WORK SESSION AIKEN COUNTY COMPLEX 6:30 p.m. - For the last several months the County of Aiken has been discussing the expansion and rebuilding of their complex. Several proposed changes will need to be considered to properly site the new building, and they would like to discuss this with City Council at tonight’s meeting. Consultants for the new Aiken County Complex have developed conceptual plans which they feel will improve the appearance and safety of this downtown site. They have surveyed the surrounding streets to determine whether some changes or relocations could reduce congestion and potential accidents as vehicles enter and exit the proposed site. Since they may request the City to obtain certain street right of ways to facilitate these improvements, they would like to share the conceptual plans with Council tonight.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – City Council will meet in Executive Session to discuss a Contractual Agreement.
BUDGET CLOSE-OUT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 – The finance Department has preliminarily closed our last year’s fiscal year 2009-2010 and indicates a surplus of $716,829 in the General Fund. This is great news, especially in light of today's economy. We are recommending that Council set aside the entire amount to be used to complete our work on the Pawnee/Neilson Project. Based on our latest estimate we will need about $800,000 with the rest of the funding coming from our Special Holding Funds. Hopefully, we will be reimbursed at a later date for some, if not all of the work that will be completed from this point forward.
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF RAILROAD DEPOT AND ACCEPTANCE OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - Over the last several years the City of Aiken has been discussing with the Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot (Friends) and Aiken Corporation, the acceptance of the Railroad Depot. The building is now complete, and they would like the City to accept the building, railroad cars, and exhibits within the building as part of the railroad depot complex. The City intends to use the building as a Visitors Center, Event Center and Railroad Museum. The mission of the Friends is to preserve Aiken's rich railroad history and establish and maintain an educational and recreational amenity while contributing to the economic vitality of downtown Aiken.
In the Memorandum of Understanding the Friends will continue to help maintain the dioramas and train exhibit and work with staff as an advisory group concerning the Railroad Depot Complex. The City in turn will have a liaison on their board of directors and assist the friends as events may occur throughout the year. This agreement is similar to the relationship that we have with the Friends of Rye Patch and Hopelands Gardens several decades. The Friends will help with the training of docents to assist individual groups and schools as they visit the Aiken Railroad Depot. Over the next several years the City will work towards completing other aspects at the complex such as a covered deck and baggage building which will provide bathrooms and a kitchen facility, completion of the dining cars and caboose in Gyles Park. These items will be scheduled as money becomes available through our normal city budget.
The transfer and bill of sale for the Depot is free and clear of all liens and encumbrances to the City of Aiken. The effective date of the transfer will be upon the approval of this resolution by City Council.
FAA AIRPORT GRANT FOR LIGHTING SYSTEM - Over the last couple of years the City of Aiken has experienced several failures with the runway lighting system at the airport. These failures affect aircraft using the airport at night and during inclement weather. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently committed to pay for a new runway lighting system at an estimated cost of $89,140. They will pay 90% of the cost of this project with 5% coming from the South Carolina Division of Aeronautics and the other 5% from the City of Aiken, totaling $2,228. It has been difficult to get repair parts for this system, and many times we have had to custom make the parts when the failures occur. We recommend the approval of this grant.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO TURN THE TOWN TEAL FOR OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN – September has been designated as the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and a local group known as GAIL’s Anatomy would like to request the City to "Turn the Towns Teal, Inc." This campaign will help promote ovarian cancer awareness and its symptoms. They are asking Council's permission to tie teal ribbons which are biodegradable and made in the USA, around the town's center. They will also ask various businesses and citizens to become involved by placing signs on their private property stating that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Campaigns similar to this have been approved by City Council in the past and will simply need an affirmative vote by Council to approve their request.
EQUINE RESCUE TRAILER - The City of Aiken has the reputation as a premier equine community, and for the last several years a group within the equine community has been discussing the need for an equine ambulance. They would like to begin a fund raiser to purchase a horse trailer which would serve as a rescue unit for horses. The trailer would contain a winch, a large animal rescue skid, a sling for transporting horses, generator ropes, halters, and a self-contained water supply. Once they have been able to raise the funds for the trailer they would like to give it to the City of Aiken for city use and by an animal rescue group for in-city and out-of-city events. The city could set up a fee system so that the unit could be on-site at the Triple Crown, polo matches, or other equine events that are willing to pay for the on-site presence. A group of volunteers would be trained and accredited on the use of the trailer and would be available to assist during the emergency situation. They feel the on-going cost would pay for itself through the fees collected from these various events.
STALLED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - Several months ago City Council asked staff to review its current procedures and determine if there was a more effective way to deal with stalled construction projects and other lot nuisances.
Our current ordinances deal with nuisances such as loud noises and unsafe dwellings, but does not necessarily give authority to the City to be involved in the abatement of stalled construction projects. Nor does it allow the City to charge a fee for the on-going monitoring of properties that require frequent inspections.
Staff feels that the current Aiken County nuisance ordinance could be adopted and would assist us in many ways. In addition, certain changes could be made to the building permit that could cover some of the other nuisances. We could also discuss potential monitoring fees and other changes to our Code to help avoid these problems. Based on any decisions tonight, we would then come back to City Council with an ordinance detailing specific changes on how to address this issue.
APPROVAL OF DEED OF DEDICATION FOR SANITARY SEWER LINES AND WATER LINES IN GATEWOOD APARTMENTS - Gatewood Associates, LLC would like the City of Aiken to accept the sanitary sewer system and water lines located in the Gatewood Apartments. This would include all service lines, water lines, manholes, cleanouts, water meters, and other equipment or fixtures within this area. Our Engineering staff has reviewed the water and sewer system and has found no deficiencies or other items that need remediation. They, therefore, recommend that Council accept this deed of dedication.
APPROVAL OF DEED OF DEDICATION FOR THE DETENTION POND OFF OF PINE LOG ROAD. - The Savannah River Federal Credit Union located on East Pine Log Road would like the City of Aiken to accept the regional detention pond which serves their site and other stores and property located along Pine Log Road at Powderhouse Road. Our Engineering staff has reviewed the regional detention pond that serves these businesses and found no deficiencies or items that need remediation. We, therefore, recommend that City Council accept this deed of dedication for the regional detention pond at the 700 block of East Pine Log Road.
KEY DATES –
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10 – ARPT Director Glenn Parker will convene the first meeting of the Senior Task Force at 5:00 P.M. in Room 101 of Aiken City Hall.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. - City Council will hold Talking Shop with Aiken Businesses, our focus groups, to discuss issues affecting the Business City, in the City Hall Conference Center.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24 AT 7:00 p.m. – The City will hold a business forum for focus groups to discuss issues affecting out Business City, in the City Hall Conference Center.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT 5:00 P. M. IN ROOM 204- Council will kick off our zero based budget sessions with Ed Driggers, City Manager from Greer. Public Safety will start the process and all meetings should last no more than four hours.
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