Cayce City Council meets March 4, 2008
By Kristin Lavender kblavender@gmail.com

Mayor Avery Wilkerson, Mayor Pro-tem Rick Myers, Councilman Kenneth Jumper, Councilman Robert Malpass, City Manager John Sharpe, Public Safety Chief Charles McNair, and City Attorney Danny Crowe were all in attendance. Councilman James Jenkins was absent due to sickness.

Minutes from the February 5 regular meeting were approved.

Presentations and Proclamations

Karen Owens of the Clare Morris Agency gave a presentation on the City of Cayce Strategic Communications Plan. She detailed a number of suggestions for Cayce including increasing awareness among city residents of business owners through a change in the city's logo. Owens recommended the potential new logo be incorporated in materials they developed for the website, brochures, and new signage. "Your branding is very important," she said.

Owens also recommended the Sunrise

Newspaper be made into four pages and distributed quarterly rather than being eight pages and distributed twice a year. She also discussed the potential of a business forum for the purposes of networking, talking about new ordinances or new things that might impact various business owners in Cayce as well as economic development in the community, this letting businesses know that their impact is valued.

Among other things, Owens spoke of promoting tourism and economic development and of developing a pro- active media relations program rather than a re- active program. In showing their commitment to jump starting these changes, Myers made a motion in favor of one of the new logo suggestions, which was seconded by Malpass. The motion passed 3- 1, with Jumper expressing his favor for the old logo.

The Council was then shown a presentation of the SC Dental Association Certificate of Appreciation. This was given by DHEC to the City of Cayce because Cayce is one of 13 cities in the state of South Carolina that has been treating water with fluoride for over 50 years.

Malpass made a motion for the approval of a proclamation for Sunshine Week. Jumper seconded and the motion carried.

Ordinances

A first reading ordinance amending Cayce City Code Section 2- 225 pertaining to boards, commissions, and committees was heard by the Council. This followed up a request made by Council at the February 5 meeting, asking that City Attorney Danny Crowe look into making changes in the code regarding city appointments. The motion was carried with little discussion.

An ordinance amending Cayce City Code Section 28- 114 to provide for certain exceptions to the prohibition on discharging firearms in the city was brought before the Council on second reading. Myers had asked before about SLED records before allowing for an individual to obtain a hunting license or firearm. Due to scribner's errors brought to attention by Crowe, Myers made a motion to amend the ordinance with the suggested changes in language as mentioned by Crowe. Malpass seconded the motion. Next, a motion was made by Myers to approve the ordinance with the amended language. Malpass seconded the motion.

The Council heard the second reading of an ordinance ratifying and approving the continuation of a special utility rate classification for wastewater systems acquired from Midlands Utility, Inc. With no discussion, Myers made a motion to approve. Malpass seconded the motion. Having none opposed, this motion also carried.

Agreements

The Council then discussed the approval to proceed with an Actuarial Study for GASB45 and a bid award for this project as well as the authorization to proceed with Highway 1 Sewer System Capacity. Each of these projects was discussed with great detail. The Actuarial Study was approved. Upgrades for Highway 1 Sewer System Capacity, due to the severity of any alternatives and the time sensitive nature, passed.

Committee matters

A number of committee appointments were before the Council. These included three positions to the Cayce Events Committee and a position each on the Housing/Construction Board of Adjustments, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Appeals. The Planning Commission position was tabled due to the need for the application to be resubmitted. Each of the other positions was approved for appointment as recommended by the committees.

City Manager's Report

City Manager Sharpe said March 21 is a city holiday, but that the Sanitation Service will be on regular schedule. At the next meeting he would speak to the omitting of Section 1 of City Code on confidentiality.

Roll carts are in and Sharpe told the Council the "program is going real fine," but they may need to amend City Code to have this required by residents of the City.

Malpass made a motion seconded by Jumper that the Council move into Executive Session at 7:32 pm.