Council approves more than $1 million in projects

By Shireese M. Bell and Charles Tomlinson
Published: September 18, 2008

FLORENCE — Members of Florence County Council approved more than $1 million in projects, including a new Johnsonville branch library and an additional animal control facility bay in Effingham, during their regular meeting Thursday morning.

The projects will be funded by the county’s 2008 Capital Project Fund.

The council approved $200,000 for construction of a new Johnsonville library, which is expected to cost about $2 million. That price tag is the same cost for both the new Olanta and Timmonsville branches.

The state Legislature also has given the library $550,000, of which $100,000 went toward the purchase of a new library site, Florence County Library System Director Ray McBride said in a previous interview.

Other projects include:

• $200,000 for recreation improvements in the Pamplico area,

• $125,000 for recreation improvements in the Timmonsville area.

• $161,000 for parking lot paving at Savannah Grove Park,

• $100,000 for Greenwood Park recreational facility improvements,

• and $260,000 for a third bay at the new animal control facility, which is under construction. The council also authorized a change order with the current contractor.

After an executive session to discuss a contractual matter related to the Florence Museum of Art, Science and History; another contractual matter concerning real property transactions; and pending legal matters, council:

• Authorized the county administrator to purchase from the city of Florence property located at the corner of Dargan and Cheves streets for the new Florence Museum at $200,000. The council also approved signing a “memorandum of understanding” between the Florence Museum and Florence County.

• Authorized a temporary lease of $1 a month until a dispute over two Lynches River landings was resolved.

  Florence County and a Johnsonville-area landowner, Randy Stone, reached an agreement regarding the landings gated off earlier this summer, the Stone’s attorney, Daryl Corbin of Florence, said Wednesday.

  The county, contending the Eaddy and Persimmon Bluff landings are public, filed a lawsuit Sept. 3 for Stone to remove the gates. Stone has said his aim wasn’t to keep out fishermen, but people who have been destroying his property and committing other crimes.

  In an affidavit filed Wednesday, Stone said he was willing to lease both landings for a dollar a month for six months until the dispute is resolved.

  “If Florence County will insure the property so I have no personal responsibility to maintain the landings in a safe condition, I will lease the property to Florence County for public use,” Stone said in his affidavit.

  He said last week that if someone were injured at the landing, he would be held liable.

  Stone also said he would let the county buy the landings for about $100,000 each.

  Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said the lease was approved Thursday so the landings would be available immediately while the court case runs its course.

• Passed a motion to award the lowest compliant bid of $14,384 by Bonitz Contracting of Charleston for a low-profile raised floor at the county’s Emergency Operations Center.

In other business conducted before the executive session, council approved:

• $22,217 in Road System Maintenance Fee funding for MBC stone and crushed asphalt for Devonshire Road near Lake City.

• A motion authorizing the submission of an application for a state Community Development Block Grant program to buy public computer equipment for the new Olanta and Timmonsville branch libraries. The project would cost $118,747, which would require a 25-percent match that would come from library funds previously allocated by the county.

Council also had third and final reading on an amendment that aims to let property owners know whether a parcel of land has passed a soil percolation, or “perc,” test, which determines whether a parcel can support a septic tank. Under the amendment, a plat would be stamped to show whether the property has a septic tank permit or whether no test has been performed.

Council members also accepted a U.S. Justice Department Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant worth $20,396 for the purchase of mobile radios and accessories for Florence County Detention Center staff members.