NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

APRIL 23, 2008

The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex, 1309 College Street, Newberry, SC, for a budget work session.

Present were: Henry B. Summer, Chairman

William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

John E. Caldwell, Councilman

Mike Hawkins, Councilman

John David Dawkins, Councilman (arrived 7:10 p.m.)

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

Press: Cindy Pitts, The 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. Adams had the invocation.

There being no amendments to the agenda, Mr. Baker moved to adopt the agenda as presented; second by Mr. Livingston. Vote was unanimous among the members present. (Councilman Dawkins absent during this vote.)

Mr. Adams then presented the proposed 2008-2009 budget to Council. As a result of discussions, Council requested additional information on the following items:

• $34,659 increase in fuel costs – Council requested the actual costs of fuel for the current fiscal year.
• $37,500 each for all emergency service agencies for county-wide emergency services communications improvements – Council requested that Travis Kinard and EMS personnel attend the next budget work session to discuss this item in more detail.
• $105,000 to be divided among seven rescue squads to purchase various pieces of equipment – Council requested a list of what each rescue squad asked for.
• $353,000 for physicals for rescue squad members – Council requested information as to how many members actually use self-contained breathing apparatus. They also recommended putting this out for bid to see if we could get a better price than the $200 per physical.
• $76,000 for maintenance of I-26 and Highway 219 interchange – Council requested that Mr. Adams check the penalties if the County opted to not maintain this project.
• $351,747 for various building repairs – Council requested Mr. Adams to explore the options relating to prior attempts to waterproof the Courthouse.
• Clemson Extension 4-H Agent – Council requested that Mr. Adams explore the possibility of Farm Bureau and/or the school district paying a portion of the funding for this position.

The next budget work session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

At 10:25 p.m. Council moved to adjourn.

NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

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Henry B. Summer, Chairman

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Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

APPROVED: May 7, 2008