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From YouTube: Aiken City Council Meeting November 12, 2018
Description
Aiken City Council will be meeting Monday, Oct 22 at 7:00PM. Join us in the Council Chambers (214 Park Ave. SW). Preview the agenda here:
https://edoc.cityofaikensc.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=433650&dbid=0&repo=City-of-Aiken-LF&fbclid=IwAR0fPeTbqk0GuF6H1HPdt1-GuBylpGbTC4f0rRp1yzGDRP5jVGA-_64u2jw
A
So
tonight,
I'm
going
to
say
an
invocation
and
our
pledge
is
gonna,
be
led
by
Councilman
devar,
who
is
a
veteran,
and
we
appreciate
your
service
councilman
and
Gary
Smith.
Our
city
attorney
was
also
a
veteran,
so
we
appreciate
that.
So,
if
you
would
please
rise,
let's
have
our
invocation
and
then
follow
the
pledge.
A
The
freedoms
that
we
enjoy
in
this
country,
we
thank
you
and
for
the
shoulders
on
which
those
freedoms
were
carried,
our
veterans.
We
thank
you
for
their
service,
their
commitment,
their
sacrifice
for
our
country.
We
pray
father
that
you'd
bless
our
city.
We
pray
that
your
hand
would
guide
this
meeting
that
everything
we
say
and
do
would
be
pleasing
unto
you.
We
pray
that
all
of
our
actions
also.
Would
please
you
it's
in
your
name.
We
ask
it
amen,
I.
B
A
I'd
like
to
go
over
the
guidelines,
for
they
can
see
Council
meetings
at
this
time.
Meetings
are
public
forums
in
which
many
opinions
are
expressed
in
the
business
of
the
city
must
be
conducted
as
such.
Disciplined
honorable
and
professional
decorum
is
paramount.
Courteous
respectful
communication
is
expected
during
public
hearings.
All
questions
and
statements
from
the
public
shall
be
directed
to
the
chair.
If
you
wish
to
speak,
raise
your
hand
and
I
will
certainly
recognize
you.
A
Please
approach
the
podium
and
state
your
name
and
address
in
order
to
allow
an
opportunity
for
everyone
who
wishes
to
address
Council
speakers
should
limit
their
comments
to
the
subject
being
discussed.
The
speaker
will
be
given
five
minutes
to
address
an
issue
and
may
only
address
an
issue
once
unless
questions
from
Council
are
posed
to
the
speaker,
and
with
that
I'd
like
to
recognize
our
mayor,
Pro
Tem,
Councilwoman
Gail
digs
for
additions
and
deletions
to
the
agenda.
Mr.
C
A
C
C
A
You
very
much
all
those
in
favor
of
the
minutes
that's
presented
and
that
Sheen
animus.
Thank
you
moving
down
the
agenda
to
old
business
number
one.
This
is
an
approval
of
appointments
and
discussion
of
appointees
to
various
city
boards,
commissions
and
committees,
and
I.
Look
for
staff
input
a
good
evening,
council
city
manager,
beanball.
How
are
you
very.
D
Well,
thank
you
a
good
evening.
We
do
have
recommended
by
Councilwoman
Diggs
the
appointment
of
Michele
Harper
Meriweather
Meriweather
to
the
accommodations
Tax
Committee
to
represent
the
cultural
interests
category
and
she
would
be
appointed
for
a
term
that
would
expire.
March
15
2020
also
would
like
to
remind
council
back
in
earlier
this
year
we
converted
the
equine
committee
from
an
ad
hoc
advisory
committee
to
a
standing
committee
that
has
seven
positions
and
we
have
contacted
the
equine
committee.
E
E
D
We
once
as
they
express
interest
in
potential
appointment.
We
will
share
the
names
with
you,
but
we
can
go
ahead
and
give
you
the
names
of
the
committee
members
and
certainly
counsels
free
to
appoint
anyone.
They
wish
because,
as
I
recall,
the
ordinance
it
doesn't
have.
Unlike
other
committees,
it
doesn't
necessarily
require
them
to
have
particular
interests
in
a
particularly
Quine
disciplines.
D
D
D
D
Can
if
you
so
desire,
they've
got
already
an
interest
in
the
back
in
this
particular
discipline
and
experience
and
some
of
the
issues.
But
again
you
are
not
required
to.
You
are
not
required
to
appoint
folks
off
of
that
board,
but
again
I
figured.
It
would
be
an
easy
trying
to
make
your
job
easier
because
I
know
sometimes
finding
members
for
committees
can
be
difficult,
so
we're
trying
to
help
at
least
with
this
brand-new.
Well,
it's
not
a
brand
new
committee,
but
this
the
fact
it's
going
from
an
ad-hoc
to
a
standing
committee
status.
Mr.
E
A
D
You,
mr.
mayor,
we
do
have
an
offer
to
purchase
this
lot
at
1420
Thorpe
lane
with
the
attached
purchase
and
sales
agreement.
The
buyers
do
intend
to
consider
residential
use
for
this
property,
and
council
did
approve
this
at
first
reading
on
October
22nd.
So
it
is
before
you
again
on
second
reading.
A
Comments
from
the
audience
comments
from
Council
all
those
in
favor
on
second
reading
of
this
ordinance,
the
next
unanimous.
Thank
you.
Moving
down
to
old
business
item
number
three:
there's
a
second
reading
and
public
hearing
of
an
ordinance
for
an
installment
purchase
transaction
to
finance
the
public
safety
facility
and
improve
the
base
lease
agreement
and
issuance
of
bonds
by
the
Aiken
public
facilities
corporation
by
title.
A
An
ordinance
authorizing
the
C
vacant,
South
Carolina,
to
enter
into
an
installment
purchase
transaction
to
finance
the
cost
relating
to
the
acquisition
and
equipping
of
a
public
safety
facility
authorizing
the
execution
and
delivery
of
various
documents
relating
to
such
transaction,
including
the
base
lease
agreement
and
the
installment
purchase
and
use
agreement.
Approving
the
use
of
certain
money
of
that
city
of
the
city,
approving
the
issuance
of
bonds
by
the
city
of
Aitkin
public
facilities
corporation
delegating
authority
to
the
mayor
and
city
manager
to
affect
such
transaction
and
determine
certain
matters
and
other
matters
related
thereto.
C
F
D
D
You,
mr.
mayor,
when
we
agreed
to
begin
this
process
to
relocate
our
headquarters
from
Lauren
Street
to
the
Beaufort
Street
property
back
in
June
of
17,
this
was
this.
Financing
instrument
was
part
of
that.
We
have
had
several
work
sessions
with
counsel
this
year
about
this
process
and
what
we
have
for
you
tonight
to
recap
is
a
twenty
year,
the
term
these
are
we.
D
They
are
revenue
bonds,
but
essentially
is
through
a
commercial
lending
institution.
So
we
did
not,
for
example,
have
to
get
a
credit
rating.
This
is
a
20-year
term,
borrowing,
eight
million
eight
hundred
and
twenty
thousand
dollars,
which
is
the
amount
that
council
agreed
to
pay
southeastern
for
the
building
when
the
punch
list
is
completed
at
the
rate
of
three
point:
seven
four
percent
for
the
first
fifteen
years
and
then
after
fifteen
years,
the
rate
will
then
be
reset
to
the
current
market
rate
not
to
exceed
four
percent.
We
have
no
prepayment
penalty
after
five
years.
D
We
can
pay
the
note
off
or
make
accelerated
payments.
The
funding
for
this
will
come
from
the
money
apportion
from
the
franchise
fee
that
we
levy
the
extra
two
percent.
We
began
living
several
years
ago
on
SCE
and
GN,
akin
electric
utility
bills,
and
they
will
be
approximately
six
hundred
and
twenty
seven
thousand
dollars
a
year.
There
is
a
payment
schedule
in
Exhibit
B
of
the
document
of
the
of
the
ordinance,
and
we
if
it
passes
tonight,
we
would
go
ahead
and
close.
D
This
transaction
November
fort
November,
15th
and
any
closing
cost
will
be
addressed
in
a
subsequent
ordinance
in
this
agenda
packet
to
pay
the
attorney
and
financial
and
other
fees.
So
we
have
for
your
consideration
at
second
reading
this
transaction
to
facilitate
this
installment
purchase
transaction
to
finance
the
public
safety
facility
and
approve
the
base
lease
agreement
and
issuance
of
bonds.
Thank
you.
D
C
D
Again,
the
this
public
facilities
corporation
is
something
set
up
in
state
law
that
allows
into
municipalities
and
units
of
government
to
set
up,
and
but
this
borrowing
will
not
count
against
our
general
obligation
debt
percentage,
which
currently,
we
have
no
general
obligation
debt,
and
if
we
were
to
borrow
this
ourselves
we
would
incur.
This
would
go
up
against
our
so-called
8%
limit
and
it
would
be
about
a
substantial
amount,
because
our
debt
limited
right
now
is
about
13
million
dollars
is
the
maximum
we
can
borrow
from
our
general
fund.
D
E
D
D
D
A
B
A
D
Mayor's
I
referenced
moment
ago,
we
are
recommending
to
we
go
ahead
and
pay
any
related,
closing
costs
for
this
project
from
our
transportation
and
Public
Safety
Improvement
Fund,
and
in
order
to
do
so,
we
need
to
have
a
budget
amendment
and
we
have
that
before
council
tonight.
You
reviewed
this
and
approved
it
at
first
reading,
and
it
is
before
you
at
second
reading
now
again
by
paying
this
cost
upfront.
Of
course,
we
do
not
have
to
fight
roll
it
into
the
financing
of
this
particular
purchase.
Okay,.
A
Very
good.
Thank
you,
sir.
Any
comments
from
the
audience
comments
from
Council
all
right.
All
those
in
favor
on
second
reading
raise
your
hand
unanimous.
Thank
you.
Moving
now
to
item
number
five
under
old
businesses
as
a
second
reading
in
public
hang
of
an
ordinance
to
approve
text,
amendments
to
the
zoning
ordinance
for
the
limited
business
and
downtown
business
district
zones
by
title,
an
ordinance
amending
the
zoning
ordinance
regarding
limited
business
in
downtown
business
text
amendments.
Is
there
a
motion
so
moved?
C
D
Mayor,
thank
you.
We,
the
Planning
Commission
at
their
September
11th
meeting
held
public
hearings
regarding
text,
amendments
to
these
zones,
limited
business
and
downtown
business
earlier
this
year,
council
did
refer
several
issues
about
zoning
along
the
Richland
Avenue
corridor,
in
this
case
specifically
Waterloo
and
the
downtown
business
own
district
for
review
and
recommendation.
After
some
public
input
sections
sessions,
they
looked
at
existing
plans.
We
have
including
our
existing
comprehensive
plan.
D
The
old
lake
and
master
plan
of
the
Union
Street
plan
to
determine
if
adjustments
to
the
limited
business
zone
in
the
downtown
business
zone
were
necessary
and
some
concerns
that
were
expressed
at
city
counts
a
City
Council
meeting
in
July
when
we
sent
this
a
requested
that
City
Council.
Excuse
me,
the
Planning
Commission
review
this
by
a
council
vote
were
liquor
stores,
bars,
nightclubs
as
well
as
parking,
and
after
these
public
meetings,
the
Planning
Commission
had
asked
staff
to
present
some
recommendations
for
text
amendments
to
the
zoning
ordinance.
D
So
at
the
September
11th
meeting
I
do
want
to
mention
the
the
text.
Amendments
for
limited
business,
we're
prohibiting
liquor
store
uses
period
rather
than
allowing
them
by
a
special
exception.
Prohibiting
can
feet
convenience
store
uses,
rather
than
permitting
those
uses
by
right
and
adding
definitions
for
grocery
stores
and
convenience
stores
and
within
the
downtown
business
zone.
D
So
after
these
discussions,
the
Planning
Commission
did
recommend
it
to
see
Ana,
misleading
City,
Council
and
City
Council
reviewed
this
and
passed
it
on
first
reading
at
the
October
22nd
meeting,
and
it
is
before
you
tonight
for
two
this
amendment
to
the
zoning
ordinance
regarding
the
limited
business
and
downtown
business
zones.
This
text
amendment
Thank.
B
Two
or
three
at
most-
maybe
not,
maybe
maybe
only
one
or
two,
and
that
is
that
this
will
approve
a
in
eating
establishment
but
I'm
concerned
it
doesn't
address
outside
eating
outside
dining
and
for
those
parcels
that
are
contiguous
to
a
single-family
resident
I'd
like
to
see
some
protection
so
that
there
wouldn't
be
outside
dining
in
their
backyard.
A
future
vision,
wise
being
in
your
house
and
your
backyard
is,
is
suitable
for
outside
dining
I.
Don't
know
how
best
to
protect
that,
but
and
as
I
said,
it's
a
very
limited
application
in
that
neighborhood.
D
G
G
So
there
are
the
number
ways
that
could
be
addressed
if
you
wish
to
do
so,
one
describing
the
location
and
where
it
would
be
allowed
and
say
front
and
side
yards,
but
not
rear
yards
or
if
the
jacent
to
residential
there's
different
provisions
like
that
that
you
could
put
in
there
but
right
now
there
isn't
a
specific
limit
and
it's
not
limited
to
only
the
inside
of
the
business.
Those.
G
F
G
E
B
B
C
E
A
A
C
D
You,
mr.
mayor,
we
do
have
pursuant
to
our
water
and
sewer
annexation
policy
for
the
properties
for
consideration.
Today
we
have
for
you
one
seven,
five,
zero,
two
notch
Road
to
be
zoned
rs.10,
one,
seven
Hudson
Road
to
be
zoned
rs.15,
one,
two,
two
branch
water
lane
to
be
zoned,
rs.15
and
6:04,
Boardman
Road
to
be
zoned,
rs10
and
council
reviewed
these
at
the
October
22nd
meeting
after
the
Planning
Commission
had
reviewed
it
in
September
and
unanimously
recommended
annexation.
So
you
have
it
before
you
tonight
for
second
reading.
These
four
properties
Thank.
A
Comment
all
those
in
favor
on
second
reading.
Please
raise
your
hand,
that's
unanimous!
Thank
you.
Moving
down
to
the
section
of
our
agenda
new
business
number
one.
This
is
a
first
ring
of
Norton's
accepting
the
FY
2017
18
audit
by
title,
an
ordinance
accepting
the
fiscal
year,
2017
audited
financial
statements
and
authorizing
variances
to
the
fiscal
year,
2017
18
budget
ordinance.
Is
there
a
motion.
E
D
You
we
did
have
earlier
today
a
work
session
item
where
our
auditors,
Malden
and
Jenkins
represented
by
mr.
Miller
Edwards,
presented
the
fiscal
year
1718
audit,
which,
by
state
law
and
city,
could
we're
required
to
undergo
annually
and
the
audit
received
an
unqualified
opinion
with
no
material
weaknesses
and
no
instances
of
non-compliance
material
to
the
financial
statements.
So
we
have
for
you
tonight,
first
reading
of
the
an
ordinance
to
accept
the
fiscal
year.
1718
audited
financial
statements,
all.
A
Right,
Thank
You
mr.
beating
bow
any
comments
from
the
audience.
Okay
comments
from
Council,
all
those
in
favor
on
first
reading
of
this
ordinance,
please
raise
your
hand
and
that's
unanimous.
Thank
you.
I'm
number
200
new
business.
This
is
approval
of
a
grant
award
and
first
reading
of
ordinance
for
budget
adjustment
for
Park
and
Recreation
Development
grant
by
title
an
ordinance
amending
the
budget
of
the
city
of
Aitkin
for
the
fiscal
year,
beginning
July,
1
2018
and
ending
June
30th
2019.
E
D
Mr.
mayor,
we
do
have
a
budget
adjustment
we
do
receive
annually
these
so-called
pard
grants,
parks
and
recreation
development
grants
we
do
have.
It
is
a
$20,000
grant
requiring
a
$5,000
match.
We
need
to
make
an
adjutant
to
reflect
the
the
the
revenue,
as
well
as
the
ultimate
expenditure.
So
before
you
deny
his
consideration
of
this
grant,
as
well
as
an
ordinance
to
adjust
the
budget.
A
E
D
We
had
a
an
action
agenda
meeting
with
the
Planning
Commission
City
Council
did
back
on
October
15th
and
we
have
not
had
one
of
these
meetings
in
several
years
we
have
put
together
for
you
the
list
of
action
items
that
were
discussed
and
I
do
want
to
note.
There
were
several
concerns
not
directly
related
to
Planning
Commission
duties
that
are
listed
in
the
cover
memo,
including
the
Gateway
improvements
in
signage,
synchronization
of
traffic
signals
along
major
corridors
and
an
evaluation
improvement
to
handicapped
parking
in
downtown
akin.
D
But
what
I
guess
council
would
be
voting
on
tonight
is
the
action
agenda
that
we
would
send
to
the
Planning
Commission
and
those
would
be
addressed
during
the
coming
year
and
then,
when
we
have
another
action
agenda
meeting
in
approximately
a
year,
we
would
see
that,
hopefully,
a
lot
of
these
items
would
be
coming
forward
with
recommendations
to
council
and
and
acted
upon.
So
this
is
for
councils
consideration
and
then
we
would
forward
them
to
the
Planning
Commission
to
begin
reviewing.
A
Thank
you
for
speeding,
though,
any
comments
from
the
audience.
Okay,
comments,
questions
from
Council,
none
all
in
favor
of
moving
the
action
items
forward
to
Planning
Commission,
the
dredger
can
and
that's
unanimous
thank
you.
I,
remember,
200
petitions
and
requests.
This
is
a
request
to
place
banners
on
the
arches
of
the
alley.
Promoting
the
Mardi
Gras,
the
Mardi
Gras
event
is
their
motion.
So.
C
D
A
Good
any
comments
from
the
audience
comments
from
Council
I
would
like
to
ask
a
question.
The
design
for
the
banner
has
it
already
been
approved
by
our
staff
I'm
just
curious
when
we
we
get
so
many
of
these
coming
through,
but
as
design
already
considered
before
it
comes
to
Council.
Gentlemen,
know.
A
A
Right
all
those
in
favor
of
this
request
to
place
banners
treasure,
hunt
and
that's
unanimous.
Thank
you
anything
in
her
issues
and
updates
hearing
none
before
we
adjourn.
We
actually
do
have
an
executive
session
to
go
into
City
Council
will
go
into
executive
session
pursuant
to
section
30
478
to
discuss
in
negotiations.
A
Isn't
it
a
proposed
contractual
arrangement
proposed
sale
or
purchase
of
property
to
receive
legal
advice
where
the
legal
advice
relates
to
a
pending
threatened
or
potential
claim
or
other
matters
covered
by
the
attorney-client
privilege,
settlement
of
legal
claims
or
the
position
of
the
public
agency
and
other
adversaries?
Situations
involving
the
assertion
against
the
agency
of
claim,
specifically
City
Council,
will
discuss
the
proposed
contractual
arrangement
with
the
owners
of
real
estate
regarding
the
possible
purchase.
A
And/Or
acquisition
of
land
in
or
near
the
city
of
Aitkin
City
Council
will
go
into
executive
session
pursuant
to
section
30
478
1
at
the
South
Carolina
code
for
the
discussion
of
employment,
appointment,
compensation
or
promotion
of
a
person
regulated
by
City
Council,
specifically,
the
City
Council
will
go
into
executive
session
for
the
purpose
of
discussing
the
compensation
of
certain
city
employees.
With
that,
is
there
a
motion
to
go
into
executive
session.