MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I Mr. Kenneth E. Johns, Jr., District II
Rev. William “Bill”
Rinehart, District III Mr. Marion E.
Lyles, District IV
Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr.,
District V
The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, March 18, 2003 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 (via mail): Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Daily Journal, Anderson Independent, WGOG Radio, WYFF TV & WLOS TV.
Members of the press present: Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio, Dave Williams –
Anderson Independent & Ray Chandler – Daily Journal.
Other Organizations Notified:
Also notified were the Oconee County Tax Payers Association and the Oconee County Democratic Party.
Call to Order:
Invocation:
Mr. Rinehart gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded
by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held March
4, 2003 be adopted as printed.
Veterans Administration:
Mr. Jerry Dyar, Veterans Affairs Director & Mr. Bobby Poole, Chairman, Veterans Council expressed their appreciation to Council for the Secretarial position proposed in the Supplemental Appropriations Ordinance.
Award:
Mr. Brandon Grace, Mr. Michael Cunningham, Assistant Anderson Council Administrator and Mr. Michael Miller presented Council with an award for the cooperation and good working relationship in the joint Anderson-Oconee forensic and drug laboratory.
Executive Session:
Mrs. Hughes made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel issues.
Open Session:
When open session resumed, there was nothing to report regarding the executive session.
Resolution 2003-06:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2003-06, “A RESOLUTION FOR SENIOR SOLUTIONS” be adopted on first and final reading.
Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance 2003-01:
At this time, Council held a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments regarding the proposed supplemental ordinance.
Ms. Susie Cornelius presented the attached questions to Council in written form and then asked them verbally.
Council Members requested that Ms. Cornelius inquiry “Why is this Council beginning non-emergency new expense items before setting aside additional funds for last year’s budgeted items?” be more specific.
To Ms. Cornelius’ inquiry “Why did this Council fund $70,000 for a staffing study that does not consider the possibility of a change in government by referendum which was approved by Council?” Council indicated they did not feel the positions funded would have any bearing whether we had a Supervisor or an Administrator.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting March 18, 2003
Public Hearing Continued:
To Ms. Cornelius’ inquiry “Why does County Management select department heads for promotion to direct entire areas of County government when the selected persons are reported to lack proficiency in management?” Mrs. Hughes informed those present this was her decision.
After the public hearing closed, Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-01, “2002-03 OCONEE COUNTY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE” be adopted on third and final reading.
Red Cross (Contingency):
Upon request of Ms. Kathy Rogers, Executive Director, American Red Cross, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that $5,000 be taken from contingency and granted to Red Cross for day to day operations.
Oconee AID (Contingency):
Upon request of Ms. Joyce Morgan, Director, Oconee AID, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that $8,000 be taken from contingency and granted to Oconee AID.
Parks:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Vickie Satterfield, Parks Director, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that $2815 in line item 010 202 30905 be granted to Fair-Oak Youth Center, Inc. (See attachment)
Solid Waste:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Robert Banks, Public Works Director & Ms. Melissa Grant, Solid Waste Director, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that a budget adjustment authorization in the amount of $28,000 for a methane well corrective action plan at the Seneca Landfill be adopted. (See attached request)
Also, upon recommendation of Mr. Banks & Ms. Grant, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that $28,000 of the closure/post closure funds be utilized for the installation of a Subtitle D cap on Phase II of the Seneca Landfill. A break down of the expenditures is: $23,500 for engineering fees and $5,000 for the pilot study. (See attachment)
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting March 18, 2003
Commerce Center & Rock Quarry:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director; Mr. Jim Alexander, Economic Development Director & Mr. Tommy Crumpton, Rock Quarry Director, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the bid be awarded to Diversified Technology, Inc. & Durham Greene, Inc. at a cost of $500 for schematic, $750 for design development – shop for Rock Quarry and $600 for design development - sign for Commerce Center. (See attached bid sheet)
Public Safety Facility:
The award of the bid for the Public Safety Facility was delayed until the April 1, 2003 Council Meeting.
County Radio Service:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director; Mr. Hoyt Orr, Roads & Bridges Superintendent; Mr. John Murray Communications Director & Ms. Melissa Grant, Solid Waste Director, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that the bid for radios for Solid Waste & Road Department be awarded to Gunby Communications, Inc at cost of $69,598.85. (See attached bid sheet)
Sewer Commission Appointment:
Following Mr. Howard Adams’ address to Council assuring them he was supportive of sewer both inside and outside the municipalities limits, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Mr. Adams be reappointed as a Westminster representative on the Sewer Commission.
Budget & Finance Recommendation:
Upon recommendation of the Budget & Finance Committee, Council voted unanimously to adopt Option #5 of the attached proposal for health insurance for the upcoming fiscal year at a total cost of $3,874,374.48.
Government Week Proclamation:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached proclamation declaring April 6 – 12, 2003 “National County Government Week” be adopted on first and final reading.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting March 18, 2003
Ordinance 2003-02:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-02, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 82-14, AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE ACCEPTANCE OF ROADWAYS IN SUBDIVISIONS” be adopted on third and final reading.
Ordinance 2003-03:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-03, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 97-14, PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES” be adopted on third and final reading.
Ordinance 2003-04:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-04, “AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ACCESS TO AND CONDUCT AT OR IN OCONEE COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS, FACILITIES AND PROPERTY, AND INTERACTIONS WITH OCONEE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES” be adopted on first reading.
Equipment for Fire Truck:
Mrs. Hughes presented Mr. Rinehart, Chair of the Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee a letter requesting funding for equipment for the fire truck purchased for the City of Walhalla.
SWAG Meeting:
Mr. Norton, County Attorney, informed Council the SWAG Committee would meet again Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Seneca City Hall.
Budget & Finance Recommendation:
Upon recommendation of the Budget & Finance Committee, Council voted unanimously to freeze spending from the Supervisor’s professional line item.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting March 18, 2003
Roads & Transportation Committee Recommendation:
Upon recommendation of the Roads & Transportation Committee, Council voted unanimously to engage Moreland Altobelli Associates for the purpose of completing a county roadway assessment for compliance with GASB 34, which has to be completed by 2006 at a cost of approximately $60,000, which will be included in the 2003-04 budget ordinance. Also, in conjunction with this assessment, negotiate with Moreland Altobelli Associates for the completion of a five-year Transportation Improvement plan.
Recommendations of Purchasing, Contracting, Real
Estate, Building & Grounds Committee:
Upon recommendation of the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee Council voted unanimously to cap the percentage of gross receipts received by the county at two percent (2%) from Van Surdam Vintage Aircraft, Inc. for aircraft maintenance at the Airport.
Also, upon recommendation of the committee, Council voted unanimously to add Lakeview Rest Home to the Capital Improvement Plan for routine maintenance purposes only and also extend the agreement on the DAVCO Building until May 15, 2003.
Ordinance 2003-05:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-05, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 97-14, PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES” be adopted on first reading.
Public Comment Session:
Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding a map presented to Council by Mr. Hendricks, Planning Director suggesting planning areas for the county.
Mr. Robert Banks, County Engineer refuted statements regarding County Department Heads who are reported to lack proficiency being in management he felt were taken out of context during the public hearing on the proposed supplemental ordinance.
Mr. B. J. Littleton expressed feelings that equipment not being used could be placed on the new fire truck.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting March 18, 2003
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 6:35 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
___________________________
Opal O. Green, Clerk to Council