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, July 17, 2001 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with Mr. Lyles, Mr. Johns & Mr. Hall present. Mr. Norton, County Attorney was also 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: Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio, Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier, Amanda Rylander – Daily Journal & Dave Williams – Anderson Independent.
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to
order by Supervisor-Chair Hughes.
Invocation:
Mr. Johns gave the invocation.
Minutes:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that the minutes of the July 10, 2001 meeting be adopted as printed.
Resolution 2001-27:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that Resolution 2001-27: “A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LATE D. H. “BUCK” CRENSHAW” be adopted on first and final reading.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 17, 2001
Noise Pollution:
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Thompson addressed Council regarding noise pollution in the Tanglewood area. Mrs. Thompson informed Council they had been living in their house over thirty years and had to move out of the master bedroom due to the noise made by Thomas Concrete. Mrs. Thompson asked that the volume of the trucks’ warning system be lowered as they could hear them through the triple paned windows they had installed and also they were not able to enjoy their deck at all. (See attachment)
After discussion in which Mr. Norton, County Attorney, informed Mr. & Mrs. Thompson they could file a nuisance action against the company, Mrs. Hughes assigned this matter to the Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee.
Sewer Commission:
Mr. Robert Winchester, Superintendent & Sewer Commission Members addressed Council regarding the exchange of some property between Oconee County and & Blue Ridge Orthopedic on which the Sewer Commission proposes placing a storage tank, if the tank is placed on the proposed location it will be some eight hundred feet from the trunk line.
Mr. Mike Timmerman, Office Manager, Blue Ridge Orthopedics, stated they were interested in the exchange for aesthetic reasons.
Paving of Rescue Parking Lots:
Upon request of Mr. Henry Gordon, Emergency Preparedness Director, Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles that $16,271.83 National Forestry Funds be encumbered for the paving of the parking lots of the Oakway & Fair Play Rescue Units.
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that the motion be amended that the current paving contract be amended to include this paving.
The motion, as amended, was then adopted 3 – 0.
County Auditing:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Phyllis Lombard, Finance Director & Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that the bid of Byerley & Payne for auditing county records for fiscal year 2001-02 be adopted at a cost of $26,500. (See attached bid sheet)
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 17, 2001
Vehicle for Supervisor:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Ann Hughes, Supervisor & Ms. Dillard, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that the bid for a vehicle for the Supervisor be awarded to Edwards Auto Sales Co. at a cost of $27,251. (See attached bid sheet)
Set up of Brandt Building:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Dillard, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that the proposal of Cornerstone Masonry, Inc. at a cost of $17,289 be adopted for placing the Brandt Building on a foundation. This was the only quote Ms. Dillard was able to secure. (See attached proposal)
Land Purchase:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 0 that Oconee County purchase four and eight hundredths (4.08) acres adjacent to the Law Enforcement Center at a cost of $150,000 for the expansion of the LEC.
Ordinance
2001-05:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 0 that Ordinance 2001-05, “AN ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX TO APPLY TO ALL ACCOMMODATIONS LOCATED IN OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE” be adopted on second reading.
Council scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, August 7, 2001 at 7:00 PM to receive written and/or oral comments regarding this ordinance.
Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare &
Services Committee Recommendation:
Council unanimously adopted the recommendation of the LEC Committee to lease purchase ten (10) fire trucks and these truck be distributed as per the attached priority listing.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 17, 2001
Task Force Appointees:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 0 that Mr. Ron Knoerr be appointed to represent the Sewer Commission on the Infrastructure Task Force Committee.
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that Ms. Heather Stephens be appointed to represent Soil & Water on the Planning Task Force Committee.
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 0 that Mr. Rex Ramsay be removed as the Soil & Water representative on the Planning Task Force Committee as he is a member of the committee as a Planning Commission Member.
Budget & Finance Committee Meeting:
The Budget &Finance Committee scheduled a meeting Monday, July 23, 2001 at 3:00 PM for the purpose of discussing a fund balance policy.
Utility Poles:
To Mr. Hall’s inquiry, Mr. Dewitt Martin, City of Seneca informed Council the utility poles on Highway 28 are being changed out and that is the reason for the double set of poles at this time.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building &
Grounds Committee Meet:
The Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee scheduled a meeting Wednesday, August 1, 2001 at 3:00 PM for the purpose of discussing plans for the property adjacent to the Law Enforcement Center.
Parks & Recreation:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that $7,153 in line item 101 202 30905 be granted to the Fair-Oak Youth Center. (See attachment)
Library Appointee:
Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that Mr. Blake Norton be appointed to the Library Board.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 17, 2001
Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare &
Services Meet:
The Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee scheduled a meeting Wednesday, August 1, 2001 immediately following the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee for the purpose of discussing several ordinances.
Task Force Appointee:
Mr. Hall made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 3 – 0 that Mr. Dewitt Mize, Rural Fire Marshal be appointed to the Governmental Services Task Force Committee.
Task Forces Guidelines:
Mr. Hall asked Mrs. Hughes to write each of the Task Force Committees a letter stating their guidelines.
ATAX Appointee:
Mrs. Hughes made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that Mrs. Barbara Laughter be appointed to the ATAX Committee.
Labor Day Celebration:
Mrs. Hughes informed Council the Parks & Recreation Department is planning a fireworks show to be held at South Cove Park on Labor Day.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding the changing of the utility poles on Highway 28, he also expressed feelings that the vehicle being purchased for the Supervisor is unsafe and that the local tax needs to go to Columbia and then reimbursed back to the county.
Contract with City of Seneca:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hall, approved 3 – 0 that the attached contract by and between Oconee County and the City of Seneca for the placement of a water line through South Cove Park be adopted.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting July 17, 2001
Executive Session:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 3 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing legal and contractual matters.
Open Session:
Council took no action when open session resumed.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 5:55 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________
Opal O. Green
Council Clerk