As the community and school district await the outcome of a bill introduced Wednesday by Sen. Creighton Coleman and Rep. Boyd Brown that will amend Act 191 of 1991, Fairfield County administration is standing by, ready and willing to step in and help the newly established finance committee get off the ground and running.

County Administrator Phil Hinely said Coleman asked him if the county would be willing to assist the committee, which consists of Red Swearingen, Mike Quinn, John Smalls, John Peoples and Queen Davis.

“We were asked to help, and we said yes,” Hinely said, the day after Coleman and Brown held a press conference in front of the Fairfield County Courthouse to introduce the new local legislation.

“It was my understanding, that we would lend someone from the county to help until this organization could get on its own feet and be self sufficient,” Hinely explained.

The main duty of the county liaison would be to aid the committee in advertising for a finance director, Coleman said. According to the bill, a finance director should be hired no later than Sept. 1.

“The finance director serves at the pleasure of the finance committee, has sole authority over the finances of the district and answers only to the finance committee,” states the bill.

The county will also provide the finance director with an office space, Coleman added.

“The finance director cannot be housed in one of the school district’s buildings,” he said.

Although Hinely has not officially named someone to assist the committee, it is speculated that Deputy County Administrator Davis Anderson will serve as the county’s point-man.

Anderson was named by Coleman during the press conference as a potential contact person for the group.

Anderson said he was shocked when named by the senator, but is always willing to help Fairfield County.