MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE WALHALLA CITY COUNCIL

January 19, 2021

5:30 pm.

 

 

Present:  Mayor Danny Edwards, Councilwoman Sarai Melendez, Councilman David Underwood, Councilman Keith Pace, Councilman Josh Roberts, and Brent Taylor, City Administrator.

 

Absent:  Councilman Danny Woodward

 

Guest:  Gwen Owens, wife of deceased Councilman Dennis Owens.

 

Councilman Underwood led the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

 

Public Input: 

 

Approval of MinutesOn a motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Pace and unanimously carried, the minutes for the regular meeting on December 15, 2020 meeting were approved.

 

Discussion: There was no discussion.

 

Presentation

 

 

 

Reading of Resolutions and Ordinances:

 

Ms. Melendez made a motion to approve Resolution 2020-1 A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF COUNCILMAN DENNIS ALTON OWENS AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF WALHALLA The motion was seconded by Mr. Roberts and was carried unanimously.

 

Discussion:  The resolution was presented to Gwen Owen.

 

Ms. Melendez made a motion to approve ORDINANCE 2020-20 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE MINIMUM REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, CONDITIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL PROPERTY, BUILDINGS, AND STRUCTURES, BY PROVIDING THE STANDARDS FOR SUPPLIED UTILITIES AND FACILITIES AND OTHER PHYSICAL THINGS AND CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE STRUCTURES ARE SAFE, SANITARY, AND FIT FOR OCCUPATION AND USE; AND THE CONDEMNATION OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY AND USE THE DEMOLITION OF SUCH STRUCTURES; KNOWN AS THE BUILDING CODE. The motion was seconded by Mr. Underwood and was carried unanimously.

 

Discussion:  There was no discussion

 

Mr. Pace made a motion to approve ORDINANCE 2020-21 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY TO ENTER A LEASE-PURCHASE OR SIMILAR AGREEMENT AND OTHER MATTERS The motion was seconded by Mr. Underwood and was carried unanimously.

 

Discussion:  There was no discussion.

 

Mr. Roberts made a motion to approve ORDINANCE 2020-22 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2012-01 GOVERNING GARBAGE, TRASH AND REFUSE. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pace and was carried unanimously.

 

Discussion:  There was no discussion.

 

Other Business:

 

Diversity and Inclusion Committee

 

Mrs. Loriel Swanson updated Council on activities of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  She said, “Their goal is to build unity with people inside the City.  They began meeting in August. They established committees, developed a mission statement, and had guest speakers talk to them about establishing unity within a community.  They organized a community clean-up on Martin Luther King Day.”

 

Discussion ensued about the City paying for additional training for the committee.  Ms. Swanson was directed to bring more information back.

 

Election of Mayor Pro-Temp.

 

Mr. Underwood made a motion to elect Danny Woodward Mayor Pro-Temp.  It was seconded by Mr. Pace and it was unanimously approved.

 

Discussion:  There was discussion about the term of the Mayor Pro-Temp.  It was explained this election is for one year, but after that will be for two years to coincide with seating of a new Council.  The Mayor Pro-Temp can be re-elected as many times Council chooses to do so.  Mr. Underwood was nominated by Ms. Melendez, but declined to serve.

 

Committee Reports

 

Fire

 

Ms.  Melendez reported:

 

The Department had

 

124 calls for service.
61 Fire calls

23% of the time on multiple calls
63 Medical Rescue
37 Incidents of mutual aid
54 Inside the City
70 Outside
Spent 226 hours on incidents an average 32 minutes.

 

Staff trained for over 233 hours.  One more employee received their EMT certification.

29 business were inspected by the Fire Marshall and received 29 pre-plans.

 

Codes and Zoning 5 violations are being addressed.  3 zoning verifications.

 

Updated on Stumphouse Park visits and collection.

 

Discussed adding a captain position in the new fiscal year.

 

Police

 

Mr. Underwood reported

 

Department had

 

39 Incidents

22 Arrest

214 tickets

15 collisions

851 calls for service
210 extra patrols

 

Cpl. Sanders, Cpl. Kelly and Ofc. Barnum completed Patrol rifle certification.

 

Discussed issues with officers related to COVID.

 

Asked the Administrator to study and develop alternatives regarding police salaries.

 

Street

 

Mr. Roberts reported

 

From December 1 through December 31 the department collected

 

273 tons of residential garbage

78 tons of commercial garbage

81 tons of recycled brush

30 tons of C&D waste

55 Mattresses which is 2 loads and 2 tons

 

 

Delivered 21 Roll carts and collected 10.

 

Also, discussed adding additional Christmas lights in the future.

 

Parks and Recreation

 

Mr. Underwood reported:

 

Discussed mask wearing in the gym during basketball season.

 

The Department is currently working on online registration.

 

Basketball games started January 4.

 

Baseball and Softball registration will be Feb. 8-19.

 

Utilities

 

Mr. Pace reported:

 

Decided to move forward with contracting with GMC to have them develop a plan to address the sewer consent order from DHEC.

 

Decided to close City Hall to the public due to the increase in Covid-19 cases in the County.

 

Updated some water plant issues.

 

Utilities

 

Mr. Pace reported:

 

  • Department Heads received budget packets and expect them to be returned by end of the month. He anticipates Council to begin deliberations in March.
  • He will be reviewing the handbook and developing a performance appraisal system.
  • They are working to improve the website.
  • Should be selecting a Greenway engineering firm this month.
  • Discussed extending water lines to increase service and generate revenue.

 

 

Mayor’s Remarks

 

The Mayor expressed his appreciation to staff, Council and volunteers that participated in the Martin Luther King Day Community Clean-up.  He thought it went great and looks forward to doing another one in the Spring.  He also stated we have a lot going on for such a small town including the Greenway project, Cane Creek Basin rehab work among other things.

 

 

 

___________________________________

Brent Taylor, City Administrator

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