual Meeting. The gist: How cities and towns can make themselves competitive by accentuating their uniqueness instead of imitating other thriving places.

“Most Americans care more about the place they live than the political party they belong to,” he told a ballroom full of municipal officials.

These were among McMahon’s points:
•    Don’t compete with other cities in a race to the bottom by giving away tax incentives to big business.
•    “It’s not about what you don’t have,” he said. “It’s about what you do have.” Quality of life is critically important to economic wellbeing. Don’t join an “arms race” that only a few cities will win. For example, resist the urge to try to build the flashiest convention center, the biggest festival market place, or some other trendy attraction, such as an aquarium.
•    Green spaces aren't just a nice “extra.” Treat parks and green spaces like the sources of vitality that they are. Green spaces add value to property.
•    Preserving what is special about community is very good for business. McMahon pointed to a company called Brandywine Investment Fund. Its founder moved from Philadelphia to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, because of the outdoor recreation opportunities in Wyoming.
•    It’s good to be discerning when it comes to deciding what businesses you want in your city.  Don’t be afraid to say no. “If you’re afraid to say no to anything, you’ll get the worst of everything,” said McMahon. “… Communities that set high standards compete for the top.”
•    Mixed-use developments are the way to go. That means apartments, offices, swimming pools, small businesses, and any number of other establishments have a place on top of, for example, a downtown Walmart or Best Buy. McMahon cited the City of Fayetteville’s data from 2011 that showed a mixed-use Waffle House outperformed a “strip,” standalone Waffle House by 15 percent. 

Highlights of Ed McMahon's presentation

Cayce Mayor Elise Partin

Elections, recognitions and awards
 
New Municipal Association officers for 2017-18 are Cayce Mayor Elise Partin, president; Florence Councilmember Octavia Williams-Blake, first vice president; Isle of Palms Mayor Dick Cronin, second vice president; and Mauldin Mayor Dennis Raines, third vice-president.

Williston Mayor Jason Stapleton, Johnston Mayor Terence Culbreth, Clemson Mayor J.C. Cook, Hollywood Mayor Jackie Heyward, Lexington Mayor Steve MacDougall and Chester Councilmember Amy Brown are the newly elected board members.

Rep. Joe Daning

Representative Joe Daning (R-Goose Creek) received the Distinguished Service Award. This is an award that is not presented each year but only when someone outside of municipal government has truly exhibited the service that this award was intended to honor.  

Association President Bill Young, mayor of Walterboro, said “Rep. Daning has been a consistent and reliable ally to South Carolina municipalities, He’s stepped up repeatedly and spoken out in defense of preserving home rule and local authority.”
 
Two surprise recognitions rounded out the opening session when Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols received the Farlow Award for outstanding service to municipal government, and Miriam Hair was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in recognition of her retirement later this year.

Mayor Doug Echols

Mayor Young noted Mayor Echols’ many years of service to the City of Rock Hill and to the Municipal Association. “The real feather in his cap is happening next week  with Rock Hill hosting the BMX World Championships,” Mayor Young said. “This event will bring more than 3,300 riders from over 40 countries and an estimated 20,000 spectators to Rock Hill.”
 
Senator Floyd Nicholson (D-Greenwood) made a surprise appearance to present Miriam Hair with the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor. 

Following a video highlighting Miriam’s 32-year career at the Association, Mayor Young brought Senator Nicholson to the stage saying, “In the video, we saw Miriam’s letters for outstanding work in high school athletics. If it was possible to letter in municipal government, there wouldn’t be enough room on one jacket to recognize Miriam’s accomplishments at the Municipal Association. 
 
In the absence of that, we’ve done the next best thing…and brought her former high school coach to join us today for a special presentation. Before we all knew him as Mayor Nicholson or Senator Nicholson, Miriam and her family knew him as Coach."

Sen. Nicholson was Miriam’s high school basketball coach and later worked with her when he was Greenwood’s mayor and president of the Association’s board. Today he is the state senator representing Miriam’s hometown of Greenwood.