Here is a video from the Dillon County Council’s regular November meeting on November 18, 2015.

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AGENDA
DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
109 SOUTH THIRD AVENUE, DILLON
NOVEMBER 18, 2015

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Invocation

3. Approval of Agenda

4. Approval of Minutes – 10/28/15

5. Public Hearing
A. An Ordinance Authorizing Pursuant To Title 12, Chapter 44 Of The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina 1976, As Amended, The Execution And Delivery Of A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Agreement, By And Between Dillon County, South Carolina, And A Company Known To The County As Project Beacon X, As Sponsor, And One Or More Sponsor Affiliates To Provide For A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Incentive And Certain Special Source Revenue Credits; And Other Related Matters.

6. New Business
A. Recreation Requests
B. Home Town TV8
C. Proposed Council Meeting Time Change

7. Finance Report

8. Committee Reports

9. Ordinance Readings
A. Third Reading – An Ordinance Authorizing Pursuant To Title 12, Chapter 44 Of The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina 1976, As Amended, The Execution And Delivery Of A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Agreement, By And Between Dillon County, South Carolina, And A Company Known To The County As Project Beacon X, As Sponsor, And One Or More Sponsor Affiliates To Provide For A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Incentive And Certain Special Source Revenue Credits; And Other Related Matters.
B. First Reading – An Ordinance By Dillon County Council To Amend The Official Zoning Map Of Dillon County To Rezone A Parcel Of Land Known As New Lot 2.19 Acres Portion Of Tax Map Number 121 Parcels 49 and 51.

10. Appointments
A. Dillon County Planning Commission Members –District Six-Robbie Coward
B. Dillon County Board of Zoning of Appeals – District One-Randy Goings, District Six-Robbie Coward, District Seven-Stevie Grice

11. Executive Session – Personnel Matter
Results of Executive Session

12. Adjournment

By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Council held its monthly meeting on November 18th.
After the pledge of allegiance, invocation, approval of the agenda, and approval of the minutes, a public hearing was held on “An Ordinance Authorizing Pursuant To Title 12, Chapter 44 Of The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina 1976, As Amended, The Execution And Delivery Of A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Agreement, By And Between Dillon County, South Carolina, And A Company Known To The County As Project Beacon, As Sponsor, And One Or More Sponsor Affiliates To Provide For A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Incentive And Certain Special Source Revenue Credits; And Other Related Matters.” No one appeared to speak at the public hearing.
There were three items under new business. The first was recreation requests. There were no recreation requests.
The second item was Hometown TV 8. Councilman Archie Scott made a motion to approve a proposal from Hometown TV 8 to film the council meetings. This was seconded by Councilman Robbie Coward. The discussion followed. Councilman Bobby Moody asked how much this was going to cost.  Coward said it was $400 a month, but they also do other stuff.
Scott said that The Dillon Herald does a good job of putting it on YouTube, and it is good footage and it is clear, but what he has found out is that a lot of people do not have computers and a lot of elderly people are not computer-inclines, but they do have cable TV. He said some people have been asking why it was not on TV. He said he did not have an answer for them. He said some elderly people do not get around and some people are at work at their 4:00 p.m. meeting time, and they cannot get there to view it. He said that is why he thought it would be fitting to bring it to the table.
Chairman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., said he felt like there were more people with computers than Time Warner. He said a lot of people have Direct TV, and there were a lot of places in the county that you cannot get cable unless you are in and around the cities and the towns. He said he felt like $400 a month when before they were doing it for free and getting ads. Finklea said he would be all for it if they want to do it for free and get ads.
Scott said he agreed with him, but the problem was there were a lot of elderly people who have not come up into the time frame of this new technology. He said there were a lot of elderly people who simply cannot use the computer, and he could understand that.
Councilman Randy Goings asked if the city still had it. He was told yes. The vote was then called. Councilmen Harold Moody, T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., Randy Goings, and Bobby Moody voted against the motion. Councilmen Stevie Grice, Robbie Coward, and Archie Scott voted for the motion. The motion failed 4-3.
The next item on the agenda was a proposed council meeting time change. Scott said he would like to change the time frame of the meeting. Finklea asked if he just wanted to change the time or the day also. Scott said he would like to change the time and day if he could due to the fact that some attend church on Wednesday. He said it was hectic with some getting off work and some who would like to attend, but cannot.
Scott said he thought the change would be a plus for the citizens.
Finklea said he had a list made of already scheduled meetings to see what dates are open.
He said the fourth Monday is open, All Wednesdays are open, and all Fridays are open.
Coward said if the fourth Monday was open and people get off at 5:00, they could have it at 6:00 p.m. and give people a chance to come. He said if they do not, they can change it back.
Councilman Randy Goings said he was not on the board at that time, but this meeting had been flipped a number of times over the years. He said he knew Councilman H. Moody was on there and asked for his input on that.  Councilman Harold Moody said the meetings were changed to 6:00 p.m., and they kept it there for about eight months. H. Moody said not one more person showed up at 6:00 p.m. than they did when they had it at 4:00 p.m. H. Moody said if it is a controversial issue this room would be just as full at 4:00 p.m. as it would be at 6:00 p.m. H. Moody said they moved it back to 4:00 p.m. because then Councilman Sonny McRae had a conflict with work. He pointed out that citizen Dan Gruzska, who was in attendance, also attended those 6:00 p.m. meetings.
Gruzska then commented they changed the meetings back to 4:00 p.m. to keep some from coming. He said some people and some councilmen did not want to wait until 6:00 p.m. He said some people did not want him and others to be there.
H. Moody said he just told Gruzska what the reason was. Gruzska said Moody’s reason and his reason were two different reasons. “Believe what you want to, sir,” H. Moody said. Finklea began hitting the gavel.
Coward said he thought they ought to try it for six months. He said that several of the county employees work until 5:00 p.m., and he had several of them who said they wanted to come. He said at least they would have given them a chance. Coward made a motion to have the meetings the fourth Monday at 6:00 p.m. The was seconded by Scott. The vote was 5-2 against the motion. Councilmen H. Moody, Grice, Finklea, Goings, and B. Moody voted against the motion. Councilmen Coward and Scott voted for the motion. The motion failed.
The council passed the third reading of the following ordinance: “An Ordinance Authorizing Pursuant To Title 12, Chapter 44 Of The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina 1976, As Amended, The Execution And Delivery Of A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Agreement, By And Between Dillon County, South Carolina, And A Company Known To The County As Project Beacon, As Sponsor, And One Or More Sponsor Affiliates To Provide For A Fee-In-Lieu Of Ad Valorem Taxes Incentive And Certain Special Source Revenue Credits; And Other Related Matters.
The council passed the first reading of the following ordinance: An Ordinance By Dillon County Council To Amend The Official Zoning Map Of Dillon County To Rezone A Parcel Of Land Known As New Lot 2.19 Acres Portion Of Tax Map Number 121 Parcels 49 And 51. This is in regards to a Dollar General coming to Dillon County.
The following appointments were made:
-Walt Brown was appointed to the Dillon County Planning Commission to represent Dillon Six. He was recommended by Coward who represents that district.
– Doug Miller was appointed to the Dillon County Board of Zoning Appeals to represent District Seven. He was recommended by Grice who represents that district.
The council then went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
No action was taken after the executive session.