Battle lines are drawn, and next Tuesday’s (Dec. 4) election for a new member to the Six Mile Rural Fire District board of trustees could provide more fireworks than a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Only one seat is up for election n that of the late Thelma Clardy, who died last month n but the seat represents the swing vote on the five-member board as the Town of Six Mile, whose fire department provides protection to the rural areas around the town, wrestles with Pickens County Council over funds derived from the annual fee charges to those who live outside the town limits.

Board member F.M. Caddell, who is not up for election until next year, has been at the center of controversy after calling for more oversight on how the Town of Six Mile spends money provided by rural customers of the fire district.

In October, board members, Six Mile town officials and Pickens County Council members agreed to a “cooling off” period after tempers reached a boiling point in several public meetings, including a County Council meeting in October.

Mrs. Clardy, who had originally replaced the late Joseph Christ when he passed away early this year, stood up at the Council meeting in defense of herself after Six Mile Fire Chief Ronnie Duncan had questioned some of her previous actions.

She went to the hospital the next day, was diagnosed with cancer, and died last month after a short battle with colon cancer.

Six Mile officials and some rural volunteers had called for Caddell’s resignation after County Council refused to allow the town to use rural fees to pay, among other things, half the salary of the Town Clerk, legal fees and audit fees, saying such things are not related to rural fire protection.

Since an October meetings of the Rural Fire Board degenerated into chaos in the final minutes, Caddell has taken a low-key approach to the issues.

The upcoming election is no exception to that approach, although both sides of the issue are expected to nominate candidates on the day of the election.

Those who live inside the town limits of Six Mile are not eligible to serve on the rural board, nor are they eligible to vote. The election itself, however, will be held at Six Mile Town Hall beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“I’ve heard there are going to be several candidates nominated,” Caddell said, “but I don’t know who all of them will be. The nominations will be put forth the day f the election.”

Six other elections will be held among the 12 rural fire districts in the county, while one (The Vineyards) is scheduled for Thursday of this week (November 29) and one (Dacusville) is scheduled for December 6.

In elections already held: