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

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

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to approve the agenda to include the addition of item 4 under New Business to award a bid for waxing the floors at City Hall and the Fire Department and to include the addition of a discussion of negotiations incident to a contractual matter and a discussion of salaries for  personnel  during the executive session. Mr. Steadman made the second. All approved. The motion carried.

Deacon Capers and Mrs. Louise Grimes informed Council that they were here tonight on behalf of Cub Scout Troop 441 and Boy Scout Troop 21 asking for Council’s support again this year. Deacon Capers informed Council in detail of the past year’s activities and the activities that are planned for this year for the troops. Deacon Capers thanked Council for their past support and asked for their continued support this year.

Mrs. Johnson said she thought Council had already approved a donation in the budget for this request. Mayor McCollum explained that during the budget process this was discussed but that Council never reached a decision on how to handle community promotions this year.

Mr. Sandifer asked how much was donated last year. Clerk Watson informed him that Council had donated $500.00 last year. Mr. Johnson then made the motion to donate $500.00 again this year to Troop 441. Mrs. Kemmerlin made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mr. Frank Shepherd informed Council that he was strictly opposed to Ordinance 00-09 which would allow the property in front of his home to be rezoned from Industrial to R4 which would allow for a 100 unit trailer park. He voiced that he was not notified of the Public Hearing and that the park would create a transit neighborhood which would require additional police protection and improved roads. He felt this would create an unsafe environment for his wife and kids.

Building Inspector Kirkland informed Council that a new house is being built in town and that more are to follow. He told them that he has begun addressing the unsafe structures along West Railroad Avenue. Mr. Kirkland reported that he has contacted art students who may be willing to paint murals on the boarded windows downtown if the City would provide the materials.

Mr. Walker made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 14,2000 meeting as received. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mr. Sandifer made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 29,2000 meeting as received. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Under Commission Reports:

Mrs. Johnson reported that penalties of 15% have been added to late business licenses. She informed Council that on August 23^rd she had attended a Rural Development Housing Workshop sponsored by LSCOG. She said that she learned that $7,000.00 is available for any elderly or disabled individual to help with renovating their homes but that to date only one person has applied.

Mrs. Kemmerlin reported that the Sanitation Department has been very busy cutting grass. She informed Council that Business After Hours will be held on Tuesday, September 19^th at Job Corps and that one new member had joined the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Steadman informed Council that the Police Department is still short one officer. He explained that they have been advertising, but that they were having poor luck in receiving applications.

Under New Business:

Mr. Sandifer, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, informed Council that the Committee had a very productive meeting on September 7^th. He explained that the Committee is committed to putting playground areas in the Southwestern quadrant of town but said they would need public support. He said monies were not put into this year’s budget but could be planned for next year. Mr. Sandifer informed Council that the Committee has asked Mr. Walker and Mrs. Johnson for their help in finding suitable properties which could be developed into recreational areas within their districts.

Mrs. Johnson informed Council that she has contacted five property owners and that one piece of property was not suitable but that she is making headway with the other four.

Mr. Walker informed Council that he had not found any decent pieces of property yet. He said any recreational area needed to have bathroom facilities, be well lighted, be policed at all times and  should have a curfew that is enforced.

Mr. Sandifer finished his report by saying that the City would have to charge fees for all athletic programs but assured Council that no child will or has ever been turned away from any City program.

After reading the bids for the stripping and waxing of the floors at City Hall and the Fire Department from Serve Pro of $1,006.00 and from Woodrow Sherman of $4,000.00, Mr. Sandifer made the motion to award the contract to Serve Pro for $1,006.00. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to approve the awarding of the asbestos abatement contract for the downtown buildings to Pangel Construction Co. for $17,470.00 contingent upon the SC Dept. of Commerce telling the City to move forward with the grant project. Mr. Walker made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Under Old Business:

Mr. Walker made the motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance 00-08 to rezone the property of Lisa & Douglas Stokes from HC to R2. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

During the discussion of the second reading of Ordinance 00-09, Mr. Sandifer made the motion to table the second reading until Mrs. Valentine and Mrs. Riley could be present to discuss the matter in more detail. The audience became very upset with this and demanded that the second reading not be approved. They wanted Council to make a decision tonight. Mr. Sandifer withdrew his motion after receiving no second.

Mrs. Johnson then made motion to not approve the rezoning of the Vallentine and Riley property form I to R4. Mr. Walker made the second. Mayor McCollum called for a vote by a show of hands. Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Walker voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Sandifer, Mrs. Kemmerlin and Mr. Steadman voted against the motion. The motion did not carry.

Mrs. Johnson voiced that it was evident that Council had voted along racial lines. The audience began to applaud.

Mr. Steadman objected strongly and voiced to Mrs. Johnson that she was wrong by making such a remark. Mr. Steadman voiced that he resented Mrs. Johnson’s remark and anyone who clapped for it. He voiced that both parties needed to be present at the next meeting.

Mayor McCollum voiced strongly that he disapproved of Mrs. Johnson’s remark and the action of the audience.

Mr. Sandifer voiced that time and time again the City has gone by the book only to have citizens come and complain after the fact.

Mrs. Johnson said it was evident that Council voted along racial lines when two black members voted against three white members and that was all she meant by the remark. She asked if any of them would like to have a 100 unit trailer park in their neighborhood.

Mr. Shepherd became upset and began to voice his frustrations at Council. Mayor McCollum slammed the gavel and demanded the meeting come back to order.

Mayor McCollum called for a motion to approve the Second Reading of Ordinance 00-09. No one made such a motion. Mayor McCollum announced that the Second Reading of Ordinance 00-09 had died for lack of a motion.

Mrs. Johnson made the motion to go into executive session to discuss a possible legal claim, to discuss negotiations incident to a contractual matter, and to discuss salaries for personnel. Mr. Sandifer made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mr. Sandifer made the motion to come out of the executive session. Mrs. Kemmerlin made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mr. Sandifer then made the motion to have a survey and appraisal done for a piece of property owned by the City that lies along Railroad Avenue and New Bridge Street. Mrs. Johnson made the second. All agreed. The motion carried.

Mayor McCollum informed Council that at this time he was officially appointing Mr. Al Palmer to the Bamberg City Economic Development Commission.

Mayor McCollum then informed the audience and Council that the City’s Comprehensive Plan says the City needs some type of identity to draw people to our town. He explained that he, Mr. & Mrs. Kilgus, Al Herbert and Clerk Watson had visited Hillsville, Virginia for their Antique Festival. He said this festival started as a gun show and has grown into an antique show , gun show and flea market all combined into one event. He explained that Hillsville has a population of less than 3,000 citizens which grows to over 100,000 people during the festival which is held twice a year.

Mr. Kilgus then presented a video that was taken during the festival. Mayor McCollum thanked Mr. Herbert and Mr. Kilgus for their help. Mr. Herbert informed Council that the City has an ideal location for such a festival with the development of the railroad bed property.

Mayor McCollum asked the audience if they would be willing to help serve on a committee that would plan a festival for the City of Bamberg. Several individuals offered their support.

With no other business, announcements or questions from the audience, Mrs. Johnson made the motion to adjourn. Mr. Sandifer made the necessary second. All agreed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

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