NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

APRIL 4, 2007

 

 

Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Courthouse Annex for a regular meeting.                  

 

Present were:                Henry B. Summer, Chairman

                                    William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

                                    John E. Caldwell, Councilman

                                    John David Dawkins, Councilman

                                    Mike Hawkins, Councilman

                                    Edgar Baker, Councilman

                                    Henry H. Livingston, III, Councilman

                        Wayne Adams, County Administrator

                                    Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

                                    Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

                                    Debbie S. Cromer, Finance Director

 

Media:                          Heather Hawkins, WKDK

                                    Cindy Pitts, Newberry Observer

                                   

Notice of the meeting was duly advertised as required by law.

 

Mr. Summer called the meeting to order and determined a quorum to be present.   

 

Mr. Livingston had the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

1.            Adoption of Consent Agenda.

 

Mr. Livingston moved to adopt the consent agenda; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous. 

 

2.            Additions, Deletions and Adoption of Agenda.

 

Mr. Baker moved to move public comments to Agenda Item 8.1; second by Mr. Waldrop.

 

There being no further amendments, Mr. Waldrop moved to adopt the agenda as amended; second by Baker.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Summer, Waldrop, Caldwell, Livingston and Baker.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Dawkins and Hawkins.  Motion passed by majority vote. 

 

1.            Personal Appearances.

 

Nancy Owen, County Auditor, Jackie Bowers, Clerk of Court, Judy Floyd, County Treasurer, and Kelly Nobles, Probate Judge, recognized county employees for their dedication to County government and the citizens of Newberry County.  They further requested that Council consider proceeding with the merit increases for county employees.  (Copy Nancy Owen’s presentation attached to minutes.)

 

2.            Ordinance #03-10-07:  An Ordinance to amend Chapter 31 of the Newberry County Code of Ordinances so as to amend the provisions relating to the organization of the agenda and the receiving of public comments, and the time allotted therefor and to make certain technical adjustments to the procedures as codified.

 

Mr. Baker moved for second reading; second by Mr. Livingston.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Summer, Waldrop, Caldwell, Livingston and Baker.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Dawkins and Hawkins.  Motion passed by majority vote.

 

3.            Ordinance #03-11-07:  An Ordinance enacting and adopting Supplement 2007 S-2 to the Code of Ordinances for the County of Newberry, South Carolina.

 

Mr. Waldrop moved for second reading; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

4.            Ordinance #03-12-07:  An Ordinance to approve granting a non-exclusive road right-of-way easement to Southeast Resource Recovery, LLC across the 45.96 acre property of Newberry County which fronts on Highway 121.

 

Mr. Caldwell moved for second reading; second by Mr. Waldrop.

 

Council requested that Mr. Pope add a provision to the Ordinance that the primary entrance to the landfill would be off of Highway 121.

 

Tommy Whitehead, Public Works Director, talked with Southeast Resource Recovery who advised that the entrance off of Drayton Street is being used now for a construction entrance and when construction is completed, that entrance will be closed and the area grassed and seeded.  They will then use the entrance off of  Highway 121.   

 

There being no further discussion, Mr. Summer called for the question.  Vote was unanimous. 

 

5.            Committee Reports.

 

No committee reports.

 

6.            Appointments.

 

Mr. Summer recommended for appointment to the Planning Commission David Abrams.

 

Mr. Waldrop asked for a status report on the Airport construction.  Mr. Pope advised a new engineering team had been assigned to the project by W.K. Dickson.  Another pre-bid conference is scheduled for April 10.  At that time they will have plans available to show the project.  The clearing, roughing and site preparation for the entire Airport project will be bid at one time so that everything will be done by one general contractor. 

 

There being no further nominations for appointment, Mr. Dawkins moved to accept the nominations; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

7.            Awarding of contract for external audit services.

 

Mr. Dawkins moved to accept the bid of Rish and Enzastiga; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous. 

 

8.            Consideration of request to delete dump truck from surplus equipment and add it back to fleet of the Public Works Department.

 

Tommy Whitehead, Public Works Director, requested that because of budget restraints Council authorize the deletion of the dump truck from the surplus equipment and place it back into the fleet of the Public Works Department.   

 

Mr. Waldrop so moved; second by Mr. Dawkins.  Vote was unanimous.

 

8.1       Public Comments.

 

Jim Hough spoke in opposition to the proposed change of public comments to the end of the agenda.

 

Vassey Pugh spoke about J.F. Hawkins/Springfield Place.

 

Nancy Dickert spoke about various issues including public comments, J.F. Hawkins, Springfield Place, hiring practices of the County and salaries of County employees. 

 

Future Meetings.

 

The next Council meeting is April 18, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  A work session with representatives from Newberry County Memorial Hospital is scheduled for April 18, 2007, at 5:00 p.m.

 

Comments from the County Administrator.

 

Mr. Adams advised budget recommendations would be presented to Council at the April 18 meeting, and a budget work session is scheduled for April 23.

 

Comments from Council Members.

 

Mr. Hawkins stated that over the past few months all Council has heard from the public and the press is meetings and no tax relief.  At the last meeting Council approved the issuance of a General Obligation Bond in the amount of $1.7 million.  At that meeting Mr. Dawkins stated that the Bond was originally set at $8.9 million.  If you subtract $1.7 million from $8.9 million, you get a savings of $7.2 million.  That sounds like tax relief and unless he missed it, he had not seen that printed anywhere. 

 

Mr. Summer again thanked all County employees.

 

Adjournment.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 

 

                                                                        NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

 

 

                                                                        _________________________________

                                                                        Henry B. Summer, Chairman

 

 

                                                                        _________________________________

                                                                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

 

APPROVED:    April 18, 2007