Town of Honea Path

Town Council Meeting

March 10, 2008

7:00 PM

Members present:  Mayor Meyers, William Hall, Town Administrator, Beverly Crawford, Clerk/Treasurer. Council members: Davis, Gilmer, B. Mattison, Taylor, and Branyon.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Meyers.  Lark opened the meeting with prayer.

William Hall read the February 11, 2008 minutes. Davis made a motion to approve the minutes and seconded by B. Mattison.  All voted in favor of the motion and the motion passed.

Mayor Meyers provided the council an update on the lights approved at the previous council meeting for Main Street.  Lark asked Rusty Burns to make application for any available grants to payoff the remaining lease values on the street light poles from Duke Power on Main Street.  If this action occurred, then Honea Path would pay for only the electricity cost and would be responsible for maintaining the street lights on Main Street.

Mayor Meyers reported on the work on the Main Street streetscape project.  The contractor Earth Structures of Spartanburg, SC, has been delayed because the SC Department of Transportation did not properly design the plans for the pipe drainage on Main Street.  The Mayor stated the contractor has sent a proposal to increase the scope of the project with additional cost parameters.  It is anticipated that Earth Structures resume begin work on the project Wednesday.

The Town council discussed the "Paint the Town Pilot Program."  This pilot program is designed to make communities more economically competitive by improving the overall physical appearances and stabilizing neighborhood property values.  The Town would be required to contribute from $20,000 to $30,000 for matching support.  William Hall reported that these funds are not currently available from our budget and would require new tax increases.  Based on the new facts from SCACOG and additional program requirements, the council will review the program application at a later date.

The Town of Honea Path received two requests for hospitality tax funds.  The first request was from the Honea Path Arts Center.  They requested $2,000 for a matching grant to subsidize teachers pay, do advertising, enhance art study and promote the arts in Honea Path.  Taylor made a motion to approve this action.  The motion was seconded by Gilmer and the motion passed.

The second request was from the Honea Path Merchants Assoc.  They requested $5000 for the Sugarfoot Festival and $3000 for the annual Christmas events. Taylor made a motion to approve this action.  The motion was seconded by Gilmer and the motion passed.

Mayor Meyers announced that Terry Cooley was retiring from the Honea Path Recreation Board after serving for many years.  The Honea Path Recreation Board will meet soon to decide how to proceed.

The Council discussed the recycling bins behind Town Hall.  A proposal was offered to move the recycling bins to a new location behind the Town Shop area.  Cost estimates will be made and the council will make a decision at the next meeting on how to proceed.  Branyon made a motion to approve this action.  The motion was seconded by Lark and the motion passed.

The Mayor and Council discussed the potential by-pass behind Main Street.  The Mayor and Council reviewed the three plans and will decide which plan is preferred at a later date.

William Hall reviewed the budget and financial report as of February 29, 2008.  Hall reported that we are exceeding the budget in the area of gas and oil for vehicles.  Nearly all gas and oil accounts are over the budget due to the rising gas prices.  Hall said that we anticipate ten percent increases in tort liability and workers' compensation premiums.  He also reported that Ware Shoals is increasing sewer rates by for FY 08-09.  In addition, the report by Swartz Engineering indicates that the Town of Honea Path owes the Town of Ware Shoals approximately $87,775 for under billing for FY05-06 and FY06-07.

It also appears that the Belton-Honea Path Water Authority has over-billed the Town of Honea Path for several years.  The water meter pit is located near M and M Shell station. Belton-Honea Path Water Authority has issued estimated water bill readings for the eight inch meter that charges Honea Path for the past several years.  The Belton-Honea Path Water Authority is repairing the water meter and we will report on the progress of these issues.

William Hall prepared a budget projection for FY08-09 that included no new programs and only included projected inflation cost for all programs.  It appears that the Town of Honea Path will be short approximately $83,000 in the water department.  The Sewer Department is projecting a small surplus. The general fund projects a deficit of approximately $94,305.  These projections include no salary increases or any new expenditures.  Various revenues enhancements such as increasing property taxes by 4 mills and increasing garbage fees by $1.50 per month were recommended by Hall.  If these additional fees were approved, we would be short of budget by $127,000.

It was agreed that the Town of Honea Path would have a budget work session on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 5 pm.

The Mayor requested that the bush hog be advertised by sale.

Davis reported on the Town wide clean up for April 14-18.

Gilmer passed out H. 3456, Act number 45 - Abandoned manufactured home removal act.  It was recommended that council study this act for possible action.

Dr. Jimmy Smith recommended Josh B. Hart to be a volunteer fireman.  Taylor made a motion to approve this action.  The motion was seconded by Lark and the motion passed.

Taylor made a motion to go into executive for contractual discussions and a second to the motion was made by Davis and the motion passed.

Gilmer made a motion to go back into regular session, seconded by Mattison and the motion passed.

Mattison made a motion to adjourn and a second to the motion was made by Davis and the motion passed.

Lollis Meyers, Mayor

William S. Hall, Town Administrator