REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2000 AT 5:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

Mayor McCollum called the meeting to order and Mr. Walker gave the invocation. 

Clerk Watson took the roll with everyone being present except Ms. Williams who was unable to attend due to her illness. 

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to approve the agenda as received. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mayor McCollum recognized Wayne Hughes who told Council  wrecker licenses have been given to individuals who do not own a wrecker service in town. He also complained to Council that the Wrecker Rotational Ordinance is not being followed. 

Mayor McCollum informed him that the Sheriff controls the rotational list. He told Council that the problem seems to be that Council may need to define physical location in the Wrecker Ordinance. Mayor McCollum explained that two other individuals who have businesses outside of town have gone into business with individuals who have businesses in town in order to get on the rotational list. 

Mr. Walker voiced that we must only license and be concerned with wrecker services within the City. 

Mr. Sandifer voiced that Council must look at two angles. He explained that Council has no control over the rotational system but that Council has control over who must acquire licensing within the City. Mr. Sandifer reminded Council that licenses are required of businesses who operate wrecker services whether they own businesses within town or out of town if they come into town to pull vehicles. 

Chief Morris explained that having a wrecker license has nothing to do with being on the rotational list. He said the Sheriff at one time had a list of wrecker services in and out of town but at the present time does not recognize the two list. 

Mrs. Johnson asked Mr. Hughes just what he was concerned with. Mr. Hughes explained that he had a business operating in the City which generates revenues back to the City in the form of taxes and services but that out of town businesses who are slipping in never generate monies back to the City. 

Mayor McCollum voiced again that the problem is how a physical location is defined. 

Chief Morris informed Council that even if the ordinance is adhered to with a definite definition of physical location that we still have no control over the rotational system. 

After more discussion, Mr. Sandifer made the motion to table the discussion until the next meeting until more information is gathered. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Jeff Black voiced to Council that the issues were not about city taxes or monies coming back to the City. He said it was not fair for Wayne Hughes to go out in the county if he was not allowed to come into the City. 

Auditor Keith Dooley reported to Council that the City of Bamberg has been give a Clean Opinion on the 99-2000 Audit Report. Mr. Dooley informed Council that the audit showed assets exceeding liabilities to give the City a Total Fund Equity of $682,736.00. Mr. Dooley told Council that revenues had exceeded expenses by $15,318.00 this year and felt this was good since the citizens are not being taxed to death. Auditor Dooley explained that revenues had exceeded budgeted revenues by $97,520.00 and that expenses had exceeded budgeted expenses by $82,202.00 which was mainly due to capital purchases to produce the $15,318.00 net income. 

Mr. Sandifer asked Mr. Dooley if a contingency fund was needed for such capital expenses. Auditor Dooley explained this would be a good idea but that the budget needed to be amended to approve capital expenditures that were not included in the budget. 

Auditor Dooley informed the Council the audit showed that time deposits held in banks over the FDIC insured coverages are being collateralized properly and that he felt the use of the SC Pool Fund for reserve fund investments was a good way to invest. 

Auditor Dooley reminded Council that 20% of Board of Public Works revenues are still coming from one local industry. 

Mr. Sandifer told Council that he has worked with different mayors and clerks since 1983 and voiced that all the clerks have done a very good job. 

Clerk Watson praised his staff and explained that they were largely responsible for the great work that is being done. 

Auditor Dooley told Council they have been given an excellent report and told them they have been  good stewards in directing the City. 

Mrs. Kemmerlin made the motion to accept the 99-2000 Audit Report as presented. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mr. Sandifer made the motion to approve the minutes of the November 13,2000 meeting as received. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mr. Walker made the motion to approve the Budget and Finance Reports as received. Mr. Steadman made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Under Commission Reports. 

Mr. Sandifer asked Mayor McCollum to introduce Mr. Wayne Gregory who was the new Director of the Bamberg County Economic Development Board. Council welcomed Mr. Gregory to Bamberg and told him they looked forward to working with him. 

Mrs. Kemmerlin congratulated Councilman Buddy Sandifer for being chosen Year 2000 Citizen of the Year for Bamberg County. She informed Council that the Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours will not be held during December and January but would resume in February. She told them the Bamberg Chamber has joined the State Chamber of Commerce’s web page. 

Fire Chief Timmie Taylor, reporting for Ms. Vernessa Williams, informed Council that Greg Gambrell has resigned as fire engineer from the department and has taken a job as a fire inspector for Orangeburg County. He explained that Mr. Gambrell’s last day will be December 14^th and told Council that advertising has begun to find his replacement. 

Mrs. Johnson then made the motion to accept Mr. Gambrell’s resignation. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mr. Steadman reported that the Police Department has hired Monte Jones as the new officer and is now back to full staff. 

Under Old Business. 

Clerk Watson informed Council that he was still awaiting more information from the Municipal Code Corporation on recodification of the City’s ordinances in order to present them with proposals. 

Under New Business.

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to donate $500.00 to the Wild Game Banquet that was held in November of this year. Mr. Sandifer made the necessary second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mr. Walker made the motion to go into executive session to discuss negotiations incident to a contractual arrangement. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mr. Steadman made the motion to come out of the executive session. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

Mayor McCollum announced that no actions had been taken in the executive session. 

With no announcements, questions from the press or audience and no further business, Mrs. Johnson made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Steadman made the second. All agreed. The motion carried. 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m.