MINUTES OF BAMBERG COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING - March 2, 2009

In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, agendas for the following meeting were mailed to all members of Council, County Attorney Richard Ness, Lower Savannah COG, the Advertizer-Herald, The Times and Democrat, and a copy posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the County Courthouse.

Bamberg County Council met 6:30 p.m., March 2, 2009, in the Bamberg County Council Building. Present: Chairman Clair P. Guess, III, Councilmen Isaiah Odom, Chris Wilson (arrived 7:26p.m.), William Nimmons, and Councilwoman Alzena Robinson. Absent: Councilwoman Dorothy C. Tatum and Councilman Clint Carter. Others Present: Administrator Rose N. Dobson-Elliott, Thomas M. Thomas, Richard Ness, Roy Vinson, Kell Anderson, Larry Watt, Jerry Holman, Jennifer Tinsley, Carolyn Kinard, Carlisle Kinard, Alice Johnson, Nancy Green, Ann Jackson, Margery Meyer, Dionne Gleaton, Mary Jo Dawson, Sarah, Lillian Bamberg, Emily Guess, Joey Guess, Ruthie Rish and Brad Samuel.

Bamberg County Council meeting was called to order by Chairman Guess at 6:30 p.m., in the Bamberg County Council Building. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Councilwoman Alzena Robinson, followed with invocation by Councilman Isaiah Odom.

On motion by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson, council approved the minutes from the February 2, 2009 meeting.

On motion by Councilman Nimmons, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson, at the request of Administrator Dobson-Elliott, council agreed to delete from the agenda the executive session items and presentation of the report from the airport commission.

REPORTS FROM BAMBERG COUNTY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Office on Aging:

Carolyn Kinard, Office on Aging director, reported that The agency has been greatly impacted by state funding cuts, including supplemental funds for in-home services. Even with the budget shortfall, Ms. Kinard said she is still only requesting $16,000 from Bamberg County in the FY '09-'10 budget.

Library Board:

Mary Jo Dawson, director of the Aiken-Bamberg-Barnwell- Edgefield Regional Library System reported that individuals can come to the library and use the internet for free for online job and government service searches. The bookmobile, through a courier route, provides services four times per year in Olar and Ehrhardt. Through a partnership with the Bamberg African-American Genealogical Society, historical materials are housed within the Bamberg County Library System. She also mentioned that the Regional Library System had decided on a space next to the fire station as the site for a new Denmark Branch Library. Design plans and cost estimates will be available in approximately six months.

Planning Commission:

Planning Commission Chairman Larry Watt reported the Commission would be requesting approval to create a zoning board of appeals, which by law will consist of three to nine members. The board will hear exceptions and variances to the county zoning ordinances. A public hearing on the ordinance was held in Bamberg, and a second one is planned in Denmark at the end of March.

MAMAS:

Emily Guess of the Mary Ann Morris Animal Society reported that The county's large number of stray animals warrants the need for animal control and licensing laws. She also stated that the county needs a spay-neuter program. The shelter staff had been cut due to the shortage of funds. Cost of operating the shelter exceeds the $20,000 the county allocates. With the great problem of stray animals, it was agreed that this matter needs to be addressed. This issue and subject were referred to the Public Safety Committee.

Bamberg County Hospital CEO Roy Vinson reported that April 1 is the target date for the transfer of the nursing home to UHS-Pruitt Corporation. Also, DHEC surveys at the hospital on fire and life safety and facilities construction went well. Net income for January was $80,000, up from $46,000 in December. Year-to-date income was $300,000. This report was accepted as information.

Accepted as information was a report given by the Bamberg County Planning Committee concerning the Bamberg County Council Rules and Procedures. It was agreed that rotation of chairmanship be done by seniority and rotation of seat number rather than by person.

Accepted as information was a report given by the Bamberg County Public Safety Committee concerning visitation at the detention center and complaints from Rev. Rufus Jamison. It was noted that visitation rules have been followed professionally and in a safe manner and recommended that inmates not have no more than two visitors while visitation is being honored. Detention Center Administrator Gary Brown was asked to include in his budget for FY 09-10 a person to handle inmates for trash cleanup.

Administrator Dobson-Elliott pointed out some of the activities that she participated in during the month. She has been working diligently to coordinate a meeting between the council and the legislative delegation. Difficulty in the coordination of such has been due to conflict of various schedules. Several other matters of involvement were listed in the monthly report that was included in the agenda packet.

On motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson, council agreed to proclaim the month of March as Red Cross Month in Bamberg County.

On motion by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilman Wilson, council agreed to present at the April 6, 2009 meeting, a resolution declaring April 7, 2009 as Elizabeth Evelyn Wright's Day in Denmark, South Carolina. Ms. Wright was the founder of Voorhees College. Chairman Guess refrained from voting because of his affiliation with the institution.

On motion by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Odom, council approved a resolution supporting the widening of U.S. 78. The resolution supporting the project had stipulations (as outlined by Councilman Wilson) including that the existing $2 million the county has in hand for the $35 million project be obligated "reasonably" and quickly for engineering and rights-of-way acquisition.

Postponed until the April 6 meeting was a request from the Lower Savannah Workforce Development Board for a private sector representative form Bamberg County to replace Lyle Retherford.

On motion by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson, council agreed to the reappointment of Ms. Jewel Davis to the Thoroughbred Country Tourism Advisory Committee, term expiring in 2013.

On motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson, council approved the Bamberg County Budget Calendar for FY '09-'10.

Council referred the creation of a senior accounting clerk position to the personnel committee.

Chairman Guess called for council, public and media comments.

There being no further for discussion, on motion by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilman Wilson, council voted to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.