MEMBERS,
OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Tim O. Hall, III,
District I Mr. Kenneth E. Johns, Jr.,
District II
Mr. Harry R. Hamilton,
District III Mr. Marion E. Lyles,
District IV
Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr.,
District V
The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members present. Mr. Memminger Wiggins, Acting County Attorney was also present.
Press:
Members of the press notified (by mail): Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, WGOG Radio, WPEK Radio & Daily Journal.
Members of the press present: Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio,
Amanda Rylander – Daily Journal & Dave Williams – Anderson Independent.
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to
order by Supervisor-Chair Hughes.
Invocation:
Mr. Hamilton gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Hall made a motion,
seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the special meeting
held June 12, 2001 be amended to reflect the motion to remove the Airport
Commission Chairman from the Infrastructure Task Force was an attempt to reduce
the size of the task forces and the June 19, 2001 minutes be amended to reflect
the absence of Mr. Hall & Mr. Lyles.
Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the June 12, 2001 meeting and the minutes of the June 19, 2001 meeting be adopted as amended and the minutes of the special meeting held June 26, 2001 be adopted as printed.
Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance 2001-04:
The next item on the agenda was a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Ordinance 2001-04, “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 4.4.13 OF ORDINANCE 99-14, OCONEE COUNTY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ORDINANCE”.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance 2001-04
Continued:
There was no one present with written or oral comments regarding this ordinance.
Adoption of Ordinance 2001-04:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2001-04, “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 4.4.13 OF ORDINANCE 99-14, OCONEE COUNTY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ORDINANCE” be adopted on third and final reading.
Oconee Advanced Leadership Program (Contingency):
Mr. Steve Sokol presented the attached Oconee Advanced Leadership Program, designed to develop civic leaders, to Council. After a brief discussion in which Supervisor Hughes and Mr. Sokol stated they would be glad to be a part of this program, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 5 – 0 that the program be adopted on a trial basis and $1130 be taken from contingency to fund the program.
Mr. Hall asked the Supervisor to recommend nominees to serve on an AD HOC Committee regarding this program.
Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare &
Services Meet:
Discussion regarding the decision of the Rural Fire Commission concerning delivery delay of a new pumper truck to the Keowee Key Fire Department was removed from the agenda and Mr. Johns, Chair, LEC Committee informed those present there would be a meeting of the Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee Thursday, July 12, 2001 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers to discuss this matter.
Newry Bids:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Steve Goldie, Goldie & Associates, Mrs. Judy Romano, SC Appalachian Council of Governments & Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 5 – 0 that, contingent upon approval of the SC Department of Commerce, the bid for the water and sewer system in Newry be awarded to Kris Mechanical who was low bid $1,326,135. (See attached bid sheet)
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
Safety Shoe Bids for Employees:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Kay Olbon, Human Resources Director & Ms. Dillard, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the bid for safety shoes for county employees be awarded to Iron Age Corporation who was low bid at $17,000 for approximate quantities. (See attached bid sheet)
Refueler Truck for Airport (Contingency):
Upon recommendation of Mr. Robert Banks, Airport Manager & Ms. Dillard, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns that $420 be taken from contingency to cover the shortfall in the budgeted amount and the bid for a refueler (Jet A) truck for the airport be awarded to Bosserman Aviation Ea, Inc. who was low bid at $50,300.
However, after discussion in which some of the Council Members did not feel this was wise due to Bosserman Aviation bidding a 1995 F800 at a cost of $52,000 and selling that truck and now offering a 1995 Ford F800 truck with 177,000 miles at a cost of $50,300 in its place Mr. Lyles withdrew his motion and Mr. Johns withdrew his second. (See attached bid sheet)
Mr. Lyles then made a motion that the airport lease a truck for six months and continue to research bids for a truck. However, after further discussion this motion was also rescinded.
Mr. Lyles, then upon recommendation of Mr. Banks, made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the bid be tabled and a recommendation be made by the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee regarding the matter.
Planning Grant:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Melissa Brown, Budget/Grants Supervisor, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 5 – 0 that the attached 2000 Regional Planning Grant through the SC Community Development Block Grant Program in the amount of $50,000 be adopted.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
SC Department of Commerce Grants:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Tom Hendricks, Planning Director, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns that the two attached SC Department of Commerce Grant Applications in the total amount of $11,113,152 for sewer for an I-85 Industrial Park and a Richland Creek Gravity Sewer be adopted.
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 5 – 0 that the motion be amended to make the I-85 project top priority.
The motion, as amended, was then adopted 5 – 0.
Resolutions 2001-25 & 2001-26:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2001-25, “A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO MRS. JEAN PAYNE” & Resolution 2001-26, “A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO MR. JOE TREADWAY be adopted on first and final reading.
ATAX Committee Appointee:
Upon recommendation of Supervisor Hughes, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Bill McCollum be appointed to the ATAX Committee.
Oconee County as Water Authority:
To Mr. Hall’s inquiry, Mrs. Hughes informed Council that Mr. Theodore Dubose’s opinion is that Oconee County is within its legal rights to establish a water authority. Mr. Hall then asked Mrs. Hughes to secure the steps Oconee County needs to take to make this a reality.
Task Force Appointees:
Upon recommendation of the Soil & Water Conservation, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Alexander P. “Rex” Ramsay be appointed to the Planning Task Force for economic development.
Upon recommendation of the SC Appalachian Council of Governments, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 5 – 0 that Steve Pelissier be appointed to the Economic Development Task Force for economic development.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
Correspondence Regarding Electricity for Sewer
Commission:
Mrs. Hughes asked Council to review the correspondence received regarding the proposed termination of Blue Ridge Electric service to the Oconee County Sewer Commission.
Task Force Appointee:
Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Buddy Herring’s appointment to the Educational Task Force be confirmed.
City of Seneca Request:
Mrs. Hughes informed Council the request from the City of Seneca to place a water line through South Cove Park would not be acted on at the present time at the request of the city.
Task Force Appointee:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Robert Newmark’s appointment to the Economic Development Task Force be confirmed.
COG Executive Committee:
Mr. Hall congratulated Mr. Lyles on his appointment to the SC Appalachian Council of Governments Executive Committee.
Commission Resignation:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Hamilton, Council accepted Mr. Greg Wales’ resignation from the Parks & Recreation Commission.
Land for Rock Crusher:
Council unanimously adopted the recommendation of the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee to purchase 1.02 acres of property for use at the Rock Crusher.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
Recommendations of the Roads & Transportation
Committee:
Council unanimously adopted the recommendations to the Roads & Transportation Committee as follows:
The County adopt the concept of accepting Scatterwood Subdivision and pave it in a timely manner contingent upon a motion written by the County Attorney.
Each of the Roads & Transportation Committee members look at Knox Camp Ground Road before the July 17, 2001 Council Meeting.
The attached change order to add Timberlake to Garret’s contract be adopted.
Bond Rating:
Mrs. Hughes informed those present that the county had just gone through a credit review and received a very good rating which will save the county an estimated $80,000 on the courthouse bonds.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Bill Dennis addressed Council regarding his resubmitting his comments concerning the proposed Subdivision Regulations Ordinance to the Planning Commission.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding the asset of Pine Street to the county; the Advanced Leadership Program; the possibility of the steel toed shoes hurting the employees feet; his disappointment over the vote for the truck for the Airport and the new scale house at Rock Crusher.
Executive Session:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing a contractual matter.
Open Session:
When open session resumed, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that $500 be taken from land acquisition for earnest money on a tract of land near the Law Enforcement Center.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 10, 2001
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 9:00 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________
Opal O. Green
Council Clerk