NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

JULY 24, 2007

The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex, 1309 College Street, Newberry, SC, for a work session.

Present were: Henry B. Summer, Chairman

William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

John E. Caldwell, Councilman

Mike Hawkins, Councilman (arrived at 6:45 p.m.)

John David Dawkins, Councilman (arrived at 5:30 p.m.)

Edgar Baker, Councilman

Wayne Adams, County Administrator

Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

Debbie S. Cromer, Finance Director

Absent: Henry H. Livingston, III, Councilman

Press: Cindy Pitts, The Newberry Observer

Heather Hawkins, WKDK

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. Summer had the invocation.

Mr. Waldrop moved that the following additions be made to Item #4: a) Community Hall Commission and b) Amendment to June 20, 2007 minutes of County Council; second by Mr. Caldwell. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilmen Hawkins, Dawkins and Livingston absent.]

1. Executive Session.

Mr. Caldwell moved to go into Executive Session to entertain proposals for the County Attorney position from W. Frank Partridge, Jr. and Charles Verner; second by Mr.Waldrop. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilmen Hawkins, Dawkins and Livingston absent.]

Mr. Pope requested an Executive Session to discuss a contractual matter regarding the location of the library and financing. The financing discussion is exempt under Section 30-4-40(11). Mr. Waldrop so moved; second by Mr. Baker. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilmen Hawkins, Dawkins and Livingston absent.]

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 5:05 p.m. – 6:55 p.m.]

Mr. Dawkins arrived at 5:30 p.m. and Mr. Hawkins arrived at 6:45 p.m. and joined the Council in Executive Session.

Mr. Waldrop moved to return to open session; second by Mr. Baker. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilman Livingston absent.]

2. Meeting with City of Newberry officials regarding the proposed Newberry County Library.

Mr. Summer announced that the Library has now raised the $1.3 million shortfall to fund the library downtown, and we can now move forward with that location.

Mr. Caldwell made a motion to move forward with locating the library in the location first discussed and put it out for bid as soon as possible; second by Mr. Baker. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilman Livingston absent.]

3. Meeting with Rescue Squad 14 members regarding the proposed Newberry Rescue Squad building.

After considerable discussions with Chris Johnson and Scott Meetze of Rescue Squad 14, Ervin West of Carter Goble Lee, and Joe Prothro, DSP Architects, Mr. Waldrop moved to fund a shortfall not to exceed $50,000 for a 3,200 square foot building; second by Mr. Caldwell. Voting for the motion: Councilmen Summer, Waldrop, Caldwell, Hawkins and Baker. Voting against the motion: Councilman Dawkins. Motion passed. [Councilman Livingston absent.]

4. (b) Approval of proposed amendment to June 20, 2007 minutes.

Mr. Pope advised that this amendment would clarify that Council also voted to accept the State grant at 2.5% and the County would pay 2.5%.

Mr. Hawkins moved to approve the amendment; second by Mr. Waldrop. All Councilmen present voted in favor of the motion. Motion passed. [Councilman Livingston absent.]

4. (a) Community Hall Commission.

Muriel Lake, Chairman of the Community Hall Commission, and Joan O’Dell, member of the Commission, together with Marian Corley, hostess, requested that Council make repairs to the second floor of Community Hall including electrical work in the kitchen. The Community Hall Commission stated they would buy a new stove, if the County would arrange for the electrical work.

Mr. Adams advised that on November 2, 2006, the Fire Chief, Joe Palmer, sent a letter to Tommy Whitehead, Public Works Director, regarding the electrical problems with the stove.

Council requested that Mr. Adams arrange to have Ervin West with Carter Goble Lee inspect Community Hall and make recommendations as to what repairs need to be made and the approximate cost.

There being no further discussion, Mr. Waldrop moved to adjourn.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

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Henry B. Summer, Chairman

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Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

APPROVED: August 8, 2007