CITY OF DARLINGTON
SPECIAL MEETING &
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
June 5, 2012
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2012-2013 BUDGETS
A Public Hearing of Darlington City Council was held June 5, 2012 at 6:00
P.M. in the Council Room of City Hall at 400 Pearl Street.
PRESENT AT MEETING:
Mayor Watkins, City Manager, Mr. Howard Garland and Councilpersons:
Segars, Cannon, Cohen, and Chapman. Also present: Mr. Lee Bass, Mr.
Kinsaul, and Chief Watson.
NEWS REPORTERS
Also present was News Reporter, Ms. Lisa Rock and Mr. Dwight Dana.
Mayor Watkins said the public hearing is to discuss the 2012-2013 budgets,
which is required before final reading. The floor was opened for questions.
News reported Ms. Lisa Rock wanted to know what changes were made to
the budget. Mr. Garland said a change from the last copy of the budget she
received was made in “Planning & Grants” Department. Mr. Garland said
on page 23, the salary line item was adjusted from $36,000 to $32,000 to
reflect that Mr. Langley will be working three days a week as of July, 2012.
He said insurance and bonds, workers comp insurance, tort insurance and
retirement were adjusted as well. Mr. Garland said these are the only
changes that were made from the last copy of the budget that Council and
media received. Mr. Garland said is estimates that our cash on hand as of
July 1st will be $580,227.00. He said we’ve had a fairly good savings by
consolidating the street & sanitation operations into one building; we’ve
saved considerably due to a decrease in gas prices. Mr. Garland has
budgeted for a 2% increase in salaries and a 9.8% increase in health
insurance. Mr. Garland said he is supposed to meet with Blue Cross on
Friday morning and if the numbers are not to his liking, he will bid out the
insurance. Mr. Garland said as of July 1st, he would like to take half of all
seatbelt and parking ticket fines collected each month and dedicate those to
the capital fund reserve for the police department which would be used to
pay down any debt on vehicles or capital purchases. Mr. Garland said since
we don’t have to give any of this money to the State right now, so why not
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turn some it of it back around and use it for capital purchases. He said we’re
going to always need vehicles. Mr. Garland said this is something that he
and Chief Watson would like to do with Council’s approval. Chief Watson
said currently they have collected $47,621, but he expects the total for this
budget year to reach approximately $53,608 and a little over $26,000 would
go into the capital fund. Mr. Garland said what they would do is pay off
existing debt and use the other money as matches for USDA grant
applications for vehicle purchases. He said we would not have to pay
money out of the general fund; it would come out of the reserve account.
Mayor Watkins asked Mr. Kinsaul if he’s seen a significant savings since
installing the new meters. Mr. Kinsaul said he’s seen an increase in revenue.
He estimates about a 5% increase in revenue. They will concentrate on
installing the larger meters at the schools and hopefully have them all in by
the time school starts back and also concentrating on installing the larger
meters at other sites. Mr. Garland reminded Council of the EDA Grant was
awarded September, 2010 for approximately $2 million for work on our
sewer lines around Georgia Pacific and replacing our old head works at the
old treatment plant. We will all be doing some sewer upgrades that will help
Polyquest and Nucor. The biggest part of the project replacing our trunk
line between our head works and Georgia Pacific. Mr. Garland said that
Georgia Pacific is going to be using new dyes which will put new
requirements on our treatment system, but with a larger line it will help us
move the waste water quicker and help us with our storm water situation.
Mr. Garland said there is also some work that will be done at Graham
Packaging, but since the grant was approved, the plant has closed. He said
they may not be doing that part of the grant. Mr. Kinsaul said right now the
City can’t get an easement on the property because someone has a lien
against the property. Mr. Garland said the idea with doing the
Wellman/Graham pump station was to get the line ready to send our
industrial wastewater to Florence one day. Mr. Kinsaul said the
Wellman/Graham tie-in was the reason the City qualified for the grant. Mr.
Kinsaul said a little over $100,000 was allocated in the grant for that lift
station, but we may not be able to do this unless we can get a clear title for
the property. Mr. Garland said EDA gave us permission to move forward
with the bid process and if necessary, we’ll put this part of the project on
hold until the end of the project.
There were no other questions or comments, so Mayor Watkins ended the
meeting at 6:20 PM.
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CITY OF DARLINGTON
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 5, 2012 – 7:00 PM
PRESENT AT MEETING:
Mayor Watkins, City Manager, Mr. Howard Garland and Councilpersons:
Segars, Cannon, Cohen, Chapman, Hines and Cooper. Also present: Mr.
Lee Bass, Mr. Kinsaul, and Chief Watson, Robert Garland, David Vaughan,
Ms. Rosena James, Mrs. Rita Pegelow, Mr. Will Isgett, Mrs. Mary Capers,
Ms. Dana Moore, Ms. Jannie Lathan, Miss Darlington, Mr. Danny DuBose,
Mr. BoBBy Ross, Ms. Barbara White and other visitors.
NEWS REPORTERS
Also present was News Reporter, Ms. Lisa Rock and Mr. Dwight Dana.
The Regular Meeting of Darlington City Council was held June 5, 2012 at
7:00 P.M. in the Council Room of City Hall at 400 Pearl Street.
PRAYER
Councilman Cannon gave the invocation which was followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance.
AGENDA CHANGE
Mayor asked Council’s approval to amend the agenda by moving item #7
immediately after item #3. There was no objection from Council.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Cannon made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular
Council Meeting on May 1, 2012 and a Special Meeting on May 7, 2012
and the Storm Water Work Session on May 14, 2012. The motion was
seconded by Mrs. Cohen. All approved the motion.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION – MAYOR WATKINS
Ms. Kelly said she is a rising senior at Florence Christian School, her talent
is singing and dancing and she will represent the City of Darlington at “The
2012 Miss South Carolina & Miss South Carolina Teen Pageant” in
Columbia, SC July 7-14, 2012. Mayor Watkins presented a “Key to the
City” to Miss Darlington Teen, Ms. Rebecca Kelly. Ms. Kelly was
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accompanied by her mother, step-father, grandmother, grandfather and her
adopted grandmother.
DDRA MANAGER – MR. DAVID VAUGHAN
Mr. Vaughan said the “Market on Darlington Square” will be June 16, 2012
from 9:00 AM-1:00PM. Mr. Vaughan had a visual presentation of some of
the things Kalmia Garden Study Club has done in the area. He had before
and after pictures of some areas. Mr. Vaughan said this is “National Garden
Club Week” and the Garden Club came this morning and fixed arrangements
and placed them at eight different places in the City. He said this is a nice
presentation to say thank you for what the City does for them. Mr. Vaughan
said tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM they will have a “Blessing of the
Garden” on North Main Street at the Psillos Garden.
MR. DANNY DUBOSE – GREATER DARLINGTON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
Mr. DuBose said the Car Haulers Parade and Race Fest were a success. He
said a ribbon cutting ceremony for Park Florist was held the same day. The
Business Assistance Network is planning a fall workshop series which will
involve internet marketing on different levels. He said there will be three
main full workshops starting late September or early October. Mr. DuBose
said they will launch an information program on 101 – Consulting through
the Business Assistance Network. Mr. DuBose said the Chamber is still
working on the outdoor movies on the “Square”. He said he met with Dr.
Knight and Dr. Harrison at the high school about doing an entrepreneur class
for second semester seniors next year. Mr. DuBose said he is trying to
involve the entire community in what they are doing.
MRS. MARY CAPERS – PASSAGEWAY OF HOPE SHELTER
Mrs. Capers, a representative for Passageway of Hope, said they now have
their registered site for which is at 512 Second Street. She said to note that
this is not the location of the shelter, but the location of the registered site for
the shelter. Mrs. Capers said the last heavy rain we had last week there’s a
flow of water from Avenue E that turns to Second Street and comes directly
to the registered address for the shelter. The last heavy rain caused four
inches of water to settle in the yard and she asked if Council they could help
them with some dirt and rocks for the yard. Mr. Garland told Mrs. Capers
the City will be able to do this for her.
SANITATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE - MR. LEE BASS
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Mr. Bass said three bids were received for the sanitation pick-up: 1) Allied
Waste; 2) USA Waste & Recycling; and 3) Waste Management with the low
bid of $13,510.76 per month from Allied Waste. He said we are losing just
under $20.00 a month per 2 yard container. He said the current rate for
Allied is $44.28 a month per 2 yard, but the City is charging $25.00 a month
per 2 yard container. The new bid price from Allied for 2 yard containers
decreased to $33.46, but the City is still charging significantly lower even
with the new bid. Mr. Bass said at the present, there are twenty-three 2-yard
containers in the City, but if the City replaces them with two roll carts @
$15.00 each, the City would charge the consumer $30.00. He said if the
City maintains the 2 yard containers, we need to raise the sanitation fee to
the price we are being charged by Allied. The new bid price for a 2-yard
container is $33.46 per month. Mr. Bass recommends that we eliminate with
the 2 yards containers and go with two roll carts and if a person chooses to
keep the 2-yard container, they will be charged the actual rate. Mr. Bass
also recommends that we accept the low bid in the amount of $13,510.76
from Allied Waste. Mrs. Hines made a motion to accept the low bid of
$13,510.76 per month from Allied Waste and to eliminate the 2-yard
containers and replace them with two roll carts and if a business owner
chooses to keep the 2 yard container, the City will charge them the same
rate we are being charged. Mr. Segars seconded the motion. Mrs.
Cohen said the City should put a note on the roll carts as to what and what
not to put in the recycling roll cart. All approved the motion. Mr. Bass
said they will send out notifications of what and what not to put in the
containers and also pick-up days.
SECOND READING ON ORDINANCE #2012-03 FOR
CONTINUANCE OF TAX LEVY OF 125 MILS
Upon motion of Mrs. Hines, seconded by Mr. Cannon, first reading on
ordinance #2012-03 for continuance of tax levy of 125 mils, which
unanimously carried.
SECOND READING ON ORDINANCE #2012-04 FOR
CONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS LICENSE TAX
Upon motion of Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mrs. Hines, first reading on
ordinance #2012-04 for continuance of business license tax, which
unanimously carried.
SECOND READING ON ORDINANCE #2012-05 APPROVAL OF
2012-2013 CITY OF DARLINGTON BUDGET
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Upon motion of Mr. Cannon, seconded by Mr. Segars, first reading on
ordinance #2012-05 approval of 2012-13 budget, which unanimously
carried.
CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
1) General Fund Balance - $49,310.08; Hospitality Tax Fund - $251,214.80;
Fund Balance Account - $962,640.73; W&S Fund Balance - $157,935.46;
W&S Fund Balance - $330,715.73; W&S Capital Fund - $496,439.17. 2)
EDA Sewer Project is ready to bid out which includes improvements for
Georgia Pacific, Nucor and Polyquest. The completion date for this project
should be sometime in December, 2013; 3) Mr. Garland said he will get a
copy of the City’s Disaster Mitigation Plan which Mr. Pat Cavanaugh has
been working on together with several people from the County. Mr. Garland
said we need to have a public hearing to receive comment at the July 10th
meeting and if there’s no objection we will vote on it at the July 10th regular
meeting. He told council he would get a copy to them in the next week or
so; 4) Mr. Garland said a representative from Waffle House came in and
requested annexation. He said if they do 1st reading tonight, they can have
2nd Reading at our July 10th meeting. Mr. Garland said they have agreed to
pay the hospitality tax and other fees that the City may have. Mr.
Chapman made a motion for first reading on annexation of Waffle
House on Highway 52. Mr. Segars seconded the motion. All approved
the motion.
SEATBELT FINES & PARKING TICKETS FINES
Mr. Garland said at the budget work session it was the recommendation
from management that we take half of the seatbelt fines and parking ticket
fines and set it aside for capital projects in the Darlington Police
Department. He estimates this will be a net gain of approximately $30,000
to pay down debt and once the debt is paid off we will use the funds for
capital purchases or for grant match in the police department. Mr. Cannon
made a motion to approve the resolution to use half of the seatbelt &
parking ticket fines to pay off debt and for capital purchases/grant
match for police department. Mr. Cooper seconded the motion. All
approved the motion.
REMINDERS:
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Baldwin Recreation Center Dedication-4:00 PM at
First Baptist Church; Saturday, June 16, 2012 Marketplace on the Square
from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM; June 27th – July 1st, MASC Annual Meeting at
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Hilton Head, SC; On Wednesday, July 4th City offices will be closed for
Independence Day; Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM Regular City Council
Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion of Mr. Segars, seconded by Mrs. Hines, the meeting
adjourned at 7:59 PM.
Mayor
ATTEST:
Clerk & Treasurer
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