Irmo, SC (WLTX) - The Town of Irmo is once again preparing for their annual Okra Strut festival coming up in September.
"Each year the commission does a great job of putting that festival on, so that's our main concern and our main drive," says Kirk Luther, Chair of the Okra Strut Commission.
Luther says he is looking forward to this year's festival that brings thousands of people to the town of Irmo. However, he is concerned about the amount of input the town council has over the project.
"The ordinance clearly states that the commission is in charge of the festival and makes the decisions for the festival," says Luther.
Councilwoman Kathy Condom says this year the council is stepping in to control the finances, a role previously taken on by the commission.
"The Okra Strut had some money but a lot of it came from the general fund," says Condom. "That's the public's money and we wanted the accounting to match all the accounting that the town does which is transparent."
Back in January Richland Deputies began investigating the possible mismanagement of funds from the festival.
Condom says the town will control the funding until the investigation wraps up. Until then there is the question of hiring a new administrator for the Okra Strut commission.
"It get's pretty hectic beginning around this time through the end of September, so an administrator we feel is needed," says Luther. "We've been asking for one since January and for whatever reason we're not getting our way."
The Okra Strut administrator is the only paid position in the group and the commission is working on a short-list of names to give to council for that role.
Councilwoman Condom says she just wants this year's festival to be a success.
"We're behind them, we want them to succeed and we'll do whatever we can to make that possible," says Condom.
The Commission expects to have a name for the administrator position to give to council in the next few weeks. They plan to come together again on May 11th.
