Don't neglect to check out the "Calendar and Notices" link to the left. We continually update those listings. Please send us any information that you would like to see listed.


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Monday May 5 at 6:30-BDFCA MEMBERSHIP MEETING.
This meeting will be held at the Ballentine Park Community Center.

********** Thursday April 17 at 6:00 PM-
SC DOT PUBLIC INPUT MEETING.
This meeting at Dutch Fork High School is VERY IMPORTANT. If YOU have any concerns about future growth's impact on traffic or roads, please attend and bring a friend. The Powers That Be will interpret low turnout as no problem. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!!!!

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Monday April 14-
Richland County Councilman Bill Malinowski has sent a letter to CSX regarding alternate sites for the proposed sidetrack in White Rock.

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Monday April 7 at 6:30-BDFCA MEMBERSHIP MEETING.
This meeting will be for voting (paid) members of the Civic Association only.

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Monday March 3-ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION AT THE BDFCA MEMBERSHIP MEETING.
This meeting featured an open discussion among the voting members of the Civic Association to explore the future of the Association.

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Tuesday Feb 19-THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM ON INCORPORATION were certified by the Municipal Election Commissioners for submission to the Secretary of State. There were 950 "No" votes against 682 "Yes" votes with a margin of 268. At the Ballentine Precinct, there were 349 "No" votes to 334 "Yes" votes with margin of defeat of 15. At the Springville Precinct there were 601 "No" votes to 348 "Yes" votes with a margin of defeat of 253.
Voter turnout (not an official result) is estimated at 83%.

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Saturday Feb 16-THE REFERENDUM ON INCORPORATION was defeated at the Polls after a big turnout of voters. The margin of defeat at the Ballentine Elementary Precinct was 15 votes. The margin at the Springville (Lowman Home) Precinct was more pronounced. The official results will be posted after the election is certified and submitted to the Secretary of State.

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FINAL PUBLIC FORUMS ON INCORPORATON:
Wed. Feb 6 at 2 pm at the Lowman Home
Thurs. Feb 7 at 7:00 pm (originally posted as 6:30) at Ballentine Park
Wed. Feb 13 at 7:00 pm at Ballentine Park
Public Hearings on the Incorporation of the Ballentine Area (click here) Get the latest information about the upcoming Incorporation Referendum. Bring Your Friends & Neighbors!

Monday February 4, 2008-
The BDFCA February Meeting will be held at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. This meeting is important: there are three main subjects that will be addressed. If you haven’t been to any of the BDFCA meetings for the past several months, this is one of your last chances to get a grip on the importance of the Incorporation vote. (click here for agenda)

01/17-THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS SIGNED-OFF ON THE ELECTION; THE REFERENDUM FOR INCORPORATION WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16. The State-Appointed Municipal Election Commissioners have begun the required processes of Public Notices, etc. for the Referendum.

Monday January 7, 2008-
The BDFCA January Meeting was held at the Community Center in Ballentine Park:We received an update from the RCSD (Captain Joe Shampine now onboard), an update on the CSX Siding Issue (It will only be stopped at the Federal level), an update on the Incorporation Efforts (Awaiting final OK from the US Department of Justice), and a briefing on the new area Lions Club.

By acclaimation, the Membership voted to re-elect the current BDFCA Officers to another term: President Les Tweed, Vice-President Mike Sloan, Secretary Joan Tweed, Treasurer Rick Pascal, and Media Secretary Ken Tallman.

Saturday January 5 at 10:00 am-
Public Hearing on the Incorporation of the Ballentine Area (click here) at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. Get the latest information about the upcoming Incorporation Referendum. Bring Your Friends & Neighbors!

Latest: CSX Railroad Siding in White Rock.
A grass roots group has formed to oppose the new CSX Siding proposed for White Rock. The "Dutch Fork Citizen Action Group" can be contacted for more information through Jonathan Harling at 600-3012 or through John Davis at 781-3856. (CLICK here to access factual information about the proposed siding and its impact on our Community.)

GREAT NEWS ON THE INCORPORATION EFFORTS:
Our proposal received the support of the South Carolina Joint Legislative Committee on Municipal Incorporation on November 15th. Two weeks later on Nov. 29, the Secretary of State authorized us to conduct a referendum to decide how we will be governed in the future.
Join us at the Public Hearings at Ballentine Park to learn more!
The first of these Public Hearings will be at 6:30 on Monday Dec 3 at Ballentine Park.


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2007 below this line
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Saturday Dec 8, 2007-
The BDFCA Annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held at the Ballentine Park Community Center. on Saturday December 8 from 11:30 am till 1:00 pm. A Feast for the Folks and Toys for the Kids

Monday November 5, 2007 - 7:00 pm
BDFCA Community Meeting at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. Update on the Incorporation Efforts.

Monday October 1 - 6:00 pm
BDFCA Executive Board Meeting at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. OPEN to Public.

Tuesday September 18, 2007 - 7:00 pmThe Irmo Town Council voted on several items regarding the Incorporation of the Ballentine Area at their monthly meeting. By split decision they rejected a motion to not discuss the Incorporation. By split decision they rejected a motion to endorse the Incorporation. Also by split decision they rejected a motion to oppose the Incorporation.

Monday September 10, 2007 - 6:30 pm… … … … … …
BDFCA Community Meeting at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. The "Incorporation Packet has been completed and has been submitted to the Secretary of State. Incorporation Working Team Chairman Ken Colton gave an excellent briefing of the status of our incorporation efforts! Resounding applause ensued.

At Present:
Behind the scenes, the "Incorporation Packet" is being completed (dotting I's and crossing T's) and reviewed by legal counsel for submission to the Secretary of State.

July- The goal for Petition Signatures has been reached and verified!

Monday June 4, 2007 - 6:30 pm… … … … … … …BDFCA Community Meeting at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. Please make plans to attend. Bring a friend and sign the "Incorporation Petition."

Next Incorporation Petition Drive Set:
Join us Saturday May 26 at 9:30 am at Light House Marina (1625 Johnson Marina Rd)
Bring a friend and get all your questions answered!


Monday May 7, 2007 - 6:30 pm… … … … … … …BDFCA Community Meeting at the Community Center in Ballentine Park. Please make plans to attend. Bring a friend and sign the "Incorporation Petition."

March 28-
The preliminary Financial Numbers are in:
From the tax base going to Richland County alone, we should be able to operate the New Town without instituting a town property tax! This includes a very healthy "cushion." These "conservative" numbers do not even include the additional revenues that will be available through State, Municipal Assn., and other sources. One major issue all along has been whether or not Incorporation can be achieved without a town property tax.

The Proposed Map of the Incorporation Area and a letter were delivered to the Town of Irmo on 03/28 at 10:58 am by Les Tweed. (Click here for legal discussion of the details of the letter.) Attorneys Bruce Holland and Bert Cassell, as well as Howard Duvall (Executive Director of the SC Municipal Association) believe we are on solid legal ground to proceed with incorporation of these borders.

January through March 2007-
Behind the scenes:
Everyone is working diligently to move forward as quickly as possible on the Incorporation of Ballentine. We have the lists of people who have signed up at the last two meetings to help in the matter. Committees are in the process of being formed to get the word out. Please talk to your friends and neighbors that live in this wonderful community. Explain the advantages of the Lake Murray shore of Richland County becoming a town in its own right. Thank you all for your assistance and support. We will keep everyone up-to-date as soon as new information is received on any matters.

Read the most recent Letter from our President for an incorporation update.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to call Les or Joan Tweed at their home phone number at 781-2995.

01/15/07-
The Irmo Town Council will deliberate the proposed boundaries for the Incorporation of the Ballentine area at its regular meeting at the Irmo Town Hall on Tuesday January 16 at 7 PM. Ballentine Residents are encouraged to attend to show support for our efforts.

ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17 at 6 PM, there will be a PUBLIC MEETING at Ballentine Park to offically kick-off our campaign to INCORPORATE BALLENTINE. Please attend to share your ideas, get answers to your questions, and see the proposed boundaries.


MONDAY JANUARY 8 2007........6:30 pm..........BDFCA Quarterly General Membership Meeting at Ballentine Park.
For Agenda Topics (including election of Officers) and more information (Click here)

CONGRATULATIONS TO 2007's OFFICERS
President.....................Les Tweed
Vice-President..............Mike Sloan
Recording Secretary.....Joan Tweed
Treasurer....................Rick Pascal
Media Secretary...........Ken Tallman


For more information please call the BDFCA answering serivce at 351-5100.
PLEASE VISIT OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS PAGE. (Click Here)

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