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, May 21, 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, Daily Journal, WYFF TV, WLOS TV.

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

Other Organizations Notified:

Also notified were the Oconee County Tax Payers Association and the Oconee County Democratic Party.

Call to Order:

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

Invocation:

Mr. Ables gave the invocation.

Minutes:

Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 - 0 that the minutes of the May 7, 2002 meeting be adopted as presented.

Flag Used in Council Chambers:

Upon request of Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Jerry Dyar, Veterans Affairs Director informed Council he had done some research regarding the flag used in Council Chambers; flags with gold fringe have been used for ceremonies and inside buildings for some time and he could find nothing prohibiting the use of the gold fringe.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 21, 2002

Veterans Memorial Park:

Mr. Jerry Dyar, Veterans Affair Director, Mr. Ray Head, Chairman, Oconee County Veterans Council and Mr. Philip Piazza presented a plan for a Veterans Memorial Park to be located at the new courthouse.

Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that Council adopt the proposed plan at an approximate cost of $42,500 to be paid for from the courthouse contingency funds.

Probate Judge:

Upon request of Mrs. Sandra Orr, Probate Judge, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the attached transfers for Probate Court be adopted - $2,000 from date processing to operational and $5,000 from court expense to operational.

Emergency Management (Contingency):

Upon request of Mr. Henry Gordon, Emergency Preparedness Director, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that $6,000 be taken from contingency with $4,500 to be used to repair a damaged vehicle and $1,500 be placed in vehicle maintenance for Emergency Management for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Ordinance 2002-09:

Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-09, “THE 2002-03 APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR OCONEE COUNTY” be adopted on second reading.

Educational Task Force:

Mr. Hamilton, Educational Task Force Committee Facilitator presented the attached report to Council in which the committee lists the following goals:

Identify Work Force Needs of Future Employers

Identify Ways to Increase the Percentage of the Population With High School Diplomas or GED

Determine Ways to Enhance Educational Opportunities for the County’s Hispanic Population

Explore Ways to Improve Test Scores

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 21, 2002

Ordinance 2002-10:

Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-10, “AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF NOT EXCEEDING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000) OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2002; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE PROCEEDS SHALL BE EXPENDED; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO” be adopted on first reading.

Redistricting:

Mrs. Hughes read the attached letter from the Justice Department approving the Redistricting Plan for Oconee County.

Number of Council Members:

Mr. Mike Evatt addressed Council requesting that a referendum be placed on the November ballot to let the citizens decide whether the number of Council Members should be changed from five (5) to seven (7) due to the growth of the county.

Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 4 – 0 that Council take action on this issue as it was advertised as discussion only.

Mr. Johns then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 3 – 2 (Mr. Johns, Mr. Hamilton & Mrs. Hughes tie voting in the affirmative to break the tie; Mr. Ables & Mr. Moore voting against) that Council adopt an ordinance requesting the matter be placed on the November ballot.

Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance:

After a brief discussion of the revised proposed sexually oriented business ordinance presented to Council by the Planning Commission Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 3 – 1 (Mr. Hamilton voting against) that the word “morals” be removed from the first paragraph of the proposed ordinance as morals cannot be legislated.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 21, 2002

Roads & Transportation Committee:

The Council Clerk informed Council she had received a letter requesting the county quitclaim a right-of-way back to the landowner on Gnats Hollow Road. This request was referred to the Roads & Transportation Committee for a recommendation.

Mrs. Hughes referred a proposal for a joint parking lot to be used by the county and the City of Walhalla to the Roads & Transportation Committee for a recommendation.

Commerce Center:

Mr. Norton, County Attorney, presented Council with proposed Restrictive Covenants for the Oconee County Commerce Center and asked the Council to be prepared to discuss them at the June 4, 2002 meeting.

Roads & Transportation Committee Meeting:

Mr. Ables scheduled a Roads & Transportation Committee meeting Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at 5:00 PM.

Public Comment Session:

Mr. Brian Seal addressed Council regarding the proposed sexually oriented business ordinance.

Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding recent actions of the Council.

Change Order for Road Paving Contract:

Council did not approve a change order in the amount of $80,000 for the current road-paving contract.

Adjourn:

Adjourn 4:30 PM

Respectfully Submitted:

_____________________________

Opal O. Green

Council Clerk