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  County Council meeting covers broad spectrum of issues and debate web posted March 11, 2010 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council held their snow delayed meeting Wednesday night covering assorted ordinances, contracts discussed, title changes and pay grades in the Tax Assessors Office, and expenditures totaling $12,500. The meeting lasted over two hours, as some discussions grew in depth and lengthy. County ordinances up for readings drew no opposition and were all decided on unanimous votes. The first being the second reading amending fees charged for re-inspection of properties under construction. An ordinance amending Section 91.99 of the County Ordinance Code requested by Merriwether Councilwoman Genia Blackwell to correct a misprint in the penalties of a first violation also passed a first of three required readings. The change stems from a case in the Delaughter Drive area that resulted in a case dismissed without prejudice regarding a situation between the county and a landowner. After a third reading the case can be resubmitted in the courts. A first reading of an ordinance to change purchasing procedures and will allow the county to enter into cooperative purchasing passed as did a resolution naming County Administrator Alton Brown as an alternate Director to the Board of the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority. Under Old Business was a request by the Edgefield Community Development Association (ECDA) for a $2,500 contribution towards the celebrations planned by the ECDA throughout the year on the 225th anniversary of the founding of Edgefield County. After County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece read the request a lull fell over the council. Councilman Rodney Ashcraft asked if the first event, the Birthday Bash planned on March 20 was already funded. Jerry Galloy, of the ECDA, rose to the podium and stated the funds for the initial celebration were already in hand. Other events planned throughout the year were still awaiting contributions, including funds from the county. Councilwoman Blackwell said she thought it was a wonderful way to promote the county but would like to see other areas of the county such as the Ridge Peach Festival in Trenton and the Peach Blossom Festival in Johnston promoted along with events in Edgefield. “I would have liked to see Trenton and Johnston incorporated somehow since it is representative of the county,” she said, since all the activities are planned around the town of Edgefield. Councilman Ashcraft asked about the other events planned and Mr. Galloy said in addition to the Birthday Bash they would be holding a family fun day on the Edgefield Square on May 22 with live music, arts and crafts, inflatables for the children, and a dunking booth. “Mr. Blackwell (Edgefield Daily founder) has volunteered to be a ‘dunkee’ (in the dunking booth) on that day, so get your pitching arm and come on out.” Councilwoman Blackwell responded, “That’ll be a money maker”. Galloy said there would also be a Founders Day event on July 17 at the Edgefield soccer field and with events for all ages and, depending on funds raised, possible fireworks. After further discussion the county council voted to approve the contribution using funds from the council’s contingency account, presently at roughly $85,000. The county council also approved a contract with Palmetto Posting that would alleviate the county from using in-house employees from averting their prescribed jobs to post property being placed to tax sales. Greg Tucker explained in detail how their company provides a more complete and patented service to assure that challenges to tax sales would be verifiable if challenged in court. The cost of each property posted would be $35 and would be charged on the due tax bill and would not have to be paid by the county. Tax Collector Linda Priest said the current process is not as complete and is already added to past due tax bills. The council voted to approve the contract for one year and would review the process the following year. Contracts on janitorial, grounds, and pest control were all taken in as information and no voted taken. The contracts currently in place do not expire until June 30. A request to place 100 hard cover volumes of the US Code of Laws, 20 supplementals, and 10 SC Code of Laws up for auction was discussed. Councilman Norman Dorn asked what the objects to be placed out for bid were. “Is this a car? What is that?”, he asked. Chairman Kneece explained they were books containing the laws. Chairman Kneece asked County Administrator Alton Brown is he could shed some light on the items. Brown said they were law books purchased for him prior to his being hired and he had no use for them. “Everything is online,” he said. The council voted to place the books up for sale. The discussion turned towards PARD funds used for recreation with Administrator Brown explaining that there had been discussions concerning the expenditure of the funds over the past week and that according to his information the county is not required to sign off on expenditures of the funds, that responsibility lies with the Legislative Delegation consisting of Sen., Massey and Rep. Clyburn and Smith. Administrator Brown asked Finance Director Lynn Strom to explain the current available funds and she stated that the county was allocated $34,264.45, $12,490 that had to be used by October 31 and the remaining $21,774 had to be used by May 31. A project approved in Johnston exceeded an amount approved by the county council in allocations. A discussion on how that could take place and County Attorney Michael Medlock explained that the county council does not have control over the money. “That’s not the way we’ve been doing it,” Councilman Norman Dorn said. “No,” Chairman Kneece replied. “We’ve been doing it wrong,” Councilwoman Blackwell said. Chairman Kneece stated that this was a matter that the county council would have to take up with the Legislative Delegation. County Attorney Medlock explained that the PARD funds (Parks and Recreation Development) was not under the control of the county and was similar to C-Funds used for road paving. “The money may be allocated to the county, but he council doesn’t control how it is spent,” he said. After voting to go into an executive session to discuss a personnel issue the council returned to vote to accept a change to the title allocations and pay grades for employees of the Tax Assessors Office. A copy of those stipulations was not provided at the meeting. The stipulations included requirements for various positions and the associated pay scales paid to employees. A discussion of the offices that would be located in the lower section of the Calliham Building purchased drew a near hour long discussion which is cover in this report. With no other business the meeting was adjourned. © Copyright 2010
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