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Bamberg County Council
voted unanimously at the August
10th meeting on the executive
committee’s recommendation to
re-hang the Centennial portrait of
Bamberg County Council in the
original position where it had
been hanging in the Courthouse
for years.
“The Centennial Portrait
needs to be re-hung and properly
identified. There was a reason it
was put there and it was an important
reason,” Councilman Chris
Wilson stated at Bamberg County
Council’s Executive Committee
meeting on August 3.
The committee voted unanimously
that the Centennial
Portrait of council members, that
was removed from the courthouse
chambers by County Council
Chairman Clair P. Guess, III, be
re-hung and clearly identified for
its historical value.
Bamberg County Council
Chairman Clair P. Guess III participated
in the executive meeting
on August 3 by phone and did not
vote, however he expressed his
agreement with the decision
reached by the committee.
It was also recommended
that a policy be created on the
hanging of portraits, memorabilia
and other historical markers in the
courthouse and in the proposed
future county law enforcement
building.
During the August 3 discussion
of who is in charge of the
courthouse, Bamberg County
Administrator Rose Dobson-
Elliott said that she had received
several attorney generals opinions
from other counties. “It’s
extremely clear outside the front
door I have authority.
Inside the front door it’s not
quite as clear. General rule is that
it is the Clerk of Court,” Dobson-
Elliott said, adding “we’re going
to have to research a little more to
determine what council wants
hung in the courthouse.”
The decision by both the
County’s Executive Committee
and County Council hopefully
will bring closure to an episode
where Bamberg County Council
Chairman Clair P. Guess III and
Councilwoman Dot Tatum got
into a heated debate at council’s
July 6 meeting.
Tatum said the Centennial
Portrait was the portrait of County
Council that was put in the time
capsule during the Centennial and
is a very important part of
Bamberg County’s history. |
