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, February 1, 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.
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. 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 4 – 0 (Mr. Rinehart abstaining) that the minutes of the regular meeting held January 18, 2005 be adopted as printed.
Rural Fire:
(Physicals):
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that the bid for physicals for the Oconee County Rural Fire volunteer firefighters be awarded to Oconee Family Practice at a total cost of $29,856. (See attached bid)
(Cascade System):
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that the earlier motion that $18,000 be taken from contingency and placed in the HAZMAT account be rescinded.
Mr. Rinehart then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that $18,000 be taken from contingency for replacement of the Cascade System for Rural Fire.
Oconee Community Theater & Blue Ridge Arts Council:
It was the consensus of Council to wait until the Supplemental Budget to consider the request of $5,000 for the Summer Youth Program and any other requests for direct aid.
Ordinance 2005-01:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-01, “OCONEE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE” be adopted on third and final reading.
Ordinance 2005-02:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 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 second reading.
Ordinance 2005-04:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-04, “AN ORDINANCE TO RESCIND ORDINANCE 97-14 AND ALL SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS THERETO” be adopted on second reading.
Department of Transportation Agreement:
Mr. Norton, County Attorney, informed Council that the Federal Government has made several changes to the SCDOT Agreement whereby they will reimburse Oconee County $3,095,000 to assist in the design of the sewer project, acquisition of property and construction of a wastewater treatment plant and collector lines to serve the Welcome Center. He further informed Council some of the changes were minor, however, some of them were substantive. Mr. Norton asked Council to review the agreement and be prepared to discuss it at the next Council Meeting.
Council then directed Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, to contact Congressman Barrett to expedite this matter.
Solid Waste:
To Mr. Moore’s inquiry, Council was informed that the County received $428,752 of the Tri County Regional Landfill funding in December and these funds were placed in the Solid Waste Budget.
Mr. Norton also informed Council that all three counties will have to approve the firm to appraise the property before it can be placed on the market.
Heritage Corridor:
Mr. Moore asked that the Administrative Committee make a recommendation regarding a representative on the Heritage Corridor Board. Mr. Moore is currently representing County Council, but feels it would be more appropriate to have a representative with more time to attend the meetings.
Road & Transportation Meet:
The Road & Transportation Committee scheduled a meeting Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers.
Recreation Committee:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Phil Shirley be appointed to represent District III on the Recreation Committee.
1% Funding:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that the 1% funding be disbursed by February 15, 2005 or Council will disburse the funds under the strictest interpretation of the state statute. Further, Council instructed Mr. Rabun to expedite this matter.
LEC Meeting:
Mr. Crumpton scheduled a meeting of the Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 12:30 PM in Council Chambers.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Larry Linson addressed Council regarding the public hearings for companies requesting fee-in-lieu of taxes.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding recycling, job freeze for County employees, DAVCO Building and other County activities.
Mr. Steve Sokol addressed Council regarding their election, planning and economic development.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 7:55 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council