COUNTY CONNECTIONS
We are excited to begin much-needed renovations to the Greenwood County Courthouse and Park Plaza. These renovations and office relocations will create a more convenient and accessible environment for our residents and staff. The project will take place in five phases. This phased approach ensures continuous service throughout the renovation process. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our facilities for everyone's benefit.
Here's an overview of the planned phases of renovations:
Phase 1: September 2024
Relocation to Airport Annex & Courthouse Renovations Begin: Several departments will move to the newly renovated Airport Annex, previously Greenwood Baptist Church during this time. This will serve as their temporary home during the Courthouse and Park Plaza renovations. Departments relocating to the Airport Annex are Building Inspection, Planning, Engineering, EMS, and Lake Management.
Phase 2: January 2025
Park Plaza Second Floor Renovation Begin: Work begins on Park Plaza. Departments will continue operations from the Airport Annex during this phase. The Solicitor's Office will move to the Chipley Building. The Public Defender’s Office, Probation and Parole, along with the Coroner’s Office will relocate to the Courthouse basement.
Phase 3: July 2025
Park Plaza First Floor Renovations Begin: Administration, Economic Development, Human Resources, the Treasurer’s Department, and Victim Assistance will move to the second floor of Park Plaza. Those previously moved to the Airport Annex will continue there.
Phase 4: January 2026
Office Realignment:
Departments from the Airport Annex will begin moving to their permanent locations. Building Inspection, Planning, Engineering, and Lake Management will move to the first floor of Park Plaza. In addition, the Assessor, Tax Collector, and Auditor will move to the first floor of Park Plaza.
Phase 5: July 2026
Project Completion: All departments will be settled into their permanent locations. IT and Data Processing will move from the basement to the first floor of the Courthouse and the remaining renovations will be completed.
*** Remember, as with any construction project, timelines are dynamic by nature and have the potentional for changes.
Name the Newsletter: Your Input Needed!
Welcome to the first edition of our Greenwood County employee newsletter! We are excited to launch this new initiative to keep everyone informed and connected. Currently, our newsletter is called County Connections, but we want to hear from you.
Would you like to keep the name County Connections, or do you have a new, creative name in mind for our newsletter? Your feedback is important, and we encourage you to share your ideas for a name and story suggestions. We would love to highlight employee achievements, so please let us know about any noteworthy accomplishments. Please email your suggestions to Abby Banks at abanks@greenwoodsc.gov. We look forward to your input and to making this newsletter a reflection of our amazing team.
If you haven't visited the Wilbanks Recreation Complex lately, you're missing an incredible transformation! Construction continues on our artificial turf fields, natural grass field, baseball building, new bathrooms, and inclusive playground. Stay tuned for the grand opening announcement for our playground!
TUITION ASSISTANCE
All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our Tuition Assistance Program. This program provides up to $1,000 per fiscal year to cover tuition, fees, and books for approved courses.
Eligible institutions include:
Community colleges
Technical colleges
4-year colleges and universities
Trade or vocational schools
Business schools
For questions or more information, please contact our Human Resources Director, Rhonda McAllister, at rmcallister@greenwoodsc.gov.
Take advantage of this opportunity to further your education and advance your career!
EAP: Confidential Support for All Employees
Life can present challenges that are difficult to navigate alone. To support you through these times, we want to remind you about our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Greenwood County Employee Assistance Program is designed to provide confidential support for various personal and professional issues. Each employee is entitled to up to twelve (12) visits per year with a licensed professional at no cost.
Your privacy is paramount. All visits and participant names are strictly confidential and protected under HIPAA regulations. Greenwood County only receives billing information to confirm that a visit took place. We do not have access to the names of participants or the reasons for their visits.
Taking advantage of this benefit is simple. If you feel you could benefit from speaking with a professional, please contact Western Carolina Psychiatric Associates at 864-227-3908 to schedule your appointment. When you call, just inform them that you are a Greenwood County employee.
TOM’S TIPS: CALL FORWARD
Here is your very first official phone tip! Did you know that you can have your calls transferred to your cell phone? Yep, if you don’t get enough annoying calls on your own, feel free to add to the list by answering all your desk phone calls on your mobile.
On your desktop phone display, press Menu, then use the arrows and OK button to go to Features > Call Control > Call Forward > (tap an extension here if you have more than one line on your phone) then Always Forward.
Then use the right arrow key to set to On. Then Arrow down to Forward to: and enter your cell number and hit Save.
All calls will forward to your cell phone until you turn it off using the same steps. You can really put any other number or extension here to forward calls to, say for instance, someone you don’t like. It’s a fine way to get even for them stealing your sandwich from the department fridge.
Once completed, at the top of your display you will see a little icon of a phone handset with a brown circular arrow indicating that Call Forwarding is enabled and a little confirmation message.
There, you did it. It is a good tool for when you are expecting a call to your work number but can’t sit by the phone to wait for it. And if you are law enforcement or just don’t want the call recipient to see your cell number, I can enable a privacy setting in my dashboard to hide it. They will see your desk phone number only.
You’re welcome. Stay glued to your seats for the next practical tip to enhance your digital lifestyle.
Contact Tom Bishop at (864) 942-8561 if you need additional help with call forwarding.
Councilwoman Teresa Griffin held a District 1 Cleanup collecting 39 bags of litter.
Councilwoman Johanna Bishop held a District 3 Cleanup collecting 225 pounds of litter.
Late registration ends
July 11th.
Celebrating Community Engagement
Greenwood County Parks and Recreation recently demonstrated their commitment to community involvement and improvement by holding three successful community meetings across the county. The meetings, which took place in Ware Shoals, Ninety Six, and Greenwood, provided residents with a valuable opportunity to share their feedback on our sports and recreation programs. Parks and Recreation shared progress reports, upcoming projects, and future plans, ensuring transparency and keeping the community informed about the continuous efforts to enhance our recreational spaces.
ICYMI: CELEBRATING OUR EMPLOYEES' ACHIEVEMENTS AND POSITIVE IMPACT
Economic Development Director James Bateman was awarded the SC Economic Developer's Advanced Symposium Scholarship! This prestigious award enables James to attend the Advanced Symposium, which offers an interactive learning experience with instruction from top-tier professionals. Attendees benefit from the expertise of local practitioners, economic development experts, consultants, and private industry representatives.
Treasurer Steffanie Dorn has been appointed as the new secretary of the Small Government Forum Committee of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The committee assists small governments in addressing unique challenges and exploring new opportunities. Steffanie had the honor of speaking at the GFOA's Annual Conference, where she shared her expertise in financial reporting. We are proud of Steffanie and are grateful for her invaluable guidance to Greenwood County.
Fire Chief Steve Holmes and Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Cribbin recently accepted a Duke Emergency Preparedness and Storm Resiliency grant of $15,000. This generous grant will fund essential equipment for first responders during severe weather, enhancing their ability to keep our community safe. In addition to first responder equipment, the grant will also provide the necessary tools to produce a podcast on emergency preparedness and response. The podcast will educate and inform residents about best practices and safety during emergencies.
Stay Informed: Register for GEM
Have you registered for the Genasys Emergency Management (GEM) Mass Notification System? Greenwood County Emergency Management’s mass notification system is designed to keep you informed and safe in any situation.
GEM is the primary communication tool for all public safety topics, including severe weather alerts, evacuation notices, missing person reports, and other critical information. By registering for GEM, you ensure that you receive timely updates and alerts directly to your phone, keeping you and your loved ones prepared and protected.
Signing up is simple: just text AlertGreenwoodSC to 65513. Stay connected and stay safe with GEM. Don’t wait register today!
Recognize Excellence: Commend a Fellow Employee!
Do you know a colleague who consistently goes above and beyond in their work? Now is your chance to recognize their exceptional efforts! Greenwood County employees can commend their peers for outstanding performance and dedication.
To submit a commendation, simply visit Greenwood County's website and follow the instructions. Your commendation not only acknowledges their hard work but also inspires a culture of appreciation and excellence within our team.
Stay Cool
It’s hot out there! If you’re headed to the lake or the Festival of Discovery, protect yourself and your family from heatrelated illnesses. Stay hydrated, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in light colors and a wide-brimmed hat. Schedule strenuous activities during cooler parts of the day, and wear sunscreen. Be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion signs include heavy sweating, weakness, and cold, pale skin. Heat stroke symptoms are more severe and include a high body temperature, hot and dry skin, and confusion. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke.
Photo by Lake Inspector Win Ott