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, August 24, 2004 at 3:00 PM in Council Chambers, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC with all Council Members except Mr. Johns present. Mr. Norton, 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 & WIRX Radio.
Members of the press present: Ray Chandler – Daily Journal, Heide Williams – Anderson Independent, Ashton Hester & Dick Mangrum – WGOG Radio.
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.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.
Minutes:
Mr. Moore requested that the minutes of the August 10, 2004 Council meeting be amended to reflect that he did not recall being present at the executive session of Council when the discussion regarding taking an option on the acreage in the southern portion of the County was discussed. Mr. Moore then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the minutes be adopted as amended.
2004-05 County Millage:
Upon recommendation of Mrs. Linda Nix, County Auditor, Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that the 2004-05 millage rates be adopted as follows: (See attachment)
County Operations: 64.0 Mills
School Operations: 120.5 Mills
Economic Development: 1.0 Mills
Tri County Operations: 2.1 Mills
In accordance with State law, Mrs. Nix set the bonds millage as listed below:
Lila Doyle: 1.0 Mills
Courthouse: 1.0 Mills
Emergency Services: 1.0 Mills
1995 School: 2.0 Mills
1998 School: 1.0 Mills
2001 School: 3.0 Mills
2003 School Refunding: 5.9 Mills
2004 School Refunding: 2.0 Mills
Tri County Tec: 0.5 Mills
This is a total of 205 Mills, which is the same as it was for the 2003-04 fiscal year.
Airport (Contingency):
Upon recommendation of Mr. Lyles, Council voted unanimously to adopt the attached work authorization in the amount of $65,000 for preliminary engineering for runway extension pending approval of FAA grant with $250 being taken from contingency as part of the County’s matching portion.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee:
Mr. Ables assigned the request of the City of Walhalla to occupy the old Rescue Squad Building and the DSS Building to the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee. Mr. Lyles scheduled a committee meeting Tuesday, September 21, 2004 to discuss this matter.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting August 24, 2004
Building Codes (Contingency)
Upon request of Mr. Channon Chambers, Building Codes Director, Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that $12,400 be taken from contingency and combined with the insurance check received when a Building Codes’ vehicle was hit from behind for a total of $15,000 to purchase two (2) vehicles from State surplus for that department.
Park Parking Lots:
It was the consensus of Council that Mr. Hamilton and the Roads & Bridges Superintendent look at the parking lots at the three County parks to determine the repair work needed at the parks.
Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee:
Mr. Ables assigned to the Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee the request of Mr. Crooks to purchase the property adjacent to the Seneca Landfill.
Roads & Transportation Committee:
Mr. Moore suggested a meeting of the Roads & Transportation Committee Tuesday, September 7, 2004 contingent upon approval of the Chair.
Ordinance 2004-18:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-18, “AN ORDINANCE TO ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR FOR OCONEE COUNTY AND TO DEVOLVE THE POWERS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FORMERLY EXERCISED BY THE OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR FOR OCONEE COUNTY UPON THE DELINQUENT TAX DIVISION, A DIVISION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR OCONEE COUNTY AMENDING ORDINANCE 2003-25” be adopted on second reading.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting August 24, 2004
Ordinance 2004-17:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 3 – 1 (Mr. Moore voting against) that Ordinance 2004-17, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING A LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT, SERIES 2004 RELATING TO THE FINANCING OF VARIOUS 911 EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE LEASE AGREEMENT; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO” be adopted on third and final reading.
Resolution 2004-06:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2004-06, “A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO MR. JOE NEWTON” be adopted on first and final reading.
Resolution 2004-03:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2004-03, “A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: MUST A ONE PERCENT (1%) SALES AND USE TAX BE LEVIED IN OCONEE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING A CREDIT AGAINST A TAXPAYER’S COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAX LIABILITY AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS IN THE OCONEE COUNTY AREA” be adopted on first and final reading.
Department of Transportation Agreement:
Action regarding the proposed Memorandum of Agreement by and between Oconee County and the Department of Transportation was delayed until the first meeting in September.
Blood Connection:
Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that should the approximately 1.10 acres, which includes the utilities and a portion of the parking lot of the “Blood Connection” ever becomes contiguous, it be annexed into the Seneca City limits.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting August 24, 2004
Ordinance 2004-19:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-19, “THE OCONEE COUNTY EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN ORDINANCE” be adopted on first reading in title only.
Ordinance 2004-20 & 2004-21:
Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-20, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE OCONEE COUNTY RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT” and Ordinance 2004-21, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING A BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FIREMEN’S INSURANCE AND INSPECTION FUND” be adopted on first reading in title only.
Sheep Farm Road:
Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that excess funds from the construction of Wells Highway be diverted to the engineering study of Sheep Farm Road.
Personnel & Intergovernmental / Special Council Meeting:
The Personnel & Intergovernmental Committee scheduled a meeting Friday, August 27, 2004 at 9:30 AM to discuss employee complaints and a special Council Meeting Friday, August 27, 2004 at 10:00 AM.
Barge:
Mr. Moore requested that Mr. Hamilton look into the possibility of installing a door on the south side of the rescue squad building and that building being used to house the County barge.
Ordinance 2004-06:
Mr. Moore suggested that Ordinance 2004-06, “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 97-14, THE OCONEE PERSONNEL POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL, SPECIFICALLY POLICY 1-11, USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES” be amended to allow the Rural Fire Director and the Assistant Rural Fire Director to drive their County vehicles home.
Rural Fire:
Mr. Moore also suggested a large rock from the Rock Quarry with an inscription be placed at the burn center.
Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting August 24, 2004
Public Comment Session:
Mr. Ed Rumsey addressed Council regarding taxation.
Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding the property adjacent to the Seneca Landfill, the proposed one percent (1%) sales tax and vehicles for Building Codes.
Adjourn:
Adjourn: 4:30 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________
Opal O. Green
Clerk to Council