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  Tensions Evident at County Council Meeting web posted September 11 2012 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council held their rescheduled meeting Monday night in a room that could feel the tension that began from the opening when Chairman Dean Campbell asked for a motion to approve the agenda to get the meeting underway and no motion came. It was only after a much delayed second call for a motion that Councilman Rodney Ashcraft gave the nod and Campbell quickly gave the second and the agenda was approved. That set the tone for the rest of the meeting. The first order of business, a final reading on setting the Parliamentary Procedures on how meetings are conducted, met with a tirade by Councilman Norman Dorn that often times had nothing to do with the ordinance and was unintelligible at other times. Dorn complained that he did not know, "who is staff", when mentioned in the agenda. Of course "staff" consists of the employees of the county council; County Administrator, Finance Director, Clerk to Council, County Attorney, and others. After Dorn's rant, the ordinance was passed on a 4-1 vote with Dorn voting no. The following four items, three second readings of ordinances listed to have a public hearing that was advertised with the wrong meeting date and a first reading of a Resolution to adopt a "Pending Ordinance Doctrine", which imposes the ordinance before final approval, were held over until the regular October meeting. Following the appointment of board members; Duane Faust to the Fire Board, Barbara Jackson to the Hospital Board, and Councilman Willie Bright to the Recreation Board - all approved unanimously - the tension grew with the next two agenda items. The first was to provide additional compensation for County Attorney Michael Medlock to represent the county is tax appeals to the Administrative Law Judge. Medlock sought to have additional hours spent representing the county in court with a fee of up to $2,500 per appeal. Medlock stated that this was work beyond his required duties. Councilman Willie Bright stated that the county attorney has almost always attended these types of hearings in the past at no additional pay. Following a lengthy discussion, with another rambling tirade about "taxpayer money" by Dorn, the motion died for a lack of a motion. Next on the agenda was a related resolution on the filing of a lawsuit against the Brewers Scrap Metal business on Woodyard Road in Trenton. According to the agenda, part of the business is located closer than 500 feet from the closest residence and several noise complaints have been issued to the county. The main focus is the scales which were in place when the present company took over the property prior to the current regulations being put in place. In addition, Medlock was again requesting up to $2,500 for filing and prosecuting the enforcement of the Land Use Ordinance, which did not require a vote of the county council. Councilman Dorn stated he would support paying the extra "fee" if the lawsuit would include the business owner paying the attorney fees if the county won the case. Medlock said he would include that in his filing. Vice-Chairwoman Genia Blackwell made the motion to table the item until more information could be provided on whether the county could include recovering attorney fees, which Medlock said was doubtful. The item was tabled on a vote of 4-1 with Dorn voting against. During the discussion Medlock said following Dorn's remark that he did not see a problem in paying him for extra work, which had already been defeated in the previous vote. He suggested council review the previous item and that a big case - already filed - was going to be heard next week and that if the extra funds were not provided, "I'm not going", to represent the county. That drew wide-eyed looks from members of council. Chairman Campbell stated that he expected Medlock to file for a continuance in the case with Medlock balking at first that he did not know if it would be continued. Other ordinances passed were a first reading on the definition of "manufactured housing" which received unanimous support. A request to seek a new employee to fill a slot left open by Roger LeDuc taking the new job as part-time administrator for the Town of Edgefield passed on a 4-1 vote, Dorn voting no. An agreement to extend a lease between the Edgefield Catholic Church and the county for use of their parking lot for $600 a year also passed on a 3-0 vote. Councilman Dorn went on a rant and then walked out of the meeting and Councilman Ashcraft recused himself from the vote as a member of the church. Under the Administrator's Report, Administrator Lynn Strom said that Vice-chair Genia Blackwell sent a packet to each affected property owner that would be in the Highway Overlay District (HOD) along Martintown Road that is being proposed. Strom said that several people have already contacted her and Vice-chair Blackwell and she supported Blackwell mailing the information out to property owners. The HOD is not currently scheduled to be on the agenda and has been taken in as information only at this time. Administrator Strom also stated that the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has reviewed complaints about tractor trailer trucks on Sweetwater Road and has agreed that some signage needs to be changed reducing speed limits in some areas and that guardrails were also probably needed in other areas. Strom said that just because the road and suggestions had been accepted, there is no timeframe as to when SCDOT will act upon them. Vice-chairwoman Genia Blackwell announced at the close of the meeting that she, Merriwether Fire Chief Joey Smith, Fire Board member Ray Johnson and Administrator Strom has attended a meeting with Ambassador Hank Cooper and his wife Bobbye Cooper and that they were willing to donate up to 4 acres to the county that includes the old "Copper School", later registered as the Sweetwater Community Center, to the county. Blackwell said that it is hoped that public donations would be available to bring the community center back to life and that there is a possibility of establishing a fire station and EMS base on the property as well. Firefighters from Merriwether and the Westiside Fire Department spent a considerable amount of time clearing the overgrowth around the building and removing debris from the property. The acceptance of the property is expected to take place in October. "This is something very exciting for District 5 and I hope to see it come together." Councilman Bright said, "That's a nice place. The council went into executive session to discuss a "personnel matter" following the end of the business meeting including County Administrator Strom and Attorney Medlock. Half way through the meeting Medlock returned to the chambers while the closed session continued. Council returned to open session and no action was taken. With no other business the meeting was adjourned. Editor's note: Other matters discussed at the county council meeting will be covered in a follow up report on Wednesday. © Copyright 2012 All material is property of
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