Florence County Council OKs $1 million bid to build elections facility

FLORENCE — Florence County Council has approved a nearly $1 million bid for construction of the new Florence County Voter Registration and Elections Commission building.

After Thursday’s council vote, county Voter Registration and Elections Director David Alford said he’s happy the bids came in about $250,000 lower than expected and that the project will provide much-needed construction jobs in the county.

The apparent low bidder is Florence’s Walker Industries LLC, which submitted a $995,858 bid. The bid was the lowest of 14, all but one of which was compliant with the county’s bid requirements, according to county documents.

Alford said he hopes to hold a ground-breaking ceremony possibly in September. The new building will stand on Second Loop Road, behind the current facility.

Voter registration operates at the Florence County Public Service Building, while the setup of elections and gathering of results take place in offices at Florence-Darlington Technical College.

“It’s not an easy way to operate,” Alford said, adding that the 4,000 square feet of space at the college is “more accommodating” than the former Florence County Library building, which previously acted as elections central.

Councilman James Schofield said he’s happy to be moving forward on the standalone facility.

“Anybody who tried to early vote in 2008 remembers the long line wrapped around the Public Service Building,” he said.

Council also voted Thursday to accept $100,000 for paving at the new building. The funding will come from the South Carolina Department of Transportation via the Florence County Transportation Committee’s C Funds program.

Alford said the new facility could be open as early as next spring, depending on how winter weather affects construction.

Council also voted Thursday to approve second reading of an ordinance allowing the sale of a $900,000 bond that would allow the Windy Hill Volunteer Fire Company to buy three new fire engines. The ordinance must pass a third and final reading before going into effect.

The new engines would be more reliable and efficient and replace three others that have been in service from 21 to 25 years each, John DeLung, chief of the northeastern Florence County fire department, said July 14.

DeLung said larger pumps on the new trucks could also improve the department’s ISO rating. The rating is used in determining insurance rates for residents.

The general obligation bond would be repaid through debt-service millage levied in the Windy Hill/Olanta Rural Fire District. The property tax increase could be as much as three mills, which would equal $12 on a $100,000 home, Florence County Finance Director Kevin Yokim said.

Councilman Russell Culberson said Thursday that not having volunteer fire departments could cost taxpayers millions more.

Council also voted to draft an ordinance taking into account an animal’s size while restricting the kind of chain or rope used to confine an animal. Councilman Morris Anderson made the motion after passing around a 19-pound chain that had been attached to a 35-pound dog’s neck in a recent Timmonsville animal cruelty case.

“There is never a free moment unless he puts his head on the ground,” Anderson said of such a heavy weight around a dog’s neck.

He said the ordinance should take into account the animal’s size.

Culberson presented a resolution of recognition to John Taylor of the Mars Bluff community, the winning pitcher in the Gamecocks’ victory at this year’s College World Series. Taylor attended Wilson High School and has played with the Florence Redwolves.

Earlier in the meeting, 2010 Census partnership specialist Vermelle P. Simmons said Florence County’s participation rate rose by 4 percent since the previous census while South Carolina “raised the bar” with an 8 percent increase.

Those are partial results, she said, and many “Be Counted” forms remain to be counted. Final results will be released in February or March.

South Carolina jumped from 49th in participation to 23rd, she said.

In other business Thursday, council voted to approve:

• A $31,425 bid by Osborne Construction Co. of Turbeville for parking expansion and realignment at the Lower Florence County Public Service Building, in Lake City.
  
• Two grants that would benefit the Florence County Library System: a $50,000 grant from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation to buy materials for the county’s branch libraries as well as a $10,216 grant — which requires a $5,423 match — from the South Carolina State Library for books and materials for Florence Families Read, a new literacy program.
  
• $40,562 in council Road System Maintenance Fee funds to reapply asphalt to East Black Creek Road in the Florence area.
  
• $27,000 of economic development capital project funds to place a postal delivery center at the Godley Morris Commerce Center, in Lake City.
  
• $25,140 of council utility and infrastructure funds to help the city of Florence extend a water line along Friendfield Road.
  
• $20,000 in council infrastructure funds to improve and repair the tennis courts at Lions Park in Lake City.
  
• $17,000 in council utility funds to help Timmonsville with Rural Development capital payments for the town’s water and wastewater system as the town works to meet state and federal mandates.
  
• The application to Waste Management for credits in corrected amounts for $27,000 worth of overbilling based on consumer price index calculations, discovered after a recent audit by the county.