Despite complaint, governor's office proceeds with Greenville sanitation board appointment

Gov. Henry McMaster's office has decided to move ahead with appointing a new board member for the Greater Greenville Sanitation District despite a complaint regarding how county officials handled the selection process.

Amanda Cass will take her seat on the sanitation district's five-person commission after she completes some paperwork and passes a routine background check, McMaster's spokesman, Brian Symmes, told The Greenville News.

The Greenville County Council voted to recommend the appointment of Cass in October, but the appointment was delayed after her predecessor sent a letter to the state Attorney General's office in November questioning whether the selection of Cass was valid.

In his letter, former sanitation district commissioner David Armstrong said county officials:

► Failed to follow provisions of the state's Freedom of Information Act by acting without timely notice or public input.

► Failed to determine the skills and attributes that would be beneficial for a sanitation district commissioner to possess.

► Failed to interview applicants for the post.

Minutes from an Oct. 20 County Council meeting indicate that Cass was elected over Armstrong, but the minutes do not include a vote total or details on how individual councilmembers voted.

In a Dec. 10 response to Armstrong, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Houck said Greenville County officials must follow the state's FOIA law. While he also said Armstrong could go to court to pursue his claims, though, Houck did not address the specific allegations made by Armstrong.

Symmes said staff members in McMaster's office reviewed Houck's response and spoke to Greenville County officials before deciding this week to move ahead with the appointment of Cass.

Reached Thursday, Armstrong said he was not surprised that McMaster's office will proceed with the appointment of Cass. He said he has not decided whether he will take further action related to the appointment.

Armstrong, who is a Greenville attorney, served a five-year term as a sanitation district commissioner that expired last year. He was appointed to the board in 2015, replacing his wife, Meta Armstrong, who spent more than a decade as a commissioner.

The delay in the appointment of Cass was one factor that sanitation district executive director Steve Cole cited for canceling a budget retreat at a luxury hotel in Asheville that was scheduled for this weekend. Cole said only two of the district's five commissioners were certain that they could attend the retreat.

The district had planned to spend about $11,000 to cover expenses for the retreat. Still, the district will lose about $5,000 in room deposits at the Grove Park Inn, Cole said.

Cass, who is a pet-sitter with a boarding facility, said she was pleased to hear that McMaster's office is moving ahead with her appointment.

"I am excited to get in there and serve," she said.

The sanitation district collects property taxes and recycling fees while handling garbage-collection for about 60,000 customers in unincorporated areas of Greenville County and the city of Travelers Rest. Formed by the state General Assembly in 1968, it is among dozens of special-purpose districts in Greenville County.

Kirk Brown covers government, growth and politics for The Greenville News. Reach him at kebrown@greenvillenews.com or on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM. Please subscribe to The Greenville News by visiting greenvillenews.subscriber.services.