Darlington County Council looks at ordinances

Darlington County Council addressed three ordinances as well as additional appropriations for the Darlington County Humane Society during its regular meeting Monday.

Council Chairman Wesley Blackwell opened the meeting with a recognition of Warner DeHart. DeHart worked for more than six years as the veterans affairs officer for the county and is retiring.

“It was very rewarding and an honor to be working with heroes every day,” DeHart said.

The first ordinance council addressed, No. 09-14, would amend the development standards. The ordinance would ensure that owners of private unpaved roads remain responsible for the upkeep so that emergency vehicles can pass.

Originally, the ordinance was supposed to be only for family property, according to Councilmember Anne Warr.

“Some developers are taking advantage of that (lax language),” she said.

“I’m for it; we can’t compare family with these commercial groups. In these family plots, we can make sure there’s a road,” Councilmember Wilhemenia Johnson said.

The motion on the second reading of ordinance No. 09-14 carried with one dissenting vote from Councilmember Billy Baldwin.

After reviewing ordinance 09-15 and discussion with Stewart Huck and Bond Attorney Bob Zeigler, Council needed a new ordinance to borrow the funds to build the new Society Hill Library. Ordinance 09-15 was defeated and replaced by ordinance 09-16. The substitute ordinance pertained to the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds to provide for payment of the library.

Following the review of the ordinances, President of the Darlington County Humane Society Jackie Kirven made a personal plea for $25,000 for shelter salaries.

“Darlington County Humane Society operates for the county and impacts health and safety of people of this county,” Kirven said. “Citizens expect stray and unwanted animals be handled by the shelter.”

She noted a 6 percent increase in animal intake, the increase in the minimum wage, as well as the increase in the cost of food and other supplies as reasons for the extra funds.

“For every $1 council spends, citizens contribute $4,” Kirven said. “The money is not a lot when we consider how it improves quality of life and image of our county.”

Blackwell made a motion for a one-time appropriation of $25,000 from general operations funds out of discretionary funds to the shelter. The motion would pass after a loud complaint from Councilmember Le Flowers.

“I think it’s a little foolish to say it’s a one-time appropriation,” Flowers said. “If they can’t meet their contractual obligations, what happens? … Do we then reassume responsibility for the shelter, or do we go back and give them more money?”

“I see what Le’s saying, but we have an unusual situation here. We have a volunteer group working under contract. You can’t push volunteer group. That’s (the) problem with the American Army today,” Councilmember Alex “Buz” Shaw said.

Kirven reminded council that the shelter raised 100 percent of the funds for all the capital improvements, medications, veterinary services and euthanasia through fundraising efforts and individual donations.

Committee reports included a report from Johnson on Keep Darlington County Beautiful. She asked that they invite the City of Darlington and Hartsville to the next solid waste meeting to discuss trash pickup in the surrounding areas. Johnson also said she wanted the committee to consider trash pick-up once a month or quarterly in rural outlying areas.

“We have places where people can carry trash in every corner of the county except Mechanicsville, and we’re working on that,” Councilmember Dannie Douglas said.

In the administrative update, Bobby Richardson, roads and bridges director, addressed the South Hartsville drainage project. He said some easements have yet to be obtained but that the ditches don’t need to be dug out by machine. Debris and trash needs to be removed manually to address the problem.

Councilmember Mozella “Pennie” Nicholson requested quick action on cleaning up the areas where easements had already been obtained. She also requested a list of property owners that were refusing to grant easements, as well as copies of the working map.

In other business, Darlington County Fire Chief David Williamson addressed council with a proposed agreement to share the cost of firefighter physicals with Harris Creek Fire Department of Chesterfield County. Williamson said several volunteers have dual membership and this would keep those firefighters from having two physicals. The agreement would represent a savings of $750 per year to the county. Council approved the motion.

Planning Director Doug Reimold invited council to attend an open house event to showcase the south Darlington watershed project with visuals and displays of what the project will be. The event will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Darlington County Library.

“This is what we’ve been waiting on for 20 years now. It’s going to happen,” Johnson said.

Blackwell noted that council has a conflicting event at 11:30 a.m. at New South Lumber.

In council comments, Warr noted the problem of street signs being stolen frequently in her district.

Nicholson went on the record to correct any misperception that she was against additional members being added the to the planning commission.

“I don’t want this to be an issue that council puts on the back burner,” Nicholson said. “I would like to see us do something about representation on the planning commission and zoning from all the districts.”

“I put some people on the commission that weren’t in my district. I felt they could do the job for the county,” Johnson said. “I’m looking for (the) best we can find in the county to do the job for the county.”