By Betsy Finklea
A number of issues were discussed at the Dillon County Council’s August meeting.
Dillon County Administrator Clay Young reported that they received $50,000 from Duke Energy for the inland port project. They also received $60,000 from Marlboro Electric for the inland port project and $75,000 for the Tri-County Park.
Matthew Elvington, Mayor Pro-Tem of the Town of Lake View, spoke briefly about concerns on the proposed recreation area. He asked the county council to hold a public hearing or meet with the Lake View Town Council before they do anything so they can express their concerns.
Ronald Crawford came before council again to discuss trash pick-up on the side of the road in Newtown.
Attorney Alan Berry said he checked into this and no other county in the Pee Dee picks up debris, and some laughed at him. They thought it was so ridiculous. Crawford said they need to get a truck and come through two or three times a week. Berry did note that all of these counties had nuisance policies which may be a way to approach it.
Berry said the county can clean trash up off the roadway, but they can do it in a way that is improper. He said, for example, they cannot provide debris pick-up in one area and not another. They have to provide the same level of service to all areas. Berry said the state would oppose debris being left on the side of the road except in the case of emergency.
Berry said with a nuisance policy, it would be triggered with a written complaint. He said that may limit the number. Berry said there would be a fine or fee associated with cleaning the debris.
Berry said people would be given a certain amount of time to do the cleanup; if they did not comply, they would face the consequences. However, they would have to be given due process.
Councilman Archie Scott said if they did create a policy he thought it should be user-friendly. He said there were enough fees and taxes without creating another burden.
Councilman Robbie Coward said he thought it would help with economic development to get it cleaned up.
Councilman Randy Goings said he knows the minds of the people. If the county picked up debris one time, the people would be looking for it to happen every month.
Berry said he could not recommend the county letting people put trash on the side of the road.
Economic Development Director Tonny McNeil recommended that they look into pushing recycling.
Councilman Harold Moody said they still have to get the waste from point A to point B; and if there was co-mingling of trash and debris, it would tie up machines and manpower. He said this was a cost factor that somebody pays for. He said taking trash to the landfill was not a free lunch; people have to pay when they go there.
The council plans to have a workshop to discuss this further. The council passed the third reading of “An Ordinance Approving The Grant By Dillon County, South Carolina (The “County”) Of Certain Special Source Revenue Credits to Royal Panthera, LLC, A Company Formerly Known To The County As “Project Pineapple Palace” (The “Company”) Pursuant To The Provisions Of Section 4-1-175 Of The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina 1976, As Amended; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of An Infrastructure Financing Agreement Between The County And The Company; Providing For The Inclusion Of The Project In A Joint County Business Or Industrial Park; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of Any And All Other Necessary Agreements With The Company To Effect The Intent Of This Ordinance; And Other Matters Related To The Foregoing.”
It was explained that this was a $170,000 tax credit.
Councilman Scott said he was very vocal at a previous meeting regarding this issue. (See video on www.thedillonherald.com or YouTube of the previous meeting where this was discussed.) Scott said he did not see where they had done this before, and in his opinion, this did not make sense. He said this was a business to make money, and they were not creating many jobs, if any. He said he does not see where it benefits.
Economic Development Director McNeil then made comments. He said he was hired to increase the tax base and bring jobs to the county. He said that on the piece of property where the hotel was going to locate, they were currently collecting $400 per year in taxes. When the hotel is built, this is going to go from $400 per year in taxes to $160,000 per year. He said this was going to increase the tax base and will allow them to offer more services to the citizens. It will bring 15-30 jobs.
McNeil said when he started in 2010, they told him to increase the tax base and jobs. “How do we turn down jobs?” asked McNeil.
McNeil said in 2011, he went door-to-door and did a survey. He said the people told him they wanted better hotels, better restaurants, and jobs. “That’s what I’ve done for you,” said McNeil.
“Show me new jobs and an increase in the tax base, and I’ll show you an economic developer who will go to bat every single time to create jobs and opportunities for the citizens,” said McNeil.
McNeil said you cannot bring business to Dillon County if there is no quality of life. He said there was a big difference between $400 a year and $160,000 a year. He said at the end of year two when they collect such a huge difference in the taxes to tell him if it was a good idea. McNeil said when industrial leaders come, they ask were there is a good place to stay and a good place to eat. He said they need better facilities and a good quality of life.
Scott said this sounded impressive, but he did not see why any incentive package was offered when they had already purchased the land and had the intent to come.
Councilman Harold Moody made the motion to approve the third reading; it was seconded by Councilman Bobby Moody. Voting to approve were Councilman Stevie Grice, T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., H. Moody, and B. Moody. Voting against it were Councilmen Goings, Coward, and Scott.
The council also passed the following:
· Upon a motion by Grice and a second by H. Moody, council passed the third reading of An Ordinance By Dillon County Council To Amend The Official Zoning Map Of Dillon County To Rezone A Parcel Of Land Known As Tax Map Number 110-00-00-109, 110 Parcel 049 and 110 Parcel 072 From A General Commercial (GC) District To Rural (RU) District.
· Upon a motion by Coward and a second by Scott, the council passed the third reading of An Ordinance By Dillon County Council Amending Zoning Ordinance To Add Item #18 – Solar Farms.
· The council passed the second reading Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Not Exceeding $1,400,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017, of Dillon County, South Carolina; Fixing the Form and Details of the Bonds; Authorizing the Chairman of County Council and County Administrator to Determine Certain Matters Relating to the Bonds; Providing for the payment of the Bonds; The Disposition of the Proceeds of the Bonds; and other Matters Relating Thereto.
· They also passed a resolution Relating to the Declaration of Intent by Dillon County, South Carolina, To Reimburse Certain Expenditures Made Prior to the Issuance of Federally Tax-Exempt General Obligation Bonds or Other Obligations by the County.
Upon a recommendation by Chairman Finklea, the council appointed Ginger Brown to the Dillon County Library Board. Motion was made by H. Moody and seconded by Goings. All approved.
The council also reappointed James McRae to the Trinity Behavioral Board of Directors. The council then went into executive session to discuss economic development matters concerning Project Badger and Coronal Development Services.
