NOTE: These are the minutes as submitted by the Town of Latta. Minor corrections to spelling and grammar have been made to ease readability.
Regular Council Meeting Of the Latta Town Council January 12, 2017 7:00 PM
The Latta Town Council held a regular meeting on January 12, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The following council members where present: Councilman Taylor, Drawhorn, Mason, Reaves, Bullard, and Bethea. Councilman Mason called the meeting to order, led by the pledge of allegiance and offered prayer.
Councilman Herring was absent.
Minutes from December 8, 2016 meeting
Motion was made by Councilman Drawhorn to accept minutes and seconded by Councilman Taylor.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council
Chris Brown to present Flag for Latta
Chris had drawn out a flag that he feels would represent the town, and he explained to the council what each color in the flag has a meaning. Chris said that the blue and white represents South Carolina, the triangle presents Dillon County, the star represents Latta, and the gold and green represents the Latta Vikings. Councilman Mason says you’re presenting us with this flag, and this is something you would like the town to adopt. Chris answered yes. Councilman Taylor said he liked how he thought through it, and everything means something.
Motion was made by Councilman Drawhorn to accept the representation for the Town Flag and was seconded by Councilman Reaves.
Councilman Mason said he liked the design. He thought it was great, but asked council where on the budget are we going to come up with the money to have the flag made. Councilman Taylor said he would pay for the flag to be made, and Councilman Drawhorn said if he needed any assistance he would help.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.
Reappointing of Judge
Councilman Drawhorn made a Mmotion to reappoint the judge (Janette Dupree) to her position for another year. This was seconded by Councilman Reaves.
Councilman Taylor explained due to issues coming up down the line and nothing personal to the judge’s part, and he would like to talk to the judge about it and apologized that he hadn’t already talked to her.
Motion to table the reappointing of the judge until next council meeting was made by Councilman Taylor and seconded by Mayor Bullard.
Councilman Taylor-aye, Councilman Drawhorn-nay, Councilman Mason-aye, Councilman Reaves-aye Mayor Bullard-aye, and Councilman Bethea-aye.
Reappointing of Clerk
Mayor Bullard asked to make a motion that we defer reappointing the clerk until February meeting. The motion died for a lack of a second. Councilman Mason said I am waiting on some kind of motion to handle this situation or are we going to table it. Councilman Taylor said he didn’t see any reason to table it at this point unless there is some other discussion. I don’t know about at this point either. Mayor Bullard explained that it would be covered in that executive session. Councilman Mason made a motion to move the reappointing of the clerk until after executive session, and Councilman Taylor seconded.
Councilman Taylor, Mason, Reaves, Bullard, and Bethea said-aye, Council Drawhorn \-nay.
Recodification of
Ordinance Title 8
Councilman Mason read through changes that was made in title 8. There were things that were taken out and a few things added. If you would like to see a copy, it will be available at the town hall.
2nd reading of Truck Ordinance
Commercial tractor-trailers should be prohibited to travel through neighborhood streets and limited to Academy Street, Edwards Street, Gasque Drive, Hwy, 301, Hwy, 917, and Henry Street. Parking of commercial tractors (vehicles) shall be limited to one vehicle per principal residence of the driver. Idling the engine of commercial tractors parked on residential premises should not exceed 15 minutes. A commercial tractor-trailer may be defined of any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 IBs or more without legal cause or good excuse.
Motion was made by Councilman Taylor and seconded by Mayor Bullard.
It was unanimously approved by roll call of council.
Latimer School
Each council member was given a copy of the contract that was received from the school. It is the same contracted that they had before and basically they are selling the old Latimer school to the town for a total of $20. Councilman Mason read over the contract again of what the school is asking of the town.
Motion was made by Councilman Drawhorn to accept the contract with the school district and seconded by Councilman Taylor.
Mayor Bullard wanted to state one thing, and the only thing that concerns me is even though they agree to pay part of the expenses at some point in time the total maintainance of that facility is going to fall on the taxpayers in the town. The building being the age it is and knowing nothing gets better with time when it comes to buildings I really am concerned that it’s going to be a burden on the taxpayers. If the town does rent it out at reasonable cost to people and if you look at the vacancies up and down Main Street you wonder who you are going to rent it to. Councilman Taylor said he has thought about the same things, and these are my thoughts on it. First thought is if town taxpayers don’t take up this particular project, the school is going to become a huge eye =sore for the town. As far as Main Street I think, and I may be wrong, but I think one person owns most of the buildings on Main Street, and they are not interested on renting them out; he is using them for storage. If we don’t take up the school, what will be the alternative? I don’t see a great alternative at this point, and if we don’t take it up, we have had threats of not having a gymnasium to play our recreation basketball. Councilman Taylor said that he would hope that the council would get a board together, and they would take the rent and put in an account to be used to pay some of these expenses and cost. The school has a lease for ten years that is worth $240,000 and that’s Councilman only one lease; there are others that want to lease out other parts of the school.
Councilman Mason asked to make an amendment to the motion that we accept the building and go through with the contract, but we put a board in place to manage the building instead of council doing it. They will keep up with the money coming in, and it would be put in a separate account not in the revenue or general fund accounts. Councilman Drawhorn and Councilman Taylor accepted the amendment.
Councilman Mason made a motion to accept the contract from the Latimer school as a town building property for $20 and with doing that we are going to put a board in place that is going to handle getting it rented and supervising any repairs and so forth and the money will be put in a separate account just for that building not to be used for any of the town’s functions.
Councilman Taylor, Drawhorn, Mason, Reaves, and Bethea all said aye, and Mayor Bullard said Nay.
Judge’s Report
Judge Dupree read her December report with no courtesy notices writing, no notices sent to DMV, no traffic citations, no seatbelts. 1 warrant issued and 9 visits to the jail. The second page is the money that was taken in for the month of December.
Police Report
Chief Cartwright read his report, and he stated that we currently have all spots, except for one, filled at the police department. We are running background checks and interviewing for that slot and looking to fill in the next couple of weeks. The new officers are doing a great job patrolling and checking on the businesses.
The 2017 calendars are being printed up for the police department. Many of the local businesses sponsored the calendars, and we thank them for their support. There is no cost for calendars, and we will pass those out as soon as we get them in.
KC Capers was able to get a number for some vehicles that may be ready for the department to obtain. I have made contact with Charleston County who does have 2 Crown Vic’s that are about to be ready. Sgt. Ford there also noted there may be a Tahoe coming up that he will keep us in mind. We will be holding random checkpoints and road saturations. They will be during the day, in the mornings, evenings, and some at night, in areas of the town.
We are investigating numerous car break-ins in town. They are happening in the county as well. We ask that everyone keep their valuables locked up and remember to lock your vehicles.
Water/Sewer
James Small stated there was 12 water leaks the town had fixed in the past month. They installed a new meter box on Railroad Avenue, patched holes on Leitner Street by the bank and on Bethea Street. We welded bed in the dump truck and we have been blowing, jetting, and vacuuming out manholes. Councilman Mason ask James had he had a chance to talk to Rodney Berry about the invoice for Butler’s Electric. James said he had to get the invoice from Rebecca, and he would go over to talk with him about it. Councilman Taylor wanted to talk about the sewer system and some of the manhole overflows. He said we have had problems for years, and we have three upgraded systems—one on Munn Street, one on Edwards, and one on Bethea Street Ext. s and asked what does that mean the other seven pump stations don’t pump as efficiently. Talking to the engineers we have not done a comprehensive study of our system since 1976 so we are going to bring in this company in run 5 or 7 cameras through every inch of our sewer system and find out where the biggest leaks are and fix the biggest leaks first.
Street Report
Curt Miller has been working on the pile for DHEC so they can start burning some of the debris. DHEC says the pile of debris has to be 45×45 with 20 feet between each pile before you can burn, and you can’t burn but one pile at a time. He stated he has contacted and/or left messages with people about cleaning ditches and someone recommended I talk to Mike Poston with DOT. I have also contacted Mr. Charles Smith concerning the sidewalks and bridges because FEMA is going to help with the sidewalks and bridges repair. The guys have taken twenty-five loads of debris for this month, and the chipper is not working, and they are trying to get it fixed.
Councilman Taylor said that FEMA will pay the money before you ever light the first pile, but what I need from you is the burn permit, and you can’t get a burn permit until you separate the pile. When I get that then I can collect the fees for debris collection and through FEMA. It is set up in three different ways—your first 30 days, your second 30 days, and last 30 days . They give you 90 days to deal with it. April 2 is the cut off it will be the last day to claim anything.
Councilman Taylor said there are some things he wanted to talk about bridges in the town and both of these points will be covered 75% if not more. The town’s FEMA liaison told me that in order to do the taxpayers of Latta a service what the town council need to do is pass an ordinance stating that any time bridge work is redone due to nature disaster that it must be up graded to current code and standards. The reason being is the bridge on Highland Drive has cross tiles or boards, and FEMA is willing to do this time is to repair that bridge where is it retainable, functional, and safe.
Councilman Reports
Councilman Taylor
I want to bring it to council’s attention that Rock Tenn is most part shut down and what that means at this point and time is about a ten thousand dollar loss on the water sewer revenue. Councilman Mason well there is two ways to look at it —one is it’s a ten thousand dollar loss in water revenue, but it’s a reduction in possible fines and stuff from there sewer release.
Councilman Taylor has been working on FEMA’s paperwork with the man hours we have used and debris cleanup we will be reimbursed 85% and machinery even down to chain saws we will get 100% but it will be dragged out to 90 days. Don’t want to give the numbers right now, but it looks very promising.
Councilman Drawhorn
Curt (Miller) covered about the sidewalks, and there is so limbs that need trimming on Church Street. I know the street department is busy, but spring is coming and they’re going to hang even more. I also wanted to thank council for working together ,and I see the town moving forward. The Senior Citizens Ladies say the town gets a check for them to be over in the art center, and no one has ever seen any money for them to be in the art center.
Councilman Drawhorn ask about 301 and when it would get cleared up, and Councilman Mason said they would have it fixed by March and the road will be opened up.
Councilman Reaves
Want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Mayor Bullard
Got a couple of things everyone. Got a copy of the letter from the Chamber of Commerce. I just got it out the mail box and like to remind department heads that when you go see a contractor about doing some work try to get three estimates if you can, that way everyone is happy.
When it comes to funds transfer when we transfer money in between funds there was an article last year that there is a process that has to be followed to keep us out of trouble as far as transferring money.
Councilman Bethea
I wanted to know about the bridge on Bethea Street and Curt Miller said that was one of the ditches FEMA is going to help us with. Councilman Bethea said Craig Carmichael called me. He lives at the corner of Marion and Bethea Street and there is a little ditch that runs down by his house, and it needs to be dug out just a little. Councilman Taylor said FEMA had theire engineer come in and look at Bamberg Street ditches and Bethea Street ditch. We wrote a project work sheet up and we had to go hand it to a contractor and say this is what we need done.
Councilman Mason
First off all council should have gotten a primary draft of the Profit and Loss detail for July – December 2016. This includes everything that was paid through bill.com and some things that was gotten and paid here locally.
I got a call from Harold Kornbult the other day and he is our back up for the IRS on the accounting stuff. It seems that the clerk treasurer didn’t turn in the W2s for 2014 for the 2013 year, and they have hit the town with a $66,000 fine. I gave Harold the information to go ahead and give them the W2s electronically. He has written them a letter. I have it here if anyone wants to read it, and it basically says the problem and filing has been cured and we have gone through several clerk- treasurers, and he request that the penalty be dropped.
I have talked with a local vendor, and they are talking to us about a program where we put conversion kits on the vehicles and start using propane in the vehicles as well as gasoline. It’s a either or. You can run propane—it is cleaner and cheaper, the actual vehicle doesn’t know the difference. Councilman Taylor said there is less wear and tear on vehicles. There is a grant from the government at no cost to the town, and they will come in and put them on the vehicles. They would like to use us for a test study if the town is interested.
Webster-Rogers seems to have all the information necessary to do the audit. We have been using Munn and Associates, but it’s that time of the year where all there non-profits are coming in to get their audits done. I have reached out to Burch Oxner Seale Co. in Florence and Hill Jordan in Darlington. I have made a third call and waiting on them to call me back. I have sent them the town;s previous audit, and they are supposed to be getting back with me to see how much it will cost for an audit and how soon they can do it. I have spoken to John Williams and Hill Jordan and they made the commit that what he has done before for someone is there is a cash thing they can do a cash audit so to speak that can be done for the state. There is money we get in from the state and if you don’t have your audit, they hold that money.
Who-so-ever-will
Motion was made to go into executive session by Mayor Bullard and seconded by Councilman Bethea.
Councilman Taylor-nay and Councilman Drawhorn, Mason, Bullard, Reaves, Bullard, and Bethea-aye.
Town Council came out of executive session where we discussed a personnel matter. There were no votes taken or no decision made.
Reappointing of the Clerk
Motion was made by Mayor Bullard and seconded by Councilman Bethea to reappoint Rebecca (Page) for clerk-treasurer for one year.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.
Adjourned
