Back before I retired from the Army. We had a saying “There is only one thief in the Army, everyone else is just trying to get their stuff back.” I can assure you this is not what is going on in Oconee County. I can tell you I absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, I cannot stand a thief. Stealing is one of those things that everyone knows is wrong, you are taught that from a very young age. So, you absolutely do not have to be told that as an adult, especially as a old man. But some people know what they want, and they will steamroll anyone in their path to get it. Such is the case with what is going on in the city of Westminster.
As some may know, Westminster held a special election here not that long ago. The reason for this is because three city councilmen got mad, took their ball, and went home. This serves as a prime example of why acting on emotion rather than logic is often a horrible idea. These three essentially abandoned the people of Westminster and started a chain of events that could ultimately be the downfall of the town. I will explain all of that if you’ll bear with me. They then double downed by acting like a bunch of spoiled children going after City Councilman Yousef Meflah’s restaurant, Yousef’s Kitchen. As I have said before whether Yousef was right or wrong going after a man’s livelihood because you didn’t get your way is still wrong. If you had a problem with the way the man was doing business, you should have said something when it happened, but I digress. One of the resignee’s even made the statement in the paper, “they got the drill sergeant version of me.” That is all well and good to stroke your ego with sir, but you forgot your 1st general order which you taught basic trainees. “I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.”
How many hotels would people say are in Oconee County? I am not talking little rinky dink places. I am talking about nice hotels that you would let your kids travel to play recreational sports. While Seneca has built a few recently, Westminster has a big goose egg. Also, while Lucky Strike is a good place to get lunch. Your choices for dinner are Puerto and… Beef and Rib, I guess, maybe Yousef’s. Any pickle, my point is this Westminster does not have the amenities to be a big draw for rec sports. I understand that sports in Westminster is a big deal. One of my closest friends, his son was on the State Championship wrestling team this year. I had never paid attention to high school wrestling until this year. Folks, I’ve got to tell you, high school wrestling is the most underrated sport in the state of South Carolina. It goes 0-60, back to 30, up to 190, and back to 60 in a matter of minutes. It really is fun to watch once you understand it. But anyway, what Mayor Bryan Ramey has done is capitalized and taken advantage of the people’s love for rec sports. Then convinced everyone to jump in the back of an old farm truck, that is burning oil, and drive to Disney World and burn through a couple of months house payments. Not only that but to pay for this little extravagant expedition. He is also convinced MOST of his new City Council that we’ll just steal the neighbor’s car since we don’t have enough room in the farm truck. That is right folks, Westminster is growing under the direction of Bryan Ramey in his quest for his #buildhallstrec cause. People outside city limits are being brought into city limits to pay taxes against their will. This is stealing, just plain and simple. Taking something without permission is stealing. Mayor Ramey’s justification for all this, well they get water from the city. Of all the stupid excuses in the world, which is the lamest of them all. Meth heads stealing copper have better excuses.
I am telling everyone if that is all it takes for a municipality to legally take someone’s property, every person in the county is in trouble. It would be like Blue Ridge Co-op taking my property because I get power from them. Then telling me ”Well you could pay for solar panels.” This is “progress” folks, we have all heard the analogy that you can take one link out of a dog’s chain at a time. Eventually, the dog is stapled to the ground and never knew how it got there. If this is allowed to proceed it is just another link in the chain. It will also be a nail in the coffin towards bankrupting the city of Westminster. If Mayor Ramey’s blind promise of a grand rec department doesn’t draw sports tournaments from places like Easley and the Shaver Complex in Seneca. Every single citizen inside Westminster city limits will be left holding the bill on a bad investment. This includes the ones kidnapped by a greedy, power-hungry land grab. Who wanted no part of the nonsense in the first place. Fix your house before you put a pool in folks. Y’all have a nice day.
