Council honors Perritt, takes care of business

The family of the late H.M. “Bubba” Perritt Jr. received a matted and framed copy of a resolution honoring his years of community service during the April 14 Marion County Council meeting, in Council Chambers in Marion City Hall on Main Street.

Council then recessed its monthly meeting and went into a public hearing to discuss Ordinance #09-02 to create a multi-county industrial park with Dillon County for SO-PAK-CO, Inc. No one spoke regarding the ordinance. Second reading of the ordinance to offer the company a fee in lieu of taxes was approved at the March 26 council meeting.

After returning to open session, County Attorney Chuck McLain had third reading of the ordinance and it passed. No action was taken on third reading of an ordinance auhorizing the issuance of a special source revenue bond on behalf of Carolina AAC. County Administrator Tim Harper gave a report on and proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month.

County leases tower space, hires consulting firm

Marion County Council members agreed to lease space on a communications tower at the old county landfill on Old Stage Road to Sparrow & Kennedy based in Timmonsville.
During the March 26 Marion County Council meeting, the County Attorney Chuck McLain said the lease will bring the county $100 per month.

The space will aid farmers with tractor-mounted GPS receivers to record their location and to gain information such as how much fertilizer, weed control and water is needed in various locations of the field. For additional information about what Sparrow & Kennedy offers, visit http://www.sparrowkennedy.com.

In other business during the March 26 meeting, county resident George Wheeler asked council to revisit its penalties on those whom do not pay their trash collection bills. If they do not pay, they are subject to jail time. Council Chairman John Q. Atkinson told Wheeler his information was received, but that he didn’t think council would do anything regarding the non-payment penalties.

Following a closed session to discuss an economic development contract, council, in open session opted to allow the County Administrator Tim Harper and Atkinson to sign an $150,000 agreement with CH2M Hill, a consulting company, to provide a master plan of an economic development site in the county.

The plan is being paid for by economic development partners in the county, officials said at the April 14 meeting.

Council members discussed the local community action agency and its ability to help citizens and decided to take a wait and see approach before talking to the agency regarding its helping programs.
Council members began their budgeting process for the 2009-10 at a committee meeting on April 7 and discussed changes to the county’s personnel policies.

Harper said the county could face a budget cut from the state funds to county, by way of the Local Aid to Government fund, as much as $122 million or as little as $50 million. Council members said they wanted to give the citizens as much time as possible to get used to the idea of a tax increase if one was coming. Council member Milton Troy II said he wants to make sure citizens know they are doing the best they can and they can’t help unfunded mandates.

The House, on a one-week furlough and a one-week recess, has been out for two weeks and the Senate for one, budget talks at the state level did not resume until this week.

Ogleretta White Davis was introduced to council during the March 26 meeting as the county’s new grant coordinator.

Harper said personnel policies are being reviewed to eliminate duplications and contradictions. He hopes to have department heads review the changes and bring the changes to the labor attorney and then back to council for approval at the end of the month.

Economic development opportunities in the county

According to the North Eastern Strategic Alliance, there are at least three sites in Marion County available to potential industrial interests, the Marion County Industrial Park, the Edwards site and a fabric resources building.

The Marion County Industrial Park offers about 360 acres at $5,000 per acre, with rail access, 15 miles from Interstate 95, 34 miles from Interstate 20, fewer than five miles from the future Interstate 73, fewer than75 miles from the Port of Georgetown, with utilities on site.

The Edwards site offers 2,600 acres, the price is per acre is negotiable, there is 2.5 miles of rail frontage, the site is 12 miles from I-95, 23 miles from I-20 and in close proximity to future I-73. It is also 100 miles from the Port of Charleston has utilities on site and is undergoing master planning.

The available fabric resources building offers 294,243 square feet (288,486 manufacturing, and 5,757 office), is a county-owned building, offers attractive pricing, 10 truck docks and one drive-in door. The site is 20 miles to I-95, 30 miles to I-20, 67 miles to the Port of Georgetown and has utilities.

For information about the sites, visit http://www.scbusinesscorner.com. NESA is a professional economic development organization representing nine counties in northeastern South Carolina.

Marion County Council will meet on April 23 at 7 p.m.  and the Marion County Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Commission’s office on Guyton Road.