Dillon City Council
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 11, 2016
– 7:00 p.m.
The City of Dillon Council’s first meeting of the New Year was held on Monday, January 11, 2016 in the Council Chambers of the City-County Complex Building located at 401 West Main Street in Dillon SC. Councilmembers present were Mayor Todd Davis, Councilman James Washington, Mayor Pro-Tem Connie Manning, Councilman Johnny Eller, Councilman John Braddy and Councilman Phil Wallace. Councilman Douglas Jackson was absent.
Mayor Todd Davis called the meeting to order at 7:01pm by asking everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Benny Genwright. Councilman Phil Wallace made a motion to approve the agenda with a second from Councilman John Braddy. The motion passed unanimously. Councilman Wallace also made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2015 regular meeting, with support from Councilman Johnny Eller. This motion also passed unanimously.
Mayor Davis began his report by stating that we were half way through the fiscal year and were already on target to collect $550,000 in the 2% hospitality tax fund. He said the balance in that account is approximately $965,000. The bond payment for the Wellness Center in the amount of $239,000 has to be made in February. The Mayor said we are in a position to start some long range planning on other projects for the Wellness Center. The Mayor said he also has some ideas to enhance the Wellness Center but he would discuss those with Glen. Mayor Davis said he and Glen had met with Trip Muldrow, Senator Kent Williams, Representative Jackie Hayes, Hartsville City Manager, Tonny McNeil, and Ed West from the Department of Commerce to discuss the possibility of a hotel in Dillon. The Mayor said Dillon fits the criteria but we also need to do a basic feasibility study that would cost around $10,000. He asked Council if they wanted to move forward. He said some wanted to look at a hotel downtown, but he felt that we wanted to take advantage of the I-95 traffic. Councilman Braddy made a motion to move forward with the feasibility study at a cost of $10,000 using 3% funds. Councilman Wallace seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Continuing his report, the Mayor said that the four corners of Harmon Park needed to be upgraded. He suggested that we ask different groups, civic organizations, and the garden clubs to each take a corner to maintain. He said we could make it a contest and offer a prize. He asked Maggie to look into this. He also asked Glen if we could remove the basketball goal. Glen said yes. Councilman Eller asked if we could look into adding a swing for the handicapped. Glen said we used to have a wheelchair swing, but he would look into adding one. The Mayor then asked why we do PR (Personal Recognizance) bonds for out of state offenders when we may never hear from them again. Glen said this may be a question we can discuss with our new Municipal Judge, Mackie Hayes. Lastly, the Mayor thanked the employees for a great Christmas dinner and he also thanked the street and sanitation workers for working out in the cold. The Mayor also said that Glen and Janet have done a great job on the pay scale for the city employees.
City Manager Glen Wagner began his report with a review of the current budget. He said we are six (6) months into our new fiscal year and General Fund revenues and expenses are about the same as they were in 2014 at this same time of year. He highlighted the following revenue items: property taxes down 5% but they pick up in January and February; motor vehicle taxes down; business licenses at 13.5% versus 9% in 2014; court fines 2% below 2014 level; lot mowing, demolition, interest, state aid, and LOST revenue were the same. Glen said the electricity expenses in General Fund were about the same but fuel was down due to the low price of fuel. In the Water & Sewer Fund, revenues and expenses were holding steady. Water/Sewer Sales were at 50%, which was the same as this time last year. Councilman Wallace asked where we were on the discussions with Perdue. Glen said we were supposed to meet with them tomorrow, Tuesday, January 12th, but the meeting had to be postponed. Councilman Wallace said he would like to sit in on the next meeting.
Next, the City Manager reported that we had received a grant in the amount of $350,000 to deal with the smell issue from Perdue. Glen said the project had previously been bid out with two bids coming in at over $800,000. We decided to rebid the project and received seven (7) bids. The lowest bid came in at $464,900 leaving a balance of approximately $115,000 that the City would have to pay. Glen said he needed a motion from Council to accept this bid. Councilman Wallace made the motion to accept the low bid of $464,900 from RWF Construction for the Perdue and Commerce Lift Stations project as recommended by our engineer Mike Hanna of Hanna Engineering, LLC, City Manager Glen Wagner and Water & Sewer Superintendent Hardy Jackson. Councilman Braddy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Citizens’ Reports:
Songia Wynn thanked Councilmembers for their donations to the new soup kitchen, which had opened today for the first time to help feed the homeless in the area. Ms. Wynn also informed Council of an issue with an abandoned house at the corner of East Street and Beaufort Street that is being used as a place for kids to hang around smoking and drinking. Glen asked Benny’s office to check on this along with the Police Department. Ms. Wynn also had an issue with tractor trailers in the area, mostly along Center Street. She said they are parking overnight and driving through the area and messing up the streets. The City Ordinance allows truckers to park their truck cabs but not their trailers in residential areas. Benny said he would check on this also.
Joyce McLellan asked Council if she lived in the city or the county. Ms. McLellan had requested some asphalt for her driveway and had been told to call different offices for her request. Council informed her that if she lived in the city limits then she also lived in Dillon County. Burt Rogers said he was working on her request but he was waiting for the asphalt to be delivered.
There was no unfinished business. In new business, Ordinance #16-01 was presented for first reading to specify when water and/or sewer services would be disconnected for nonpayment.
This new wording clarified that customers must pay their total bill, current and past due, if they have a past due bill when the current bill is sent out, or services will be disconnected five (5) days following the first day of the month. Customers can no longer only pay their past due bill to avoid cut off. Councilman Eller asked about adding a reconnection fee. Janet Bethea said she did not want to add more charges onto the customers who are already struggling to pay. Glen said we also have to pick up the garbage can when we cut off the services, so he was not opposed to adding a reconnection fee. Councilman Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance #16-01, Amending Title 4, Chapter 4, Section 4-4-1 (B) (Bill & Payment Schedule) for Water and Sewer Bills, on first reading with the addition of a reconnection fee for accounts that are cut off. Councilman Braddy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Glen said the changes would be reflected in the ordinance for the final reading.
Councilmember Reports:
Councilman Eller asked if the amount showing in the Police Department for holiday pay was correct. Glen said yes since many of them had worked December 23rd through December 25th for the holidays. Councilman Eller then thanked Betsy Finklea with the Dillon Herald for highlighting the Police Department. He said he was looking for more great things in 2016. Councilman Eller asked if the Cook-Out restaurant was coming to Dillon. Glen said we did not know at this time. Lastly, Councilman Eller asked if we had any warming shelters in the city or the county. Glen said there were no warming shelters per Mr. Moses Heyward with the Disaster Preparedness Office because the County does not have a building with a generator. Councilman Eller said this is something the City should look into.
Mayor Davis said he had spoken to the individuals at the Council on Aging office and they said the building in front of them is no longer condemned. Glen and Benny said the owner had been slowly working on the building. The Mayor also said that Mindy Taylor with Duke Energy said they would again offer the neighborhood energy saver program, which was set for people at 150% of the poverty level, beginning in March 2016.
Councilwoman Manning said Mr. Wanamaker, who is chairman of the Maple Park Committee, said he had some ideas for the park that he wanted to share with Glen. She also asked about a light request on the corner of 5th Avenue and Earl Street. Glen said it had been submitted.
Councilman Wallace made a motion to enter into an executive session for a contractual matter concerning the Municipal Court. Councilman Eller seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
With no further business to discuss, Councilman Braddy made a motion to adjourn, with a second from Councilman Wallace. The meeting adjourned.
