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 15, 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, Ashton Hester –
Keowee Courier & 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 April
1, 2003 be adopted as printed.
Resolution 2003-14:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 5 – 0 that Resolution 2003-14, “A RESOLUTION HONORING BEAR RINEHART” be adopted on first and final reading.
Minutes,
Oconee County Council Meeting April 15, 2003
RAC Appointee:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by
Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that Mrs. Susan Guynn, 1802 Sequoya Way, Seneca, SC
be appointed to represent Oconee County on the Foothills Resource Conservation
& Development Council.
Road Paving Bids:
Upon recommendation of the Roads & Transportation Committee, Council voted unanimously to accept the low bid of Thrift Development Corporation for the paving of seventeen roadways at a total cost of $1,634,634.11, which includes a contingency of three percent ($47,412) and the bid of King Asphalt Paving for overlay at a total cost of $268,413.65, which includes a contingency of $40,000 be adopted. (See attached bid sheet)
Forestry Consultant:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Robert Banks, County Engineer; Mr. Hoyt Orr, Roads & Bridges Superintendent & Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Johns made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 5 – 0 that the proposal of Mr. John Little as forestry consultant for all county properties at eight percent of the gross sales be adopted. (See attached bid sheet)
Highway 11 Commerce Center:
Upon recommendation of Mr. Robert Banks, County Engineer; Mr. James Alexander, Economic Development Director & Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the bid for grading of phase II of the Highway 11 Commerce Center be awarded to M. B. White Contracting, Inc. to include alternate I (asphalt turn lane and re-striping) at a total cost of $334,050 be adopted. (See attached bid sheet)
County Auditing:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Phyllis Lombard, Finance Director & Ms. Marianne Dillard, Procurement Director, Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the contract with Byerley & Payne, CPA for auditing of county records be renewed for the 2003-04 fiscal year to allow for continuity in the implementation of GASB 34.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 15, 2003
Surplus Auction Listing:
Upon recommendation of Ms. Dillard, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Johns, approved 5 – 0 that the attached listing of surplus equipment for auction be adopted.
Parks:
Dr. Grant Cunningham presented the attached executive summary of the Recreation Master Plan to Council in which some of the strengths he noted were:
· Oconee County is blessed with an abundance of natural resources
· Oconee County has undeveloped land outside the urban core that is yet to be converted
· There are numerous trails for walking and hiking located along the foothills, mountains and forests and allow access to lakes, rivers, creeks and waterfalls
· There are numerous campgrounds and boat landings managed by the county, state or federal agencies
· Recreation programming is provided by the four municipalities and two unincorporated communities
· A rich history of culture and tradition celebrated through the Octoberfest, the Apple Festival, Spring Heritage Festival, Native American Day Festival and Hillbilly Day, just to name a few. (See attached presentation)
Ordinance 2003-04:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, 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 third and final reading.
Mr. Johns had to leave at this time.
Ordinance 2003-05:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-05, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 97-14, PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES” be adopted on third and final reading.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 15, 2003
Ordinance 2003-06:
Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-06, “AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE TIME LIMITATIONS FOR RECEIVING TAX REFUNDS FROM OCONEE COUNTY, AND REPEALING OCONEE COUNTY ORDINANCE 95-8” be adopted on first reading.
Ordinance 2003-07:
Since first reading of Ordinance 2003-07 was not an agenda item, Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that Council consider the ordinance.
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2003-07, “OCONEE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONAL ORDINANCE” be adopted on first reading in title only.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building &
Grounds Committee Recommendations (Contingency):
Upon recommendation of the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee, Council voted unanimously that the burn building for Rural Fire be reconsidered in the 2003-04 fiscal year budget as the estimated cost of the building is in excess of the funded amount in the 2002-03 budget.
Also upon the committee’s recommendation, Council voted unanimously that $1,300 be taken from contingency and that $300 be used for the Sewer Commission impact fee and up to $1,000 be used for a building permit for the Humane Society to erect a donated building on their property located on Highway 123. Animal Control will also be housed in this building.
Further, upon their recommendation, Council voted unanimously that the tipping fees for the cities be postponed until an agreement is reached with the cities and also that the millage spent on Solid Waste be shown on tax notices.
Recommendations of the Roads & Transportation
Committee:
Upon recommendation of the Roads & Transportation Committee, Council voted unanimously that the roadways in Lakeshore East Subdivision be taken into the County maintenance system, Conner Road & Fort Hill Drive be added to the overlay contract if funds are available and the attached rock prices be adopted.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting April 15, 2003
Recommendation of the Law Enforcement, Safety,
Health, Welfare & Services Committee (Contingency):
Upon recommendation of the Law Enforcement, Safety, Health, Welfare & Services Committee, Council voted unanimously to take $300 from contingency for fuel for the Walhalla Fire Truck for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Public Comment Session:
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding several issues that have come before Council recently.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 4:35 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
___________________________
Opal O. Green, Clerk to Council