Notes From The March 2010 Pickens County Council Meeting

Picture Of Pickens County Council/Chairman G. Neil Smith center

I attended last night's Pickens County Council Meeting.

Here are a few notes:

• After a call to order; the public forum was opened.

• A Pickens resident addressed the council about a hazardous area surrounding a mill that has created a vermin problem and an eyesore. She made note of the fact that, Council probably "thinks" the area is under under city jurisdiction but it's actually County. Council expressed that they would investigate.

• I spoke about the County's recycling program:

- I informed Council that the issues I had mentioned in December have all been addressed.

- I mentioned that I had dedicated significant resources and time to getting the word out on my website about ways to recycle, what the program means, and that I had featured a letter from Central Mayor Mac Martin.

- I read them an article that I published yesterday about my recycle bins being tossed.

- Council Chair Smith made note that the bins shouldn't have been tossed, but that the labor was cheap.

- He mentioned that the deadlines is what got municipalities that have slacked off in the last few years to start bringing their numbers back up.

• Golden Harvest Food Bank came to inform Council of their presence and far reaching program.

• Liberty resident Weldon Clark got up to speak about various issues

• The County Auditor spoke

- Auditor mentioned that Pickens County received an award for financial reporting.

- The Auditor was congratulated then asked a few questions:

Where does the County stand - sound and stable?

Yes.

How does the County invest? How do they collateralize?

Tough investments market with interest rates at half percent or below, but assets and collateral seem sound.

Does the County diversify with multiple banks or just use one bank?

One bank is used. A lengthy discussion ensued about benefits to having many banks versus one bank or a large national bank versus a community bank. Auditor mentioned that community banks may not have enough collateral to offer the County.

• County Administrator Chappell Hurst got up to speak

- He mentioned that more airplanes are being attracted to the Pickens County airport and that County investments into improvements may be paid off within a year.

- He mentioned a 16% increase in profits from the sale of fuel at the airport and that "hangar housing" fees were up.

ATLIBERTYTOSAY NOTE: Since the airport is within the city limits of Liberty, does Liberty see any revenue from airport?

• Hurst introduced some Pickens County road contractors that he felt have done a good job.

- Hurst mentioned that the County is test pavement density and grading which roads are a priority to pave now.

- Council Chair Smith clarified for those in attendance.

Smith: "A lot of people when they see a private or residential driveway paved during county or city roadwork ... the first thing they think is ... how did they get that for free?"

- He explained they don't get it for free, but if the crew is there, a lot of times a resident will ask about a reduced price, and usually since the equipment is already there, the contractor CAN offer a reduced price to pave a driveway. Other times - the contractor cant just leave a dropoff and so they pave slightly into a driveway to make it nice for the resident.

- Councilman Ponder asked what was being done about the dangerous road shoulders in the County. Hurst and Smith mentioned that this was handled separately with it's own "crew".

• Chappell Hurst then moved on to recycling issues and mentioned

- Cardboard/newspaper recycling was huge for the County

- Hurst mentioned the traveling "TRASH BASH" - an education program for elementary school children in Pickens County about recycling and waste.

- An interesting factoid that the Council asked for clarification on was that Central is sent all the money from recycling and then they release the funds to the municipalities. Hurst mentioned that Central takes a 30% administration fee and then sends 70% back out to the cities.

- Council Chair Smith noted that Liberty Mayor Deese had mentioned at a recent municipal association meeting that Liberty had never seen a check for their recycling.

• A motion was set forward about Behavioral Health funds being sent to State instead of being kept in the County so that Pickens County could receive matching funds from the Federal government.

• A motion was set forward about the County sewer system/Clarifications were made about what the County provides/The issue was confusing and the topic was hard to figure out because of dissent amongst Council about what the County is obligated to provide - should they retail (for profit) sewer systems or wholesale (neutral income) sewer systems.

• Councilman Wyche mentioned that land is still being located for an EMS station along Highway 11.

Gerald Wilson from the waste management department discussed with me after the meeting that he would correct the issue of "tossed bins".

I'd also like to note that G. Neil Smith was VERY kind to me and addressed my concern personally.

I'd like to thank all Council members for listening to me as I discussed the efforts I've made to get the word out about recycling.

Liberty is in District 4 of Pickens County

Our council seat is occupied by G. Neil Smith.

He is the Council Chairman.

Council meets the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month.