The regular meeting of the Edgefield County Council was held at 6:00 P. M. Tuesday, December 3, 2002, in the Council Chambers, 225 Jeter St., Edgefield. Chairman Kneece called the meeting to order; the invocation was given by Ms. Aminee Mathis. After the invocation as given, the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.

C. Monroe Kneece, Chairman

Willie C. Bright, Vice Chairman

Norman Dorn, Councilman

Joel Hudson, Councilman

William R. Vaughan, Councilman

Wayne Adams, County Administrator

John F. Byrd, County Attorney

Barbara R. Stark, Clerk to Council

The Administrator at this time read Resolution No. 02-03-257, "A Resolution Honoring United States Senator Strom Thurmond on the Occasion of His One Hundredth Birthday, Thanking Him for His Long and Exemplary Record of Public Service, and Welcoming Him Home to Edgefield County upon the Completion of His Present Term in the United States Senate." The Resolution would be given to the Senator in Washington on his birthday, Thursday, December 5^th.

Motion was made by Councilman Dorn, seconded by Councilman Hudson, to approve the minutes of the November 5, 2002, County Council meeting as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Councilman Dorn questioned report number three (letter from the Chief Magistrate concerning the agreement between the towns of Edgefield, Johnston, and Trenton and Edgefield County). The Magistrate had previously stated he wished for council to terminate court services for the town of Johnston (hold hearings, etc.) because of the lack of cooperation from the police department in Johnston, and asked council to terminate the agreement between the town of Johnston and Edgefield County. From this letter, the Magistrate is no longer seeking termination of the agreement with Johnston.

The Administrator commented on Report 5 (bond resolution approved by the Edgefield County Hospital, along with a letter requesting County Council to proceed with the issuance of a hospital facilities revenue bond not to exceed $1,500,000.00). Section three

of the resolution states that the hospital facilities revenue bond shall be a limited obligation to the county; the principal and interest on which shall be payable by the county solely out of the revenues derived from the Project. The hospital facilities revenue bond and the interest thereon shall never constitute an indebtedness of the County (described this before as being a debt that is secured by revenues of the hospital and, also, by a real estate mortgage on the hospital itself with any improvements. The resolution makes that very clear, that this will not constitute an indebtedness of the county against its legal debt limit. Under the reports is the resolution the Hospital Board passed. They are required to formally ask the county council with a resolution to approve the hospital facilities revenue bond. Along with that are two votes that council is being asked to make; one, with the petitioning of the State Budget and Control Board for a hospital facilities revenue bond (council has to pass a resolution to do that); the second vote involves first reading of an ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a hospital revenue bond anticipation note. This actually is the interim financing, and council will not be doing the ordinance for the finished financing until a later date. This will not count against the county for its borrowing capacity. Number 5 on the agenda under New Business, consideration of proposals for purchase of $300,000 GO bond, is the money the county has already loaned the hospital for operation purposes from September until January. When this bond is funded, it will pay back to the General Fund the money the county has loaned to the hospital. Until the bond is paid off, annually, the hospital will deposit with the Treasurer, principal and interest on that debt before the millage is set each year. It should have no net effect on the millage, as long as the hospital makes the payments in advance. This is different from the hospital facilities revenue bond in one respect. If the hospital does default on this one, the county will owe it, but it has been agreed through a formal resolution with the hospital board that they will post the money in advance before setting the millage for debt service each year. The county required the hospital to post in advance the principal and interest with the Treasurer before third reading on the vote to loan them the money ($300,000).

Motion was made by Councilman Bright, seconded by Councilman Hudson, to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 01-02-430, "An Ordinance Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Not Exceeding $1,500,000 in Principal Amount of a Hospital Revenue Bond Anticipation Note (The Edgefield County Hospital Project) of Edgefield County, South Carolina; Providing for the Form and Details of the Note; Providing for the Disposition of the Proceeds Thereof; and Other Matters Related Thereto." Motion carried unanimously. (This item on the agenda was number two under Ordinances.)

Motion was made by Councilman Bright, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to approve second reading of Ordinance No. 02-03-429, "An Ordinance Amending Certain Sections of Edgefield County, South Carolina, Cable Television Franchise Ordinance No. 00-01-410." Motion carried unanimously.

Motion was made by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilman Bright, to approve Resolution No. 02-03-255, "A Resolution Authorizing Application to the State Budget and Control Board of South Carolina for the Approval of the Issuance By Edgefield County, South Carolina, of Its Not Exceeding $1,500,000 Hospital Revenue Bond Anticipation Note and Not Exceeding$1,500,000 Hospital Revenue Bond(s) (The Edgefield County Hospital Project) Pursuant to the Provisions of Title 44, Article 11, Chapter 7, Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976, As Amended." Motion carried unanimously.

Motion was made by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to approve Resolution No. 02-03-256, "A Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of an Inducement Agreement By and Between Edgefield County, South Carolina, and the Edgefield County Hospital, Whereby Under Certain Conditions, Edgefield County Will Issue Its Hospital Revenue Bond(s) in an Amount Not Exceeding $1,500,000.00."

Ms. Melinda Mathis, Air Assessment & Planning Section/Bureau of Air Quality with DHEC. The main goal is to insure that the counties in the state attain all of the federal air quality standards. In 1997, the eight hour ozone standard that was established by EPA. They are now ready to move forward with establishing boundaries for areas that do not meet those federal standards. EPA will be designating boundaries for those areas by April 2004. The state has to submit the proposals to EPA by April of 2003. Edgefield County does have a monitor for ozone, but for several years the monitor has shown a violation-last year a border line violation but the year before a violation of the eight hour ozone standard. Quite possibly, the Edgefield area will be deemed non-attainment for the eight- hour ozone standard. Anytime an area is being non-attainment there are certain prescrip- tive requirements outlined in the clean air act that have to be followed. One of those is non-attainment resource review; that effects your permitted facilities; industries in Edgefield County; any industry located in the county now that wants to make major modifications. If the area is deemed non-attainment they will have to follow certain guidelines. Any industry wanting to come into the county will also have to meet those new, more stringent resource review requirements. Another issue referred to is transportation conformity; that will be required within one year of an area being deemed non-attainment. Anytime federal funds are used to make road improvements, transportation plans, programs, or projects, those plans have to conform with the state emissions budget that will be established for areas that are not in attainment. Areas in South Carolina, such as Edgefield, those who have met the one hour ozone standard in the past but are potentially not going to meet the eight hour ozone standard, may elect to sign on to what is called as an early action compact. DHEC is asking counties to sign the compact, the state will sign the compact and EPA. This will be agreeing to implement certain control measures and agreeing to meet the eight hour ozone standard earlier than

federally required. If we do not sign on to the compact, then we will have to create a state implementation plan by December 2007 that outlines how we will meet the standard by December 2010, and the restrictive measures like the non-attainment resource review and the transportation conformity will be affected. If we sign on to the compact, then we will develop a plan by December 31, 2004, that outlines how we will meet the standard by December 31, 2007. By doing that, EPA will agree to defer the requirements of resource review and transportation conformity until December 31, 2007, at which time the standards should be met. Anytime prior to that, that the conditions are not met as outlined in the compact, we will automatically defer back to the non-attainment resource review and transportation conformity. DHEC will maintain all of the monitors for ozone and for all of the air quality standards. DHEC will control all of the emissions inventories. The county will not be required to maintain any of the activities. DHEC will look to the local government to assist them in some local control measures that might be developed to implement and meet the standard by December 31, 2007. Ms. Mathias asked council to consider signing on to the compact. Motion was made by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to approve participation in South Carolina’s 8-hour Ozone Early Action Compact. Motion carried unanimously.

Upon the recommendation of County Engineer of acceptance of Laurel Oaks Drive (off Five Notch Road) into the county maintenance system, a motion was made by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to accept Laurel Oaks Drive into the county maintenance system. Motion carried unanimously.

The Edgefield County Hospital Board Nominating Committee recommended the appointment of the following individuals to serve a three-year term on the Hospital Board:

Motion was made by Councilman Bright, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to approve the appointment of these individuals to the hospital board. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion was made by Councilman Hudson, seconded by Councilman Dorn, to approve the proposal submitted by Bank of America for the purchase of a $300,000.00 Edgefield County General Obligation Bond for Edgefield County Hospital, at the interest rate of 3.95%. Motion carried unanimously.

Item number 7, discussion concerning Christmas holiday closing for 2002, upon the recommendation of Chairman Kneece a motion was made by Councilman Dorn, seconded by Councilman Bright, to close Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Dec. 24,25,26) for Christmas. Motion carried unanimously. Originally, only Tuesday and Wednesday were approved for closing. A third day of closing was added.

Item number 6, the 2003 Edgefield County holiday schedule was discussed. Councilman

Dorn stated that he had contacted McCormick County and they are closed on January 20^th, which is Martin Luther King’s birthday; public schools are closed; post office is closed; banks are closed, and the Department of Transportation is closed. Mr. Dorn asked that Edgefield County make this a legal holiday because there is some hindrance in an individual transacting business in the courthouse with the other places being closed. Councilman Dorn made the motion that January 20^th be accepted as a holiday, adding this to the 2003 holiday schedule. Chairman Kneece stated this would be in addition to the personal holiday and the third closing day for Christmas of 2003 continuing from year to year. Motion was seconded by Councilman Bright. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. John Byrd, County Attorney, at this time, administered the oath of office to the council members: Monroe Kneece, Willie Bright, Norman Dorn, Joel Hudson, and Everette Kitchens. The councilmen each will serve a two-year term: January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004.

A. PAYROLL: 10/28/02 thru 11/10/02

Regular………………………………………………….$89,856.49

PAYROLL: 11/11/02 thru 11/24/02

Regular…………………………………………………..$92,145.36

2. General Operating………………………………………………$463,337.11

Motion was made by Councilman Dorn, seconded by Councilman Hudson, to go in executive session under (Section) § 30-4-70 (a) (2), South Carolina Code of Laws 1976, as amended, to receive legal advice concerning a threatened or potential claim against the county, and return to regular session at the discretion of the chairman.

Returning to regular session, Chairman Kneece stated there was no action taken in executive session.

There being no further business, motion was made by Councilman Bright, seconded by Councilman Hudson, to adjourn, with the next regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2003. Motion carried.

C. Monroe Kneece, Chairman

Willie C. Bright, Vice Chairman

_____________________________

Norman Dorn, Councilman

______________________________ William R. Vaughan, Councilman

ATTEST

Barbara R. Stark, Clerk to Council