Council Appoints Two New At-Large Library Board Members

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council appointed two new members to serve on the Anderson County Library Board on Tuesday, ending a process that began in February aimed at least in part according to council, to provide broader representation on the board.

The two new at-large board members are:
Albert “Howie” Howard, attended Modesto Junior College, and works for AONE Business Development. Howard said he wants the library to “be a place where we can bring our children and we can all have fun learning and exploring books together.” Howard said his Hispanic background would bring diversity to the board.
Jimmy Johnson of Anderson, who earned an Associate Degree in Electronics Engineering and is retired from Michelin, wrote in his application he is “disturbed by what is going on in libraries across the country” and wants to assure books in the Anderson library are “age appropriate.” Johnson is a member of the Anderson County Museum Advisory Board and a former scoutmaster.

Forty-three applications were received for the two positions, 27 applicants were women and 16 men. The appointees will add two men to the current seven-member library board, which is made up entirely of women, and consists of one representative chosen by the council person in each district. 

The new at-large members will be chosen by council to serve a four-year term. County council members are elected by the voters to two-year terms, which raised concern from some members that it could result in not being able to appoint a library board member during their term of office.

Also on Tuesday, council:

Approved second reading for tax incentives for a new company promising 35 jobs at $42.14 per hour average along with a $30 million capital investment.

“It’s a good, family owned company that has been in operation for 45 years,” said Anderson County Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson. “They are a nationally respected brand and will be hiring engineers from Anderson University and Clemson University.”

Approved tax incentives for the expansion of a current business in an economically depressed part of the county which is promising 89 jobs at $20.67 per hour along with a $7.5 million investment. Nelson called the potential expansion “a great opportunity for that community.”