Editor’s Note: The following are highlights from the Latta Town Council minutes from March-June. The Herald has made multiple requests for these minutes over the past several months, but did not receive these minutes until Friday, July 22nd. In the interest of space, timeliness, and public interest, we are printing only the highlights of these minutes instead of printing them in their entirety.
Regular Council Meeting of the Latta Town Council – March 10, 2016
Water/Sewer Department
Willie Hooks presented to council his interest in buying the green army truck from the police department. The Kelly Blue Book value for it is $12,490. He also explained that he is currently down two work trucks. Both the 1996 Yukon and F250 have blown transmissions. Council recommended he put the two vehicles on Gov. Deals, see his profit from those sales, and later look into buying the truck from the police department after collecting those funds. Mr. Hooks also announced that the town passed the toxicity test for the month of February. Mr. Don Blackmon recommended that the water department install new curtains at the pond so the flow won’t flow over the top.
*
Police Department
Chief Crystal Moore presented her report for February 2016. Traffic Summons (47), Warning Summons (27), Incident Reports filed (24, SLED Reports), Warrants served (13).
*
Recreation Department
An announcement was made that Mr. Ashley Miller has resigned from his position as Recreation Director.
*
Mayor Pro-Tem Brian
Mason – Councilman Report
In the near future there will be 20 new historic signs going up. One or two of the old ones will be moved. The signs will cost a total of $7,800. The signs will be placed on the following streets: Marion, Rice, Bethea, and Bamberg. Mr. David Earl Shelley has a map at his home if everyone would like to see the details. Latta Revitalization will be going in half and half with the town to buy a new sign where announcements are hung. The Town will be taking these funds from the accommodations and hospitality accounts.
*
Administrator Jarett Taylor
Councilman Taylor announced that in the past month the sidewalks on Marion and Bamberg Street have all been fixed. He is working with Mr. Willie Hooks to strategically place the four 60 watt generators that were purchased by the town for the water department. The town now owes the IRS $51,000.
Regular Council Meeting of the Latta Town Council – April 14, 2016
Pee Dee Coalition
Mrs. Glenda Schleich spoke on how sexual assault is a major public health, human rights, and social justice issue. To promote this issue the Coalition provides a 24-hour crisis line, support groups for survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, and family violence. They also provide self-defense training for women, community education and classroom presentations on dating violence. We appreciate you as community leaders, your support with the Coalition to work to end violence is greatly appreciated and thank you for your commitment to helping us create a safer, more compassionate community in Latta. They have served 56 individuals from Dillon County from January until [April 14, 2016].
*
Water and Sewer
Willie Hooks stated that he had a surprise visit from Danielle Watson with DHEC and she wasn’t happy with the way some of the things were going on. Danielle called Lab Certification from Columbia and they informed us that our equipment is old and out of date and we need to get our stuff up to date and that we really needed to think about getting the lab moved to a better location and having it updated. The lab is currently across the street from the Town Hall at 104 NW Railroad Avenue. Paula Brown is coming Wednesday, April 20, 2016, for a six-month inspection for the water. The past month the Town had 53 service calls, 17 water leaks, 5 major leaks, and 8 sewer blowouts. The Town had someone go to the sewer pond and kill six beavers, 3 muskrats, and several baby beavers he caught in traps.
*
Parks and Recreation
Dewayne Buckner started as an interim on March 21, 2016. As of April 6, 2016, he was told that he had the job full time.
*
Police Department
The Town had 31 moving violations, 16 warnings, 35 SLED reports, and 26 warrants served.
*
Councilman Jarett Taylor
Mrs.Nancy Brigman is sponsoring community and schools in Dillon County. They are asking the Town to give $250 and it will go to two students from Latta $1000 scholarship. Councilman Brian Mason said by State Law we couldn’t vote on it unless we made a motion to amend the agenda. Mayor Bullard made a motion to amend the agenda and add that to the agenda and Councilman Taylor seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved by call of council.
*
Councilman Edward Bethea
The Rotary is working of an electronic sign to go out on Main Street like they have at the Elementary School. The Town is going to pay half and Rotary the other half. Councilman Mason asked if they could get green on the sign instead of the orange.
Special Council Meeting of the Latta Town Council – April 28, 2016
The council went over Street, Water/Sewer, Clerk, Chief of Police, and Assistant Police, and discussed the job descriptions for everyone. The council made the changes in all the departments to suit everyone and their job descriptions.
Motion was made to accept the amended job descriptions by Mayor Bullard and seconded by Councilman Herring.
*
Finance
Council had profit and loss sheets that were printed off the Webster Rogers Quick Books online. The town was behind in retirement for October 2015-March 2016, and they paid October and November retirement, that left them with about $6400 in General funds. Mayor Bullard asked what was going on with the town’s audit. They haven’t heard anything from Munn and Associates.
Regular Council Meeting of the Latta Town Council – May 12, 2016
Police Department
Derrick Cartwright read the police report and there were 66 traffic tickets for the month of April. There were 30 incident reports, offense reported for the month. New vehicle is in and it didn’t cost the taxpayers but a little over $4,000. They took $27,000 of drug seized money and paid toward the vehicle.
*
Judge Report
Municipal closed cases for the month of April 2016 there was 8 courtesy, suspensions to DMV was 3, citations transmitted 61, 7 seatbelts, 3 municipal ordinance, and 5 warrants. She had 16 trips to the jail for the month of February and March. Will report April and May on next month.
*
Mayor Earl Bullard
I have an invoice from Hi-Tec signs for the street signs for around town and Latta Revitalization has paid half and the town has agreed to pay the other half which is $3999.94.
Regular Council
Meeting of the
Latta Town Council –
June 9, 2016
Budget 2016-2017
Councilman Jarett Taylor asked for a resolution to prolong our ability to run off our current budget for 30 more days. Brian and I have sat down and looked at our expenses and expenses are down. Councilman Brian Mason said he had report from the state but it wasn’t complete. Councilman Mason ask for a motion to continue with same budget from last year for this year for 30 days until the budget is finished, that is extending it from June 30, 2016 to July 30, 2016. We will have to have 1 or 2 special meetings because we have 2 votes on the budget so we can adopt it.
Motion was made by Councilman Taylor and seconded by Councilman Reaves.
*
Water Department
Willie Hooks read his report with 29 work orders for water, 6 work orders for sewer, and 9 water leaks this month.
*
Judge Report
May report had 8 notices to DMV, 72 traffic tickets transmitted, 9 seatbelts, 3 ordinances, and 1 warrant. We have had 3 community service workers to complete their hours in the month of May and we have 3 still working.
*
Police Reports
May 2016 the police department had 32 moving violations, 21 warning tickets, 39 SLED reports, and 4 warrants were served.
We think we should only have to pay $850 to DJJ and they say we owe them $1850. We have budgeted at $1000 because of cut backs.
Councilman Taylor made a motion not to exceed a contract of $1250 with DJJ and seconded by Councilman Drawhorn.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.
