NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL
MINUTES
APRIL 6, 2005
The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. for a regular meeting.
Present were:
Mike Hawkins, Chairman
William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman
John E. Caldwell, Councilman
Henry B. Summer, Councilman (late)
John David Dawkins, Councilman
Andy Morris, Councilman
Edgar Baker, Councilman
Leonard
B. Sossamon, Jr.,
Gary
T. Pope,
Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council
Representing the news media were:
Newberry Observer – Cindy Pitts
WKDK – Heather Hawkins
Whitmire News – Cassie Fowler
As required by law, notice of the meeting was duly advertised.
Mr. Hawkins called the meeting to order and determined a quorum to be present.
Mr. Hawkins had the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Caldwell moved to adopt the consent agenda; second by Mr. Waldrop. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Waldrop requested the addition of the request from Silverstreet Fire Department to have the proceeds from the sale of an old water truck returned to their department. [Agenda item 12]
Mr. Hawkins moved agenda item 2 to agenda item 13 because the public hearing was advertised for 7:30 p.m. rather than the new meeting time of 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Morris moved to adopt the agenda as amended; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous.
1. Presentation
of Flood Management Certification to Faye Mace – Lisa Jones, Flood Mitigation
Program.
Mr. Hawkins recognized Lisa Jones
who presented a Certificate to Faye Mace for completion of certified flood
plain manager.
2. CDBG
Community Development Application for sewer facilities.
Moved to agenda item 13.
No comments from the public.
Without objection, Mr. Hawkins combined the public hearings on agenda items 3, 4 and 5 and called for the public hearings. There being no comments from the public, Mr. Hawkins declared the public hearings closed.
3. An
Ordinance to amend the Official Zoning Map established pursuant to Zoning
Ordinance No. 12-24-01 so as to rezone TMS Parcel No. 288-17 from Rural (R-2)
to General Commercial (GC). [
Mr. Waldrop moved for second reading; second by Mr. Morris. Vote was unanimous.
4. An
Ordinance to amend the Official Zoning Map established pursuant to Zoning
Ordinance No. 12-24-01 so as to rezone TMS Parcel No. 399-28 from Single Family
Residential (RS-1) to Single Family Residential (RS-3). [
Mr. Dawkins moved for second reading; second by Mr. Morris. Vote was unanimous.
5. An
Ordinance to amend the Official Zoning Map established pursuant to Zoning
Ordinance No. 12-24-01 so as to rezone TMS Parcel No. 399-130 from Rural (R-2)
to General Commercial (GC). [
Mr. Morris moved for second reading; second by Mr. Baker. Vote was unanimous.
6. An Ordinance authorizing the issuance of not exceeding $11,250,000 aggregate principal amount of special source refunding revenue bonds (Newberry County Memorial Hospital) Series 2005, of Newberry County, South Carolina, and the mortgaging of the property of Newberry County on which Newberry County Memorial Hospital is located to secure the same; authorizing the execution and delivery of a loan agreement and a bond indenture; authorizing the appointment of a bond trustee; authorizing property officers to do all things necessary or advisable; and other matters relating thereto.
Mr. Morris moved for first reading; second by Mr. Baker. Vote was unanimous.
7. A
Resolution making application to the State Budget and Control Board of South
Carolina for approval of the issuance by Newberry County, South Carolina, of
special source refunding revenue bonds (Newberry County Memorial Hospital)
Series 2005, in an aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $11,250,000,
pursuant to the provisions of Title 44, Chapter 7, Article 11, Code of Laws of
South Carolina 1976, as amended.
Mr. Morris moved to adopt the resolution; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous.
8. Fair Housing Resolution.
Mr. Waldrop moved to adopt the resolution; second by Mr. Morris. Vote was unanimous.
9. Committee Reports.
No reports.
10. Appointments:
Airport Commission:
District 5:___________________________(term ending 06/30/05)
District 3:___________________________(term ending 06/30/07)
No appointments.
11. Presidential Freedom Scholarship.
Request failed for lack of a motion.
12. Silverstreet Fire
Department.
Mr. Waldrop per request from the Silverstreet Fire Department asked Council to consider the proceeds derived from the sale of the 1971 water truck at the county surplus sale. The truck was originally purchased with funds raised by the Silverstreet Fire Department and not county funds.
Mr. Dawkins moved that the proceeds from the sale of the truck at the county surplus sale be returned to Silverstreet Fire Department; second by Mr. Morris. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Morris moved to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. Vote was unanimous.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION 7:11 P.M. –
7:33 P.M.]
(Mr. Summer arrived during Executive Session.)
Mr. Caldwell moved to return to regular session; second by Mr. Waldrop. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Pope advised that Council discussed a legal matter relating to the Magistrate problem that was reported in the paper today and the legal alternatives.
13. Community Development
Application for Sewer Facilities.
Mr. Hawkins called for the public hearing.
Robin Cooley
with Central Midlands Council of Governments stated this block grant would be
to place sewer in a portion of the
Mr. Waldrop asked that the survey process be explained. Ms. Cooley advised that any project which falls under State terms of direct benefit, which means the possibility of providing connections for sewer services to residences under the project, requires a survey to be done (typically, a door-to-door survey) of all the people that could potentially benefit from the project, and they would all have to complete an income survey. The survey asks for their name, address, how many people live in the unit, some demographic information as well as their income information to see if they qualify for assistance. In order to qualify for assistance for sewer connections that would mean the individuals would have to be 80% or less of the area’s median income, and they are counted as low to moderate income by HUD and would therefore be entitled to receive a tap free of charge. They would have a monthly bill, but they would not be charged the tap, which is the connection between the main line and the house or the tap fee which typically goes along with getting a sewer connection. The surveys document benefit.
Mr. Waldrop asked how many survey forms would be needed to go forward with this project. Ms. Cooley has counted approximately 50 houses, and they would need surveys from every house that the line runs by.
Mr. Waldrop
asked if the City of
Mr. Waldrop asked it would be wise to delay the project until next year. Ms. Cooley stated that would probably be advisable if 50 surveys had not been collected at this time because the application is due Monday and the surveys have to be received by Central Midlands prior to that time and without that information, it will not be possible to complete and submit an application to the state that would be reviewed.
Mr. Caldwell asked if this would jeopardize the community as far as getting another grant. Ms. Cooley advised it would not. People can withdraw a request for whatever reason prior to application submission and there is no harm and nothing counted against the community or the grantee that requested it. It happens fairly regularly.
Mr. Dawkins asked if it could be delayed and who was responsible for getting the surveys. Ms. Cooley advised that typically they work with community volunteers to obtain surveys. With all the scams going on and identify theft, most people will not talk with someone they do not recognize at their doors.
The earliest date the county could reapply would be spring of next year.
Reverend Nura Ray Matthews stated after looking at the area map, it was not exactly what was talked about in the earlier meeting and felt it would be more beneficial if installed on different streets than proposed.
John Culbreath with B.P. Barber explained that when the project was backed down to become more economical in relation to the $500,000 and potential matching funds, adjustments had to be made. Area #1 on the map accommodates the community center. Area #3 was completely eliminated because of the cost associated with it. Some of the lines of Area #2 had to be cut back to accommodate the funding.
The consensus of Council was that we do not have time to put this together until Monday. If the process is slated to begin again next February, we don’t need to wait until February but continue the surveying process and the community meeting to decide where the first phase should be and get everything in order by next spring.
There being no further discussion, Mr. Hawkins declared the public hearing closed.
Mr. Morris moved to table the Resolution; second by Mr. Dawkins.
Mr. Waldrop
wanted the people in
There being no further discussion, Mr. Hawkins called for the question. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Hawkins recommended that Council resolve itself into a committee of the whole to be chaired by Mr. Summer to discuss the budget. Mr. Morris so moved; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous.
Public Meeting: April 13, 2005, 7:30 p.m.
(Library)
Courthouse Dedication: April 17, 2005, 2:00 p.m.
Council Meetings: April 20, 2005, 7:00 p.m.
May 4, 2005, 7:00 p.m.
Council Workshop: April 27, 2005, 7:00 p.m.
(Boards and Commissions)
Mr. Sossamon
updated Council on the refinancing of
No comments.
Mr. Baker moved to give $70,000 to Lewis Lee to distribute to the Rescue Squads. Vote was unanimous.
There being no further discussion of the budget, Mr. Summer moved to return to regular session; second by Mr. Baker. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Waldrop moved to adjourn; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL
________________________________________
Mike Hawkins, Chairman
_________________________________________
Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council