REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
ON MONDAY, JULY 10,2000 AT 5:30 P.M. AT CITY HALL

Mayor McCollum called the meeting to order and Ms. Williams gave the invocation. 

Clerk Watson took the roll with everyone being present. 

Ms. Williams made the motion to approve the agenda. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed.

Mayor McCollum opened the meeting to a Public Hearing to receive comments on proposed Ordinance 00-05 to rezone property of Alphonso Crosby from HC to R2.  There were no comments from the public. Mayor McCollum brought the Public Hearing to a close.

Mayor McCollum opened the meeting to a Public Hearing to receive comments on proposed Ordinance 00-06 to rezone property of Rita West from R2 to R3. Ary Jones voiced opposition to the rezoning claiming that if she was not going to receive help from anyone then she did not want anyone else to receive help. She was upset with the 911 process and upset that her street had not been repaved. Mr. Steadman informed her to check with Jeff Jowers who is in charge of the 911 program.

Mrs. Zeigler spoke in favor of the rezoning ordinance and said that her daughter, Rita West, was requesting the rezoning so she could live near her father who has health problems. She explained that there would only be one double wide home on the five acre area. With no further comments the Public Hearing was brought to a close.

Mayor McCollum opened the meeting to a public Hearing to receive comments on proposed Ordinance 00-07 to rezone property of Mary Harrison from HC to R2. Mrs. Harrison voiced that she wanted her property to be returned to R2 for the protection of her property and her community. She voiced that her community was an historical community within The City of Bamberg and should be rezoned to R2 in order to stop the location of double wide homes in this area. With no further comments the Public Hearing was brought to a close.

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to approve the minutes of the June 12,2000 and the June 22, 2000 meetings as received. Mr. Steadman made the second. All agreed.

Mrs. Kemmerlin made the motion to approve the Budget and Finance Reports as received. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. Clerk Watson explained that the June report showed that expenses exceeded revenues by $69,875.35 for the year. He explained that $68,000.00 more in revenues had been received than expected due to the Bamberg County Reassessment and due to the collection of telecommunications and insurance company taxes by the MASC. Clerk Watson explained that the Administrative Department exceeded their budget by $62,101.00 due mainly to capital expenditures, professional services and community promotional projects approved by Council beyond the budget. Clerk Watson explained that the Police Department had exceeded their budget by $49,156.00 due mainly to overtime and auto repairs. He explained that the Sanitation Department had exceeded their budget by $1,512.00 and that the Fire Department had exceeded their budget by $6,462.00 which was mainly due to overtime and capital expenditures. Clerk Watson reminded Council that reserves had dropped from $500,000.00 to $366,000.00 over the last two years and said that the City may have a problem cash flowing on a month to month basis in the future if this trend continues.

During the Commission Reports.

Mr. Sandifer commended Ms. Vernessa Williams and the Bamberg Jog Corps on the high rating they had received. He informed Council that a fourteen window door was being repaired at the Fire Department after a spring had broken which caused the door to fall. Mr. Sandifer mentioned that the July 4^th Celebration had been a huge success and he gave Council an update on the various Dixie Youth Tournaments that are taking place.

Mrs. Kemmerlin commended the Sanitation Department for their help with the July 4^th Celebration and with the Ness Sports Complex.

Under New Business.

Council received a recommendation from the Planning Commission that Proposed Ordinance 00-05 be adopted at this time.

Mrs. Johnson then made the motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 00-05. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed.

Council received a recommendation from the Planning Commission that Proposed Ordinance 00-06 not be adopted at this time.

Ms. Williams then made the motion that the first reading of Ordinance 00-06 not be approved. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All voted in favor of the motion except Mr. Sandifer who voted against the motion. The motion carried.

Council received a recommendation from the Planning Commission that Proposed Ordinance 00-07 be adopted. Mrs. Johnson then made the motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 00-07. Mrs. Kemmerlin made the second. All agreed.

After Mr. Sandifer explained the recommendation from 911 Director Jeff Jowers that the section of Rhoad Park Street from South Carlisle to the entrance of Ness Park be renamed to Ness Drive, he then made the motion to have this section renamed Ness Drive. Mr. Steadman made the second. During the discussion, Mrs. Johnson voiced that residents along this section had not been asked their feelings concerning the renaming.  All of Council voted in favor of the motion except Mrs. Johnson who voted against the motion.  The motion carried.

During discussion on where to locate the Building Inspector, Ms. Williams recommended finding a room in the Fire Department for him to utilize.  Mr. Sandifer voiced this may cause a conflict with the Fire Department personnel.  Mayor McCollum asked that Ms. Williams and Mr. Sandifer look into this and to then make a recommendation to Council.

Under Old Business

Mrs. Kemmerlin reported that the Railroad Car Committee has yet to meet.

Mrs. Johnson then made the motion to go into executive session to discuss the compensation of employees and to discuss negotiations incident to the purchasing of property.  Ms. Williams made the second. All agreed.

Ms. Williams made to motion to come out of the executive session.  Mrs. Kemmerlin made the second.  All agreed.

During the questions from the press and audience, Mr. Bob McCully asked to be recognized to address Council.  Mayor McCollum reminded him that only items that were on the agenda could be discussed.  Mr. McCully became very irate and voiced loudly that Council was ripping the public off.  He stormed out of the meeting only to return and then to storm out once again.

Mr. Alphonso Crosby informed Council that he thought the second reading of the ordinance to rezone his property was to be held tonight.  Clerk Watson explained that the second reading would be held at the next meeting.

A citizen informed Council that her garbage had not been picked up.  Ms. Williams explained that the City has a new contractor and that it would take time for them to get use to their new routes.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

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