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

 

MINUTES, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

 

                        The Oconee County Council met Tuesday, October 19, 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, Dave Williams – Anderson Independent, Ashton Hester – Keowee Courier & 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:

 

                        Chairman Ables called the meeting to order.

 

Invocation:

 

                        Mr. Rinehart gave the invocation.

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

 

                        Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.

 

Minutes:

 

                                The minutes of the regular meeting held October 5, 2004 were adopted  as printed by consensus of Council.

 

 

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      October 19, 2004

 

Briefing Regarding Upstate Alliance:

 

                        Mr. Jody Bryson of Upstate Alliance updated Council on that organization’s activities.  Mr. Bryson informed Council ten counties are represented in Upstate Alliance and it is their goal to market these counties on a global basis.  He also informed Council that the $400,000 in public funds they received from the ten counties and two cities that belong to Upstate Alliance had been doubled by private donations.   Mr. Bryson further informed Council that some of the types of industries his organization is trying to locate in the upstate are: automotive, motor sport, ICAR, research and development headquarters and strategic distribution centers.   (See attached information)

 

                        After Mr. Bryson’s presentation, Mr. Ables made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Mr. Rabun be appointed to represent Oconee County on the Upstate Alliance Board.

 

Capital Improvement Budget:

 

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that the County Administrator be designated as the person to submit the capital improvement budget to Council.

 

Wireless Internet Service for Attorneys:

 

                        Mr. Carl Hayden, IT Director, addressed Council regarding wireless internet service for the attorneys’ use in the courthouse at a cost of approximately $3,000 which he understood the Bar Association was going to pay for.  After a brief discussion, Council requested Mr. Rabun to discuss the matter with Sallie Smith, Clerk of Court and Mr. Hayden and report back to Council.                        

 

Resolution 2004-07:

 

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2004-07, “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN INDUCEMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND VALENITE, LLC WHEREBY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, OCONEE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE AN INFRASTRUCTURE TAX CREDIT TO VALENITE, LLC” be adopted on first and final reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      October 19, 2004

 

Resolution 2004-08:

 

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that Resolution 2004-08, “A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EXTENSION BY OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA OF A FEE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN VALENITE, INC. AND OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA (VALENITE, INC. PROJECT), PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ANNOTATED, SECTION 4-12-30 (1976), AS AMENDED” be adopted on first and final reading.

 

Ordinance 2004-24:

 

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Rinehart, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-24, “AN ORDINANCE BY OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING AN INFRASTRUCTURE TAX CREDIT (VALENITE, LLC PROJECT); THE ENTERING INTO OF CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS AND THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE AFORESAID INFRASTRUCTURE TAX CREDIT, INCLUDING CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO” be adopted on first reading.

 

Ordinance 2004-25:

 

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-25, “OCONEE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN” be adopted on second reading. 

 

Ordinance 2004-26:

 

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-26, “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING 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” be adopted on second reading.

 

Ordinance 2004-27:

 

                        Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-27, “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE TAX CREDIT PERCENTAGE AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE USES FOR THE COUNTY’S PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX” be adopted on second reading.

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      October 19, 2004

 

Ordinance 2004-28

 

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ables, approved 3 – 0 (Mr. Rinehart out of room) that Ordinance 2004-28, “OCONEE COUNTY FINANCIAL PRACTICES ORDINANCES” be adopted on second reading.

 

Ordinance 2004-22:

 

                        Mr. Moore made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-22, “THE OCONEE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE” be adopted on third and final reading.

 

Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee Meet:

 

                        The Purchasing, Contracting, Real Estate, Building & Grounds Committee scheduled a meeting Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers for the purpose of discussing the request of the City of Walhalla to use the DSS Building when it is vacated.

 

Animal Control:

 

                        To Mr. Moore’s inquiry regarding the savings experienced since the County took over Animal Control, Mrs. Lombard, Finance Director, informed Council the expenditures per quarter for the Humane Society was $57,700 and the expenditures for the County for the first quarter was $45,100.

 

Ordinance 2004-29:

 

                        Mr. Rinehart made a motion, seconded by Mr. Lyles, approved 4 – 0 that Ordinance 2004-29, “AN ORDINANCE GIVING THE RIGHT TO REFUSE UNSUBSCRIBED SALES PAPERS, ETC” be adopted on first reading in title only.

 

Roads & Transportation:

 

                        Mr. Furman Blackwell addressed Council regarding the extension of Alice Lane, however this is a private roadway and state law prohibits the County from maintaining the roadway.

 

Westminster Fire Truck:

 

                        Mr. Lyles went on record in support of a ladder fire truck for the City of Westminster.

 

 

Minutes, Oconee County Council Meeting                                      October 19, 2004

 

Public Comment Session:

 

                        Mr. Steve Sokol addressed Council regarding his being impressed with Mr. Rabun, the tourist industry in Oconee County and fee-in-lieu for industries.

 

                        Ms. Susie Cornelius addressed Council regarding fee-in-lieu for industries in Oconee County.

 

                        Mr. B. J. Littleton addressed Council regarding an animal control case and the Delegation Office.

 

Adjourn:

 

                        Adjourn: 4:30 PM

 

 

                                                                                    Respectfully Submitted:

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________

                                                                                    Opal O. Green

                                                                                    Clerk to Council

                       

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL

Mr. Steven R. Moore, District I   Mr. Kenneth E. Johns, Jr., District II

Mr. William “Bill” Rinehart, District III   Mr. Marion E. Lyles, District IV

Mr. H. Frank Ables, Jr., District V

 

MINUTES, SPECIAL MEETING, OCONEE COUNTY COUNCIL

 

                        The Oconee County Council held a special meeting Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 9:00 AM in the Board Room of the Oconee County School District Office with all Council Members except Mr. Johns present.   Mr. Norton, County Attorney, was also present.

 

                        All of the municipalities except West Union were represented; the Sewer Commission was also represented.

 

Press:

 

                        Members of the press notified (via mail): Daily Journal, Keowee Courier, Westminster News, Anderson Independent, Greenville News, WGOG Radio, WRIX Radio, WYFF TV & WLOS TV.

 

                        Members of the press present: Ray Chandler – Daily Journal & Dave Williams – Anderson Independent.

 

Other Organizations Notified:

 

                        Also notified were the Oconee County Tax Payers Association and the Oconee County Democratic Party.

 

Call to Order:

 

                        Chairman Ables called the meeting to order.

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

 

                        Mr. Norton led the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes, Special Meeting, Oconee County Council                        October 21, 2004

 

Ordinance 2004-27:

 

                        After considerable discussion regarding sewer problems, projects that should be placed on the list, projects that have some funding and should be placed as top priority and projects that have no funding but are vital to the county, Mr. Lyles made a motion, seconded by Mr. Moore, approved 3 – 0 (Mr. Johns Absent, Mr. Rinehart had to leave as he is still recovering from surgery) that Ordinance 2004-27, “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE TAX CREDIT PERCENTAGE AND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE USES FOR THE COUNTY’S PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX” be adopted on third and final reading.  The Ordinance includes, but is not limited to the following projects, which are not listed in any priority order:

 

                        I-85 Project, Phase I

                        Martin’s Creek Relief Project

                        Salem Water Supply Upgrade

                        Richland Creek Sewer Expansion

                        Regional Water Treatment Plant/Supply

                        Highway 130 Sewer Line

                        Septage/Grease Pretreatment Facility

                        Twenty-Inch Water Line Interconnect Between Walhalla & Westminster

                        Highway 11 South to Mountain Road/183

                        Highway 11 North to Highway 183

                        Playground Road

                        Twenty-Inch Loop to Highway 11 - Westminster

                        Martin Creek – Airport Sewer Expansion

                        Twenty-Four Inch Raw Water Line from Chauga River

                        I-85 Project, Phase II

                        Sewer Commission Debt

 

Adjourn:

 

                        Adjourn 12:50 PM

 

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted:

 

 

                                                                                                ____________________

                                                                                                Opal O. Green

                                                                                                Clerk to Council