NEWBERRY COUNTY
COUNCIL
MINUTES
DECEMBER 28, 2006
Newberry County Council met on Thursday, December 28, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Courthouse Annex, 1309 College Street, Newberry, SC, for a special meeting.
Present were: 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
Wayne Adams, County Administrator
Gary T. Pope, County Attorney
Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council
Media: Heather Hawkins, WKDK
Lee Gray, 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.
Mr. Summer had the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Additions, deletions and adoption of agenda.
Mr. Dawkins moved to add public comments but that people who spoke last night allow someone else to speak unless they have new material. (Agenda item 6.2)
Mr. Morris moved to amend to restrict comments to only those items on the agenda tonight. Second by Mr. Summer. Voting for the amendment: Councilmen Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Morris and Baker. Voting against the amendment: Councilmen Hawkins and Dawkins. Motion passed by majority vote.
Mr. Hawkins called for the question on the main motion as amended: Voting for the motion: Councilmen Hawkins, Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Morris and Baker. Voting against the motion: Councilman Dawkins. Motion passed by majority vote.
Mr. Hawkins moved to add as agenda item 6.1 specific recommendations for spending cuts, and as 6.3 a Resolution.
Mr. Waldrop moved to adopt the agenda as amended; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous.
4. Ordinance #12-49-06: An Ordinance authorizing the transfer of all
right, title and interest in, and all rights and obligations under, the
Inducement Agreement and the Lease Agreement between Newberry County, as Lessor,
and Trucast, Inc., as Lessee, authorizing among other matters, the payment of a
fee in lieu of tax to Newberry County.
Mr. Summer moved for third reading; second by Mr. Baker. Vote was unanimous.
5. Ordinance
#12-52-06: An Ordinance making
provision for tax anticipation borrowing by Newberry County, South Carolina, in
the principal amount of not exceeding $10,000,000 in anticipation of the
collection of ad valorem taxes for the fiscal year beginning the first day of
July, 2006, and ending the 30th day of June, 2007; to prescribe the
terms and conditions of such borrowing and the form of Note to be executed
evidencing the same; to make provision for the payment thereof; to extend the
maturity date of the $10,000,000 Tax Anticipation Note of 2006 of Newberry County,
South Carolina; and other matters relating thereto.
Mr. Baker moved for
third reading; second by Mr. Waldrop.
Mr. Pope advised of a technical amendment to reflect
a change in the date to January 16, 2007.
Mr. Hawkins called for the question. Voting for the motion as amended: Councilmen Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Morris
and Baker. Voting against the
motion: Councilmen Hawkins and
Dawkins. Motion passed by majority
vote.
6. Ordinance
#12-53-06: An Ordinance to provide tax
relief to the taxpayers of Newberry County for the 2006 tax year, so as to
allow taxpayers to apply to pay their taxes in two approximately equal
installments, with one payment being due on or before January 16, 2007 and the
second payment being due on or before March 16, 2007.
Mr. Caldwell moved
for third reading; second by Mr. Morris.
Mr. Dawkins’ understanding was that Council would
vote on January 3 on spending cuts in the budget and capital projects. Will the County issue a revised bill by
March 16, 2007 as to what is owed rather than giving taxpayers a refund? Mr. Adams advised that the Tax Anticipation
Note borrowing was key to the tax bill and that the County had to make sure it
was solid with its lenders because the County would need that money for cash
flow.
Mr. Pope advised that if the payments were made in a
timely manner, statutory penalties would be waived. The application for installment payment will be on the County’s
Internet and forms will also be available in the Auditor’s Office, who will
administer the program. Nancy Owen,
Auditor, stated the applications were available in her office.
There being no further discussion, Mr. Hawkins
called for the question. Vote was
unanimous.
6.1 Specific recommendations for
spending cuts.
Mr. Hawkins advised that any persons who wanted to
recommend specific spending cuts would be allowed to speak. The following persons spoke as to spending
cuts: Representative Jeff Duncan,
Bailey McClinton, Lou Neiger, Tracy Dominick, Donald Paczyski, Jim Huff, Reba
Lester, Doris Cubitt and Jimmy Martin.
Suggestions made were:
·
Cut
budget/costs/spending.
·
Cut out the capital
improvement programs where possible.
·
Sell all, or a
portion, of the 773 property.
·
County employees pay a
portion of health care coverage.
·
Local repair of County
vehicles.
·
Sheriff’s building
spending.
·
Sell old Library
building.
·
Move Library and/or
Sheriff’s Office to the old Wal-Mart building.
·
Address the illegal
aliens problem.
·
Utilize older
buildings.
·
Liquidate where
possible.
·
Sell J.F. Hawkins
Nursing Home.
·
Cut out unfunded sales
tax projects.
·
Cut County staff.
·
Cut travel expense.
Other persons allowed to speak regarding
reassessment and taxes were: Mitch
Howard, Joe Haywood, Ronnie Hydrick, Tom Crooks, Larry Koon, Donnie Berry,
Kenneth Brooks, Ruth Beevers, Nancy Dickert, Harold Broughton and other
unidentified persons.
6.2 Public Comments.
No comments from the public.
6.3 Resolution
honoring Andy Morris.
Mr. Caldwell moved to adopt the Resolution; second by Mr. Waldrop. Vote was unanimous.
Mr. Hawkins thanked Mr. Morris for his service on County Council and presented him with the following Resolution:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA )
) RESOLUTION
NO. 18-06
COUNTY OF
NEWBERRY )
WHEREAS,
Newberry County Council wishes to express its appreciation for the spirited and
honorable service rendered by a Pomaria native, who attended the public schools
of Richland County and who served his County as County Council representative
from District Three from December 19, 2003 until January 4, 2007.
WHEREAS,
Andy Morris was born in Columbia in 1943 and grew up in the Pomaria community
in Newberry County, and, after graduating from the University of South Carolina
with a degree in Business Management, he began a distinguished business career
in the information systems management industry, and retired from the South
Carolina Electric and Gas Company.
Since his retirement from SCE&G, he has been active in numerous
civic affairs; and
WHEREAS,
Andy Morris has been a lifelong member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church,
and has given generously of his time for the benefit of his church, including
serving as President of the Methodist Men’s Club, as member and past Chairman
of the Administrative Council, as a certified lay speaker and Chairman of the
Finance Committee, and as an active participant in the semi-annual church
Barbeque, which is locally renowned for the perfection of its BBQ ribs and
hash; and
WHEREAS,
Andy Morris has also served his community by his active participation in the
Pomaria Ruritan Club, the St. Andrews Rotary Club, the Mid Carolina Athletic
Booster Club, the Newberry County Forestry Association, the Mt. Pleasant
Hunting Club; and
WHEREAS, Andy
Morris began his public service to the citizens of Newberry County when he was
appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Newberry County
Memorial Hospital, and later was honored by his appointment by the Legislative
Delegation to the County Transportation Committee, and later to the Central
Midlands Council of Governments; and
WHEREAS,
Andy Morris showed his willingness to continue serving the citizens of Newberry
County by offering for election as the County Council member from District
Three after the untimely death of Councilman Jerry Alewine, and the citizens of
his district expressed their confidence in him by electing him to serve as
their representative for a term which commenced on December 19, 2003, and ends
on January 3, 2007; and
WHEREAS,
Andy Morris has been married to his wife, Willie, for forty-one years and they
have two devoted sons, Kevin and Tim; a daughter-in-law, Lisa; and one
grandson, Tyler.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Newberry County Council honors the life of
service of their good friend and colleague, Andy Morris.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall be published in the
official minutes of the Newberry County Council, and
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a framed duplicate original of this Resolution
shall be personally presented to Andy Morris at his last official Council
meeting, with the deep appreciation of all the members of Newberry County
Council and the elected officials and employees of the County.
ADOPTED by
the Newberry County Council in meeting duly assembled this 28th day of December,
2006.
NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL
/s/ Mike Hawkins, Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council
[Signed copy attached to original minutes]
Mr. Morris made the following comments (copy attached to original minutes):
“I would like to thank the voters of District 3 for the opportunity given me to represent them for the last three years on Newberry County Council. It has been a high honor and privilege, which I will always cherish.
I can truly say that I have given it my all and that I feel that I have made a positive difference for the future of all of the citizens of Newberry County and Newberry County. I tried to make decisions based on the facts presented and what would be in the best long term interests of the majority of our citizens and Newberry County as a whole. I can leave with my head held high knowing that great things are in tore for our county in the not too distant future.
I want to thank our county administrative staff for tolerating me for the last three years. I want to thank Gary Pope for all of his help and assistance. I would like to thank all of our county elected officials for the opportunity to work with you in order to make Newberry County a better place. I thank each of you for your hard work and dedication to the citizens of our county. I know that sometimes it appears to be a thankless task.
I want to thank Wayne Adams for the leadership and vision he has given us during the last three and one half months under very trying circumstances. You were truly given a baptism under fire. You are the right person at the right time for our county. I regret that I have only been given this short amount of time to work with you. I look for great things from you in the future. I challenge council to do whatever it takes to hang on to Wayne. He may not always tell you what you want to hear, but he will tell you what you need to hear.
During the last three years I have met and become friends with a lot of dedicated county employees and elected officials. These friendships will be cherished and nurtured as we go into the future.
I want to thank all of my fellow councilmen for your help and support during the last three years. Without your support and assistance I would not have been successful in the initiatives I put forward. For that support I will always be grateful. I have learned a lot from each of you.
I now want to challenge each of you councilmen as you make decisions in the future. This county faces some monumental decisions that are going to have to be dealt with in the very near future and have long term implications. The challenge that I give you is that each of you will make decisions not based on short term political gain, political grandstanding, decisions benefiting only a small minority of citizens or a special interest group, but decisions that are made that will be in the best long term interests of the majority of the citizens of Newberry County and Newberry County as a whole. Don’t back up on commitments already made, commitments that will move this county forward. If you go back and undo what you have done, you will never be able to recoup your losses. I ask that you work together on a unified front for the benefit of the majority while you still have the opportunity to enable positive results. You have much to gain but even more to lose if you are not timely and decisive in your actions. It’s time for leadership and statesmanship to prevail.
I may no longer be on County Council, but you know me well enough to know that I will not ride off into the sunset. I will be around to let you know how you are doing. More than likely you will continue to hear from me.
If I can ever be of assistance, please let me hear from you. I will be more than willing to help in any way that I can.
May God continue to bless each of you and Newberry County.
Thank you.
Andy Morris”
7. Future
meetings.
The next Council meeting is Wednesday, January 3, 2007, a 7:00 p.m. Meeting location will be announced.
The oath of office will be administered on Wednesday, January 3, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
8. Vote
for Adjournment.
Mr. Baker moved to adjourn; second by Mr. Morris. Vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL
____________________________________
Mike Hawkins, Chairman
____________________________________
Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council
APPROVED: FEBRUARY 7, 2007