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  Budget tops discussion at April County Council meeting web posted April 7, 2010 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council held their first reading of the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year budget Tuesday night and, as Yogi Berra would say, it was Deja’ Vu all over again. The proposed budget zeroed out all non-profit organizations as well as funding for Piedmont Tech (PTC) as the revenues needed to support the necessary county operations fell short over a quarter of a million dollars. Although the budget passed as written on a 4-1 vote, Chairman Monroe Kneece stated later he wanted to see all of the items added back into the budget by the April 20 budget work session for recommendations. District 1 Councilman Norman Dorn spoke up before the vote stating he could not support countywide recreation or the road maintenance. Dorn stated that in his opinion when “countywide recreation” is mentioned it is directed at giving funds to the Bettis Park and nothing for the Northside Park in his district. “To get the grass cut we almost have to get a court order,” Dorn said. After a motion by Councilwoman Blackwell seconded by Councilman Ashcraft the vote feel 4 to 1 with Dorn casting the no vote. Later in the meeting Jim Klauber, of PTC rose to address the county council on the omission of funding for the Edgefield Campus and stated that PTC President Ray Brooks sent out a directive to stop registrations for summer and fall classes. “We cannot sustain operations in Edgefield if we are zeroed out,” Mr. Klauber said. “We cannot sustain operations in Edgefield if we have the same amount of money that was appropriated last year ($42,908).” Mr. Klauber stated that if the campus was to remain open the funding level would have to be restored to 2008-2009 levels, or roughly $85,000, or the campus would close. Klauber said they agreed to accept less than requested “for one year only” and expected funds would increase this year. He did note they did not expect to be “fully funded” at the requested $150,000 level, but seemed to place the ultimatum to the council of funding at past levels of the campus would be closed. “We have to make some progress of where we were two years ago,” Klauber said, “in order to keep doing what we are doing in Edgefield County, quite frankly.” Chairman Monroe Kneece stated that this was only the fist reading and budget work session would be held on April 20 and that would be the time for entities cut from the budget to approach the council. “Most of the stuff eliminated from this budget will be put back in and that’s the time we get down to the nitty gritty.” Chairman Kneece stated he felt certain that “some significant amount” would be put back in for Piedmont Tech, “but I can also tell you it won’t be $149,000.” Kneece stated that it would be better to wait to see what takes place after the workshop and directed a comment towards County Administrator Alton Brown on the matter. “Mr. Brown, I think you were going to put that back in there for that workshop. I heard that you said you were going to get that back in there.” Mr. Brown answered, “What?” Chairman Kneece stated, “Piedmont Tech.” Mr. Brown answered, “That’s your decision.” Councilman Dorn chimed in stating, “We don’t have to ask him, we tell him.” Chairman Kneece stated he would like to see each one placed on the budget as a “line item” for individual discussions in the next work session. Placing the requests back into the budget would add at least $72,000 to the deficit the county faces. In other matters, the county council held public hearings on final readings of ordinances to change first offense infractions of the nuisance ordinance and allowing the county to enter into “Cooperative Purchasing”. There were no comments on either and both passed on unanimous votes. The council also voted to approve a change to the Multi-County Park Agreement on industrial development between Aiken County and Edgefield County. Sam Moses, the attorney for MTU Detroit Diesel Inc., a subsidiary of the German-based and stock market listed Tognum Group, addressed the council stating that additional property is being sought to expand the Sage Mill Industrial Park to accommodate the new facility. The vote will increase revenues for the county around $4,000 under the two county agreement. Under Old Business consideration of bids for janitorial and grounds maintenance contracts were tabled at the request of Vice-chairman Willie Bright after a discussion of possibly using trustees of the county jail to perform the duties. The council agreed and voted to postpone accepting the bids until the matter could be looked into in more depth. Two bids for Pest Control by Peachtree Pest Control and David Parker Exterminating were rejected by the council after Councilwoman Blackwell stated she thought additional bids were going to be sought. She made a motion to reject the bids and place it back out for bids. “Maybe we will get a better price,” she said, and her motion was passed on a 5-0 vote. Chairman Kneece made the motion to place the item back out for bids which was also passed on a unanimous vote. Fred Humes of the Economic Development Partnership also addressed the county council saying that the $46,000 the county spends for the services is a bargain considering that it would cost the county between $100,000 and $200,000 to perform the same function on its own. Humes stated that the county receives about $28,000 under the current agreement between Aiken and Edgefield County, making the cost of the services even cheaper in perspective. The factors industry looks at in order to locate to a county, he said, relies on objective factors and subjective factors. On the objective factors are the availability of water, sewer, distance from the interstate system, buildings, taxes (which he said was “somewhat higher” in Edgefield County), and available workforce among others. Humes said Edgefield County has 20% of its residents working in Aiken County. 90% of companies looking to relocate are seeking existing buildings and Edgefield County does not have any in their industrial park. No mention was made of existing former textile mills closed and the buildings remaining empty including the Star Fiber Plant in Edgefield or the CMC plant in Trenton. However, those properties would not benefit the “partnership” as these are not covered under the two county agreement. One of the subjective factors included “quality of elected leadership” and “political instability” which for Edgefield County is “a big issue”. Humes said that industry looks at counties and in the past relied on newspaper accounts for information on the functioning of local government bodies. “Today they are getting that online.” Hunes stated that when companies contact him they are asking him questions about what is taking place in county government, “and they know what is going on before I ever see them.” Humes said he would not comment on that aspect other than to say, “After you read what goes on at council meetings would you characterize yourself as a visionary success oriented council or something different.” Humes refused to answer questions from the council and said he would be available after the meeting to take questions individually from council members. A final discussion of the concession stand at Bettis Park also drew protracted debate in what turned out not to be a final discussion after all. Vice-chairman Willie Bright defended the current circumstances with Mt. Canaan Association running the concession stand and keeping the revenues. County Magistrate Brenda Carpenter asked Mr. Bright if the funds were being documented and he answered yes. County Councilman Rodney Ashcraft challenged Mr. Bright by asking County Finance Director Lynn Strom if the revenues were accounted for in the county budget. She answered no. After a contentious debate Chairman Kneece appointed Councilmen Ashcraft and Dorn and Recreation Director Nick Wates to a committee to study the situation and file a report before the next regular meeting. Judge Carpenter stated in her statements that if one non-profit was able to use the county concession stand to raise funds it should be available to other county non-profits for the same purpose. No other decisions were made at the meeting and the council adjourned for the evening. © Copyright 2010
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