WORK SESSION – Council will meet on Monday at 6:15 PM to discuss the Sand River Restoration Project. Over the last several years the City has met with the Hitchcock Woods Foundation concerning storm water issues throughout the woods. Of particular interest and discussion has been the Sand River portion through the woods. The City and Foundation jointly agreed that ideally we should retain as much water before it actually enters the woods through Green Infrastructure. The City has recently received a $3.34 million grant from the Department of Health and Environmental Control to capture a portion of this water through strategically placed rain gardens, bio-swales, porous pavement and other means. The City's Sand River Restoration Project is currently being designed jointly by the city's consulting firm in cooperation and under the general direction of Dr. Gene Eidson, Director, Center for Watershed Excellence, Clemson University. Dr. Eidson and his staff will be at tonight's meeting to describe the work currently underway and what they hope to accomplish through this project. Once we have completed this work they will continue to monitor the results both for the city and the Hitchcock Woods Board as a research component. Plans should be completed by September and construction started by late fall/winter
YOUTH IN ACTION SUMMER PROGRAM – June 22 through June 26 is this summer’s Youth in Action Program. The City’s Neighborhood Development Services Division is undertaking this program in response to Council concerns that we involve local youth in neighborhood improvements. It combines community engagement and a youth character building initiative through painting or yard work at houses on Washington Circle, President Drive, Sumter Street, and Jefferson Terrace. Several local churches will guide our local youths in this Neighborhood Development Services undertaking that includes hard work, camaraderie, daily devotionals and a way for them to help make Aiken a better community.
COMMENDATIONS – We are proud to announce that Sergeant Wilson Dandy has been selected the 2009 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the American Legion, Department of South Carolina. He will be honored at a luncheon in Columbia on Friday, June 26, 2009. Sgt. Dandy was nominated by Aiken American Legion Post 212.
Finance Director Kim Abney forwarded a commendation letter from Ray and Norma Conatser for the information and assistance they received from Debra Josey, Accounts Receivable Division Supervisor. Debra works with other staff at the City’s utility payments counter. The Conatsers were pleased as well with the assistance they received from the City’s water utility repair crew.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AIKEN CERTAIN PROPERTY CONSISTING OF 5 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, OWNED BY NORTHPOINTE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC AND TO ZONE THE SAME PLANNED COMMERCIAL (PC). – The owner of an undeveloped 51.4 acre tract on the south side of University parkway near Arbor Court is requesting annexation of 5 acres under the Planned Commercial zone. They would like to develop the site as a cosmetology school and later some office buildings. They would like to receive city water and sewer. The property is contiguous by means of the University Parkway right of way. The layout of this concept plan does not comply with the proposed Corridor Overlay District.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE AND CONVEYANCE OF LOTS AND HOMES IN CROSLAND PARK - Over the last several years the City of Aiken has acquired property and sold lots and homes to various citizens in the Edgewood and Toole Hill areas. We are now ready to start selling lots and homes in the Crosland Park area. The price of these homes will vary depending on their purchase price and the improvements made to each home. Based on the work involved these homes should be sold at or above the appraised value. In some cases the appraised value may be higher than the amount of the home and the work that was involved in its rehabilitation. In other cases the appraised value may actually be lower than the price of work that went into each of the homes. Our overall goal is to meet the costs involved in the acquisition and rehabilitation for all the homes in the Crosland Park neighborhood. Instead of bringing back each sale, we recommend that staff be given the ability to sell all homes at a price that exceeds or equals the cost of the home and improvements. At this time we are ready to sell two homes and three lots that we have purchased to the Aiken Housing Authority. Since no improvements have been made on the homes the sales price consists of our cost to acquire the property and any soft costs that we have incurred. We have already purchased 25 homes, and we have an option on approximately 80 others. Therefore, many additional home sales would be negotiated under these circumstances in the near future. This flexibility will allow us to move forward with the sale and to keep the entire Crosland Park project moving forward.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF WATER UTILITIES ON .77 ACRES ON BEAR CIRCLE - Frederick A. Martinez, the purchaser who is representing the owner, is requesting city water for a .77 acre parcel for four existing mobile homes. The units are currently served by a master meter. They propose to sell the subject property and would like to have individual water meters for these homes. Sanitary sewer is not available at this location. The Planning Commission was concerned about the existing mobile homes that were manufactured prior to 1976 and do not meet current HUD standards and also that the property cannot meet most of the city standards for a manufactured home park. This site is within the new Comprehensive Plan area for the north side and is shown as an enhanced area on the growth concept maps. There are several general policies and Enhancement Area Policies which the Planning Commission reviewed in making their decision. They were concerned that most of the provisions of 4.2.8 regarding manufactured home parks could not be met and therefore denied the request on a 6 to 1 vote.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF HISTORICAL MARKER IN DOWNTOWN AIKEN - At their June meeting the Design Review Board considered a request from the Aiken County Historical Society to erect an historical marker on Laurens Street. This is to recognize the 1953 gas explosion which occurred near Laurens and Richland. The explosion occurred on January 27, 1953 and destroyed one building and damaged five others. Ten people were killed by the blast. The applicant states that the sign did not meet the criteria set by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. However, the Aiken County Historical Society would still like to move forward with the sign.
REQUEST FOR UTILITY SERVICE AND BILLBOARDS - For the last several years Council has had many discussions concerning properties with pre-existing non-conforming billboards. In the 1990's Council developed a policy that stated non-conforming signs such as billboards needed to be removed prior to the city providing utility services. However, in 2006 the Legislature passed the South Carolina Land Owner and Advertisement Protection and Property Evaluation Act. These statutes clearly protect the interest of the billboard company and limit the ability to remove them without just compensation. There are approximately 25 billboards located just outside our city limits and they stymie the type of development that could occur on these properties. City Staff would like City Council to consider a change to our Utility Service Policy that would allow us to provide utilities yet help ensure that the billboard is removed at the end of the lease period. Our City Attorney has reviewed these statutes and believes that we can enter into an agreement with the landowner and the billboard owner that sets forth when the billboard would be removed. At tonight's meeting we would like to determine whether or not City Council would like to move forward with changes to the utility policy that would hopefully alleviate this problem in the future.
Foxnews Ticker
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Create new S.C.Constitution -Jim Wetzel letter
The following letter from Jim Wetzel appears in the Aiken Standard today. I agree with his call for a Constitutional Convention. We should also consider establishing term limits for elected officials.
Create new S.C. constitution
Your Sunday editorial "Legislature rules S.C." is a sad commentary on South Carolina's dysfunctional governmental system. Governor Sanford's principled stand against the Legislature created and stimulus-fueled, unbalanced budget was ill-fated because, as you noted, South Carolina is an inbred legislative state with all of the budget powers in the Legislature, a Supreme Court appointed by the Legislature and a governor with hardly any powers. He couldn't win because, as you observed, the deck was stacked against him by the state's Constitution.
The state's Constitution is an 1890 post-Reconstruction document from a time when the drafters feared that the emancipated blacks might possibly be voter empowered to elect a black governor. The drafters couldn't block that possibility but they could deny power being placed in the hands of any elected governor, whether white or black. Now in the 21st century we maintain and continue to be governmentally crippled by that 19th century, culturally biased curse. With thinking like that no wonder South Carolina has continually maintained its rank near the bottom of the states in lists of achievement.
Apparently, the Aiken Standard likes the legislative state and doesn't seek change in that culturally biased curse because it says things are going to stay that way until the Constitution is changed and advises us not to hold our breath for that to happen. Why is that? Why not move into the 21st century and promote a change in the Constitution that would make the state a manageable citizens' business rather than the legislative fiefdom that it now is?
How about our political clubs and organizations sponsoring a call for a corrective constitutional convention! And the NAACP could do us all, black and white, a big favor by recognizing that the state has a racially inspired Constitution and joining in a call for a reparative constitutional convention. Sponsoring and joining in would be credible post-racial acts good for all and could eliminate any concern about us having to hold our breath.
Jim Wetzel
Aiken
Friday, June 5, 2009
City Council Update from Dick Dewar
SILVER BLUFF REZONING REQUEST: Silver Bluff Associates has rescinded its request for its property on Silver Bluff Road to be rezoned to General Business (GB). In his May 29, 2009 letter, Neil Farfour has informed the City that he has sold this property to a developer who may build patio or duplex style homes on it instead. You may recall that this rezoning request was approved at a recent Council meeting.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY: If you visit the South Carolina Comptroller General’s site cg.sc.gov you will see that the City of Aiken is the first one listed under the Local Government Transparency link. Visitors to this site will be able to view city expenditures at this link. Of course, this information remains available at www.aiken.net , our city website. Aiken is a pioneer in this effort, according to Richard Eckstrom, Comptroller General. I raised this issue several weeks ago and am pleased with the rapid response of City Staff. The South Carolina Legislature also passed a similar law relating to School Board transparency.
SUMMER THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET: The Farmers’ Market will be open each Thursday night from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. These additional hours began May 28, 2009. Current plans are to continue to be open Thursday evenings in June, July, and August.
CITY BOND RATING: Finance Department Director Kim Abney has shared the Moody’s Investors Service rating of Aiken’s Water and Sewer Revenue Bond rating. Our rating is reviewed every three years. Our current rating of A3 represents what Moody’s describes as:
“. . . outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds, secured by a senior lien on net revenues of the enterprise system. The rating reflects the water and sewer system’s mature customer base, manageable debt position with limited plans for additional debt financing, and satisfactory financial operations.”
The systems debt ratio is only 8.9%, which Moody’s considers to be low. They also point to our system’s increased liquidity up to 71% in 2008 from 54% in 2004 – a 17% improvement in just four years.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS: To improve traffic flow in Aiken’s central business district, SCDOT will work this June and July on all of our downtown signals to test a new method of traffic signal operation in August and September. New traffic signals, turn arrows, and pedestrian signal heads will hopefully ease the flow of traffic downtown. We are also working with SCDOT on traffic flow improvements for Whiskey Road. It will be a state-of-the-art system using sensors and cameras to more efficiently manage traffic flow. Cameras will not be used for traffic enforcement.
EQUINE COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS: Lucy Knowles, City Equine Committee Chair, has forwarded two resolutions. The first seeks city support of Whitney Trust projects. We have contacted the Trustees, and will bring this before Council once they provide us with a detailed list of projects. The second involves use of LOST III monies, to be voted on in 2010, for equestrian green space acquisition
COMMENDATIONS: Mary Goins, State League Director, USTA/SC, has written PRT Director Glenn Parker commending them for hosting the 2009 USTA state tennis championships. They are looking forward to another great state championship series in Aiken next year...
Tom Lex, President, Aiken Bicycle Club, has taken time to write and commend the Department of Public Safety for its support of the annual Aiken to Ride Century event.
Dean Porter and Tracey Bradley of Atlantic Broadband have also written in to commend Sgt. Bob Patterson, Fire Division, ADPS for his assistance training employees in proper fire extinguisher use. In addition, Sgt. Patterson has also trained several of our staff in fire extinguisher use at our annual safety cookout on June 3rd.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES, INC. – This ordinance passed at our last meeting. I cast the only negative vote because of my concerns about traffic on Silver Bluff Road. The Traffic Report clearly stated that this road is at “near capacity”. While we have approved a new right turn lane from Silver Bluff Road to Daugherty Road, we do not know whether or how much capacity for Silver Bluff will be added. If Silver Bluff Road is modified in the future, even more capacity may be added. I saw no sense in approving a project on a road that is near capacity.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE OF THE YEAR 2009-2010 – Every year the Council sets the millage rate. It has not increased in 21 consecutive years, assuming tonight’s approval to retain the current rate. This is largely caused by the steady growth the City of Aiken has experienced and excellent management of city funds. In fact over the years, the millage rate has reduced on five separate occasions including last year when it was reduced from 71 mills to the current 66 mills. This outstanding record has occurred despite recent revenue losses during these economic times and the loss of revenues from reduced telecommunication and vehicle taxes amounting to well over $1 million every year.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2009-2010 – Each year City Council adopts a budget for the City of Aiken representing the policies and goals for the city’s upcoming year. It should not surprise residents to know that we are facing difficult times. Our revenues are projected to be lower than last year with Building Permits down 55%, State revenues down 27%, Interest Earned on Investments down 73%, Vehicle Taxes down 11%, and Business License Fees down 8%. All of this represents a decrease of $1.8 million in revenue. Nonetheless, the City Manager has done an outstanding job of preparing a budget without recommending a tax increase at this time. Some programs have been reduced, hiring delayed, travel expenses reduced, and some maintenance items reduced. Capital purchases have been delayed saving $800,000 and $640,000 has been shifted from Reserve Funds. Depending on water usage, a rate increase may be imposed later in the year.
AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AIKEN CERTAIN PROPERTY CONSISTING OF 5 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, OWNED BY NORTHPOINTE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC AND TO ZONE THE SAME PLANNED COMMERCIAL (PC). – The owner of an undeveloped 51.4 acre tract on the south side of University parkway near Arbor Court is requesting annexation of 5 acres under the Planned Commercial zone. They would like to develop the site as a cosmetology school and later some office buildings. They would like to receive city water and sewer. The property is contiguous by means of the University Parkway right of way. The layout of this concept plan does not comply with the proposed Corridor Overlay District.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF AIKEN TO SELL LOTS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Council will consider approval to sell a lot at 731 Abbeville Avenue NW to Habitat for Humanity. Also included are lots at 442 Ridge Avenue, 636 Hampton, and 724 Abbeville Avenue.
PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS – Many residents are aware that on Sunday, May 17, 2009, in the middle of the afternoon a shooting took place at the Odell Weeks gymnasium. It occurred during a pickup basketball game and to our knowledge is the first shooting that has ever occurred within the Weeks Center for the past 25 years. Although we believe this is an isolated incident, we feel we need to consider several security measures to make this location as safe as possible for our staff, citizens and visitors alike.
For the last several years the staff has been looking at measures to increase security within our parks system. We feel the following four items listed in order of priority would help to achieve this goal.
Card System: For the last two years, the PRT staff has recommended a security card system. These cards would be given to all city residents at no cost and a small fee would be instituted for those living outside the city. Non-residents could either purchase a day pass or an individual or family season pass. During events or organized basketball games those visitors would be admitted at no charge. This will allow us to know who is in our gym, and those that have been put on trespass notice could no longer get into our buildings without our knowledge. Currently we have several individuals on trespass notice, but due to the number of entrances and doorways and lack of a security system these individuals could easily enter our gyms without our knowledge. This system can be instituted immediately with little or no cost and over the next several months we could begin issuing these cards to all of our residents and have the system fully implemented sometime this fall or winter. Eventually the main entrance would be moved to its former location to the north and all the other doors would become exits only.
Additional Personnel: For the last couple of years staff has talked about adding a position called Community Service Officers (CSO). These individuals would act as security persons for our parks and also have the ability to investigate accidents on private property. These individuals could also do a variety of duties that occupy the time of our current accredited police officers. They would be in a police type uniform and spend most, if not all of their time, within our park system. We recommend hiring two part time individuals who would work 20 hours per week with the city from approximately 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday when our recreational centers are open. Their duties would consist of walking and riding around our parks and building during those hours. We feel their daily presence would alleviate some of the concerns we currently have at Virginia Acres and Smith Hazel. The budget for these two individuals would be approximately $25,000 per year.
. Security Cameras: Currently there are 27 cameras throughout the Odell Weeks Center. Many of these cameras do not have the resolution or wide angle lens that are currently available today. We recommend hiring a security consultant to do an assessment of the cameras at the Weeks Center, its system, their possible adaptable reuse and what new areas we should monitor. Additionally, we feel cameras in outside areas such as the parking lots, playgrounds, skate park, tennis center, soccer fields and basketball courts are necessary. The total cost for this recommendation is approximately $50,000.
Call Box System: In discussions with USC-Aiken and Aiken Tech we found out that they have recently installed call boxes throughout their campuses and in their parking lot areas. We feel the same type of system is needed along the Virginia Acres walking track and the tennis/basketball/skate park area. This will provide security plus a call system for any medical emergencies that may occur in these areas. These calls would go directly to the Public Safety Dispatch Office. At this time we do not have a price for this system, but we feel its cost would be reasonable.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY: If you visit the South Carolina Comptroller General’s site cg.sc.gov you will see that the City of Aiken is the first one listed under the Local Government Transparency link. Visitors to this site will be able to view city expenditures at this link. Of course, this information remains available at www.aiken.net , our city website. Aiken is a pioneer in this effort, according to Richard Eckstrom, Comptroller General. I raised this issue several weeks ago and am pleased with the rapid response of City Staff. The South Carolina Legislature also passed a similar law relating to School Board transparency.
SUMMER THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET: The Farmers’ Market will be open each Thursday night from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. These additional hours began May 28, 2009. Current plans are to continue to be open Thursday evenings in June, July, and August.
CITY BOND RATING: Finance Department Director Kim Abney has shared the Moody’s Investors Service rating of Aiken’s Water and Sewer Revenue Bond rating. Our rating is reviewed every three years. Our current rating of A3 represents what Moody’s describes as:
“. . . outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds, secured by a senior lien on net revenues of the enterprise system. The rating reflects the water and sewer system’s mature customer base, manageable debt position with limited plans for additional debt financing, and satisfactory financial operations.”
The systems debt ratio is only 8.9%, which Moody’s considers to be low. They also point to our system’s increased liquidity up to 71% in 2008 from 54% in 2004 – a 17% improvement in just four years.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS: To improve traffic flow in Aiken’s central business district, SCDOT will work this June and July on all of our downtown signals to test a new method of traffic signal operation in August and September. New traffic signals, turn arrows, and pedestrian signal heads will hopefully ease the flow of traffic downtown. We are also working with SCDOT on traffic flow improvements for Whiskey Road. It will be a state-of-the-art system using sensors and cameras to more efficiently manage traffic flow. Cameras will not be used for traffic enforcement.
EQUINE COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS: Lucy Knowles, City Equine Committee Chair, has forwarded two resolutions. The first seeks city support of Whitney Trust projects. We have contacted the Trustees, and will bring this before Council once they provide us with a detailed list of projects. The second involves use of LOST III monies, to be voted on in 2010, for equestrian green space acquisition
COMMENDATIONS: Mary Goins, State League Director, USTA/SC, has written PRT Director Glenn Parker commending them for hosting the 2009 USTA state tennis championships. They are looking forward to another great state championship series in Aiken next year...
Tom Lex, President, Aiken Bicycle Club, has taken time to write and commend the Department of Public Safety for its support of the annual Aiken to Ride Century event.
Dean Porter and Tracey Bradley of Atlantic Broadband have also written in to commend Sgt. Bob Patterson, Fire Division, ADPS for his assistance training employees in proper fire extinguisher use. In addition, Sgt. Patterson has also trained several of our staff in fire extinguisher use at our annual safety cookout on June 3rd.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES, INC. – This ordinance passed at our last meeting. I cast the only negative vote because of my concerns about traffic on Silver Bluff Road. The Traffic Report clearly stated that this road is at “near capacity”. While we have approved a new right turn lane from Silver Bluff Road to Daugherty Road, we do not know whether or how much capacity for Silver Bluff will be added. If Silver Bluff Road is modified in the future, even more capacity may be added. I saw no sense in approving a project on a road that is near capacity.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE OF THE YEAR 2009-2010 – Every year the Council sets the millage rate. It has not increased in 21 consecutive years, assuming tonight’s approval to retain the current rate. This is largely caused by the steady growth the City of Aiken has experienced and excellent management of city funds. In fact over the years, the millage rate has reduced on five separate occasions including last year when it was reduced from 71 mills to the current 66 mills. This outstanding record has occurred despite recent revenue losses during these economic times and the loss of revenues from reduced telecommunication and vehicle taxes amounting to well over $1 million every year.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2009-2010 – Each year City Council adopts a budget for the City of Aiken representing the policies and goals for the city’s upcoming year. It should not surprise residents to know that we are facing difficult times. Our revenues are projected to be lower than last year with Building Permits down 55%, State revenues down 27%, Interest Earned on Investments down 73%, Vehicle Taxes down 11%, and Business License Fees down 8%. All of this represents a decrease of $1.8 million in revenue. Nonetheless, the City Manager has done an outstanding job of preparing a budget without recommending a tax increase at this time. Some programs have been reduced, hiring delayed, travel expenses reduced, and some maintenance items reduced. Capital purchases have been delayed saving $800,000 and $640,000 has been shifted from Reserve Funds. Depending on water usage, a rate increase may be imposed later in the year.
AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AIKEN CERTAIN PROPERTY CONSISTING OF 5 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, OWNED BY NORTHPOINTE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC AND TO ZONE THE SAME PLANNED COMMERCIAL (PC). – The owner of an undeveloped 51.4 acre tract on the south side of University parkway near Arbor Court is requesting annexation of 5 acres under the Planned Commercial zone. They would like to develop the site as a cosmetology school and later some office buildings. They would like to receive city water and sewer. The property is contiguous by means of the University Parkway right of way. The layout of this concept plan does not comply with the proposed Corridor Overlay District.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF AIKEN TO SELL LOTS TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Council will consider approval to sell a lot at 731 Abbeville Avenue NW to Habitat for Humanity. Also included are lots at 442 Ridge Avenue, 636 Hampton, and 724 Abbeville Avenue.
PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS – Many residents are aware that on Sunday, May 17, 2009, in the middle of the afternoon a shooting took place at the Odell Weeks gymnasium. It occurred during a pickup basketball game and to our knowledge is the first shooting that has ever occurred within the Weeks Center for the past 25 years. Although we believe this is an isolated incident, we feel we need to consider several security measures to make this location as safe as possible for our staff, citizens and visitors alike.
For the last several years the staff has been looking at measures to increase security within our parks system. We feel the following four items listed in order of priority would help to achieve this goal.
Card System: For the last two years, the PRT staff has recommended a security card system. These cards would be given to all city residents at no cost and a small fee would be instituted for those living outside the city. Non-residents could either purchase a day pass or an individual or family season pass. During events or organized basketball games those visitors would be admitted at no charge. This will allow us to know who is in our gym, and those that have been put on trespass notice could no longer get into our buildings without our knowledge. Currently we have several individuals on trespass notice, but due to the number of entrances and doorways and lack of a security system these individuals could easily enter our gyms without our knowledge. This system can be instituted immediately with little or no cost and over the next several months we could begin issuing these cards to all of our residents and have the system fully implemented sometime this fall or winter. Eventually the main entrance would be moved to its former location to the north and all the other doors would become exits only.
Additional Personnel: For the last couple of years staff has talked about adding a position called Community Service Officers (CSO). These individuals would act as security persons for our parks and also have the ability to investigate accidents on private property. These individuals could also do a variety of duties that occupy the time of our current accredited police officers. They would be in a police type uniform and spend most, if not all of their time, within our park system. We recommend hiring two part time individuals who would work 20 hours per week with the city from approximately 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday when our recreational centers are open. Their duties would consist of walking and riding around our parks and building during those hours. We feel their daily presence would alleviate some of the concerns we currently have at Virginia Acres and Smith Hazel. The budget for these two individuals would be approximately $25,000 per year.
. Security Cameras: Currently there are 27 cameras throughout the Odell Weeks Center. Many of these cameras do not have the resolution or wide angle lens that are currently available today. We recommend hiring a security consultant to do an assessment of the cameras at the Weeks Center, its system, their possible adaptable reuse and what new areas we should monitor. Additionally, we feel cameras in outside areas such as the parking lots, playgrounds, skate park, tennis center, soccer fields and basketball courts are necessary. The total cost for this recommendation is approximately $50,000.
Call Box System: In discussions with USC-Aiken and Aiken Tech we found out that they have recently installed call boxes throughout their campuses and in their parking lot areas. We feel the same type of system is needed along the Virginia Acres walking track and the tennis/basketball/skate park area. This will provide security plus a call system for any medical emergencies that may occur in these areas. These calls would go directly to the Public Safety Dispatch Office. At this time we do not have a price for this system, but we feel its cost would be reasonable.
Friday, May 29, 2009
SC Legislature Record Vote Embarassment
We owe a debt of gratitude to the South Carolina Policy Council for this information.
2009 General Assembly Voted Anonymously 75 Percent of the Time
The South Carolina General Assembly recorded its votes on 532 out of 2,116 bills considered during the 2009 legislative session, according to the final vote count tracked by the Policy Council. This total excludes votes on congratulatory resolutions that did not impact actual legislation.74.9 percent of votes held by the General Assembly were taken via anonymous voice votes despite new rules adopted by the legislature in January requiring more accountability. The House recorded votes 31.2 percent of the time in 2009. The Senate recorded votes 15.6 percent of the time.Both legislative bodies held more votes on the record this year than in 2008, but even with this improvement the South Carolina legislature remains among the nation's worst with just 1 out of every 4 votes being recorded.
Recorded Votes: South Carolina General Assembly 2009
S.C. Senate
Votes Taken 825
Votes Recorded 129
Percentage Recorded 15.6%
S.C. House
Votes Taken 1291
Votes Recorded 403
Percentage Recorded 31.2%
Legislative Total 2116
Votes Taken 532
Votes Recorded 25.1%
Percentage Recorded
For comparison, a 2008 Policy Council study of the constitutional and legislative procedural rules in all other states found 41 of 50 states require at least one legislative chamber to record its vote on every single bill passed into law. Four other states mandate recorded votes on all revenue bills.The rules adopted by the S.C. General Assembly in January do not require a recorded vote on:
Each state budget section - only if one representative requests, no Senate requirement
Uncontested legislation - five representatives or one senator required to contest.
The General Assembly considers legislation on two separate calendars - the contested and uncontested calendar. Bills are considered uncontested unless lawmakers object and request to move the bill to the contested calendar, where it is debated and voted on publicly. One Senator or five Representatives is required to move a bill to the contested calendar.Only legislation on the contested calendar is required to get a vote on the record under the January rules change. This means lawmakers can avoid a recorded vote by agreeing to keep a bill on the uncontested calendar. This leaves citizens with no power and gives lawmakers complete freedom to decide if and when a matter will receive a recorded vote.For example, House Bill 3635 became law this session. It imposes a $10 annual fishing license fee for recreational saltwater angling, along with several other fees, including a $150-$300 fee to operate a saltwater public fishing pier or a saltwater charter fishing vessel. Defenders of the legislation claim the fee increase is necessary to avoid an even larger federal licensing fee. That defense may be entirely valid, but state lawmakers approved a de facto tax increase. Citizens deserve to know how their legislators voted. The Senate approved the bill on a 29-15 recorded vote, while the House approved it via an anonymous voice vote.This example illustrates there is no clear reason why the Senate recorded this vote and the House did not. When lawmakers control which votes are recorded there is no consistency or predictability in the process. Citizens cannot know with any certainty whether legislation will receive a recorded vote nor can they hold their elected officials accountable. For more information:Click Here to view the Policy Council's 2009 Legislative Vote Tracker OnlineLook for more examples of bills passed on voice votes by the legislature next week
2009 General Assembly Voted Anonymously 75 Percent of the Time
The South Carolina General Assembly recorded its votes on 532 out of 2,116 bills considered during the 2009 legislative session, according to the final vote count tracked by the Policy Council. This total excludes votes on congratulatory resolutions that did not impact actual legislation.74.9 percent of votes held by the General Assembly were taken via anonymous voice votes despite new rules adopted by the legislature in January requiring more accountability. The House recorded votes 31.2 percent of the time in 2009. The Senate recorded votes 15.6 percent of the time.Both legislative bodies held more votes on the record this year than in 2008, but even with this improvement the South Carolina legislature remains among the nation's worst with just 1 out of every 4 votes being recorded.
Recorded Votes: South Carolina General Assembly 2009
S.C. Senate
Votes Taken 825
Votes Recorded 129
Percentage Recorded 15.6%
S.C. House
Votes Taken 1291
Votes Recorded 403
Percentage Recorded 31.2%
Legislative Total 2116
Votes Taken 532
Votes Recorded 25.1%
Percentage Recorded
For comparison, a 2008 Policy Council study of the constitutional and legislative procedural rules in all other states found 41 of 50 states require at least one legislative chamber to record its vote on every single bill passed into law. Four other states mandate recorded votes on all revenue bills.The rules adopted by the S.C. General Assembly in January do not require a recorded vote on:
Each state budget section - only if one representative requests, no Senate requirement
Uncontested legislation - five representatives or one senator required to contest.
The General Assembly considers legislation on two separate calendars - the contested and uncontested calendar. Bills are considered uncontested unless lawmakers object and request to move the bill to the contested calendar, where it is debated and voted on publicly. One Senator or five Representatives is required to move a bill to the contested calendar.Only legislation on the contested calendar is required to get a vote on the record under the January rules change. This means lawmakers can avoid a recorded vote by agreeing to keep a bill on the uncontested calendar. This leaves citizens with no power and gives lawmakers complete freedom to decide if and when a matter will receive a recorded vote.For example, House Bill 3635 became law this session. It imposes a $10 annual fishing license fee for recreational saltwater angling, along with several other fees, including a $150-$300 fee to operate a saltwater public fishing pier or a saltwater charter fishing vessel. Defenders of the legislation claim the fee increase is necessary to avoid an even larger federal licensing fee. That defense may be entirely valid, but state lawmakers approved a de facto tax increase. Citizens deserve to know how their legislators voted. The Senate approved the bill on a 29-15 recorded vote, while the House approved it via an anonymous voice vote.This example illustrates there is no clear reason why the Senate recorded this vote and the House did not. When lawmakers control which votes are recorded there is no consistency or predictability in the process. Citizens cannot know with any certainty whether legislation will receive a recorded vote nor can they hold their elected officials accountable. For more information:Click Here to view the Policy Council's 2009 Legislative Vote Tracker OnlineLook for more examples of bills passed on voice votes by the legislature next week
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