NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES – WORK SESSION

AUGUST 16, 2006

The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, August 16, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex, 1309 College Street, Newberry, SC, for a work session.

Present were: Mike Hawkins, Chairman

William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman

John E. Caldwell, Councilman

John David Dawkins, Councilman

Andy Morris, Councilman

Edgar Baker, Councilman

J.E. Klugh, Acting County Administrator

Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

Absent: Henry B. Summer, Councilman (Mr. Summer arrived during Executive Session)

Media: Heather Hawkins, WKDK

Cindy Pitts, Newberry Observer

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

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

1. Council met with members of the Community Hall Commission regarding the following problems:

a. An elevator is needed in the back of the building for use by caterers and handicapped persons.

b. A decent size restroom is needed.

c. There are leaks in the ceiling.

d. The floor needs new coating.

The Commission has contacted someone about installing additional cabinets, and they are willing to pay for that out of funds received for the rental of the building. They are also seeking bids for the flooring in front of the elevator.

The locks on the front doors don’t work properly, but Marian Corley has fixed them.

At the current time the Commission has approximately $10,000 in its operating account, and they are willing to use a portion of these funds for some of the repairs.

Mr. Hawkins requested that the County Administrator and the Public Works Director do a walk-thru of the building to determine what needs to be repaired and report back to Council.

The Commission also requested that the newly appointed County Administrator attend their meeting in September.

2. Council next met with members of the Voter Registration Board regarding their request for additional space for office staff and storage of voting machines. Jean Simmons, Chairman of the Voter Registration Board, advised that they need 2,400 square feet in order to set up the machines to allow people to vote two weeks prior to an election.

At the present time the voting machines are stored upstairs in the Agriculture Building, which is not an ideal situation because of temperature problems. The new voting machines also require programming before each election and it would be desirable to have the staff in the same location as the machines.

3. Mr. Hawkins advised that Council needed to go into Executive Session to discuss the following matters:

a. possible purchase of land for Rescue Squad #14 and Haz-Mat;

b. possible contractual arrangement for J.F. Hawkins/Springfield Place;

c. meet with representatives from the Newberry County Memorial Hospital regarding the possible sale or purchase of property;

d. possible purchase of property for Board of Registration.

Cindy Pitts with the Newberry Observer advised that Council was required to be more specific about Executive Session matters on the agendas. Mr. Pope addressed her concern and advised that the agenda presented at each meeting was a proposed agenda and was not official until adopted by County Council. Mr. Pope advised that there was no court case to support Ms. Pitts’ position. He has also been unable to find a court case in South Carolina that says Council can’t amend the agenda at the meeting prior to adoption.

Mr. Morris moved to go into Executive Session to discuss the above matters; second by Mr. Baker. Vote was unanimous (Mr. Summer absent).

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 2:20 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.]

Mr. Waldrop moved to return to open session; second by Mr. Dawkins. (Henry Summer arrived during Executive Session). Vote was unanimous.

4. Underpinning/skirting of mobile homes: After discussion Mr. Morris recommended that this ordinance not be considered during the Council meeting tonight but that Mr. Pope obtain further clarification on the regulations for underpinning and skirting.

5. Executive Session Report:

a. Newberry County Memorial Hospital will bring the property issue before their Board of Trustees on Tuesday, August 22. County Council will then consider the matter at a special meeting on Wednesday, August 30.

b. No report on a possible contractual matter involving J.F. Hawkins/Springfield Place.

c. The possible purchase of land for Haz-Mat and Rescue Squad #14 is not ready to be acted on.

d. Purchase of property/building for Board of Registration was not resolved; however, long term because of security some persons will have to move, which may generate more space for the Board. Short term, Mr. Waldrop knows of a building the County might be able to use and will check into this.

6. Newberry County Airport: A grant offer for design and acquisition of property for the new runway is on the agenda for tonight’s Council meeting for acceptance.

Mr. Pope advised that two tracts had to be obtained by the County at each end of the runway. He requested permission to make an offer to the landowner. There is also a 32 acre tract owned by 8 landowners scattered throughout the United States. This property will probably have to be acquired by condemnation.

The FAA required W.K. Dickson to justify all expenses and costs. As a result, the FAA reduced what W.K. Dickson proposed to charge for engineering services.

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

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 P.M.

NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

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Mike Hawkins, Chairman

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Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council