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, May 1, 2001 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 (by mail): Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, WGOG Radio, WPEK Radio & Daily Journal.
Members of the press present: Amanda Rylander – Daily Journal & Dave Williams – Anderson Independent.
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to
order by Mr. Norton, County Attorney.
Acting Chairman:
Mr.
Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 4 – 0 that Mr. Ables
act as chair in the absence of the chair and vice chair.
Invocation:
Mr. Hamilton gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 - 0 that the minutes of the April 17, 2001 meeting be adopted as printed.
ATAX Grant:
Upon request of Mrs. Geri McSwain, ATAX Committee, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the attached ATAX Grant in the amount of $2,000 to the Seneca Merchant’s Association be adopted.
To Mrs. McSwain’s inquiry, Mr. Ables assured her the Council is attempting to fill the two vacancies on the ATAX Committee.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 1,
2001
Emergency Preparedness (Mutual Aid Agreement):
Upon request of Mr. Henry Gordon, Emergency Preparedness Director, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 4 – 0 that the attached Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement for Catastrophic Disaster Response and Recovery be adopted.
COPS in Schools 2001 Grant:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Melissa Brown, Budget/Grants Supervisor and Mr. Steve Pruitt, Chief Deputy, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the attached COPS in Schools 2001grant application in the amount of $125,000 with a matching portion from the county of $2,070 be adopted.
Planning Grant:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Brown, Mr. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the attached 2000 Regional Planning Grant Program application be adopted.
Parks & Recreation Grant:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Brown, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 4 – 0 that the attached Oconee Tourism Commission grant application in the amount of $3,000 be adopted.
Highway Safety Grant:
Upon recommendation of Chief Deputy Steve Pruitt Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the Sheriff’s Department apply for the attached State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program which is a 90% federal and 10% local match grant for the first year; 75/25 the second year and 50/50 the third year.
Radio Equipment for Communications:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, approved 4 – 0 that the bid for radio equipment for Communications be awarded to Morris Communications, Inc. who was low bid at a cost of $23,005.60. (See attached bid sheet)
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 1,
2001
Resolution 2001-18:
Council unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Roads & Transportation Committee to adopt Resolution 2001-18, “A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE SCORING CRITERIA PERTAINING TO PAVING EXISTING COUNTY ROADWAYS”.
Public Hearings:
Council scheduled public hearings Tuesday, June 5, 2001 at 7:00 PM to receive written and/or oral comments regarding Oconee County leasing to the School District between three (3) and three and one-half (3 ½) acres of the Pine Street properties and the leasing of a county owned building known as the “Tobacco Barn” located at the corner of Tugaloo Street & Broad Street, Walhalla, SC to the Oconee Heritage Center, Inc.
Roads & Transportation Committee
Recommendations:
Council unanimously adopted the following recommendations of the Roads & Transportation Committee:
(1) The Road Department coordinate the lessoning the angle of a curve in Chetola Roadway with Mr. Les Walden giving the county a right-of-way across lot number 17 with the County Attorney preparing the rights-of-ways and agreements and the road department prepare the area where the new right-of-way is to be located and the paving of that roadway being contingent upon the work being satisfactory to everyone involved and a new cost quote being obtained.
(2) Johnson Cove Roadway be added to Garrett’s contract at a cost of $35,181.28.
(3) South Union Fire Station be added to Hubbard’s contract at a cost of $1,653.28 and Cross Roads Fire Station be added to Hubbard’s contract at a cost of $551.09.
Personnel & Intergovernmental Recommendations:
Mr. Hamilton, Chair, Personnel & Intergovernmental Committee informed Council the committee had considered a request for certain employees to change jobs in an effort to better understand different job roles, however, any action on this request is pending further information.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting May 1,
2001
He also informed Council the committee had a request to increase an employee’s within grade step, but further action on this request was deferred pending an overview of the cost to increase all employees who did not receive longevity credit in the last COG study.
Further, he informed Council the request for a Code Enforcement Officer was deferred pending the budget deliberations.
Council did unanimously adopt the recommendation that consideration be given to extending the hours at the Rock Crusher during the summer months (4/1/ through 9/30) from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM by staggering the hours of the employees.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building &
Grounds Recommendations:
Mr. Lyles, Chair, Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee informed Council they met at 5:00 PM to consider the FBO’s received for maintenance at the airport. There were two responses to the RFP, however, one of those was non responsive and the awarding of the FBO to the other company depended on the total score received by that company.
Ms. Dillard presented the attached information to Council showing a total 1,551.25 points received by Van Surdam Vintage Aircraft out of a possible 2,000 points.
Council voted 4 – 0 to award the FBO to Van Surdam Vintage Aircraft based on the points received.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Clay Bradburn & Mr. Robert Bannister addressed Council regarding safety issues on Tugaloo Circle. They informed Council it is not paved up to the campground and it is very narrow. They asked that the roadway be removed, widened and paved.
Mr. Stu Wright addressed Council thanking them for their support of the rural fire fighters.
Mr. B. J. Littleton again expressed his displeasure with the federal government, he also asked Council to support Senator Alexander’s property defense bill and expressed an opinion that the School Resource Officers did not need vehicles.
Adjourn:
Adjourn:
8:00 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
_____________________________
Opal
O. Green
Council
Clerk