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
The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members except Mr. Rinehart present. County Administrator Ron Rabun, Clerk to Council &. Mr. Norton, County Attorney were also 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:
Invocation:
Mr. Crumpton gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.
Minutes:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held January 4, 2005 be adopted as printed.
Minutes Continued:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 3 – 0 (Mr. Moore abstaining due to his not being present) that the minutes of the special meeting held January 6, 2005 be adopted as printed.
Resolution 2005-02:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 3 – 0 (Mr. Crumpton abstaining) that Resolution 2005-02, “A RESOLUTION HONORING THOMAS S. CRUMPTON, JR.” be adopted on first and final reading. Mr. Ables presented this resolution to Mr. Crumpton.
Resolution 2005-03:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2005-03, “A RESOLUTION HONORING HOYT ORR” be adopted on first and final reading. Mr. Ables presented this resolution to Mr. Orr.
Resolution 2005-04:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2005-04, “A RESOLUTION HONORING KENNETH E. JOHNS, JR.” be adopted on first and final reading. Mr. Ables presented this resolution to Mr. Johns.
Animal Control (Contingency):
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that $600 be taken from contingency to construct an auxiliary building at the Animal Shelter to house the freezers.
Lunney Museum:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the attached request for placement of a permanent historical sign at the Lunney Museum be referred to the City of Seneca for review and recommendation.
Law Enforcement Center:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the used equipment from the Law Enforcement Center on the attached listing be offered to the Rescue Squads and Fire Departments on a first come, first served basis before being placed on the County auction listing.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 18, 2005
Emergency Management:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that the bid for a remote operating vehicle for Emergency Management be awarded to SEABOTIX at a cost of $44,674 which includes training and the first year maintenance to be paid for through a Homeland Security Grant. The County will have to pay maintenance after the first year.
Rural Fire (Fair Play Fire Department):
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that $1,100 in the Rural Fire FEMA line item be used as the County match for a Forestry Grant for the Fair Play Fire Department.
(Westminster Fire Department):
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that $5,285 in the Rural fire FEMA line item be used as a match for a FEMA Grant for the Westminster Fire Department.
Solid Waste:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Solid Waste apply for a Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) Grant in the amount of $49,180 with the County match of $12,000 to come from paper recycling revenues be adopted.
Engelhard Agreement:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the attached Memorandum of Agreement by and between Oconee County and Engelhard Corporation for a joint study to determine if the Seneca Landfill can support commercial levels of methane production be adopted at a cost to the County of between $20,000 and $30,000.
Ordinance 2005-01:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-01, “OCONEE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE” be adopted on second reading.
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Moore, approved 4 – 0 that all sections of the ordinance include all animals.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 18, 2005
Ordinance 2005-02:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-02, “AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE FILING & PAYMENT OF TAXES FOR PERSONS SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OR NATIONAL GUARD IN HAZARDOUS DUTY ZONES” be adopted on first reading.
Ordinance 2005-03:
By consensus of Council, Ordinance 2005-03, “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSES” was referred to the Budget, Finance & Procurement Committee for further study and recommendation.
Ordinance 2005-04:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-04, “AN ORDINANCE REVOKING OCONEE COUNTY ORDINANCE 97-14 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS THERETO” be adopted on first reading.
Rock Quarry (Contingency):
Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, informed Council that if there were no objections, the County was going to continue pursuit of acquiring a recycling rock plant with generator at a cost of $4,000, which County employees had previously evaluated to be a sound investment for the Rock Quarry. There were no objections from Council.
Administrator Report:
Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, informed Council he would be meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration to discuss airport needs the next day, he would also be meeting in the near future with the Oconee Memorial Hospital Administration, be visiting the parks, meeting with Friends of Lake Keowee and also reminded the Council Members of the Valenite Groundbreaking to be held January 25, 2005.
Road & Transportation Meet:
The Oconee County Road & Transportation Committee scheduled a meeting Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers to discuss several roadway issues.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 18, 2005
Public Comment Session:
Ms. Becky Ballenger addressed Council regarding the fire trucks that were purchased by the County and did not operate correctly and the proposed business license ordinance.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding the brickwork on the entrance of the Courthouse, the fact that the Road Department should have never been moved to the DAVCO Building, he proposed four ten hour work days for employees. Mr. Littleton also addressed the proposed business license ordinance and the personnel policies.
Adjourn:
Adjourn 4:30 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council