Florence County Council OKs $300,000 for courts

By Charles Tomlinson
Lake City News & Post Editor
Published: November 20, 2008

FLORENCE — Florence County Council has unanimously approved almost $300,000, in addition to nearly $1 million from the state, toward a new S.C. Justice Department court case management system.

The system has been installed in 20 of the state’s counties, Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said after council’s vote on Thursday.

The Justice Department’s system would actually be three separate systems — one apiece for the jail, courts and solicitor’s office.

Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III told council he wants to ensure that the new system would allow his office to continue to view records maintained by the jail and clerk of court’s office.

County information technology officials said they’re working to ensure that type of access will continue after the transition.

Florence County hopes to make the switch while the state money — which comes from a federal grant — is still available, Starks said. The state could mandate the new system and the county would then have to pay the entire cost for the hardware and software, he said.

The county has allocated $295,000 for one-time costs for the new system, but expects recurring costs to be $56,000 in the system’s first year and $128,800 or higher in subsequent years.

Council also unanimously approved second reading of a $1.5 million bond issue that would help the Howe Springs Fire District buy four new pumper tankers. The bond ordinance must now pass a third and final reading.

After an executive session, council voted to buy the property that serves as the South Irby Street entrance to the county’s recreation department headquarters. The county will pay $110,000 for the land, which it has leased for $1 annually for the past three years, Starks said.

Council also voted to demolish vacant houses at 715 and 717 S. Dargan St. The buildings stand on the opposite side of the recreation department’s Irby Street entrance. The county hopes to use the land in expanding the department’s headquarters, Starks said.

Along with that vote, council elected to demolish a deteriorated building on county-owned property at 242 N.B. Baroody St.

Council held third and final reading of an ordinance to change the Florence County Cultural Commission into a 13-member Florence County Museum Board.

Florence city officials have offered to sell property for a new museum at Cheves and Dargan streets, but county council took no action Thursday on the $200,000, six-month option.

Council also recognized 5-year-old Maxwell Grimsley as the county’s 2008 Christmas Card Contest winner. Maxwell is a kindergarten student at McLaurin Elementary. She received a $100 savings bond for winning the contest.

In other business, council unanimously approved:

• $31,015 in Road System Maintenance Fee funds to install a right-turn lane on Bellevue Drive at Second Loop Road. The S.C. Department of Transportation is paying to install the traffic signal, and the Florence County Transportation Committee could pay half of the road-widening costs.
• $20,000 in county Utility System funds to help Lake City pay engineering costs for a new Coward town wastewater collection system.
• A $250,000 grant from the S.C. Department of Commerce to pave part of a frontage road near Monster Worldwide Inc.’s future Florence County facility.
• Effingham-based RWF Construction, LLC’s bid of $154,458 — the lowest compliant bid — for the Wilson Road sidewalk project.
• $32,685 in Road System Maintenance Fee funds for stone and crushed asphalt for a section of Willow Pond Road near Johnsonville.
• Nearly $10,000 in county infrastructure funds for a picnic shelter at Lynches River County Park.
• An emergency ordinance to suspend Sunday labor regulations — while maintaining state alcohol restrictions — from Nov. 30 to Dec. 28, during the holiday shopping season.
• Third and final reading of an amendment to allow libraries in the densest residential zoning districts — R-4 and R-5 — a change that would help in the construction of new Olanta and Timmonsville libraries.
• Third and final readings of amendments to correct deficiencies in the county code to ensure that residents can purchase flood insurance.
• Second reading of an ordinance to remove antiquated job descriptions from the county code.