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, October 4, 2005 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members 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: Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio, Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier & Ray Chandler – Daily Journal. There were also members of the press present from FOX News and WSPA TV.
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. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held September 20, 2005 be adopted as printed.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting October 4, 2005
Upstate Alliance Briefing:
Mr. Hal Johnson, President/CEO & Mr. Jody Bryson, Vice President of Industrial Relations & Public Relations, Upstate Alliance presented Council with an overview of Upstate Alliance. Mr. Johnson informed Council the vision of Upstate Alliance is: “To position and market the Upstate South Carolina Region to successfully compete for business investment globally” and the mission of the Upstate Alliance is: “Market the Upstate SC Region to attract business investment, Support economic development efforts of the Upstate Alliance investors & Build cohesive relationships among the region’s private and public sectors”.
The focus for 2006 will be: automotive, advanced materials, life sciences, plastics/chemicals and logistics.
See attached information regarding Upstate Alliance.
ATAX Grants:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $14,500 to Oconee Community Theater for refurbishment of the existing parking lot be adopted.
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $8,000 to the Walhalla Civic Auditorium for artist fees be adopted.
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $6,291 to the Blue Ridge Arts Council for replacement of HVAC system be adopted.
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $7,200 to the Walhalla Merchant’s Association for the Oktoberfest be adopted.
ATAX Resignation:
Mr. Rabun informed Council that Ms. Ansley Fraser would be resigning from the ATAX Committee effective December 31, 2005.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting October 4, 2005
HAZMAT Grant:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that the attached application for a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant in the amount of $7,400 with an in-kind match be adopted. This is an 80% federal/20% in-kind match grant for equipment.
Homeland Security Grant:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached application for a Homeland Security Assistance Grant in the amount of $50,000 for equipment be adopted.
Oktoberfest:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 1 (Mr. Ables voting against) that $1,500 be given to the 2005 Oktoberfest and City of Walhalla be forwarded a letter requesting that they apply for ATAX funds in the future.
Apple Festival:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 1 (Mr. Ables voting against) that $1,500 be given to the 2005 SC Apple Festival and a letter be forwarded to them requesting that they apply for ATAX funds in the future.
Ordinance 2005-15:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2005-15, “AN ORDINANCE REPLACING ORDINANCE 79-19 AND ORDINANCE 95-3, AN ORDINANCE REORGANIZING THE OCONEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND PROVIDING FOR THE FUNCTION, POWERS, AND DUTIES THEREOF” be adopted on second reading.
Ordinance 2005-16:
Ordinance 2005-16, “AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A UNIFORM CHARGE OF $15.00 FOR MOTORIZED VEHICLE USERS OF THE COUNTY ROADS OF OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA” was removed from the agenda as it was the consensus of the Budget, Finance & Procurement Committee not to recommend adoption of the ordinance to Council.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting October 4, 2005
Resolution 2005-17:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2005-17, “A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE THE PROJECT PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND WESTMINSTER MANUFACTURING LLC (FORMERLY NAMED DUNLOP SLAZENGER MANUFACTURING LLC. WHICH WAS SUCCESSOR TO DUNLOP MAXFLI SPORTS CORPORATION, THE ORIGINAL LEASE PARTY) DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 1999 AND THE PAYMENT OF ALL AMOUNTS DUE PURSUANT TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT” be adopted on first and final reading.
Administrator’s Report:
Mr. Rabun informed Council that Standard & Poor’s had just given Oconee County an A+ rating.
Mr. Rabun presented a framed picture of the signing of the SWAG Agreement to Council.
Mr. Rabun also informed those present that the projected date for a Council retreat is October 26 & 27 at the Duke Power World of Energy.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Berry Nichols expressed his appreciation to Council for not adopting the $15.00 vehicle fee for road maintenance.
Mr. Wayne McCall addressed Council asking that they give the citizens of the County a tax break.
Mr. Bob Adams addressed Council regarding saving funds.
Mr. Steve Sokol addressed Council regarding the County flag and the fact that Oconee is a Creek word, not a Cherokee word.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding different activities in the County.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 8:15 pm.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting October 4, 2005
Respectfully Submitted:
____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council