NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

MAY 18, 2005

 

 

The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. for a regular meeting.

 

Present:            Mike Hawkins, Chairman

                        William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

                        John E. Caldwell, Councilman

                        Henry B. Summer, Councilman

                        Andy Morris, Councilman

                        Edgar Baker, Councilman

                        Leonard B. Sossamon, Jr., County Administrator

                        Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

 

Absent: John David Dawkins, Councilman (illness)

 

Media:              Newberry Observer – Cindy Pitts

                        WKDK – Heather Hawkins (arrived 7:25 p.m.)

                        Whitmire News – Cassie Fowler

 

As required by law, notice of the meeting was duly advertised.

 

OPENING OF MEETING

 

Chairman Mike Hawkins called the meeting to order and determined a quorum to be present.

 

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

 

ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA

 

Mr. Baker moved to adopt the Consent Agenda; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

ADDITIONS, DELETIONS AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

The following amendments were made to the Agenda:

 

1.         Postpone Agenda Item 3 until the June 1, 2005 Council meeting.

2.         Add as a first reading ordinance an amendment to the International Building Code Ordinance (5.1).

3.         Add under Acceptance of Bids:  Tri-Axle Dump Truck (10) and Motor Grader (11)

 

There being no further amendments, Mr. Morris moved to adopt the Agenda as amended; second by Mr. Summer.  Vote was unanimous.

 

PERSONAL APPEARANCES

 

1.         Reassessment:

 

Bob Croley, currently residing at 229 Magnolia Lake Road, Aiken, SC, has owned property on Bethel Church Road for the past 20 years with plans to retire and build a home there until the reassessment.   He felt that not everyone was being assessed based on fair market value and that it was time for tax reform

 

Wyman Cook inquired as to whether all property was visited during the reassessment period and asked what the maximum increase was during reassessment year.  He also felt some people were not paying their fair share of taxes.  Mr. Cook presented Council with a list of some recently acquired properties showing the market value and the assessed value.  Mr. Summer requested that the County Administrator provide a copy of this list to the Tax Assessor and have her appear before Council at its June 1 meeting to address the issue of market value versus assessed value.   

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

No comments.

 

THIRD READING ORDINANCES

 

2.         An Ordinance to approve an agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation providing for the design, construction and permanent maintenance of landscape improvements at the interchange of Interstate Highway 26 and State Highway 219 in Newberry County.

 

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

 

3.         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 proper officers to do all things necessary or advisable; and other matters relating thereto.

 

Postponed to June 1 Council meeting.

 

FIRST READING ORDINANCES

 

4.         An Ordinance to create the Newberry County Emergency Services Board. [TITLE ONLY]

 

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

 

5.         An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 52 by implementing a revised Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Plan for Newberry County.

 

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

 

5.1       An Ordinance amending the Ordinance adopting and enforcing approved changes to the latest approved editions of the International Building Codes, so as to incorporate the most recent approved changes to those codes.

 

Mr. Pope explained the County has to adopt what the State has approved and in order to enforce the International Building Code this ordinance amendment has to be adopted.  Mr. Pope advised that the modification would be beneficial to the County. 

 

Mr. Baker moved for first reading; second by Mr. Morris.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Morris and Baker.  Councilman Hawkins abstained. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

6.         Committee Reports.

 

No reports.

APPOINTMENTS

 

7.         Appointments:

                        A.        Airport – District 5, term ending June 30, 2005

 

No appointments. 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS

 

8.         Three 3,000 Gallon Fire Tankers:

                        A.        Crimson - $521,496

                        B.        Unique Fire - $548,454

                        C.        Spartan Fire - $546,402

                        D.        Red Diamond - $537,765

Mr. Baker moved to accept the low bid from Crimson in the amount of $521,496; second by Mr. Morris. 

 

The issue was raised as to whether it would cost the County more over the next several years for service by buying the 3,000 gallon tankers and the 1,800 gallon tankers from different vendors.  Mr. Sossamon discussed this issue with Lewis Lee and advised that it would not affect the cost of service. 

 

There was also discussion as to why some tankers were 3,000 gallon and some 1,800 gallon.  Lewis Lee explained that Consolidated, Maybinton and Bush River do not have municipal water, and the bigger tanks would go to them. 

 

There being no further discussion, Mr. Hawkins called for the vote.  Vote was unanimous.

 

9.         Six 1,800 Gallon Fire Tankers:

                        A.        Unique Fire - $907,098

                        B.        Red Diamond - $952,950

                        C.        Spartan Fire - $1,005,216

                        D.        Crimson - $935,352

 

Mr. Morris moved to accept the low bid from Unique Fire in the amount of $907,098; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

10.       Tri-Axle Dump Truck:

                        A.        Greenville Sterling - $78,933

                        B.        Shealy’s Truck Center, Inc. - $95,934.64

 

Mr. Morris moved to accept the low bid from Greenville Sterling in the amount of $78,933; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

11.       Motor Grader:

                        A.        ASC Construction Equipment - $147,631.50

                        B.        Mitchell Distributing - $152,595

                        C.        Blanchard - $160,804

 

The recommendation from Ron Lilly, Public Works Director, was to purchase the Komatsu motor grader because three employees from the Road Maintenance Division tested the Komatsu and Volvo and found the following:  The Komatsu machine would be the better piece of equipment because the hydraulic blade is stronger while pushing a heavy load.  It also handled better, and the operator had better visibility of the work area.  Grading could also be accomplished in a higher gear.

 

The Volvo did not have as much power nor did it handle as well.  Visibility of the work area was also restricted.  The Volvo is also considered a higher maintenance piece of equipment. 

 

Only $135,000 was allotted for the purchase of a motor grader, and Mr. Lilly’s recommendation to cover the deficit was as follows:  $95,000 was allotted for the tri-axle dump truck, and the low bid for it was $78,933, leaving a surplus of $16,067, which could be applied to the motor grader, and the balance of $1,528 could be taken out of the Road Maintenance operating budget.  

 

Mr. Morris moved to accept the bid from Mitchell Distributing in the amount of $152,595; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Mr. Summer moved to go into executive session to discuss the following matters:  personnel, legal and contractual.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 7:34 P.M. – 8:20 P.M.]

 

Mr. Waldrop moved to return to regular session; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

Mr. Sossamon will report back to Council on the contractual matter.

 

Mr. Pope will report back to Council on the legal matter.

 

The personnel matter was postponed.

 

FUTURE MEETINGS

 

Council Meetings:     June 1, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

                                    June 15, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

 

COMMENTS FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR

 

Teresa Powers was awarded a scholarship to attend the Economic Development Institute conducted by the University of Oklahoma. 

 

COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

 

Mr. Summer reminded Council of On the Move with Margaret on WKDK on Monday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m.

 

VOTE FOR ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business, Mr. Morris moved to adjourn; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

                                               

                                                                        NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Mike Hawkins, Chairman

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council