Florence County Council defers anti-litter ordinance vote

FLORENCE — Florence County Council has deferred its vote on a new anti-litter ordinance after a public hearing generated praise but also concerns that responsible landowners could be punished if trash ends up on their property.

Florence resident Jack Nettles said the new rules would make the property owners responsible “for irresponsible people’s actions.”

If a person who littered a property is unknown and never charged or convicted, a property owner could be responsible for removing the litter, according to the ordinance.

Property owners also would be responsible for removing litter if “forces of elements” carry trash from another property to theirs.

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” Nettles told council Thursday.

Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith’s call for a motion on second reading of the ordinance was met with silence until councilman Morris Anderson moved to defer the issue.

“Out of respect for the people who have these concerns, we thought we ought to take it back to committee,” said Anderson, who added he’s received several phone calls from residents concerned over the issue.

Council’s Justice and Public Safety Committee has spent about a year working on the measures.

Speaking in favor of the ordinance was Tom Shearin, who appeared on behalf of Keep Florence Beautiful and Palmetto Pride, with whom he serves on the state board of directors.

“Unless you educate the public and remind them what the consequences are,” littering will continue, he said.

The current version of the ordinance requires a person who generates solid waste to ensure the trash is securely transported to a legal disposal site. Lack of adequate covering and securing of trash in a truck or other vehicle would be a violation, according to the ordinance.

Before the public hearing, the S.C. Litter Control Association’s president announced that Florence County Environmental Services Supervisor Herbie Christmas had received an award for his work in improving the local litter situation.

Christmas received the award Feb. 11, when the group held its annual conference, association president Ryan Lesesne said.

In other business Thursday, council approved air quality improvement incentives as Florence County reaches the maximum allowable level of ground-level ozone.

Florence County has allocated $20,000 for cash rebates of $500 for each hybrid vehicle purchased new in the county. It also has allocated an additional $20,000 for incentives as high as $1,000 for household installation of certain solar- or wind-power equipment as well as “green” construction. The rebates also would apply to electric or gas systems in homes where the open burning of wood is the only source of heat.

The rebates would be available on a first come, first served basis until the money is gone.

Council also approved the purchase of an additional half-acre next to the future Johnsonville library site to help with water retention.

Florence County Library System Director Ray McBride also gave council an update in which he said the library is entering SC LENDS, or Library Evergreen Network Delivery System. The system is a consortium with the S.C. State Library and 12 other libraries that should save the county about $100,000 on hardware, software and training, McBride said.

The library system has phased out 10 part-time jobs and will create six new full-time jobs as it builds new branch libraries and expands branch operations to 40 hours a week, he said.

Council also unanimously approved a $36,321 bid by Conway-based Palmetto Paving Corp. for paving at the county’s new Environmental Services building. The funding was designated previously for construction of the county’s new animal control facility.

In other business, council voted unanimously to:

Accept a $27,800 S.C. Department of Transportation “C” Funds grant for resurfacing of Hurst Street in Scranton.
Approve the lowest responsive bid of $87,663 by Cherokee Construction of Columbia for paving at the Lake City Alternative School.
Approve $70,000 in county utility funds for removal of concrete and asphalt to be replaced by concrete at the West Florence Fire Department’s Pineneedles Road station.
Approve $64,432 in county infrastructure funds to place MBC stone and crushed asphalt on Claude Road near Scranton.
Approve $25,756 in county infrastructure funds to place MBC stone and crushed asphalt on Brown Road near Scranton.
Approve $3,000 in county infrastructure funds for a batting cage at the Coward Athletic Park.
Approve $200 in county infrastructure funds to help Florence police buy 25 crime watch signs for the Liberty Street Neighborhood Watch Organization.
Appoint Becky Crawford and Jumana Swindler to four- and two-year terms, respectively, on the Florence County Museum Board.
Approve a resolution allowing the county administrator to execute a long-range transportation plan contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. The project will cost $170,000 and should be completed in a year, according to county documents.
Approve third and final reading of an amendment to remove outdated county code sections.

New litter rules

The current version of the anti-litter ordinance, which has been deferred, contains the following penalties for violations:

Less than 15 pounds or 27 cubic feet of litter

Fines of $100 to $200 per offense, plus all court costs and assessments
County magistrate’s court can impose at least five hours’ litter gathering or other public service
Court also can substitute additional public service, not to exceed one hour for each $5 in fines, in lieu of payments
More than 15 pounds or 27 cubic feet of litter

Fines of $200 to $500 per offense, plus litter gathering or public service