Anson County commissioners voted, 4-3, to sever ties with the Anson Economic Development Corporation.
This nonprofit has been trying to bring business to Anson County. It’s run by the county’s state representative, Mark Brody.
Commissioner Joshua Ellerbe said one reason he voted to part ways with the AEDC was due to funding concerns.
While homes and businesses were without drinking water for several days in July, the county told Channel 9’s Gina Esposito that the state set aside money for a new generator for its water system.
The Department of Environmental Quality had issued a notice of deficiency for failure to have a working generator.
Ellerbe accused Brody of voting in the state legislature to reallocate the $400,000 in state grant money.
It was originally earmarked for Anson County water and wastewater infrastructure but was diverted in August to Brody’s nonprofit.
Brody did not dispute this.
Ellerbe said the county desperately needs the generator and was upset to learn the county will not be getting the funds for it.
Brody told Esposito that the money was never intended for the generator.
He said it would be used to help finish a sewer project tied to a major economic development plan that his nonprofit was working on in the Lilesville area.
The county is now working to come up with its own economic development plan.
As for the generator, it’s unclear how it will be funded.
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