Cayce City Council meets August 14, 2007
By Kristin Lavender kblavender@gmail.com
Roll Call

The August 14, 2007 Cayce City Council meeting was called to order at 6:03 pm by Mayor Avery Wilkerson. He then lead the Council in the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Avery Wilkerson, Mayor Pro- Tem Rick Myers, Councilman James Jenkins, Councilman Kenneth Jumper, Councilman Robert Malpass, and City Manager John Sharpe were all in attendance.

Jumper made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 10, 2007 Regular Meeting. Jenkins seconded the motion and the minutes where then approved as mailed.

Presentations

Wilkerson add-ressed the Council for the presentation of the Employee of the Quarter Award. Calvin McGee was presented that honor. Among the compliments for his service, Wilkerson said that McGee "sees that our utility department runs through thick and thin."

Karen Wigfall then turned to the council to discuss youth programs within the City of Cayce. She said, "To my knowledge we don't have a gang problem yet." She chose to bring before the Council a recommendation that they build a swimming pool, a place where kids can go four or five hours a night.

Wigfall added that the development needs to be included in the budget.

There are other structures within City limits that are new and unused and should therefore be utilized for keeping kids off the street for as long as they can, providing a place for them to play games and participate in other similar activities.

A property offer was then brought to the Council by Vicky Beard. She is interested in buying a plot of land for her own personal use. The City discussed its position on selling land and its interest in learning the operating procedures for appraisal and other requirements.

The State Street Streetscape Project was brought to the attention of the Council during the presentations, highlighting the receipt of a low bid for the project at $183,952.

Myers and Jumpers made and seconded a motion to recognize National Payroll Week. The motion was then carried by the whole Council.

Business

The Council heard the first reading of an approval to repeal a section of the City Code regarding Utilities. The removal of a sewer cap that had been included in the 1995 ordinance prescribing water and sewer rates, and had been removed when the City approved a water and sewer rate increase in 2004, was brought to the attention of the City by an out of city customer as being overlooked.

The 2004 increase ordinance included the removal of the cap, yet this was overlooked when the City of Cayce Code of Ordinances was updated. Sharpe made a recommendation that the Council go forward with this proceeding. Malpass made a motion to approve, seconded by Jumper.

The Council made a motion to approve a first reading ordinance on a temporary lease agreement for a DNR Canoe Launch. This motion was made based on the lease agreement awaiting feedback from DNR, their attorneys, and the Budget and Control Board. The lease agreement will go directly to the Budget and Control Board and will be addressed at their meeting in September. The motion carried with unanimous consent and will be addressed in the Council's October meeting.

The approval of an ordinance authorizing and approving the implementation, administration and enforcement of a Lexington County Stormwater Management Ordinance within the Corporate Limits of the City of Cayce was heard by the Council on second reading.

Myers made a motion to approve this ordinance. The motion was seconded by Jumper. The issue of stormwater management, which has been closely monitored since 2000, is divided into six phases. This ordinance addresses the implementation of phase two, which officially starts on the first of September.

The last ordinance before the Council was the second reading of an amendment to Chapter 22 of the City of Cayce Code of Ordinances to regulate and control outdoor burning.

The City has been notified through the City of Cayce website as well as through meetings with various neighborhood associations.

This ordinance allows for no outside burning unless property owners meet with various stringent requirements, having been addressed because of numerous complaints by residents of the City of Cayce. Myers put a motion on the table to approve this ordinance. Malpass then seconded. The City of Cayce will be working with Public Safety Chief McNair on making a brochure with the new guidelines for outside burning on it.

Contracts

In regards to the approval of the Moss Creek Homeowners Association's Request for additional street signs, the Council made a motion to table until next week, having not received more than a letter from the Association regarding the issue.

The Council held discussion on the recommendation for improvements to an existing wastewater treatment plant.

City staff recommended an option to the Council including the use of diesel pumps and minor piping and manhole additions, rather than mounted electric pumps, which would be more difficult to move later if necessary, being that they require an electric hookup.

The money for this project has not yet been budgeted and will come from reserves, but booked as part of the current flood. This problem has escalated over time but is brought to attention this year because there have been more flood waters coming into the plant in recent time.

Malpass made a motion to approve the recommended Option 1A. This was seconded by Jumper and carried unanimously.

The removal of a sewer at a site on Wisconsin Street was then brought up for discussion by the Council. A low bid of $107,354 was received, sparking debate as to the Council's responsibility in this matter.

This project would result in an increased value of the property for the current property owne, and would only be a good move for the City if a pending sale to a business

developer were to continue through. and bring in an eventual profit for the City.

A motion was made to approve the project based on an agreement protecting the city from a development project at whatever point in the future. The current property owner spoke to the Council on the risk to him. The eventual decision was that the current property owner, prospective property owner, City Manager, City Attorney, and Mayor all sit down to discuss the issue to some resolve.

The reconsideration of an approval to designate a Business Appreciation Day was brought up for discussion amongst the Council. Myers made a recommendation to work through the local Chamber of Commerce and postpone further discussion until then. Myers then made a motion, seconded by Malpass.

Committee Matters

The Council continued with the appointment and reappointment of two positions on the Cayce Housing Authority. Following the City Manager's report, the Council moved to Executive Session to receive legal advice about a Time Warner FCC Petition and to discuss the proposed contractual arrangement and receipt of legal advice about a Parkwood Sewer Main Project.