MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL

Mr. Steven R. Moore, 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

 

MINUTES, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

 

                  The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members and the County Attorney present.

 

Press:

 

                  Members of the press notified  (by mail): Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, WGOG Radio, WPEK Radio & Daily Journal, WYFF TV & WLOS TV.

 

                  Members of the press present:  Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Amanda Rylander – Daily Journal & Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio.

 

Call to Order:

 

                  Supervisor-Chair Hughes, who welcomed those present, called the meeting to order present.

 

Invocation:

 

                  Mr. Johns gave the invocation.

 

Minutes:

 

                  Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the February 5, 2002 meeting be adopted as printed.

 

Public Hearing Regarding Resolution 2002-10:

 

                  The first item on the agenda was a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Resolution 2002-10, “A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ISSUANCE BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS (COMPACT AIR PRODUCTS LLC PROJECT) SERIES 2002, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 41, CHAPTER 43, OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA 1976, AS AMENDED, IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT EXCEEDING $3,000,000”.

 

                  Ms. Susie Cornelius presented the attached listing of questions and also asked them verbally.

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                        February 19, 2002

 

Resolution 2002-10 Continued:

 

                  Mr. James Alexander, Economic Development Director answered as many of her questions as he could informing those present that this will most likely be a $6,000,000 investment over the next five years and will save seventy-five jobs that might otherwise move out of the county and the possibly create approximately thirty-two new jobs over the next five years.

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2002-10 (titled above) be adopted on first and final reading.

 

Ordinance 2002-02:

 

                  Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-02, “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A FEE IN LIEU OF TAX AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND COMPACT AIR PRODUCTS, LLC; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PAYMENT OF A FEE IN LIEU OF TAXES” be adopted on second reading.

 

SC Appalachian Council of Governments Report:

 

                  Mr. Robert Strother, Executive Director, SC Appalachian Council of Governments presented the attached COG activity report to Council.  In his report Mr. Strother informed Council that some of COG’s assistance in Oconee County include securing economic and community development grants for Westminster and the Hamilton Career Center; administering the grant for the Newry project; $791,384 to SENIOR Solutions for meals, transportation, home care and other services for Oconee’s elderly population.  (See attached handout)

 

Presentation of Picture:

 

                  Mr. Tommy Crumpton, Rock Crusher Director presented Mrs. Hughes with a picture of the rock quarry to be used in the Supervisor’s Office.

 

Tax Collector:

 

                  Mrs. Mona Towe, Delinquent Tax Collector requested $1,330 contingency funds to go toward the purchase of a file cabinet, however, Mrs. Hughes informed Council some of the Pine Street funds could be used for this purchase.

 

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                 February 19, 2002

 

Water Supply Plan:

 

                  Council deemed it appropriate for Mrs. Hughes to meet with the City of Walhalla and their engineering firm to continue investigating a water supply plan for Walhalla that will benefit the entire county.

 

 2002-01:

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-01, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE OCONEE COUNTY WATER COMMISSION” as amended, be adopted on third and final reading.

 

Solid Waste Grants:

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 5 – 0 that Solid Waste apply for the following grants contingent upon review of the Grants Department:

                  Recycling Center Grant                       $25,000

                  Used Oil Grant                                  $  9,000

                  Household Hazardous Waste Grant              $50,000

                  E-Waste Reduction Grant                   $10,000

 

State Victims Grant Application:

 

                  Upon recommendation of Mrs. Melissa Brown, Budget/Grants Supervisor, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the attached FY 2003 SVAP Grant Application in the amount of $3,580 be adopted.

 

Proclamation:

 

                  Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached Proclamation declaring March 2002 “Purchasing Month” in Oconee County be adopted.

 

Ordinance 2002-04:

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-04, “OCONEE COUNTY SUPPLEMENTAL ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001-02” be adopted on first reading in title only.

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                 February 19, 2002

 

Amendment to January 15, 2002 Minutes:

 

                  Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the January 15, 2002 meeting be amended to include the following two motions inadvertently left out of the printed minutes:

 

                  Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2001-12, “AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN FOR OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND REPEALING OCONEE COUNTY ORDINANCE 91-11” be adopted on third and final reading.

 

                  Upon recommendation of the Personnel & Intergovernmental Committee, Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2001-23, “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 99-15, “AN ORDINANCE SETTING FORTH THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR OCONEE COUNTY” on third and final reading.

 

Tax Refund Request:

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that no action be taken regarding a request for a refund on taxes past the two years already refunded by the Assessor’s Office.

 

Committee Resignation:

 

                  Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Jack Bishop’s resignation as a member of the ATAX Committee be regretfully accepted and he be sent a letter of appreciation.

 

Solid Waste Appointee:

 

                  Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Tommy Crumpton be appointed as the ex-officio representative for the City of Walhalla on the Solid Waste Commission.

 

Aeronautics Appointee:

 

                  Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Wayne Rholetter be reappointed to represent District IV on the Aeronautics Commission

 

 

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                 February 19, 2002

 

Recommendation of Roads & Transportation Committee:

 

                  Council unanimously adopted the following recommendations of the Roads & Transportation Committee:

 

(1)           That Goldie & Associates design a variance on the right-of-way width from 50’ to 47.17’ on one small section of Moonlight Bay Subdivision Roadway

(2)           The owner of the property along a section of North Pond Fork Roadway be allowed to proceed with seeking abandonment of a portion of that roadway through the court system

 

Public Comment Session:

 

                  Mr. William Howiler, Jr. asked that Council study ways to give water to Oconee citizens who need it.

 

                  Mr. Steven Ancona asked that the public comment session be moved to the first on the agenda.

 

                  Mr. B. J. Littleton informed Council he heard Allen Moore’s presentation on the water issue and it was very informative.  

 

    Adjourn:

 

Adjourn     4:35 PM

 

 

                                                      Respectfully Submitted:

 

 

                                                               _____________________________

                                                               Opal O. Green

                                                               Council Clerk