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County Council passes 07-08 Budget "as is" - Dorn argues for additional deputies

web posted June 6, 2007
EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council held their June meeting Tuesday evening to give the county’s operational budget for fiscal year 2007-08 its final reading. After Chairman Monroe Kneece called the meeting to order, and the council approved previous minutes and reports, the discussion turned toward the pending budget. Before the Chairman could ask for a motion for the final reading Councilman Norman Dorn interjected that he wanted to add two deputies to the budget now.

After giving a rambling diatribe Mr. Dorn said the two were needed regardless of the outcome of the grant application that could provide for four additional deputies. The grant application will not be approved or disapproved until September and Councilman Dorn stated that Sheriff Dobey needs two deputies now. Chairman Kneece pointed out that the budget, accepting that the grant application for four deputies is approved, already provides for additional deputies and wanted to clarify if Councilman Dorn wanted to hire two of the proposed four deputies or hire two now and if the grant is approved add the additional four for a total of six.

Councilman Dorn stated he wanted to add two deputies now and then add whatever the grant provides or does not provide. The question was placed as a motion by Mr. Dorn and died for a lack of a second. The vote was then properly motioned and seconded to pass the 2007-08 budget in its current form and passed on a four to one vote. Councilman Dorn said he was not going to vote for the budget if it did not include the two additional deputies.

Moving on Chairman Kneece introduced under New Business consideration of two appointments to the upper Savannah Workforce Development Board. The county council voted to reappoint Glen Herlong and appoint Joan Burgess to the board.

Next on the agenda was Sandy Quarles representing Sandy Oaks Professional Rodeo, which will be held on October 26 and 27 of this year, if she could give the Edgefield County Council an advertisement in the program for the event. “I’ve never had to come ask somebody if I could give them something before,” Mrs. Quarles joked while telling the council the ad would not cost the county anything. Also at issue, she said, was that Clerk to Council said it could only be a half page ad because that is all the county council buys in other publications.

The premise, Mrs. Quarles said she was told, was that other events might think the county council is spending more money for the ad and they may ask for a similar full page ad. “We’ll maybe then they can give a free ad too,” Chairman Kneece said laughingly. The council agreed to let Mrs. Quarles place the full-page ad.

Mrs. Quarles pointed out that the rodeo was the “first professional sport in Edgefield County”.

The county council also considered bids on providing two “gooseneck basketball goals” for the Northside Park. The low bid was submitted by Collegiate Pacific for $1,285. The discussion turned towards the funds for the asphalt used to pave the court. Administrator John Pettigrew said due to the rising cost of gasoline that the price of asphalt has also fluctuated and the entire cost of the project needed to be increased $779. The council voted to transfer the needed funds from the Westside budget to cover the additional costs. At the end of the meeting the council returned to the matter and voted to approve the bid for the goal posts.

The next matter discussed was bids for the sprinkler system at Bettis Park. Three bids were submitted; W.A. Bragg at $8,048.16, Barrett Supply at $7,492.16, and Wrightsboro Supply at $4,339.49. Vice-chairman Willie Bright interjected that he was not happy with the low bid and began saying he wanted to use different sprinkler heads. After a drawn out debate the council approved that the system expense would not exceed $8,000, $3,660.51 more than the low bid.

Sheriff Dobey addressed the county council in regards to raising the grades of clerks in the Sheriff’s office. The most recent review showed the positions should be upgraded which would allow for better salary increases in the next budget year. The council approved the position upgrades.

Administrator Pettigrew gave his report leading off that the Sheriff had just been informed that his Office has been approved for a new fingerprint scanner and system that will take digital fingerprints and aid in identifying fingerprints without having to take the Aiken County for processing. The grant provided $43,000 and the county matching funds are $14,000.

Mr. Pettigrew said the county has also received a $75,000 grant from DHEC to upgrade the recycling center in Merriwether. Councilman Joel Hudson suggested that there be a ramp or some other provision made to allow users of the facility a way to drop off heavy items such as washing machines from a level or lowered container. Mr. Hudson said somebody is going to get hurt having the lift heavy items up and into the raised bins. Chairman Kneece said Three Rivers Waste Authority could provide funds to take on the project.

With no other business the council voted to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. They returned with no action taken and adjourned the meeting.

 

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