(Richland PIO) – Richland County Council and the County Attorney’s Office would like to clarify a few statements made in recent news coverage by television station WIS.

Regarding the Attorney’s hiring of outside legal counsel: It is standard practice for the County Attorney to utilize outside legal counsel. During the annual budget process, County Council approves a budget for the County Attorney’s Office that provides funding the County Attorney may use for professional services, including hiring outside legal counsel. Council votes on the budget every year during public meetings and holds a public hearing before adopting the budget. Through funding provided in the budget, the County Attorney’s Office hires legal counsel to assist with economic development efforts, rights-of-way/land issues, personnel matters and legal inquiries, including those regarding the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Pursuant to the state’s Consolidated Procurement Code, the purchase of attorneys’ services is exempt from the purchasing procedures and reporting requirements of the code. The County Attorney is well within his authority in the procurement of legal services on behalf of Richland County. 

Regarding Councilman Don Weaver’s interview with WIS and his statements, the Freedom of Information Act allows for privileged communication in executive session of meetings, but does not give individual elected officials the ability to breach that privilege and share details of what is discussed during executive session.

County Council received legal updates from the County Attorney, per S.C. Code 30-4-70 (a)(2), but did not take any action during executive session. Before and after each and every executive session, County Council announces publicly the items that will be discussed.