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, January 3, 2006 at 6:00 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, WSNW Radio & WIRX Radio.
Members of the press present: Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio, Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Hester – Keowee Courier & Andrew Pomykal – 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. Rinehart gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.
Minutes:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Moore abstaining due to not receiving his packet) that the minutes of the December 20, 2005 meeting be adopted as printed.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 3, 2006
Election of Council Chair:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Ables abstaining) that Mr. Ables be elected as Council Chair.
Election of Vice Chair:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Lyles abstaining) that Mr. Lyles be elected as Council Vice Chair.
Election of Chair Pro Tem:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 4 – 0 (Mr. Rinehart abstaining) that Mr. Rinehart be elected as Council Chair Pro Tem.
Hospital Representative:
Mr. Ables appointed Mr. Rabun as the Council Representative on the Hospital Board.
Council of Governments Representative:
Mr. Ables appointed Mr. Lyles as the Council Representative on the SC Appalachian Council of Governments Board.
Annual Meeting Dates & Times:
Council, by consensus, scheduled the regular meetings of Council every first Tuesday at 3:00 pm and every third Tuesday at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC.
The first meeting of the month will be a work session in which no action will be taken unless it is a matter that will not wait until the second meeting of the month.
The second meeting of the month will be an action meeting.
Super Majority Vote:
Mr. Crumpton stated he would like for Council to go to a 2/3 vote on fiscal issues. Mr. Norton, County Attorney, advised that the organizational ordinance would have to be amended before this could take place. This is to be discussed further at the work session of Council before any action is taken.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 3, 2006
Public Comment Session:
It was the consensus of Council that the public comment session be moved to the beginning of the agenda with a thirty (30) minute, three (3) minutes per person time limit. Council also agreed that items discussed would pertain to items on the agenda with Mr. Moore making the observation that he felt that was fair, if the public had something to say that might change their mind regarding an item, Council would know before the vote was taken.
Mr. Ables added there would be no personnel attacks on Council or County employees as had taken place in the past.
Council Committees:
Mr. Ables made the following Council Committee Assignments:
BUDGET, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION:
William S. Rinehart, Chair
Steven R. Moore
Thomas S. Crumpton
Marion E. Lyles
H. Frank Ables, Jr.
ROAD & TRANSPORTATION:
Steven R. Moore, Chair
Marion E. Lyles
H. Frank Ables, Jr.
REAL ESTATE, FACILITIES & LAND MANAGEMENT:
Marion E. Lyles, Chair
Steven R. Moore
Thomas S. Crumpton
LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH & WELFARE:
Thomas S. Crumpton, Chair
Steven R. Moore
William S. Rinehart
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 3, 2006
Council Committees Continued:
PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
H. Frank Ables, Jr., Chair
William S. Rinehart
Marion E. Lyles
The organizational ordinance will have to be amended to reflect the change in Council Committees as stated above.
Vice Chairs of Council Committees:
Mr. Rinehart named Mr. Moore as Vice Chair of the Budget, Finance & Administration Committee.
Mr. Moore named Mr. Lyles as Vice Chair of the Road & Transportation Committee.
Mr. Lyles named Mr. Crumpton as Vice Chair of the Real Estate, Facilities & Land Management Committee.
Mr. Crumpton named Mr. Rinehart as Vice Chair of the law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee.
Mr. Ables named Mr. Lyles as Vice Chair of the Planning & Economic Development Committee.
Parks, Recreation & Tourism:
Mr. Crumpton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that a proposal for a full page advertisement to promote Oconee County in the 2006 Visitors Guide to the Upcountry South Carolina Magazine at a cost of $2,350 Local Accommodations Tax Funds be adopted. (See attached)
Resolution 2006-01:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crumpton, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2006-01, “A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT & PURCHASE A BLANKET FIDELITY BOND FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS & EMPLOYEES” be adopted on first and final reading.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 3, 2006
Aeronautics:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that the Airport apply for a US Smokeless Tobacco Company grant for a Polaris Ranger 6X6 utility vehicle in the approximate amount of $10,000. This grant, if received, does not require any matching funds.
County Administrator’s Report:
Mr. Rabun advised Council he was aware of the problems related to the closing of the convenience centers during the recent Christmas Holidays and informed them he would continue to work to develop an appropriate schedule of Solid Waste facility openings to minimize adverse customer service impact to the public from weekend and major holiday closures.
Mr. Rabun also informed Council he had received a new MIA/POW Flag and it would be placed on a pole at the Courthouse in accordance with proper procedures for displaying such a flag.
Capital Project Sales Tax Commission:
Mr. Ables reminded Council Members of the three County Members that are to be appointed to the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Ken Charles addressed Council regarding Rural Fire.
Mr. Berry Nichols addressed Council regarding the work sessions, the acreage at Fair Play, Jocassee Point Road and Oconee Memorial Hospital.
Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding the Administrator, the budget, the Library and the public comment session
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding the Fire Departments, Solid Waste and the public comment session.
Executive Session:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Council to into executive session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter, the Hayden suit and potential legal action.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting January 3, 2006
Open Session:
There was no action when open session resumed.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 7:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted:
____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council