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, November 12, 2002 at 7:00PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members except Mr. Hamilton present. The County Attorney was also 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 & 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:

The meeting was called to order by Supervisor-Chair Hughes

Invocation:

Rev. Kaufman, Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, gave the invocation.

Minutes:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the minutes of the regular meeting held October 15, 2002 be adopted as printed.

Our Daily Bread:

Mrs. Hughes presented “Our Daily Bread” with a check in the amount of $328.00 given by Oconee County employees.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 12, 2002

Support of Right of Way (St. John’s Lutheran Church):

Upon request of Rev. Kaufman & Mr. Julian Stoudemire, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that Council support St. John’s request for a right of way from SC Department of Transportation on S. Church St.

Executive Session:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing legal and contractual matters regarding general obligation bonds.

Open Session:

When open session resumed there was no action taken regarding the executive session.

Executive Session:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Council go into executive session for the purpose of discussing contractual matters.

Open Session:

When open session resumed there was no action taken regarding the executive session.

Solid Waste:

Ms. Melissa Grant, Solid Waste Director presented the attached Solid Waste Annual Report Five Year Summary to Council in which she informed Council of the following:

Waste disposed has increased by an estimated 29% since 1998

Recycling tonnage has increased steadily since 1999

Recycling rates are holding steady at around 28 to 30%

Upon request of Ms. Grant, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that Solid Waste proceed with the remediation plan for the Seneca Landfill.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 12, 2002

Council Retreat:

Mr. Frank Ables, Vice Chair, Oconee County Council gave the attached report on the Council Retreat held Wednesday, October 30, 2002 beginning at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers.

Parks & Recreation:

Upon recommendation of Ms. Vickie Satterfield, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Tamassee-Salem Recreation Corporation be given a grant in the amount of $2,270 from line item 010 202 30901.

Ordinance 2002-15:

Upon recommendation of the Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2002-15, “AN ORDINANCE TO DEFINE AND REGULATE THE USE OF ALL OCONEE COUNTY PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS DESIGNATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, REPLACING ORDINANCE 92-3” on first reading.

Uniforms Bid:

Upon recommendation of Ms. Donna McAllister, Procurement Department, Sheriff James Singleton & Captain Terry Wilson, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 4 – 0 that the bid for uniforms for the Sheriff’s Department and LEC be awarded to Whole Armor Uniforms, Inc. who was low bid at $57,752.41. (See attached bid)

Solid Waste:

The bid for remediation of the Five Forks Landfill was postponed.

Scrap Metal (Road Department):

Upon recommendation of Ms. McAllister, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the bid for the sell of scrap metal at the Road Department be awarded to Glenn Lyle who was high bid at $478.00 (See attached bid sheet)

Berm at Commerce Center:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that removal of the berm at the Commerce Center be ratified.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 12, 2002

Resolution 2002-23:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2002-23, “CLEAN AIR RESOLUTION” be adopted on first and final reading.

Ordinance 2002-14:

Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2002-14, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING 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 third and final reading.

Water & Sewer:

Mr. Norton, County Attorney reported on the negotiations on water sewer informing Council they would be meeting the first and third Thursday of each month.

PIC Board:

Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that Ms. Joyce Smith & Mr. Anthony Rose be appointed to the Pendleton District Workforce Investment Board. (See attached request)

Oconee Publishing Invoice:

Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that the county decline payment of an invoice from Oconee Publishing in the amount of $3,905.46 for printing for the Public Information Committee.

Letter of Appreciation to GIS Department:

Mrs. Hughes read the attached note of appreciation for the assistance the Oconee GIS Department has provided the Oconee County School District.

Rock Building:

Mrs. Hughes read the attached letter from the Steering Committee of the Rock Building Preservation Committee regarding the renovation of that building.

Mrs. Hughes read the attached letter from Mr. Grant Kothiringer regarding the preservation of the Rock Building.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 12, 2002

Public Safety Facility:

Council Members assured Mrs. Hughes they had received the memorandum from Paul Bonsall of Freeman White reporting no changes on the scope of services on the public safety facility since they last met with Council.

Grant Match (Contingency):

Upon recommendation of the Budget & Finance Committee, Council voted unanimously to take $5,089 from contingency as the match for a FEMA Grant to the Keowee-Ebenezer Fire Department in the amount of $50,896. (See attached)

Parks & Recreation:

Also, upon recommendation of the Budget & Finance Committee, Council voted unanimously to rent twelve (12) prime sites at South Cove Park for $20.00 per night.

Personnel & Intergovernmental Recommendations (Contingency):

Upon recommendation of the Personnel & Intergovernmental Committee, Council voted unanimously that the county drug screening policy be uniformly enforced for all county employees.

Also upon recommendation of the Personnel & Intergovernmental Committee Council voted unanimously that $736 be taken from contingency to change the classification of a Custodian I in Environmental Services to a Custodian II.

Public Comment Session:

Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding input from citizens regarding capital improvement plans and the per capita taxes for the citizens of the county.

Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding a convenience center in each municipality and tearing the rock building down soon.

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting November 12, 2002

Adjourn:

Adjourn: 9:30 PM

Respectfully Submitted:

___________________________

Opal O. Green

Council Clerk