NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

WORK SESSION

JUNE 30, 2005

 

 

The Newberry County Council met on June 30, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. for a work session. 

 

Present:            Mike Hawkins, Chairman

                        William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

                        John E. Caldwell, Councilman

                        Henry B. Summer, Councilman

                        John David Dawkins, Councilman

                        Andy Morris, Councilman

                        Edgar Baker, Councilman

                        Leonard B. Sossamon, Jr., County Administrator

                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

 

Media:              Heather Hawkins, WKDK

                        Cindy Pitts, Observer

                       

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.         Adoption of Agenda

 

Contractual and personnel matters were added to Executive Session.

 

Mr. Morris moved to adopt the agenda as amended; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

4.         Newberry County Library.

 

The Library Committee has recommended the Coleman Oil site for the new library and has requested that Council support their recommendation. 

 

County Council granted interested citizens an opportunity to speak about the site of the new library. 

 

Jeff Smith spoke in favor of the Mower Building as the site for the new library because it would give more flexibility, was readily adaptable and was a good location.  He felt the other sites would decrease the use of the library and would be detrimental to the library.  To him location was much more important than a new building.  Nance Street would not be as pedestrian friendly.  The Mower Building would be a gateway to Newberry.

 

Mr. Dawkins requested that before hearing from any other citizens that Council should hear from the hydro geologist regarding his evaluation of the three sites.

 

Mike Glowacz with B.P. Barber stated he interviewed people to find out about any environmental liabilities.  He also looked at records and aerial photographs.  The Market Basket site had 7 potential environmental liabilities.  The Mower building had 3 or 4.  The Coleman Oil Company site only had 1.    

 

Verna Cavanaugh, a member of the Newberry County Library Board, stated they had visited numerous libraries.  The Coleman site is the cheapest, which would allow more money to put into building.  The library has been housed in inadequate space since its instigation.  They would like to keep the library downtown but attractive sites several blocks from town have been offered.  The City of Newberry is giving a parking lot at the Coleman Site and that site is workable.

 

Chloe Jaco with Carter Goble Lee evaluated all 4 sites (Market Basket, Coleman Oil Company, Mower building, and the existing library site).  They developed a matrix form with 16 criteria items.  Four different consultants did the evaluation and based on the average of the four consultants  Coleman received the highest score. 

 

Mr. Morris moved to accept the recommendation of the Library Committee for the Coleman Oil Company site; second by Mr. Summer.

 

Mr. Sossamon advised that the library should be kept downtown from an economic development prospective.  Plans are to apply for a CDBG grant to assist with funding.  Pre-application is in August, full application is in September, and the County should know by November or December if they will receive any grant funds. 

 

Mr. Hawkins called for the question.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Hawkins, Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Morris and Baker.  Voting against the motion:  Councilman Dawkins.  Motion passed by majority vote.

 

5.         Master Facilities Plan.

 

Bob Goble and Chloe Jaco with Carter Goble Lee presented and reviewed the facilities study with County Council.  Newberry County has a significant lack of needed space for the various agencies and departments.  [Copy of facilities study on file in Clerk to Council’s Office]

 

Mr. Summer moved to go into Executive Session to discuss the following matters:  economic development, personnel and contractual; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 8:43 P.M. – 10:10 P.M.]

 

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

 

There was no report on any of the matters.

 

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

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:14 p.m.

 

                                                                        NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

 

 

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        Mike Hawkins, Chairman

 

 

                                                                        ____________________________________

                                                                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council