Grand jury investigating Beaufort Co. spending during Greenway era. What’s in the subpoena?
A state grand jury, as part of a nine-month investigation, used its subpoena power Wednesday to issue a demand that Beaufort County leaders turn over financial records related to possible purchasing, procurement and contract wrongdoing.
The subpoenas include demands for:
- Purchasing card documentation related to expenses paid for by county employees.
- Documents related to spending under former administrator Eric Greenway.
- Documents related to a contract for construction work at a controversial Port Royal park.
The focus of the investigation
Beaufort County’s purchasing cards: The cards continue to be a focus since the departure of Greenway. An internal audit, commissioned from Greenville-based law firm Haynesworth Sinkler Boyd, found “laxity within Beaufort County government” that resulted in “flagrant violations” of the procurement code. The firm described the county’s P-card purchases since 2019 as “excessive, personal, frivolous, not business driven and often in violation of the county’s P-card manual.”
Former Administrator Greenway: In the wake of his departure, questions about various vendor agreements came under scrutiny, including a purchase order for nearly $36,000 in weighted blankets from a company owned by county’s deputy administrator’s husband and a contract with an opioid consulting firm, Elementzal.
Bruce Edgerly Park project: Earlier reporting revealed the park’s $800,000 playground equipment was purchased and installed without the council’s approval. It is known that on Feb. 13, 2023, the council approved Nix Construction, the sole bidder, to construct restrooms for the park at a cost to the county of $349,500, bringing the total cost of the Port Royal park project at over a million dollars.
Why was a grand jury involved?
In November, the 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone requested that Attorney General Alan Wilson impanel the state grand jury for the investigation into former County Administrator Eric Greenway’s alleged misconduct. Because grand jury proceedings are highly secretive, there’s been little word about the investigation since Wilson announced he would take over the case.
Stone said he requested the grand jury to counter the lack of cooperation from the county. The grand jury has the authority to do a summary investigation, subpoena documents, and compel testimony, he said.
“This power can be helpful in investigations involving potential public corruption,” Stone said in a statement provided to the media in November. “The state’s 16 circuit solicitors do not have direct access to an investigative grand jury. That is why I have asked the attorney general to impanel these at the state level.”
The county’s own investigation
In the months following Greenway’s termination, the Beaufort County Council commissioned a spending audit from the Greenville law firm Haynesworth Sinker Boyd.
Initially, HSB presented only an oral report at a council meeting. The council then offered to create a written summary of HSB’s findings to release to the public. HSB bristled at having its audit summarized by the county leaders and subsequently delivered a 30-plus page written summary of their findings to the council in June. That summary sat under lock and key under the interim administrator’s control despite frequent requests from the sheriff for a copy.
One of the key finding in the written report from HSB was the conclusion that “No evidence of criminal activity” occurred.
This was vexing to both Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner and Stone. A month ago, Tanner questioned if the consultant, with expertise in civil and municipal law, was qualified to determine if local, state or federal crimes were committed. He pointed to the mysterious purchase order of the $36,000 of weighted blankets, Tanner asked: “How can you suggest there’s no wrongdoing, when you know good and well there is.”
After what appeared as stalling tactics and dubious questions about the required number of votes needed to approve, the council voted unanimously Monday to release a copy of the HSB report to state and local law enforcement agencies for review.
As of Thursday, both Tanner and Stone have access to the report and are evaluating its content.
This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 10:07 AM.
