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030518 Council Mtg Mins Adopted North Augusta „, South Carolina's Riverfront MINUTES OF MARCH 5, 2018 Robert A. Pettit, Mayor James M Adams, Jr., Councilmember J Robert Brooks, Councilmember Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember Fletcher L. Dickert, Councilmember Kenneth J. McDowell, Councilmember David W. McGhee, Councilmember ORDER OF BUSINESS REGULAR MEETING The regular meeting of March 5, 2018, having been duly publicized, was called to order by Mayor Pettit at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Per Section 30-4-80(e) notice of the meeting by email was sent out to the current maintained "Agenda Mailout" list consisting of news media outlets and individuals or companies requesting notification. Notice of the meeting was also posted on the outside doors of the Municipal Center, the main bulletin board of the Municipal Center located on the first floor, and the City of North Augusta website. Mayor Pettit rendered the invocation and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Mayor Pettit and Councilmembers Adams, Brooks, Carpenter, Dickert, McDowell, and McGhee. Also in attendance were B. Todd Glover, City Administrator; Kelly F. Zier, City Attorney; Cammie T. Hayes, Director of Finance; Richard L. Meyer, Director of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism; John C. Thomas, Director of Public Safety; Thomas C. Zeaser, Director of Engineering Minutes of Regular Meeting of 03/05/18 and Public Works; James E. Sutton, Director of Public Services; Diana H. Miller, Manager of Human Resources; and Donna B. Young, City Clerk. The minutes of the regular and study session meetings of February 19, 2018 were approved by general consent. ITEM 1. PUBLIC SAFETY: Ordinance No. 2018-03 — An Ordinance Amending Chapter 22, Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the City of North Augusta by Adding Section 22-13 to said Code, Establishing Fines for Parking Violations — Ordinance, First Reading On motion by Councilmember Dickert, second by Councilmember Carpenter, Council unanimously passed an ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 22, Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the City of North Augusta by adding Section 22-13 to said Code, establishing fines for parking violations. The proposed ordinance text is as follows: Please note that all complete exhibits and attachments are available in the Office of the City Clerk. ORDINANCE NO. 2018-03 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, ARTICLE I. OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF NORTH AUGUSTA BY ADDING SECTION 22-13 TO SAID CODE, ESTABLISHING FINES FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS. WHEREAS, Chapter 22, Article I of the Municipal Code provides for various matters relating to traffic and vehicles, to include parking violations; and, WHEREAS, Section 22-3 provides for matters related to the placement of signs, markers, and official traffic-control devices, to include matters related to parking; and, WHEREAS, Specific fines related to such traffic violations have not been previously codified; and, WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council have made a determination that it is appropriate, and in the best interest of the citizens, that a schedule of fines be established to allow for the proper enforcement of parking violations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of North Augusta, South Carolina, in meeting duly assembled and by the authority thereof, that: Minutes of Regular Meeting of 03/05/18 1. Section 22-13 is hereby added to the Municipal Code for the City of North Augusta establishing appropriate fines for parking violations as established within Chapter 22, Article I. The authorized fines are as follows: VIOLATION FINE Overtime Parking $20.00 Improper Parking $20.00 Parking Where Signs Prohibit $20.00 Parking on Yellow Curb $20.00 Parking in Loading Zone $20.00 Parking on Sidewalk $20.00 Parking at Fireplug $20.00 Parking Against Traffic $20.00 Parking in Handicapped Zone without proper permit...not to exceed $500.00 Other Parking Violations not itemized herein $20.00 2. All other Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith, to the extent of such conflict, are hereby repealed. 3. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption on the third and final reading. DONE, RATIFIED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH AUGUSTA, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THIS DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2018. ITEM 2. PUBLIC SAFETY: Ordinance No. 2018-03 — An Ordinance Amending Chapter 22, Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the City of North Augusta by Adding Section 22-13 to said Code, Establishing Fines for Parking Violations — Ordinance, Second Reading On motion by Councilmember Brooks, second by Councilmember McGhee, Council unanimously passed an ordinance on second reading amending Chapter 22, Article I of the Code of Ordinances for the City of North Augusta by adding Section 22-13 to said Code, establishing fines for parking violations. Please see Item number 1 above for the ordinance text. ITEM 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS: Speaker Forms Submitted for March 5, 2018 Council Meeting Please see the attached Speaker Forms completed by citizens for the March 5, 2018 Council meeting. Minutes of Regular Meeting of 03/05/18 There being no further business, Council adjourned at 7:18 p.m. APPRO vO T S /f DAY OF Respectfully submitted, _ , 2118. Mr' Donna B. Young Robert A. Pettit, Mayor laity waa l-wiiill,« . .. .,..,.,_.._ volunteers found that band. Watchdog citizens they collected 7,175 Most a t pounds le food and Most $5,187.The volunteers own band were pleased,very organizati •strengthen communities. p Nas , the ba ort th h th Augusta,you theirs ban should be pleased.Very drum con pleased with yourselves. that mush BY RICHARD reimbursed.That's good to of the State Constitution. The generosity of our Interest ECKSTROM know,I guess,but it was in- The citizens sought to have community is amazing. honoring S.C.Comptroller formation that should have the money returned to the Golden Harvest can buy declined. alreadybeen taxpayers and demanded almost$50,000 worth of erans are They keep tabs on their "" ", p u b 1 i c 1 y the politicians'resignations, food using their buying course,ar public officials, often ask- available. though those efforts were re- power of the dollar. be celebra ing the tough questions and a The The school buffed.The watchdogs'work North Augusta dons- from atop sounding the alarm when $" superinten- did pay dividends,however, tions will go a long way some spec something doesn't seem ' ' dent later as the county ended the helping feed those less cle than a right.They attend meetings, k '" ,, `!, p r o p o s e d questionable payments and fortunate than ourselves. ing them sometimes sitting in the ►' , i m p r o v e- the three incumbents were Your generosity will In Greet front row and staying until Eckstrom m e n t s t o later ousted by voters. help make a difference na,I had the very end.They request the district's •When one school district in someone's life that to march information under the pub- s p e n d i n g barred citizens from record- you may never meet. rades in a lic-records law.Sometimes, reports - a positive step ing public meetings,a local We are truly,"Feeding can Legic they criticize. resulting directly from the activist-one who happened lives together."It is very I'll neve Watchdog citizens are an involvement of watchdog to know that S.C.law allows heartwarming to live day our p annoyance to a lot of poli- citizens. citizens to record such meet- in a community that is with a po ticians, muddying up the • Concerned Columbia ings - took her district to always eager to lend a Apaches, otherwitidy biciness of restdent3 for yes 's butted court, roman pub- helping lend. when mo gove t. -. ,' leaders over licl �' 'il it. o by Of course,an effort codgers i 'a-t. ke' w t.o t . a . ` r 'r of mil district Qrt� , ..: this large cannot be petered o have made a po.`' ,, •'i tons o .o i ars' Om the wa- credither.But was on successful without dedi- seek a co, ence in their communities. ter-and-sewer maintenance her side.She prevailed,and cated,hard working vol- cold drin A few examples off the top fund into the city's general as a result the district made unteers. My old "of my head: fund. The highly-unpop- its meetings truly open. I want to extend a buddy an •Years ago,a woman in ular practice left the city In each of these cases,the personal"Thank You" naire,Jo( S.C.fought both DHEC and with both ever-increasing watchdogs drew fire from to our 116 volunteers. and I doi her local well water provider water bills and a crumbling the entities they sought to Without your tireless Guard ui over her neighborhood's wa- water-sewer system,yet city hold accountable...yet their efforts Spooky to Be march in ter quality and high utility officials insisted that ending perseverance ultimately Hungry would not be rial Day rates.Taking on government it would leave them with a proved beneficial to their possible.I enjoy working ken.Wh; -or a utility-is always an devastating budget short- communities. with each and every one Now,ir uphill battle,and the woman fall.Unable to persuade the I frequently get calls from of you each year.You all have to c was initially unable to even mayor and City Council to such citizens seeking advice, are awesome! with hell obtain the public records she stop raiding the water-sewer and a recurring complaint is It is not too early to our cerei sought under the Freedom- fund,a trio of good-govern- that they're often maligned, start planning for next paying o of-Information Act. ment advocates pooled their sometimes publicly and year.Spooky to Be Hun- to one of But she persisted. After money, hired an attorney harshly, because of their gry would be honored to service. threatening to get the me- - and tookthe matter to court. efforts. Unfortunately,too add more neighborhoods It is col dia involved, she got the The case made it to the S.C. many governmental bodies to the annual collection. part of s' documents she wanted ... Supreme Court,which sided choose to shoot the mes- 1 If you are interested and wor documents that suggested with the citizen-watchdogs senger-even well-meaning in being a neighbor- as my pr contaminants in the well in ruling that water-sewer citizens with valid concerns. hood captain please North A water had been making money shouldn't be treated That's a shame. Citizen- give Keith Liner a call at If I wei people sick.The wells were as a slush fund. The city watchdogs strengthen their 803-279-0238.Our goal is so cor shut down,and her efforts soon abolished the practice communities (as do local is to someday cover one the men ultimately resulted in better and restored its water-sewer newspapers.)They improve hundred percent of the part of r water quality for her neigh- maintenance fund.And all the quality of government by North Augusta area.To- emony. borhood. turned out fine; there was keeping officials honest;our gether we can! Honor • In the Lowcountry this no budget shortfall after all. leaders tend to walk a little cially th summer, a citizens group •Some attentive residents straighter when they know KEITH LINER their liv which is often at odds with in one county discovered someone's watching. Spooky to Be Hungry, the leadership of the local that three local elected of- People who care enough North Augusta liaison RAY W school district was review- ficials had declined county- to get involved in guiding North A ing the district's spending sponsored health insurance their community's future when they noticed question- in favor of cash payments- should be respected-even I love a parade able charge card purchases each totaling about$24,000 cherished-including those I received an email When - including one at Victo- over a several-year period. whose watchful eyes add from one of the writ- close' ria's Secret. The discovery One county council member another layer of govern- ers of a nearby daily prompted district leaders to had also received$26,000 in ment oversight. Especially newspaper a couple of What explain some of the charges, public funds toward his col- those who take their lumps days ago,inquiring as to you hay and as it turns out the Vic- lege tuition.Both the cash- and refuse to relent. whether our North Au- and you toria's Secret charge was in-lieu-of-insurance and the Richard Eckstrom is a CPA gusta American Legion do you i fraudulent and had been tuition payments ran afoul and the state Comptroller. Post 71 would be having North I a parade on the 10th. Comm SPEAKER FORM NAME: ( Q—v \ v (c. c ,rk, i ADDRESS: 1 ') L G ' v -- L/ z `( 9 TELEPHONE: 31 PLEASE PROVIDE A ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY OF YOUR COMMENT TO COUNCIL. (For example: I support the resolution because ... ) THIS FORM WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AGENDA ITEM/TOPIC: 7e.-- SUMMARY: C G EL_