July 11, 2011 @ 7:00 PM

Present were:  Mayor Nat Shaffer, Council Members:  Ralph Smith, Henry Tuten, Henry Campbell, Adam Major, Lloyd “Tootie” Griffith, Ronald Williams and Kevin Brown, Town Attorney.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nat Shaffer.

The invocation was given by Councilman Griffith and The Pledge of Allegiance followed.

Mayor Nat Shaffer recognized the following visitors, Mark Smith, Margaret Griffith, Fred Tuten, Brenda Willis, William Parker, Willie Williams, Libby Murdaugh, Fred Hanna, Paul Holmes and Eugene Jenkins.

Mayor Shaffer presented the minutes of the June 6, 2011 meeting for approval.  Mayor Shaffer mentioned there was an attachment to the minutes.  It’s an explanation of an item concerning a question asked by Councilman Smith concerning water rates going up from 66.72 to 77.22.  This attachment was submitted by Sophia Magwood. She wanted the Mayor and Council to fully understand various things about the waterworks meters. There is no rate increase.  Mayor Shaffer asked if there were any questions. A motion was made by Councilman Griffith and seconded by Councilman Major to approve the minutes.  All members were in favor.

Fred Tuten was present and asked to be added to the agenda.

Fred Hanna employed by B.P. Barber was present to answer questions concerning the proposed regional water authority. Mr. Hanna stated the study has been completed and we are presently trying to determine who will participate.

Mayor Shaffer stated we have discussed this over and over. We would have to spend 22,300.00 for legal fees. Mr. Hanna said the fees were determined by prorate depending upon the number of customers. Each town would have a representative. This would be a County wide authority. Each town would have one member and one member from the County. Each municipality would turn over Water/Sewer assets and any debts they have would be paid. Mayor Shaffer asked Mr. Hanna about the entity paying the town a royalty. The answer was no, but you would have a representative representing your town.

Councilman Griffith stated the town would be giving up revenue of $700,000.00. Why doesn’t the County borrow the money? “The County is trying to take over. It just doesn’t make sense, giving up our revenue and only having one representative to represent the town.” Mr. Hanna said these are great questions. What we need to do tonight is decide if you’re joining or not, If you want to participate with the legal cost. I’m not a representative of the County and not trying to advise you on how to move. The County doesn’t want to get into the water business. There are six systems in study by the EPA. This organization handles this maintaining the federal laws. Five of the six towns don’t meet EPA requirements. The Town of Varnville is one of them. The Town of Hampton meets all requirements. DEHEC enforces the EPA.  Mayor Shaffer stated however that the EPA metric system favors a larger city. Councilman Williams thanked Mr. Hanna and spoke of the growth of the County, Operations and capacity. Mr. Hanna stated the ground water is drying up and right now Atlanta is presently looking at the Savannah River.

Paul Holmes was present to discuss the EMS services for Hampton County.  Chris Altman built an outstanding organization for Hampton County. Last week County Administrator informed the Town of Yemassee, the County would no longer respond to their area in order to save money. They would instead send a QRV (Quick Response Vehicle) to their area to examine the patient and determine if they indeed needed an ambulance. Mr. Holmes was very much against this and explained various reasons why. If a child is hurt, the parents would get into the car and speed to the hospital. This could cause accidents. The QRV is a truck and couldn’t transport a patient. There is also the time it takes for all this to happen. He asked the Mayor and Council to write a letter and please attend the next Council meeting. Help us to help our citizens. Mayor Shaffer stated two ambulances aren’t adequate. We have to think of the schools if a child was hurt and Yemassee is on a major interstate. My opinion is this is a big mistake. The Mayor and Councilman Griffith thanked Mr. Holmes was coming. A motion was made by Councilman Tuten to type a letter to the County requesting three ambulances and was seconded by Councilman Griffith.  All members were in favor.

Fred Tuten was present to discuss Business license for tree cutters. He said he came into the Town Hall early that morning and requested a copy of all business licenses for tree cutters. He was told the town didn’t have a computer system which would sort out just tree cutters. He reported Tuten’s Tree Service didn’t have a license. He questioned if Jan Thomas had a license. Recently, he saw Jan Thomas on Pine Street and the Town truck and backhoe was there. Does the Town rent out their equipment? The back hoe was in Michael Smith’s yard. Why do you haul off tree limbs when the actual contractor should move this stuff?   Councilman Tuten stated we use to rent the backhoe for $25.00 an hour. Mayor Shaffer stated this isn’t the town policy and I will take it into consideration. Mr. Fred Tuten stated if it’s an elderly person, I would certainly understand.

Financial Report:   Clerk Treasurer, Christine Parker reported the revenue exceeded the expenses. Co0uncilman Griffith made the motion and Councilman Williams seconded to table this as information.

Councilman Williams questioned if the legal fees for the regional water authority was in the budget.  Mayor Shaffer said we could use some of the reserve fund or might not need the money for six months or longer.   Councilman Williams made the motion to commit to the Regional Water Authority and pay the legal fees. Councilman Campbell seconded. The following opposed:  Mayor Shaffer, Councilman Smith, Councilman Griffith, Councilman Tuten and Councilman Major. Councilman Tuten said we need to have the financial figures from the waterworks in more detail to see exactly what we are giving up before we commit .

Unfinished Business:  Mayor Shaffer reported the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The Council had several budget workshops.  We now have a reserve fund of $53218.00. We are very fortunate. Last fiscal year was good. No red flags. We were also able to purchase a tractor and a new limb truck. Mayor Shaffer discussed the budget for the fiscal year 2011-2012. The Mayor said our current tax millage was .61 for operations and .10 for the Revenue bond. There would be no increase in taxes this year. This is our final hearing for the budget. The budget for General Funds and Waterworks is $1,859,634.00.

Police Department:  Chief Smith said he was on vacation Monday thru Wednesday. The police cars are painted. Councilman Griffith said every year at the Mud Run there is underage drinking.  Why don’t the police put wrist bands on the people to be able to identify who is 21? Then you could call the parents if they were caught drinking. Chief Smith responded we were in the process of writing tickets for this when a fight broke out. The Town of Varnville Police worked the Mud Run with four officers. We had no help.

Fire Department:  Chief Hiers reported 26 calls. He thanked the Council for the work they did on the budget. Chief Hiers also reported the hospital called the fire department when a helicopter was trying to land and they were there from 4:00-6:00. Mayor Shaffer said we will bill the hospital for the service.

Public Works:  Nothing at this time.

Clerk Treasurer:  I would like to thank the Mayor, Council and department heads for their work on the budget. Everyone did a great job.

New Business:  The Mayor brought up prohibiting dilapidated and unfit buildings within the Town of Varnville. One home on Partridge Lane which had burned was mentioned. The neighbors are complaining of rodents and this makes it unsafe and not healthy. Mayor Shaffer read an ordinance. This was declared the first reading. A motion was made by Councilman Griffith and seconded by Councilman Smith.  All members were in favor of Ordinance number 2011-05.

Mayor Shaffer told the Council he had a preliminary SRO understanding in writing from Superintendent Doug McTeer. We will have one officer and the school district will pay the Town of Varnville $44,325.88. All car expenses including gas and all overtime will be paid by the school district. A motion was made by Councilman Tuten and seconded by Councilman Smith.  All members were in favor.

Mayor Shaffer is currently working on the Ordinance 2011-06 for impact fees in title only. The formula is hard to read. This will affect commercial and not residential. A motion was made to accept by title by Councilman Major and seconded by Councilman Williams.  All members were in favor.

Mayor Shaffer stated he needed a motion to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter concerning Bobby Edwards, Michael Smith and Stacy Loadholt. A motion was made by Councilman Griffith and seconded by Councilman Campbell.  All members were in favor.

Regular session:

A motion was made by Council Griffith and seconded by Councilman Campbell come back into regular session.  All members were in favor. Mayor Shaffer stated action was taken for Bobby Edwards.  Mayor Shaffer stated we discussed hiring Michael Smith to be a policeman for the Town of Varnville.  Stay Loadholt would be the SRO officer for Wade Hampton. A motion was made by Councilman Smith and seconded by Councilman Griffith. All members were in favor.

Individual Reports: 

Councilman Williams: Let’s go home and think about the Water Authority.

Councilman Major:  Thank Bobby Edwards and staff for making Varnville look better than it ever has.

Councilman Campbell:  Community and Council, keep up the good work.

Councilman Griffith:  Bobby Edwards has done an excellent job. People come through Varnville and it looks better than I have ever seen and people have commented. We have the budget passed for the next fiscal year.

Councilman Smith:  Good group, town employees and no drama now.

Councilman Tuten:  Advertise to sell the old tractor, not the bush hog to the highest bidder. A motion made by Councilman Tuten and seconded by Councilman Campbell. All members were in favor.

Meeting adjourned.