►
Description
Lex Kirkland, Joy Gillespie and Courtney Clyburn Pope, join Aiken this week to talk about their individual roles in the City Manager's office.
A
Welcome
to
aiken
this
week,
I'm
Emory
Langston.
Today
we
are
being
joined
by
staff
members
from
our
city,
manager's
office.
We
have
Lex
Kirkland,
who
is
our
risk
manager,
joy
Gillespie,
who
is
our
capital
project
sales
tax
manager
in
Courtney,
Claire,
Byrne
Pope?
Who
is
the
solicitor
and
I?
Thank
you
all
for
being
with
us
today.
Taking
a
few
minutes
out
of
your
schedules
to
come
and
talk
to
us
and
I
know.
A
All
of
you
are
relatively
new
into
your
positions
with
the
city,
and
so
we're
excited
to
get
to
meet
you
today
and
get
to
know
you
a
little
bit
and
talk
about
what
each
of
you
do
and
your
role
in
position
with
the
city
of
Aiken.
So
we're
just
going
to
jump
right
in
and
get
started
in
lecture.
We'll
start
with
you,
great
and
I
know
that
you
are
actually
about
to
hit
an
anniversary
mark
your
year
mark
with
the
city
of
Aiken.
B
I'm
a
proud
product
of
the
Aiken
school
system,
I
moved
to
aiken
in
1989,
I,
attended,
Schofield
middle
school
and
then
south
aiken
high
and
from
there
I
went
to
USC
Aiken.
I
graduated
from
USC
Aiken
and
mayhap
2000
with
business
administration
degree
with
a
concentration
in
finance
upon
graduation
I,
went
to
work
as
a
financial
advisor
for
what
Dylan
read
that
really
began.
My
interest
in
insurance
and
risk
management
and
I
worked
there
for
about
a
year
before
sin,
an
advertisement
for
a
position
with
a
city
of
aikens
finance
department.
B
B
B
B
At
heart,
I
really
feel
like
I'm
a
public
servant
I
enjoy
serving
the
community
I
enjoy
working
with
our
employees
and
as
a
risk
manager,
I'm
kind
of
lucky.
I
get
I
get
to
work
with
with
all
our
departments
and
help
them
accomplish
our
goals,
while,
while
looking
out
for
the
safety
of
our
employees
and
citizens,
I'm
proud
of
the
work
that
our
city
does,
that
our
departments
do
and
I
get
a
lot
of
job
satisfaction
from
working
here,
but
but
probably
the
biggest
reason
that
that
I
came
back
to
the
city
of
Aiken.
B
A
And
I
guess,
starting
out
with
the
city
of
vacant
as
the
business
license
straight
business
license
administrator
and
risk
manager
back
in
the
early
2000s.
You
know
our
city
has
grown
so
much
so
the
need
for
a
full-time
risk
manager,
you
know,
became
very
strong
and
the
scope
of
your
position
on
that
when
you
came
back
but
the
city
the
population
has
grown
and
what
the
city
does
internally
taken
on
many
responsibilities.
So
this
basically
the
scope
of
your
position
and
roll
with
the
city
is
large.
A
B
You
do
so
many
different
things.
No
day
is
really
really
the
same,
and
that's
that's
a
challenge
for
me:
I'm.
The
kind
of
person
who
likes
to
have
a
list
you
know
have
something
to
check
off
and
no,
but
that
rarely
works
out
a
man
and
my
plan
for
the
day
rarely
works
out.
I
handle
most
of
the
city's
insurance
and
claims,
of
course,
not
the
health
insurance,
but
I
oversee
the
city's
general
liability
property,
auto
cyber
workers,
compensation
insurance.
So
things
come
up.
B
You
know
with
claims
involving
those
lines
of
coverage
almost
every
day,
I
also
oversee
our
city's
safety
program,
which
puts
that
includes.
You
know:
safety,
training,
OSHA
compliance,
things
of
that
nature
and
just
a
lot
of
interaction
with
our
departments,
keeping
those
those
type
of
concerns
on
track.
In
addition,
I
also
oversee
our
wellness
of
program,
which
the
wellness
program
was
already
well
established
in
and
something
to
be
proud
of
even
before
I
started.
Our
wellness
program
includes
just
so
many
opportunities
for
our
employees
to
make
a
positive
impact
on
their
health
amory.
B
Nearly
all
the
programs
that
we
have
you
know
require
some
some
work
or
some
effort
on
the
employees
part
almost
too
kind
of
earn
the
benefit
in
a
sense
you
know
examples
being
in
our
gym
reimbursement
program.
We've
got
a
running
event:
reimbursement
program,
nutrition,
counseling,
fitness,
counseling,
smoking,
cessation
programs.
The
list
just
really
goes
on
and
on
for
employees
who
are
are
looking
to
take.
B
You
know
that
active
role
and
improving
their
health,
in
addition
to
that
I
think
probably
one
of
our
greatest
wellness
benefits
that
that
I'm
lucky
enough
to
overseas
or
employee
health
center.
A
lot
of
folks,
don't
don't
know
this,
but
we
have
an
employee
health
center
that
staffed
by
nurses
from
aiken
Regional
Medical
Center's.
B
So
we
work
in
in
conjunction
with
them
to
provide
that
service
to
our
employees,
and
these
nurses
work
to
keep
our
employees
healthy
through
education,
health,
screenings,
trainings
vaccinations,
and
they
really
just
have
you
know
thousands
of
encounters
with
our
employees
throughout
the
year
and
and
getting
to
work
with
them
and
oversee
that
program's
been
real
rewarding
for
me.
For
that.
Just
kind
of
writing.
Brief
summary
of
a
lot
of
different
things
that
that
I
get
to
be
involved,
so
you.
A
Do
what's
amazing
to
me:
what's
a
really
great
thing:
is
you
do
so
many
internal
and
external
proactive
programs
to
help
you
keep
our
costs
down
our
liability
down
and
with
those
those
those
pre
out?
You
know
trying
to
get
ahead
of
the
game
and
you
know,
as
an
employee,
I
know
that
y'all
are
familiar
with
it.
What
the
wellness
program
too,
it's
so
tremendous
and
then
with
the
safety
aspect.
So
you
wear
a
lot
of
different
hats.
Lex,
a.
B
Position,
well,
you
set
up.
You
know
we're
a
lot
of
different
hats.
I
think
you
know
one
of
the
things
I
like
is
the
variety
you
know.
The
variety
there's
always
a
new
challenge
and
your
project
or
a
new
claim
that
you
know
that
we've
gotta
work
work
through
figure
things
out,
so
the
variety
is
great.
We
also
just
have
a
lot
of
terrific
employees
and
citizens
and
you
know
getting
to
work
with
them.
You
know,
for
the
most
part,
you
know,
employees
and
citizens
are
great.
B
So
that's
you
know
one
of
the
one
of
the
benefits
of
the
jobs,
one
of
the
things
that
I,
like
I,
also
really
enjoy.
You
know,
what's
getting
to
know,
what's
going
on
and
aching,
you
know
when
you
work
for
the
city,
you
tend
to
know
the
things
are
going
on
and
you
get
to
be
involved
and
you
know
get
to
feel
like
you
play
play
a
role
in
that
which
is
exciting
and
that's
fun
too.
It.
A
B
The
trick
to
being
a
good
risk
manager-
well,
it
couch
sounds
like
a
joke,
but
but
the
key
is
really
getting
other
people
to
help
you
do
your
job.
Okay,
risk
management.
B
B
We
have
a
safety
hotline
that
they
can
use
to
call
in
hazards
that
they
observe
in
the
city
for
non-emergency
type
thing
yeah,
so
are
our
citizens
can
call
644
1910
again
that
number
64
for
1910
and
any
non-emergency
hazard
that
they
have
that
they
want
to
share
with
the
city
they're
welcome
to
call
that
number
and
we'll
follow
up
on
it.
I
find
that
we
get.
B
You
know
a
number
of
things
called
in
there
that
don't
don't
really
match
up
with
what
the
city
does,
but
if
possible,
I'll
find
the
agency
the
correct
agency
and
get
it
to
them
or
if
it's
something
we
can
handle.
You
know
we'll
follow
up
on
it
and
we'll
we'll
handle
that.
So
the
trick
is
getting
a
lot
of
people
to
help
you
well.
A
A
B
A
Very
multifaceted
position,
so
we're
going
to
switch
gears
a
little
bit
and
we're
going
to
talk
about
some
capital
projects
and
we're
going
to
talk
to
joy
and
joy.
You
I've
been
with
the
city
now
for
about
four
months
right.
So
let's
talk
a
little
bit
about
your
educational
experience
and
your
professional
background
and
what
brought
you
to
the
city
of
Aiken
great.
D
C
A
I
think
that
that
you
know
not
not
not,
everybody
understands
what
the
capital
projects
are
and
what
what
that
means
for
our
city,
and
these
are
some
very
large
projects.
So
could
you
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
what
that
means?
What
what
is
the
capital
project
sales
tax
program
for
the
city
of
Aiken,
sure.
D
Capital
project
sales
tanks
are
approved
by
voter
referendum,
the
capital
projects,
elves
text,
2
&,
3
year,
projects
that
I
am
currently
working
on.
They
were
approved
in
2004
and
2010,
and
they
are
result
from
a
one
percent
sales
tax
for
anything
that's
purchased
within
the
city
and
so,
as
part
of
that
referendum,
the
voters
approved
very
specific
projects
that
the
funding
would
be
allowed
to
be
spent
on,
and
so
some
of
those
projects
include,
like
the
citizens
park,
walking
trails
that
we
have
recently
received
a
bit
on.
C
D
D
A
I
think
that
I'm
so
glad
that
you
know
you
brought
that
up
that
these
are
projects
that
have
been
voted
on
by
our
citizenry
by
the
voters.
Then
they
are
you
go
to
the
elections
during
november
and
when
it's
that
time
of
year
I
mean,
but
it's
that
cycle
you
can
go
and
vote
on
what
you
want.
If
you
want
it,
if
you
don't
want
it,
so
this
is
the
citizenry.
That's
really
in
action.
That's
correct!
A
So
I
think
that's
a
really
really
neat
thing,
but
the
programs
in
the
projects
can
be
so
large
in
scope
that
the
process
you
know
in
the
program
management
the
project
management.
On
that.
Can
you
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
that
process
and
in
the
steps
that
it
takes
two
to
move
these
projects
along
because
I
know
that
they
can
be
quite
extensive?
A
D
Off
with
a
project,
you
must
define
the
scope
without
the
scope,
you
don't
know
what
type
of
project
you're
going
to
have
or
what
direction
you're
looking
for
depending
on
the
type
of
project.
Let's,
let's
take
a
construction
project.
What
will
you
citizens
park
for
an
example?
We
know
exactly
where
the
project
is
going
to
be
citizens
park
already
has
walking
trails,
and
this
project
will
provide
an
extension
of
those
walking
trails
and
connectivity
to
the
existing
walking
trails
to
just
extend
what's
already
there.
So
that
would
be
the
scope.
D
Yes,
yes,
and
with
the
budget
that's
already
been
provided
as
part
of
the
referendum.
We
already
know
what
that
limit
is
four
for
the
budget
for
the
project
and
so
for
this
particular
project.
We
had
to
put
it
out
for
bid
and
the
background
on
that
we
had
to
define
exactly
what
it
was
provide,
a
map
for
potential
bidders
and
you
know
put
it
out
the
bid,
for
you
know,
construction
companies.
D
Then
you
wait
for
that
process
and
you
know
for
three
weeks
and
then
once
the
bids
come
in,
you
know
we
were
able
to
award
a
bit
within
I,
believe
10
days
for
the
successful
bidder
and
so
I'm
just
last
night
citizens,
pork,
the
expenditure
for
the
walking
trails
was
approved
by
council
and
as
part
of
the
cpst
funds.
No
money
can
be
expended
for
projects
until
it
is
approved
by
council.
As.
C
A
Sure
their
checks
and
balances
in
place
and
I
know
that
you
have
to
go
by
our
procurement
code
and,
and
all
of
you
deal
with
state
regulation,
local
rate,
the
regulations,
state
regulations,
federal
regulations
and
have
to
be
current
and
up
on
those
things
and
those
kind
of
fall
into
place
with
them,
with
what
you
do
and
what
you're
looking
at
with
within.
Within
your
the
parameters
of
the
process.
Correct.
D
A
That
and
I
think
that
that's
so
important
to
know,
though,
in
to
explain
to
to
the
folks
who
may
be
watching
this
is
that
there
are
checks
and
balances
in
place
and
there
are
processes
that
have
to
be
done
on
certain
levels
too.
With
this
project,
you
have
to
go
through
these
hurdles
and
you
have
to
wait
on
this
and
indefinitely.
We
want
our
councils
and
put
an
approval
on
these
projects,
so
it's
it's
sometimes
not
as
quick
as
we.
A
We
hope
it
would
be
well,
you
can
mention
some
of
the
projects
that
are
that
we're
currently
working
on.
Can
you
give
us
somewhat
of
an
update
on
on
how
those
or
I
know
you
mentioned
the
trails
and
and
how
that's
going,
but
we
have
a
couple
out
there.
Would
you
be
willing
to
kind
of
give
us
an
update
on
what
they're
doing
sure
the.
D
City
just
purchased
a
piece
of
property
at
perry
park
to
build
a
restroom
facility
out
there
for
the
citizens
utilize
that
park.
We
are
in
the
final
stages
now
of
construction,
drawings
and
bid
specifications,
and
we
will
be
sending
that
out
for
solicitation
for
bids,
probably
within
the
next
week
or
so
wonderful,
and
so
we
look
to
have
some
progress.
You
know
groundbreaking
on
that,
probably
within
the
next
month
month
and
a
half,
we
also
are
working
on
several
other
projects.
Our
training
grounds
for
a
public
safety
is
a
very
important
project.
D
It
allows
for
training
for
our
firefighters
through
the
burn
building
where
they
go
in
and
have
test
burns
to
in
training,
for
you
know,
houses
and
buildings,
and
things
like
that,
but
also
there's
a
training
tower
that
they
are.
You
know,
used
to
train
on
as
well,
so
they
they
climb
right
and
they
can
rappel
down,
and
you
know,
there's
a
lot
of
benefits
for
our
fire
department
and
those
projects
and
those
are
actually
in
their
final
stages
now
for
construction.
So
in
the
alley.
A
D
True,
we
have
some
more
utility
work
that
they
are
using
or
doing
as
part
of
phase
3,
but
very
soon,
by
the
end
of
the
summer,
at
the
latest,
that
project
will
be
complete
with
all
of
the
utilities
tied
in
all
of
the
overhead
utilities
will
be
gone.
Everything
will
be
underground
all
of
the
pavers
in
be
lane
where
now
it's
just
asphalt
will
be
completed
to
complement
the
papers
that
have
already
been
placed
as
part
of
phase
1
and
phase
2,
and
the
end
of
the
alley
will
be
completed
towards
Newbury
Street.
Well,.
A
That'll,
be
so
wonderful,
I
know
Pierce
talks
about
this
spaghetti.
Okay,
there
are
electrical
lines,
so
that'll
be
so
nice
when
all
of
that
gets
complete.
Yes,
well
joy,
you
certainly
had
your
work
cut
out
for
you
when
you
came
to
Aiken
and
I
know
that
it
really
is
a
lot
of
coordination
and
a
lot
of
organizations,
so
we're
so
fortunate
to
have
you
on
our
staff
to
pull
these
wonderful
projects
together.
So
we
can
see
all
the
great
projects
that
lay
ahead
of
us.
Thank
you.
A
A
C
B
C
I
didn't
get
in
any
trouble
at
school,
but
I
but
I
also
left
there
in
1997
and
graduated
from
University
of
South
Carolina
with
a
degree
in
journalism
and
mass
communications.
I
did
work
for
state
agency
for
about
three
years
until
I
made
the
decision
to
go
back
to
law
school.
So
I
graduated
from
the
university
of
south
carolina
school
of
law
for
all
you
Clemson
fans.
Clemson
does
not
have
a
law
school,
but
yes,
I
graduated
from
there
and
at
that
point
worked
for
a
an
insurance
defense
law.
A
C
A
C
A
C
A
C
So
every
day
we
have
City
Court
from
a
it
begins
at
eight
o'clock,
and
I
am
there
most
days
until
about
nine
or
930,
doing
handling
the
city
solicitor
position
and
then
I
come
and
I
serve
as
the
city
staff
attorney
here.
So
I
handle
legal
issues
that
may
arise
within
the
city.
For
example,
I've
worked
with
I've
worked
with
Lex
on
some
different
types
of
insurance
issues
that
the
city
has
had,
or
questions
really
sharing
that
the
city
has
had
with
regards
to
insurance.
Are
we
allowed
to
do
this?
C
If
not,
what
should
we
present
present
to
City
Council?
Or
is
this
a
legal
question
for
another
agency,
sir,
and
so
those
are
the
types
of
things
that
I
determine
I
work
very
closely
with
both
the
city
manager
and
the
assistant
city
manager,
and
we
work
on
a
variety
of
is
it's.
It's
definitely
different.
Every.
C
Really
is,
and
so
it's
it,
it
can
go
from
administrative
type
issues
to
real
criminal
issues.
Sometimes
the
city
is
a
victim
sure
and
in
different
things,
and
when
that
that
happens,
I
work
closely
with
the
solicitor's
office
or
whatever
agency
that
may
be
handling
that
criminal
prosecution.
I
I
speak
on
the
city's
behalf
as
the
victim
sure,
so
there's
a
variety
of
different
things:
yeah.
A
A
C
B
C
He
handles
city
council
issues
and
what
I
mean
by
that
is.
If
you
know
a
legal
issue
arises
at
a
city,
council
meeting
and
I
say
well
can't,
are
we
able
to
do
this?
What
what
happens
should
we
do
this?
He
is
there
to
answer
their
questions
are
in
a
legal
capacity.
What
I
do
is
I
handle
more
of
staff
issues,
so
the
different
boards,
the
the
board
of
zoning
appeals
or
the
design
review
board
I'm
their
attorney,
so
I.
A
C
A
A
C
A
C
You
know
I
I,
don't
know
that
there's
not
a
good
part
of
the
job.
There
are
some
uncomfortable
cases
with
regards
to
perhaps
child
cruelty
that
that
I,
don't
think
anyone
who
would
enjoy,
but
I
do
enjoy
very
much
being
able
to
work
with
citizens
who
who
do
come
down
to
the
courthouse.
I
I
grew
up
just
being
raised
to
to
help
other
people
and
I
think
I
try
to
to
prosecute
in
that
manner.
So
we
taking
considerations
the
victim's
point
of
view,
okay
and
whatever
I
can
do
to
help
a
victim
of
a
crime.
C
B
C
A
A
D
A
Think
that
any
one
of
y'all
probably
want
to
do
that
man,
you
bet
you
all,
have
fascinating
physicians
and
do
a
tremendous
amount
for
the
city
of
Aiken
and
we're
just
proud
to
have
you
on
staff
here.
So
if
anybody
would
like
to
reach
legs
or
joy
or
Courtney,
you
can
call
our
city
manager's
office
directly
at
80,
three,
six,
four,
two,
seven
six,
five
four
and
they
on
each
have
direct
lines
as
well.
So
again,
thank
you
all
for
being
here
today.