County may renovate administration building to house EMS

Marion County Administrator Tim Harper said at a budget workshop that Council member Allen Floyd asked him to look into alternatives to the county’s plan to place the county’s central EMS site in the soon-to-be-built City of Marion fire substation on Sen. Gasque Road near MarCo Rural Water’s office.

County officials have been discussing leasing space in that building, paying a share of utilities and $36,000 over four years.

In addition to the lease, Harper presented to county council two alternatives, with each requiring the county to get a loan for renovations.

One plan would renovate the current central EMS site and offices in the County’s Multipurpose building and the other would renovate the back of the administration building on Main Street to house the EMS site, placing an ambulance in the city limits of Marion; EMS offices; and the county’s emergency operations center. Cost of the improvements would be between $100,000 and $150,000, Harper said.

The county houses one ambulance in Mullins and one in the Britton’s Neck community. Harper said he recommends making the upgrades to the county’s administration building.

“We don’t have the money, we will have to borrow it,” he said. But we’ll be making renovations on our own building and not on one borrowed from somewhere else, he added.
Once council members give him the authority to move the offices, Harper said, he’ll set about finding the money.

Following an executive session to discuss a legal matter and economic development, County Attorney Chuck McLain asked council to consider making a motion, regarding the reconveyance of property from Datwyler. Council approved the measure, which includes a contingency for the company, which is relocating its operations to Mexico, to make a payment before reconveyance can begin.

In other County Council business during the June 9 meeting, Marion County Council Chairman John Q. Atkinson told a representative from Sen. Lindsay Graham’s office that Marion County “is a very needy county, and we’d appreciate all the help we can get.”

Council member Elista Smith added that Celia Urquhart “does a lot for this county and when you call upon her, she returns her calls. She does her job well.”

County Council agreed to allow 23.7 acres in the Wahee Community that is primarily woods, owned by Bobby G. Bullard, to have a special assessment as agriculture for tax purposes.

Harper reported that a recent break in at the Heritage Mills plant, from which copper wiring was stolen, causing extensive damage to the site’s electrical system.
County Council’s next monthly meeting is June 25 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.