AIRPORT ILS SYSTEM UPDATE: Federal Aviation Administration officials are visiting Aiken Airport on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. They will be reviewing the proposed location of this system on our airport property as well as its specifications. This has been a much delayed project and it is good to see progress.
WEEKS TENNIS CENTER/NONRESIDENT FEES: Aiken Parks and Recreation Director, Glenn Parker, is proposing a new fee structure for Citizens Park rentals and for non-residents using our Tennis Center. His recommendation is based upon action taken by our Recreation Commission, with their resulting recommendations. The proposed fees are in line with several other recreation tennis centers in our area. We propose implementing these fees in January, 2010 and then evaluating them next July.
PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES: City staff continues to focus upon methods for identifying best prices for items to be purchased. At a recent supervisor training session, over 50 supervisors shared their tips for determining the best price for needed supplies and services. For example, Public Safety was able to save over $2,000 in its recent purchase of four new police cruisers; Information Technology staff pressed for over $400 in savings in a computer purchase, and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism staff employed cost savings measures in buying books for our Hopelands Summer Reader series. We will continue to keep you informed of savings identified by staff to cope with the tough economic times that are upon us. I applaud City Staff for these initiatives. It encourages best use of taxpayer monies.
CROSLAND PARK SALES: Staff reports we have sold the vacant lot at 724 Morton Street for $13,767.20. This sale represents a net profit of $2,426.68. Our contractor, Joe Walker, has been licensed in asbestos abatement. He has given notices to SCDHEC about the renovation work we are commencing in Crosland Park. In the meantime, we have begun site preparation work at several of the properties we own, including brush removal and tree limb trimming.
AIKEN ILLUSTRATED COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Mark your calendars for the Sunday, November 29, 2009 book signing at Rye Patch from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Local photographer Ginny Southworth has assembled over 125 photographs for the book Aiken Illustrated: The Southworth Collection. This book is being sold in support of Celebrate Aiken! It is $40, and the authors will be present on November 29 to sign it.
SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE JULY 11, 1990 BOND ORDINANCE AND AMENDMENTS MADE IN 1997: At the last meeting, City Council approved the refunding of water and sewer bond ordinance. Our bond attorney, Margaret Pope, feels that since there have been so many amendments and changes made to the ordinance as originally enacted on July 11, 1990, a new bond ordinance which combines all these elements should be approved. Attached is an amended ordinance which consolidates all of the water and sewer revenue bond issuances prior to this date. The changes to the ordinance allow us to restate and clarify the previous bond ordinances adopted by Council. It combines all the previous bond amendments and enables City Council to have all the provisions governing issuance of debt payable from the water and sewer system into a single document.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX PROPERTY AT 103 THOMAS STREET - The owners of a .39 acre lot at 103 Thomas Street are requesting annexation in to the City of Aiken under the RS-10 zone. The present location is occupied by a single family home and is contiguous to the City of Aiken to the east and to the west. The applicant is interested in receiving sanitary sewer and other city services. This is part of the overall plan that City Council established approximately 10 years ago towards annexing Virginia Acres through the means of establishing sanitary sewer in this area. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve this annexation.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX PROPERTY AT 138 LYNWOOD DRIVE - The owners of a .45 acre lot at 138 Lynwood Drive are requesting annexation for their single family home under the RS-15 zone. The parcel is contiguous to the City of Aiken to the north and west. The applicant is interested in receiving city services. This is the second property on Lynwood Drive that has annexed in the past month, and we will be surveying the other properties in this area to determine if there are others who desire annexation in this area. The Planning Commission unanimously approved this annexation.
RESOLUTION FOR ASHLEY TERRACE DEED OF DEDICATION: Ashley Terrace Subdivision is located at the northeast corner of Barnwell and Morgan. The infrastructure was completed in 2006, and a letter was given to the developer at that time stating that the infrastructure met city specifications. Since that time the developer has left the area and has not responded to any requests concerning the dedication of these improvements to the city. The detention pond was dedicated to the homeowners association, and they are not able to maintain the pond. The pond is in need of fence repair and the vegetation cut. The homeowners association would like to have the city accept the deed of dedication for the detention pond, water, storm drainage, utilities and streets in the Ashley Terrace Subdivision. We have attached three resolutions--one from the homeowners association, another from M. E. Moran, LLC who has real estate property interests in Ashley Terrace, and a third from the original developers Summerville Homes. We recommend Council's approval of this resolution.
PROPOSED CRIME LEGISLATION: At the summer Municipal Association Annual Conference there was a session on new South Carolina crime legislation. At that meeting the Chiefs of Police from Charleston and Newberry, along with an individual from SLED presented suggested changes to the South Carolina Criminal Justice system. They asked those in attendance for their support in helping local members of our Legislative Delegation understand the need for these proposed new laws. Dick Dewar has asked that City Council consider writing a letter in support, and then talk individually to the members of our Delegation concerning these proposed changes. One of our local representatives Tom Young, Jr. is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and would be a key in getting this legislation approved. We have received comments concerning these potential changes from our local Solicitor Strom Thurmond and also discussed this with Chief Frommer and the City Solicitor Ben Moore as to what needs changing. We have attached a proposed resolution and letter that we would like Council to consider concerning these laws. Most of these proposals call for tougher penalties and additional incarceration of offenders. In some cases we would be asking the State to match the Federal laws that are already in place to make the process more seamless between the two bodies. Our Solicitor will be present at this meeting, and we have also asked Strom Thurmond to speak to Council if his schedule permits.
REQUEST FOR HORSE TROUGH GRANT: As many probably know, the Aiken County Historical Commission has recently placed a horse trough on South Boundary between Newberry and Laurens. This was moved from behind the Courthouse to its present location. They plan to provide fresh water for individuals who wish to water their horses either before or after they ride through Hitchcock Woods. This is a very popular spot for parking horse trailers and off loading horses for the ride through the Woods. The Historical Commission is requesting a grant of $2,500 to defray some of their costs to install the horse trough and to help pay for the water tap and impact fees associated with the horse trough. They state in the attached letter that several other entities have helped to provide financial support towards this project. The County has provided the man hours to move the horse trough, install it, and to provide the trenching and piping. The Friends of the Museum provided some grant money for the piping and other financial assistance. They are requesting that the City provide a grant of $2,500 to help defray these costs which includes $550 for the meter and tap and $750 for the impact fee. Their total expenses not including their yearly water bill and contingencies is $5,576.
REQUEST TO LOCATE TATTOO PARLOR IN CITY OF AIKEN: We recently received a request by two individuals who would like to open a tattoo parlor somewhere within the City of Aiken or Aiken County. The City of Aiken discussed this subject in 2006 and decided not to zone any property that would allow this type of facility. I have attached the proposed ordinance that you denied at the April 10, 2006, meeting which had considered allowing tattoo parlors in the General Business zone on major roadways with traffic volumes of over 25,000 vehicles per day. Furthermore, they would not be able to be located within 1,000 feet of a church, school or playground. If Council would like to consider their request to create an area for this type of zoning, it would need to go before the Planning Commission for their recommendation before Council's action. In addition, if Council wants the Planning Commission to review this at this time, we could add this to the Action Agenda for the Planning Commission. We have notified Julian McClain and Crystal Shreve of this meeting so they can discuss this in further detail with City Council.
AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 9, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING: http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=114455.
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