City Council Update from Dick Dewar

SPECIAL NOTE – This is a copy of a Press Release from the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

“City of Aiken Councilmember Graduates from Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government Councilmember Dick Dewar from the City of Aiken graduated from the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government on February 18. Graduates received their diplomas during the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Hometown, SC Legislative Action Day in Columbia. Established in 1986, the Institute is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina that gives municipal officials a strong foundation in the operation of local government. Participants learn about the role of elected officials and administrative staff and the relationships municipal officials have with other local governments, the state and federal government. The Institute includes two daylong sessions and three evening satellite broadcasts. “For more than 20 years, the Association has encouraged local elected officials to participate in the Institute, whether they are newly elected or have served for a while,” said Miriam Hair, executive director of the Municipal Association. “This Institute gives elected leaders with diverse personal and professional backgrounds an understanding and overview of the details of running a local government.” Highlights of topics covered during the sessions include the Freedom of Information Act, team building, budgeting, planning and zoning, human resources and economic development. The Municipal Association plans and presents the Institute in cooperation with the University of South Carolina’s Institute of Public Service and Policy Research and Clemson University’s Strom Thurmond Institute. The Institute draws its faculty from recognized local government leaders in South Carolina and other states, state officials, faculty and staff of the state’s colleges and universities, and other guest lecturers.”

SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX PROPERTY ON LYNWOOD DRIVE – The owners of property at 134 Lynwood Drive are requesting annexation through their back property line to receive city services. They are interested in our solid waste services and other benefits of being in the city. The .41 acre property is compatible with our RS-15 zoning, and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended annexation of this property.

SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE USE OF LANCASTER STREET FOR AIKEN GOLF CLUB PARKING. At the July 7, 2009, Design Review Board meeting, an application was received from the Aiken Golf Club to use a portion of Lancaster Street south of Highland Park Drive for parking. This area has been used for parking over the last several decades, and they would like to create a better defined parking area. The new area will have a crushed gravel base with granite screens on top and a retaining wall will be built to minimize any fill around the existing trees. The Design Review Board unanimously approved the work in the right of way off of Highland Park Drive and Lancaster Street. Larry Morris recently met with consultants for the Aiken Golf Club to receive the necessary details concerning drainage for this newly created area. He states in his memo that the drainage will be spread across the course to maximize infiltration of the additional stormwater runoff. After reviewing these plans it is his recommendation that Council approve this new parking lot design.


APPROVAL OF ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS - At the March 23, 2009, meeting City Council approved the recommendations of the Accommodations Tax Committee for this fiscal year. Although there were requests of nearly $500,000 from the 15 applications only $129,100 was available. Council stated that if any further funds became available, we should increase the funding for each of the events. The State Accommodations Tax Program ended for the 2008-2009 fiscal year with $49,725 available from funds that were not previously used. The Accommodations Tax Committee recommends that Council increase funding to all the previously approved events by 25% which amounts to $42,750. The remaining amount would be added to the Contingency Fund for future projects. If the funds are not used for this event, they will be rolled over to be used next year.

FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO REFUND WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM BOND - Over the last several months the City has been reviewing revenue bond debt for utilities. Currently the City is paying approximately $1 million a year to retire two water and sewer revenue bonds: one which was issued in 1997 and will be paid off in 2015 and the other a water and sewer revolving fund loan from the state. The state loan will be paid off in 2011, and the revenue currently used to pay off this loan would help pay off the 1997revenue debt. The state loan is at 2.24% annual interest, and we will continue paying this debt off as scheduled. However, the other debt which has its next debt payment on December 1, 2009, is at an interest rate of between 3 and 5.1%. Given the fact that there are only five more years remaining on the debt and the small amount remaining to be paid, we have discussed obtaining a short term bond with banks in our area. Based on information from our bond attorney, we can save over $200,000 over the remaining life of this debt by refinancing the 1997 bond. At tonight's meeting we are recommending Council's approval of the attached ordinance.

FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Elliott Davis, LLC has completed our audit for fiscal year 2008-2009. Within the audit the 2008-2009 line items show the changes with respect to the proposed actual revenue and expenditures. In essence the audit is a reconciliation of what was approved by City Council in June, 2008, and what was actually spent during the past fiscal year. The audit report will show that there were no deficiencies found in our financial records. At tonight's meeting Laurie Smith of Elliott Davis will discuss various aspects of the audit and answer any questions you have concerning it and our Post Retirement Medical Benefits Account known as GASB45.

REQUEST FOR HORSE TROUGH GRANT - The Aiken County Historical Commission has recently placed a horse trough on South Boundary between Newberry and Laurens. This was moved from behind the Courthouse to its present location. They plan to provide fresh water for individuals who wish to water their horses either before or after they ride through Hitchcock Woods. This is a very popular spot for parking horse trailers and off loading horses for the ride through the Woods. The Historical Commission is requesting a grant of $2,500 to defray their costs to install the horse trough and to help pay for the water tap and impact fees associated with the horse trough. They state in the attached letter that several other entities have helped to provide financial support towards this project. The County has provided the man hours to move the horse trough, install it, and to provide the trenching and piping. The Friends of the Museum provided some grant money for the piping and other financial assistance. They are requesting that the City provide a grant of $2,500 to help defray these costs which includes $550 for the meter and tap and $750 for the impact fee.

AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1120&cntnt01returnid=277.