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Commissioner Earl Hunter has known for years that his tenure in his position requires absolute obedience to the political powers in the Senate and House. He couldn't make a decision on his own for any major or some minor health and environmental needs for the good of the state and the residents of South Carolina if he wanted to.
Some time ago, an associate and I met with Hunter in his DHEC office to discuss the $494,000fine for dumping dredge spoil levied by the Office of Coastal Resource Management against the South Island Dredging Association. He was gracious and generous with his time.
I informed him that we realized the fix was in. We knew the association lobbyists had done their work with key senators and representatives, who, in turn, had put pressure on him. We pointed out that reducing the fine below $150,000 would not be a deterrent. It would merely become a cost of doing business on a multi-million dollar project. In a meeting with dredging association representatives a few hours later, the fine was reduced to $50,000.
The sad fallout: Chris Brooks of OCRM, the finest public servant I ever met, was forced into early retirement after approximately 30 years of serving the state of South Carolina. Money and manure work in strange and not so wondrous ways.
Robert McEwan
Hilton Head Island
