By Betsy Finklea
Dillon County Councilmen Randy Goings and Bobby Moody were recognized for their service at the December meeting of the Dillon County Council.
Chairman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., said the council would miss their valuable input.
Councilman Randy Goings made some comments. Goings said it has been good working with the council. He said there had been ups and downs, but it was all in the course of county business.
Goings said he would like to thank the constituents of District One for the opportunity to serve. He said the constituents saw fit that he would not come back, and he appreciates that.
Goings then spoke briefly about something he said he did not appreciate. Goings said he knew what he did and how he worked. He said that a councilman has only one vote and cannot do anything without three more votes. Goings said that it got back to him that someone said that he hadn’t done anything and that was some of what brought him down. Goings said he thought about it and looked at the way he voted. He said all a councilman can do is vote.
Goings said he remembered when he came on council that he was against the spec building. He said there was no way that he was going to spend $2 million on a building that was going to possibly sit two or more years. He said he went home, and God kept it on his mind. He said God asked him if he was aware of what he said. Goings said when he campaigned he said he wanted to bring jobs, but he was against the spec building. He said the spec building was being used as an instrument to bring jobs.
When Goings came to the next meeting, he had changed his thoughts altogether and was for the spec building.
Goings believes that this had a lot to do with bringing in Wyman-Gordon. He said we never know when and how God works, but after he does it we can see what he does. He said for a long time Dillon County had I-95, rail, and gas and now it happens. He said he was glad God did it in his time on council.
He said he voted to bring in over 4,500 new jobs and with the coming of the inland port in the next four years there might be that many more.
Goings said he took a lot of heat for voting for the spec building. He said there were a lot of people who didn’t like it. He said on anything worth having you are going to have to spend something, and they should have done that 40 or 50 years ago.        
Goings said they did away with the slogan, “Quietly Progressive”, and got the new slogan, “Alive on 95.” He said he was glad that they did that.
Goings is also proud that they purchased Gordon Park and made improvements there. He said he spent a lot of time on this project and that it is one of the most used parks for black kids in Dillon County.
Goings said about a year ago he received a nasty letter that said “You are a Judas. You sold out.” Goings said he wanted his constituents to know that he didn’t sell out. He said this person was questioning his integrity and if a man can’t stand on his integrity, what can he stand on.
Goings said no way—not now and not then—would he ever accept money for his vote. He said if he was guilty of anything, it was working too hard on the park, and he hoped the next councilman would take the ball and move forward with it. He thanked his fellow councilmen for allowing him to see through a small lifelong dream.
Goings bid the council Godspeed and said he would continue to monitor the affairs of the county.
Finklea presented Goings a plaque on behalf of council and stated that Goings was a good Christian man, and he appreciated what he had done.
Bobby Moody, who has served since 2001, said when he came on council, the county had no money. “We’ve come a long way,” said Moody. He said he would allow his record to speak for itself.
Moody spoke briefly about the improvements to fire protection.  
He said he hopes the county continues to move forward.
Finklea presented Moody his plaque speaking about his vast knowledge of county affairs.
Goings’ and Moody’s terms expire on December 31, 2016.