NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

 

The Newberry County Council met on Tuesday, November 22, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. for a special called meeting.

 

PRESENT:                   Mike Hawkins, Chairman

                                    William D. Waldrop, Vice Chairman

                                    John E. Caldwell, Councilman

                                    John David Dawkins, Councilman

                                    Andy Morris, Councilman

                                    Edgar Baker, Councilman

                                    Leonard B. Sossamon, Jr., County Administrator

                                    Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

 

ABSENT:                    Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

                                    Henry B. Summer, Councilman

 

MEDIA:                       Cindy Pitts, Newberry Observer

                                    Heather Hawkins, WKDK

                                    Cassie Fowler, Whitmire

 

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

 

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

 

William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman, had the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

2.         Additions, Deletions and Adoption of Agenda:

 

The following items were added to the agenda:

 

1.         Discussion of agreement entered into between Newberry County and City of Newberry for the aerial fire truck.  (Agenda Item 4.1)

 

2.         Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter and an economic development matter.  (Agenda Item 4.2)

 

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

 

3.         Resolution approving the annual adjustment of rates at J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home.

Martha Bursinger, Administrator of J.F. Hawkins/Springfield Place, recommended an increase of 6% to 7% in room rates.    

 

After discussion by Council relating to comparable rates, Mr. Morris moved that the room rates be increased to an average of rates charged by other facilities in the surrounding area; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

4.         Approval of temporary easement for Plum Creek Timber Company to cross property recently purchased by the County of the Whitney Estate for the Maybinton ball field project.

 

Plum Creek has requested permission from Newberry County for a temporary easement across the Whitney property, said easement to expire December 31, 2006.  The purpose of the easement is for Plum Creek to timber their property. 

 

There was concern as to whether the granting of this easement to Plum Creek would hold up building the ball field and exactly where Plum Creek needed to cross the county’s property. 

 

Because of the above issues, Mr. Caldwell moved to postpone until after the work session on December 14, 2005; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.    

 

4.1       Aerial fire truck.

 

The agreement between the County of Newberry and the City of Newberry was that the County would pay 30% of the cost for the new aerial fire truck and that the old aerial fire truck would be sold and the funds received from the sale of it would be credited to the county’s portion of the cost of the new truck.  Chief Joe Palmer and Mr. Sossamon have been attempting to dispose of the old truck and have now received a bid from the Town of East Spencer, North Carolina in the amount of $35,000.  Mr. Sossamon recommended that County Council consider the bid and authorize acceptance of the bid. 

 

Mr. Caldwell moved to sell the old aerial fire truck to the Town of East Spencer for $35,000; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

4.2       Executive Session:

 

Mr. Morris moved to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter involving the Magistrate’s Office and an economic development matter involving an industrial park; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 10:15 A.M. – 10:54 A.M.]

 

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

 

Mr. Dawkins moved to request a meeting with Senator Cromer to discuss the Magistrate situation on November 29, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

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

 

            Meeting adjourned at 10:56 A.M.

 

                                                                        NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Mike Hawkins, Chairman

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council