Committee refers $200,000 fire‑equipment request to full Williamsburg County council

The Williamsburg County Finance and Budget Committee on Monday voted to refer a request from Chief Randy Swinton of the Williamsburg County Fire Department to the full council to transfer up to $200,000 from a fire bond account for equipment purchases.

Chief Randy Swinton told the committee the department needs 16 new MSA self‑contained breathing apparatus (air packs) because the models in use are obsolete and some are broken or have passed their service life. “What we would like to purchase will be 16 new air packs,” he said, adding the vendor promotion would yield 32 bottles rather than the 16 that would have been supplied previously.

Swinton also described buying five dual‑band Kenwood handheld radios (the packet cited a cost of $33,602) to ensure compatibility with the 800 MHz network and upcoming P25 system changes planned for the late‑2020s. He said Motorola radios were available but more expensive, so the department chose Kenwood for cost reasons.

The chief requested additional items: rescue equipment referenced in the transcript as “Green Bay and Jin” (cited cost $4,460) after an incident in which responders lacked the tool to free a trapped person; Farm Bureau Insurance was described as offering assistance and Clemson extension or neighboring county personnel were identified as possible trainers. Swinton also cited a flow sweeper priced about $4,200 that he said would help clean base stations and be used countywide.

Swinton said the department normally seeks grant funding for gear but recently lost its grant writer; he mentioned FEMA grant support processes as a future possibility. The chair confirmed the bond account balance is “about $800,000” and that bond payments for the year had already been made, leaving excess funds available for the requested purchases.

A councilmember moved that the committee “acknowledge, recognize and approve the chief’s request and refer it to the full council for full approval.” Councilman Floyd seconded the motion. The committee approved the referral by voice vote; the transcript records committee members responding “aye,” but it does not include a roll‑call tally or names associated with each yes vote.

The referral sends the equipment request and proposed transfer of up to $200,000 to the full Williamsburg County Council for final approval and appropriation. The committee also offered public thanks to the county’s career and volunteer firefighters for their service before adjourning.

Next steps: the full council must review the recommended transfer and formally approve any expenditures; the committee did not adopt spending authority itself.