MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL

Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I   Mr. Thomas S. Crumpton, Jr., District II

Rev. William “Bill” Rinehart, District III   Mr. Marion E. Lyles, District IV

Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr., District V

MINUTES, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

                        The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members, County Administrator Ron Rabun, Clerk to Council &.  Mr. Norton, County Attorney present.  

Press:

                        Members of the press notified (via mail): Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Daily Journal, Anderson Independent, WGOG Radio, WYFF TV, WLOS TV WSNW Radio & WIRX Radio.

                        Members of the press present:  Ray Chandler – Daily Journal, Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier & Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio.

Other Organizations Notified:

                        Also notified were the Oconee County Tax Payers Association, Citizens for Recreation Center and the Oconee County Democratic Party.

Call to Order:

                        Chairman Ables called the meeting to order.

Invocation:

                        Mr. Rinehart gave the invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance:

                        Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.

Minutes:

Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held December 7, 2004 be adopted as printed.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

Council Chair:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Ables abstaining) that Mr. Ables be elected as Chair of Council.

Vice Chair:

                        Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Lyles abstaining) that Mr. Lyles be elected as Vice Chair of Council.

Chair Pro-Tem:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Rinehart abstaining) that Mr. Rinehart be elected as Chair Pro-Tem of Council.

Clerk to Council:

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Opal O. Green be appointed as Clerk to Council.

Council Meeting Dates:

                        It was the consensus of Council that Council meetings continue to be the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM and the third Tuesday of each month at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers.

County Attorney:

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 1 (Mr. Moore voting against) that Mr. Bradley A. Norton be reappointed as County Attorney.

Council Committees:

                        Mr. Ables made the following Council Committee appointments:

            Budget, Finance & Procurement:

                        Mr. Rinehart, Chair

                        Mr. Moore

                        Mr. Crumpton

                        Mr. Lyles

                        Mr. Ables

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

Council Committees Continued:

            Personnel & Administration:

                        Mr. Ables, Chair

                        Mr. Crumpton

                        Mr. Moore

            Road & Transportation:

                        Mr. Moore, Chair

                        Mr. Lyles

                        Mr. Ables

            Real Estate, Facilities & Land Management:

                        Mr. Lyles, Chair

                        Mr. Moore

                        Mr. Crumpton

            Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health & Welfare:

                        Mr. Crumpton, Chair

                        Mr. Moore

                        Mr. Rinehart

            Planning & Economic Development:

                        Mr. Ables, Chair

                        Mr. Rinehart

                        Mr. Lyles     

COG Representative:

            Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Lyles be reappointed as the SC Appalachian Council of Governments Representative.

Hospital Representative:

                        Mr. Ables reappointed Mr. Moore to represent Council on the Oconee Memorial Hospital Board.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

Rural Fire:

                        Upon recommendation of Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that two (2) vehicles loaned to the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department be covered under the County liability insurance policy.

Aeronautics:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached South Carolina Department of Aviation grant in the amount of $6,000 with a local match of $2,000 for repair of the beacon at the airport be ratified and adopted.

Rock Quarry:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Crumpton abstaining due to his initiating this action while Rock Quarry Director) that the bid procedure be waived on a 1998 used Terex 35 ton all wheel drive articulated rock truck which has been used at the quarry and can be purchased for $68,000 saving the County some $216,000.

                        Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Crumpton abstaining due to his initiating this action while Rock Quarry Director) to purchase the 1998 Terex 35 ton all wheel drive articulated rock truck as per attached agenda item summary.

                        Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 1 (Mr. Moore voting against) that the attached transfer in the amount of $71,000 from Rock Quarry Capital Equipment Replacement into Rock Quarry Capital Equipment Expenditure be adopted.

Orthophoto Imagery for IT Department:

                        After a brief discussion regarding the Request for Proposal for orthophoto imagery for the IT Department, this item was tabled and a Budget, Finance & Procurement Committee meeting was scheduled Thursday, January 6, 2005 at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers for further discussion.

Modifications to Existing 911 Communication Center Contracts:

                        After considerable discussion regarding the cost of the 911 Center and equipment as well as funding for modifications to the existing 911 Communications Center Contracts this item was also tabled to be discussed at the Thursday, January 6, 2005 Budget, Finance & Procurement Meeting.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

Used Fixtures at Law Enforcement Center:

                        The request to dispose of used fixtures at the Law Enforcement Center was removed from the agenda.

Ordinance 2004-29:

                        Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-29, “LITTER CONTROL ORDINANCE OF OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA” be adopted on third and final reading.

Ordinance 2004-30:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-30, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2004-05, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE REGULATION OF FALSE FIRE ALARMS TO WHICH OCONEE COUNTY RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND” be adopted on third and final reading.

Ordinance 2004-31:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-31, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE OCONEE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION” be adopted on third and final reading.

Ordinance 2005-01:

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-01, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2004-22, OCONEE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE” be adopted on first reading.

Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department:

                        Mr. Rinehart requested that gravel be placed at the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department.

Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting:

                        Mr. Rabun requested the Planning & Economic Development Committee meet to discuss sewer projects and their impact on economic development.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

Commission Resignations:

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Crumpton’s resignations from the Solid Waste Commission and Sewer Commission be accepted.

Commission Appointments:

                        Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. William Addis be appointed to the Sewer Commission.

                        Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Lamar Bailes be appointed to the Infrastructure Advisory Commission.

Road Department:

                        Mr. Crumpton requested that Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, look into the feasibility of moving the Road Department back to the location on Camp Road.

HAZMAT (Contingency):

                        Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that $18,000 be taken from contingency to replace the HAZMAT Cascade pressure system.

Public Comment Session:

                        Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding the Infrastructure Advisory Commission, the funding of the 911 Center, School funding and the unfair property assessments in the County.

                        Mr. Littleton addressed Council regarding the DAVCO Building, the adoption of the litter ordinance and the fee-in-lieu incentives given to industries in the County.               

Adjourn:

                        Adjourn 8:45 PM

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      January 4, 2005

                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted:

                                                                                                ____________________

                                                                                                Opal O. Green

                                                                                                Clerk to Council