There was a significant interest last nights meeting so for that reason; I am sending this brief summary of what transpired. I also want make reader’s aware that some of these items were discussed and passed without any input from the public. We did have several comments from the public on the LOST allocations, but no input in the George’s Lake developers agreement, purchase of George’s Lake, the Newberry Street Fountain, the new medical complex at Woodside or the ordinance changes regarding accessory buildings. We make better decisions when the public is involved.
LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX FUNDING - Prior to last nights Council Meeting, I had nearly a dozen emails regarding the Local Options Sales Tax (LOST) allocations. This turned out to be more challenging than anticipated because of a misunderstanding on the part of Council. We were told that the County Tax Committee had voted to eliminate the money allocated to the African-American Center, the Teen Center, SPCA, and the YMCA. Our only task based on this information was to allocate the additional $6 million made available from Aiken County.
This turned out not to be the case. Wade Brodie, our appointee to the County Tax Committee told us that no vote to remove the four projects mentioned above had been taken and would not be taken until the Tax Committee met on July 6th. At this point we then allocated the $6M as follows:
1. $500 thousand to the Open Space Fund restoring this category to $1M.
2. $3.3 million for a Senior/Youth Center. The City Manager assures us that this enough to build the facility.
3. $1.0 million to be added to the Water/Sewer Infrastructure bring this item to a total of $8.095M. This is still not enough money to complete all needed projects in this category, but it will make a major effort in reducing the backlog.
4. $200 thousand for the Railroad Depot (4-3 Vote)
5. $500 thousand for the Powderhouse Road Connector.
6. $500K for new sidewalks (Schools). This is in addition to the $500 thousand that the City Manager had requested for this item.
If the County Tax Committee removes all non-government projects from the City list, we will need to reallocate a total of $2.45 million at our next Council meeting on July 12.
APPROVAL OF DEVELOPER’S AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL RETENTION POND – This item passed on a 5-2 vote with Steve Homoki and me voting no. I still think this was too good a deal for the developer and would have preferred some changes in the agreement as well as an additional appraisal.
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR A REGIONAL RETENTION POND – This also passed by a 5-2 vote for the same reasons mentioned above. It does not seem, in my opinion, a prudent use of taxpayer’s money to pay such a large sum for this kind of property.
DISCUSSION OF A COMMERCIAL GARBAGE EXIT STRATEGY – At our next Council meeting we will approve the elimination of commercial garbage service for most of the City.
APPROVAL OF WORK ON NEWBERRY STREET FOUNTAIN – This item was approved unanimously
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND CONCEPT PLAN FOR WOODSIDE PROFESSIONAL SUITES – This item was approved on a 6-1 vote. I voted against the proposal because of concerns about traffic entering this complex from Silver Bluff Road.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING ACCESSORY BUILDINGS – This item was approved on a 6-1 vote. I voted against passage, but may support the ordinance at second reading based on further research.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE REVISING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TRESPASS NOTICE – This item passed unanimously.
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