CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – After the retired Horry County clerk of court told News13 she would quit her role in the Horry County treasurer’s office, she changed her decision on Wednesday night.
Melanie Huggins-Ward shared her resignation on Tuesday after News13 began investigating how she was compensated. After this story was posted on Wednesday, Huggins-Ward said in a text message, “…since you tried to make Angie and I look like scammers I WILL NOT be quitting at this time.”
Treasurer Angie Jones hired Huggins-Ward in July 2017 after finding unpaid tax refunds dating back to 1983.
“The checks were just thrown in a box. I mean they weren’t being worked,” Jones said. Huggins-Ward was hired to help get the money back to taxpayers, according to Jones.
“I’ve known Melanie my entire life,” Jones said. “When you bring somebody in this treasurer’s office and give them banking access and give them authority to refund our citizens, it’s gotta be someone you trust.”
Huggins-Ward isn’t a county employee. According to records obtained by News13 through a Freedom of Information Act request, Jones hired Huggins-Ward through a temporary agency. It bills the county $39 per hour.
Jones admits using the temporary agency is more expensive.
“We’re talking about $10,000 is what it cost us extra to have her through the temp agency,” Jones told News13.
In most weeks, the billing records show Huggins-Ward worked 24 hours. Between July 2017 and February 2018, the records indicate the county paid the temporary agency approximately $32,000.
The county administration questioned the reason for paying Huggins-Ward through a temporary service. In emails, it suggested Jones and Huggins-Ward were trying to game the state retirement system.
The state limits how much a retired person can earn from the county before their pension is cut off. Someone could bypass that limit by working for a temporary agency or as a contractor.
In a statement to News13, county administrator Chris Eldridge said, “Surely, other employees could have been trained to perform these duties over a nine-month period.”
Jones sued Horry County last year over a lack of resources. The county replied that any problems in the office are the result of Jones’ mismanagement.
Jones said she asked the administration last year to hire Huggins-Ward as a contractor to save money, but the county said no. “[Using the temporary agency] is not the way it needs to be done, but when you’re in a crunch, in a jam, you have no choice. I had to get somebody in here,” Jones said.
“I have no intention of approving an independent contractor to get around the earning limitations [for retirees],” Eldridge told News13 in a statement.
Jones and Huggins-Ward deny “gaming” the retirement system. “No, why would I?,” Huggins-Ward said on a phone call. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
Huggins-Ward told News13 on Tuesday that its investigation was the “icing on the cake,” so she decided to leave the treasurer’s office. She said she doesn’t need to work and she wanted to help her dad with the farm as planting just started for the corn crop.
After Huggins-Ward changed her decision on Wednesday night and said she wouldn’t quit, she wrote in a text message, “…just so you know I have worked many more hours that [sic] I have been paid for just so they (administration) would stay off Angie’s back please make sure you up date [sic] this article with just what I said especially since Angie and I said other retirees are doing it but you didn’t investigate that only Angie’s office”
When this story was initially posted, News13 reported Jones and Huggins-Ward said other retired people are working for the county.
In a Facebook post for this story, Jones commented, :”Another story that will have to be retracted due to wrong info. You will be getting a phone call tomorrow.” As of Thursday afternoon, Jones had deleted her comment.
