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, April 1, 2003 at 7:00 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 4 – 0 (Mr. Johns not present at this time) that the
minutes of the regular meeting held March 18, 2003 be adopted as printed.
Resolution 2003-07:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2003-07, “A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LATE DONALD E. MOSS” be adopted on first and final reading. Mrs. Hughes presented the resolution to Mr. Moss’ family.
Certificate of Occupancy:
Mr. Ray Christensen presented the “Certificate of Occupancy” for the new courthouse to Mrs. Hughes, who then presented it to Mrs. Sallie Smith, Clerk of Court.
Resolutions 2003-08 – 2003-12:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Resolutions 2003-08 – 2003-12, “RESOLUTIONS OF APPRECIATION TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF OCONEE COUNTY FOR FIVE, TEN, FIFTEEN, TWENTY & TWENTY FIVE YEARS” be adopted on first and final reading.
Highway Safety Grant:
Upon recommendation of Sheriff Singleton, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that the County apply for third and final year Traffic Safety Unit grant. The grant is in an estimated amount of $228,924 and the county matching portion will be $114,462, which will be included in the 2003-04-budget request.
Public Safety Facility:
After a brief discussion in which Mr. Banks, County Engineer, advised Council we lack some $310,000 to fully fund the construction and furnishing of the proposed Public Safety Facility, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the bids for the proposed facility be tabled until other areas of funding can be investigated.
Mr. Banks also suggested a committee to oversee this particular project be comprised of the Mrs. Lombard, Finance Director; Sheriff Singleton; Ms. Dillard, Procurement Director; Mr. Hayden, IT Director; Mr. Banks, County Engineer & Greg Brock.
The Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee scheduled a meeting Monday, April 7, 2003 at 9:30 AM in Council Chambers for further discussion of this matter.
SHARE (Contingency):
Upon request of Ms. Helen James, SHARE, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that $10,000 be taken from contingency and give to the SHARE Agency for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 1, 2003
ATAX Grant:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Gerald Foster, ATAX Committee, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $6,085.40 to the Oconee Cultural Festival be adopted.
FEMA Grant (Contingency):
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Linda Shugart, Grants Coordinator, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 5 – 0 that the attached application for a FEMA Grant in the total amount of $54,450 with the county’s matching portion of $5,450 being taken from contingency for the purpose of purchasing Defibrillators be adopted.
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 second reading.
Ordinance 2003-05:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-05, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 97-14, PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES” be adopted on second reading as amended.
Heritage Corridor:
Mrs. Hughes introduced Mr. George Estes, Ms. Michelle McCollum & Ms. Krista Gray of the Heritage Corridor; Ms. Gray presented Council with the attached information in which she informed Council the Heritage Corridor has given the following grants to Oconee County:
Oconee Heritage Center $20,000
Walhalla Auditorium $40,000
Lunney Museum $20,000
Stumphouse Tunnel $10,000
City of Seneca $ 2,000
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 1, 2003
Tax Reimbursement:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the request to reimburse for taxes paid for five (5) years at six percent (6%) rather than at four percent (4%) be denied.
Title II Presentation:
Mr. Robert Banks, County Engineer & Ms. Amanda Rylander, Executive Assistant presented Council with the attached information regarding the National Forestry Funds. Mr. Banks urged Council to consider appointing a representative on the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).
Commission Appointment:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Ms. Mary Ewing be appointed to represent District I on the Tourism Commission.
Roads & Transportation Committee Meet:
The Roads & Transportation Committee scheduled a meeting Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers for the purpose of discussing several roadway issues.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building &
Grounds Committee Recommendation:
Mr. Lyles, Chair, Purchasing, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee, informed Council of the following two recommendations from the committee:
(1) The Probate Judge look for an appropriate space to relocate inside the Walhalla City limits and bring any possible sites back to the committee and Council for approval
(2) The Probate Judge locate a document restoration service to clean and sanitize the records before they are moved to Pine Street and while the records are being restored they be available for review by appointment only
Mrs. Sandra Orr, Probate Judge, informed Council, that upon her request, a representative from the Archives would be looking at the records on Thursday, April 3, 2003 and he advised that no one have access to the records before he examined them.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 1, 2003
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building &
Grounds Committee Recommendations Continued:
Mr. Robert Banks, County Engineer, informed Council that the study conducted by Goldie & Associates indicated a higher mold count outside than inside the building, there was no problem with asbestos and there were no bacteria present that would have an effect on anyone’s health.
After further discussion, there was no vote taken on the recommendations of the committee.
Rock For Fair Oak Youth Center:
Upon Mr. Ables request, Mrs. Hughes assured him the county could supply Fair Oak Youth Center with a load of #5 stone.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding several issues that have come before Council recently.
Executive Session:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 5 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the Tri County Regional Landfill litigation and a contractual matter.
Open Session:
There was no action taken when open session resumed.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 9:25 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
___________________________
Opal O. Green, Clerk to Council