Bamberg, South Carolina (July 2017) – Bamberg County’s new courthouse annex was the cover story for County Focus magazine, which is published quarterly by the South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC). W. Stuart Morgan, County Focus Editor, wrote a comprehensive article regarding the new Bamberg County courthouse annex. The article details the construction process from the voter approved referendum in November 2012 through the ribbon-cutting ceremony, five years later, in November 2017. Morgan visited Bamberg County for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to gather information and take photographs. The eight page article includes many of Morgan’s beautiful photographs of the new construction.
County Focus magazine is a publication of the South Carolina Association of Counties, the only organization in the state that represents South Carolina county governments. County Focus highlights county issues and successful county projects, such as the Bamberg County courthouse annex. “Bamberg County Council recognized the need to improve our infrastructure to better serve our citizens and attract new businesses,” stated Evert Comer, Jr., Bamberg County Council Chairman. “Being featured by County Focus reinforces how well Bamberg County managed this construction. All Bamberg County residents should feel proud that our County was selected above all other South Carolina counties to be featured on the cover of this well-respected magazine.”
The article provides many details about the new courthouse annex, from its architecture to its funding. The courthouse annex was designed to resemble a train depot, as an homage to the importance of railroads in the establishment and growth of Bamberg County. Brick and masonry accents were carefully selected to match and compliment the historic courthouse. The new courthouse annex centralizes forty county employees who provide essential services from voter registration to code enforcement, with all departments clearly identified. The construction was funded by the voter approved Capital Projects Sales Tax (also called the Penny Sales Tax).
“We are proud that Bamberg County is on the cover of County Focus magazine,” said Joey Preston, Bamberg County Administrator. “Citizens recognized the need to improve Bamberg County facilities in 2012 and the County worked diligently to ensure the building was constructed on time and under budget. To be recognized on the cover of County Focus is an honor and speaks volumes about the quality of this project.”
A limited number of copies of the July issue of County Focus are available in the new Bamberg County courthouse annex for residents interested in reviewing the article.
For more information on this press release, email info@bambergcounty.sc.gov.