MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I Mr. Thomas S. Crumpton, District II
Mr. William “Bill” Rinehart, District III Mr. Marion E. Lyles, District IV
Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr., District V
The Oconee County Council held a special meeting Wednesday, February 24, 2005 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers with all Council Members, Mr. Rabun, County Administrator, Julie Mahon, County Attorney & the Clerk to Council were also present.
Press:
Members of the press notified (via facsimile): Daily Journal, Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, Greenville News, WGOG Radio, WYFF TV & WLOS TV.
Members of the press present: Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Ray Chandler – Daily Journal, Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio & Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier.
Mr. Ables called the meeting to order.
Invocation:
Mr. Rinehart gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mr. Lyles led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.
Recess:
Mr. Ables then explained to those present that Mr. Stoudemire, Attorney for the City of Walhalla, would be bringing the final copy of the SWAG Agreement and recessed the meeting awaiting his arrival.
SWAG Agreement:
Ms. Mahon then explained to Council the changes in the SWAG agreement as noted in Section 5.02: The rates paid by the users of sewer in the Cities of Seneca, Westminster and Walhalla include the payment for bonded indebtedness of improvements made to the Coneross Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1996 originally in the sum of approximately $8,200,000. The payments on the indebtedness is $609,947 annually. These improvements were made primarily to increase industrial capacity of the wastewater treatment facility. The County agrees that it will assume the annual payments and the Cities agree that the amounts now paid toward the bonded indebtedness will only be used by the Commission for capital upgrades and expansion of wastewater treatment facilities and sewer conveyance systems. Also, the definition of depreciation is the cost of the declining value and need for future replacement or refurbishment of the facilities, based on the expected life of the facilities. Depreciation shall be based on the actual cost of the new system and shall be funded at in accordance with standard accounting practices. Collection systems shall be depreciated over twenty (20) years, or as shall be determined based on standard depreciation schedules for wastewater treatment facilities.
Upon inquiry from Mr. Moore, Ms. Mahon assured Council this agreement does not cause the County to give up veto power over property to be annexed by the Cities, however, there are state laws that govern annexation.
The other Council Members expressed support for the SWAG Agreement and Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 1 (Mr. Moore voting against) that the SWAG Agreement be adopted.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 4:00 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
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Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council