Florence County Council to hold public hearing on budget

Florence County Council on Thursday morning will hold a public hearing and second reading for its proposed $49.6 million budget, which includes a lower solid waste fee compensated by a property tax adjustment.

“The biggest impact is probably the $2 million negative impact by the state budget,” Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said Wednesday.

Council’s Administration and Finance Committee has recommended a 1-percent across-the-board cut to the county’s budget, which includes $49,557,000 in the county’s general fund.

“That’s only part of the solution,” Starks said.

The committee also has recommended the property tax adjustment of 2.2 mills along with a reduction from $89 to about $58 for the county’s annual household solid waste fee, Starks said.

The fee goes toward operation of the county’s manned convenience centers as well as disposal and hauling of garbage, he said.

The budget must pass a third and final reading later this month before going into effect July 1 for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

County officials also expect a council committee Thursday morning to recommend denial of a rezoning request by a family seeking to keep their pigs, goats and chickens at their home.

Council voted last month to refer the request by James and Christina Fender to the Public Services and Planning Committee, which has researched and heard from those on both sides of the issue, Starks said.

The Fenders have said their primary residence is at Pamplico Highway and Dudley Drive. Their property is zoned as a general commercial district. The couple wants the land to be unzoned, as it was until Nov. 20, 2001, so that the family can keep its two pigs, three goats and six chickens.

They got the animals late last year as therapeutic pets for their daughter, who was seriously injured in a car crash in September.

Some of the Fenders’ neighbors have told county planning officials they don’t mind the animals, while others have said they have health concerns regarding the animals. Christina Fender told council last month she keeps the pens “immaculate.”

Also during Thursday’s meeting, council will hold a public hearing and second reading for an infrastructure financing agreement with Greenville-based David C. Poole Co. Inc., which produces synthetic fibers as well as resins for bottles. The agreement is a follow-up to the original incentive to bring the company to Florence County, where it occupies part of Wellman’s former Johnsonville plant, Starks said.

A third public hearing will concern the sale of a 10-foot-wide strip of land connected to the county’s Recreation Department headquarters, off South Irby Street in downtown Florence. An adjoining business has already paved the property, which the county hopes to sell to avoid any liability issues in cases such as a tree limb falling on a car, Starks said.

The land has been appraised at $6,000, he said.

— Lake City News & Post Editor Charles Tomlinson can be reached at (843) 394-3571. Comment on this story at scnow.com.

IF YOU’RE GOING

WHAT: Florence County Council regular meeting, including public hearings on:

• The county’s proposed budget, with $49.6 million in the general fund
• An infrastructure financing agreement between the county and David C. Poole Co. Inc.
• The sale of surplus property at the county Recreation Department headquarters

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: County council chambers, Room 803, 180 N. Irby St., Florence

INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Haselden at (843) 665-3035