MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I Mr. Thomas S. Crumpton, Jr., District II
Rev. William S. “Bill” Rinehart, District III Mr. Marion E. Lyles, District IV
Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr., District V
The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, November 15, 2005 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 – Anderson Independent, Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier & Brett McLaughlin – Daily Journal.
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. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held October 18, 2005 be adopted as printed.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 15, 2005
Executive Session:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter.
Open Session:
When open session resumed, there was no action by Council regarding the executive session.
Resolution 2005-18:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 3 – 1 (Mr. Moore voting against) that Resolution 2005-18, “A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF DEDICATION, HARD WORK & SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT TO MRS. PHYLLIS E. LOMBARD” be adopted on first and final reading.
Resolution 2005-19:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2005-19, “A RESOLUTION HONORING MS. LINDA C. ELLIOTT, TRI COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE” upon her retirement be adopted on first and final reading.
Parks, Recreation & Tourism (South Cove):
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the bid for the design/build of a bathhouse at South Cove County Park be awarded to Durham-Greene with three percent of guaranteed maximum construction cost and ten percent of actual construction costs. There is $130,000 in the budget for this bathhouse and during the interview process; representatives of Durham Greene stated this would be an adequate amount for construction of the bathhouse. (See attached bid sheet)
FEMA Grant:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that a Federal Emergency Management Agency Grant in the amount of $190,028 with a local match of $10,001 to the Corinth-Shiloh Fire Department be adopted. (See attachment)
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 15, 2005
Easement/City of Westminster:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the attached request for an easement between Oconee County and the City of Westminster for the installation of a new water line on Chau Ram Park property be adopted contingent upon the County Attorney’s approval of the easement document. (See attached information)
Library Board Appointees:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the following Library Board appointments be made:
John Adams, P. O. Box 136, Mt. Rest, SC 19664 – term beginning immediately and expiring June 30, 2009.
Jody Gaulin, 14035 Richardson Drive, Seneca, SC 29678 – term beginning immediately and expiring June 30, 2009.
Hector Torres, 1427 W. Main St., West Union, SC 29696 – term beginning immediately and expiring June 30, 2007.
Frank Montague, 202 Greenbriar Drive, Seneca, SC 29678 – term beginning immediately and expiring June 30, 2009.
Reappointment of Raymond Morrison, 106 Riley Street, Westminster, SC 29693 – term beginning immediately and expiring June 30, 2009.
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 3 – 0 (Mr. Crumpton abstaining due to Ms. Baumgarner being a stepdaughter) that Carol Baumgarner, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC be reappointed to the Library Board with her term commencing immediately and expiring June 30, 2009.
Rural Fire Commission Appointees:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that Ronnie Wood be appointed to represent Stations 13, 15 & 8 on the Rural Fire Commission.
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 that Stan Brewer be appointed to represent Stations 4, 9 & 10 on the Rural Fire Commission.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 15, 2005
Council Committee Reports:
Mr. Moore, Chair, Road & Transportation Committee informed Council the committee met prior to the Council Meeting and the committee is in the process of establishing new guidelines for subdivisions and roads in general.
Mr. Crumpton, Chair, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee, informed Council the committee received an update on Rural Fire Ordinance.
Mr. Lyles, Chair, Real Estate, Facilities & Land Management Committee, informed Council the committee had approved the concept of a design/build for the Animal Control Facility pending the design and location.
Administrator’s Report:
Mr. Rabun reported to Council that he would be attending the Westminster City Council Meeting that night to present them with a framed picture of the SWAG Agreement signing.
Mr. Rabun also informed Council of the blood drive on November 21, 2005, the KOBA clean up on Saturday, November 19, 2005 and the meeting with Home Builders Association on Thursday, November 17, 2005.
Mr. Rabun also addressed the request of the City of Seneca to take over the Lunney Museum and informed Council he had met with the Winter Storm Response Team as we are entering the winter season.
Mr. Rabun further informed Council of the savings on electricity only for the month of October 2005 versus October 2004:
Pine Street Complex 35% savings
Road Department 31% savings
The County has also used 1,000 gallons less vehicle gas this October versus last October.
Council Retreat:
Mr. Ables informed the public that at their recent retreat Council had discussed having one meeting a month as a work session to discuss items to be acted on by Council and also to move the public comment session to the top of the agenda.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 15, 2005
Public Comment Session:
Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding problems at the Library with the four day work week, the computers at the Library being overloaded, her FOI request, the cancellation of the November 1,2005 Council Meeting, the budget and the County Administrator.
Mr. Steve Sokol addressed Council regarding economic development in the County, support for museums in the County and the County flag.
Mr. Berry Nichols addressed Council regarding the four day work week and savings, tar & gravel roadways and roadways in general.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding taxes, the federal government, the Planning Commission Meeting and the County Administrator.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 4:20 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council