Spartanburg County Council met on Monday, July 21, 2003, in the County Council Chambers, 366 N. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC, at 5:30 p.m. The following attended: Honorable Jeff Horton, Chairman; Honorables Johnnye Code Stewart, Steve Parker, David Britt, Rock Adams, Ken Huckaby, and Frank Nutt, Council Members; along with James K. Hartmann, County Administrator; Bill Dennis, Deputy County Administrator; Glenn Breed, Assistant County Administrator; Roy McBee Smith, County Attorney; William McBee Smith, Assistant County Attorney; and Edwin Haskell, Assistant County Attorney.

In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, notice of this meeting was provided in advance to the local news media and other interested parties.

II.

No presentations scheduled.

III.

No public hearings scheduled.

No appearances scheduled.

V.

Public Health and Human Services Committee (Honorable Johnnye Code Stewart, Chairman)

No items scheduled.

Personnel and Finance Committee (Honorable Ken Huckaby)

1. Hon. Sharon West appeared and requested that her salary be increased by approximately $4,000. Motion made by Mr. Britt to increase the Auditor's salary to $58,512. Motion seconded by Ms. Stewart and carried.
2. Hon. Marc Kitchens presented information in reference to creating an additional position of Deputy Clerk in the Family Court Division of the Clerk of Court's Office. This position is to be paid for through 4D money from the Department of Social Services collected through the Clerk of Court's Office. No taxpayer's money is being spent for this additional position. The Clerk of Court's Office brings in approximately $500,000 per year incentive money. Motion made by Mr. Huckaby to approve this request. Motion seconded by Mr. Britt and carried.
3. Mr. Ed Hughes presented a Reappraisal Update. The deadline for appeals has lapsed. We have mailed out some 140,000 appraisals. We have had approximately 9,000 appeals. The Assessor's Office is in the process of going through the appeals.
4. Updated financial data and personnel vacancy reports were received.

Recreation Committee – (Honorable Jeff Horton, Chairman)

1. Mr. Jeff Caton presented a progress report on our parks. Va-du-Mar is going well. We have an additional grant of $75,000. Hopefully, this will be utilized for playground equipment. Activities at Cleveland Park are going great. Train rides are very popular. The possibility of offering concessions is being reviewed.
2. Motion made by Mr. Britt to grant $1,000 from Council Contingency to the Express Lane Track and Field Squad to go toward participating in the Junior Olympic Championship program in Detroit, Michigan. Motion seconded by Ms. Stewart and carried.

Economic Recruitment and Development Committee – (Honorable David Britt, Chairman)

1. Rep. Doug Smith presented information in reference to consideration of a proposal in reference to an incentive for Arrow Automotive. Rep. Smith represents Fleet Boston. They hold the title on the Arrow Automotive property. They have a buyer, Horton Developers, a redevelopment company out of California. They would like to buy the property with the understanding that the Brownfield Laws that our legislature passed a few years ago would be in effect. There is an outstanding balance of tax owed for $41,216 at present. This includes penalties and interest. They will pay $245,608 to take this liability and this property and turn it into something very usable. Motion made by Mr. Britt to accept the $245,608 and also stipulate that our County Administrator will negotiate and meet with all the other taxing entities that must go along with this, and that we enter an agreement with the purchasers or the current owners to stipulate that if they do not complete it, the taxes are owed again. Motion seconded by Mr. Huckaby and carried.

Public Safety and Judiciary Committee – (Honorable Rock Adams, Chairman)

1. Mr. Powers presented Information in reference to the Home Detention Program. Motion made by Mr. Adams for Spartanburg County to take over the Home Detention Program and for Warden Larry Powers, Spartanburg County Jail System, to run the program. Motion seconded by Mr. Parker and carried. One opposed.
2. Information received regarding activities of the Building Codes Department.

Land Use Committee (Honorable David Britt, Chairman)

No items scheduled.

Public Works, Buildings and Grounds Committee (Honorable Frank Nutt, Chairman

1. The Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District had a request from the developers of Woodfin Ridge Subdivision for sewer service. The Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District Representative appeared requesting a Public Hearing to annex the portion that would include the area that they want to have sewer service. Motion made by Mr. Nutt to order the Public Hearing to be held in the future. Motion seconded by Mr. Parker and carried.
2. Mr. Glenn Breed presented information in reference to some changes in the County Transportation Committee. We have had three positions funded by the CTC for the last several years at $168,000. We recently had some changes in the Engineering Supervisor's position for the County. This Supervisor had been overseeing that effort funded completely by County funds. We have gone back to the CTC Committee and obtained an additional $78,000 a year, so that we can fund fully an Engineering Supervisor position. Motion made by Mr. Nutt to approve this position. Motion seconded by Mr. Adams and carried.
3. Mr. Chris Story presented information on the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee's previous meeting. This was received as information only.
4. Motion made by Mr. Nutt to approve the proposed FY 2004 Asphalt Resurfacing list. Motion seconded by Mr. Adams and carried.
5. Information received regarding activities of the Public Works Department.

VI.

No items scheduled.

VII.

No items scheduled.

VIII.

All resolutions, ordinances, agreements, petitions and related documents which were read and approved by Council at this meeting for the financing of certain industrial or similar revenue bonds or notes, are incorporated in these minutes by reference as if fully set forth herein. The reference is to all such documents showing execution by the county on the date of this meeting included in the office of the Clerk of Court for Spartanburg County.

IX.

Mr. Hartmann congratulated Mr. Bill Dennis on the position he has accepted as County Administrator for Burks County, Pennsylvania.

X.

Motion made by Mr. Britt to approve minutes of June 16, 2003. Motion seconded by Ms. Stewart and carried.

XI.

Meeting adjourned.

SPARTANBURG COUNTY COUNCIL

By:______________________________

Jeffrey A. Horton, Chairman

Attest:

__________________________

Deborah C. Ziegler

Clerk to Council