Note: This is taken from the Latta Town Council minutes.

Budget Workshop
Meeting of the
Latta Town Council
February 16, 2023
6:00 p.m.
The Latta Town Council held a budget workshop meeting on February 16, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
The following council members were present: Mayor Teresa Mason, Councilman Abbott Shelley, Councilman Brad Coward, Councilman Jarett Taylor, and Councilwoman Melinda Robinson.
Mayor Mason called the meeting to order, led by the Pledge of Allegiance, and Councilman Coward offered prayer.
Councilwoman Crawford was present by phone and Councilman McGirt was absent.

Discuss the Budget
Mayor Mason asked council if there was any questions about the budget. Councilwoman Robinson asked if she left any line items off the budget, and Mayor Mason said she kept everything the same.
Councilwoman Crawford asked about rental income, and Mayor Mason said it was from the marquis sign. Councilman Taylor stated that we have received rent from the Jones building in the past.
Mayor Mason stated what she did with salaries from the general fund is took the actual salaries from everyone and put the medical and retirement figures out and put the workmen’s comp with that and got payroll taxes. That is one of the expenses that was missing before on the budget. Mayor Mason explained that the light bills have gone up and some things have changed and were moved around.
Mayor Mason said the next is the water and sewer fund. She didn’t have a recent budget to go on with this so she went on an old one she was given. The revenue is split between the water and sewer which is about $1,100,000 a year.

Public Comments
Kevin Drawhorn asked if the American Rescue money is included in the budget and Mayor Mason stated that it is not and it is kept in a separate account.

2nd Reading
of the Budget
Motion was made by Mayor Mason to accept the second reading of the budget, and it was seconded by Councilman Taylor.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.

Vote on Pipe Locator For Water/Sewer Lines
Mayor Mason asked if anyone found out if the old locator can be fixed. Councilwoman Robinson and Councilman Coward stated no one had said anything to them about it. The council looked over the quotes that they was presented and discussed the different options.
Councilwoman Robinson asked if they could take the American Rescue Money to buy a new locator. Mayor Mason said it is for the water and sewer, and it can come from the revenue account. The council expressed their opinions on where the money could come from for the locator.
Motion was made by Councilman Taylor for $2200 to be spent on a new locator after confirmation that the old one can’t be fixed. It was seconded by Councilman Coward.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.

Discuss Finances
Mayor Mason stated that the retirement is paid up to date, and money that was moved between two accounts has been moved back where it is supposed to be. Mayor Mason said right now we owe the MASC (Municipal Association of South Carolina) $53,000.
There is also $21,000 that was spent out of the hospitality account that has to be paid back because it could not be used for what it was used for and it wasn’t approved by council. The town owes $11,000 for workers comp.
Councilwoman Robinson asked why the town couldn’t use the $21,000 for helmets. Mayor Mason said it wasn’t approved by council properly and hospitality tax funds must be used to bring in tourism within 50 miles away from here and purchasing helmets does not qualify.
Mayor Mason said that the town is in $180,000 in debt.
Councilwoman Robinson asked if she has spoken with Rebecca Page, the town clerk, about the bills, and Mayor Mason stated she was aware of the bills not paid.
Councilwoman Robinson stated that the mayor may not need to be dealing with finances.
The council discussed different things about finances and bank accounts and went back and forth with their ideas about bills and finances.
Mayor Mason said that the town is $180,000 in debt.
Mayor Mason made a motion that the council change the administrator and vote on a new one because they can’t continue down the negative road they are on. The motion was seconded by Councilman Taylor. The vote was Councilwoman Robinson- Nay, Councilman Taylor-Aye, Councilman Coward-Nay, Councilman Shelley-Nay, Councilwoman Crawford-Nay, and Mayor Mason-Aye.
Councilman Taylor stated that he had a couple of motions he would like to make based on the information that he received tonight at the meeting.
Councilman Taylor made a motion to put a freeze on credit card spending unless it is approved by council and the mayor. The motion was seconded by Mayor Mason.
The vote was Councilman Taylor-Aye, Councilman Coward-Aye, Councilman Shelley-Aye, Councilwoman Robinson-Nay, Councilwoman Crawford-Nay, and Mayor Mason-Aye.
Councilman Taylor made a motion to freeze spending unless council is notified. The motion was seconded by Mayor Mason.
Council discussed things about overspending and remodeling the town hall and if things were needed.
Mayor Mason explained that anything that is over $1500 has to have three quotes and that has not been being done.
Mayor Mason tabled the motion to freeze spending, and she said she would be calling Department of Revenue.
Councilman Taylor made a motion to not give out any raises until council knows about it. The motion was seconded by Mayor Mason.
The vote was Councilman Shelley-Aye, Mayor Mason-Aye, Councilwoman Robinson Nay, Councilwoman Crawford Nay, Councilman Coward-Aye, and Councilman Taylor-Aye.

Adjournment
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilman Taylor, and it was seconded by Mayor Mason. It was unanimously approved by roll call of council.
Rebecca Page/Clerk
Melinda Robinson/
Councilwoman and
Administrator

Regular Meeting
of the Latta Town Council
February 9, 2023
7:00 p.m.
The Latta Town Council held a regular meeting on February 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
The following council members were present: Mayor Mason, Councilman McGirt, Councilman Shelley, Councilwoman Crawford, and Councilman Taylor.
Councilman McGirt called the meeting to order, led by the Pledge of Allegiance, and Councilman Shelley offered prayer. Councilwoman Robinson was present by phone and Councilman Coward was absent.

Minutes from Special Meeting on January 12, 2023
Motion was made by Councilman Taylor to accept the minutes and it was seconded by Mayor Mason. It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.

Minutes from Budget Workshop Meeting on January 16, 2023
Councilman Taylor made a motion to accept the minutes, and it was seconded by Councilman Shelley.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.

Minutes from
Regular Meeting
on January 19, 2023
Motion was made by Councilman Taylor to accept the minutes, and it was seconded by Mayor Mason.
It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council.

Department Reports
Clerk/Treasurer Report
Rebecca Page had nothing to add to her report.

Court Report
Janette Dupree had nothing to add to her report.

Police Report
Chief Bryant had nothing to add to his report.

Street Report
Councilman McGirt asked Quamaine to present the water/sewer locator so that they can locate the water and sewer lines to get the 811 work orders complete.
Quamaine had one quote for a new locator, and Mayor Mason asked that he get two more quotes.
Councilwoman Robinson stated that we have people waiting on the town to do locates, and we are having to get others to help with the locates.

Park and Rec Report
Jermaine Wright was absent but sent his report in to council. The council discussed different things that was on his report.

Council Report
Mayor Mason
Mayor Mason said she finally got access to all the accounts online last Friday. She was hoping to have a working budget for the general account and the water/sewer account. She hopes to have both ready for everyone to look over Monday. She said if she is correct the council will need to do a first reading of this, put it in the paper for two weeks, and then do the final vote.
Councilwoman Robinson stated that they have already had the first reading on the budget so this would be the second reading. Mayor Mason said that they will still have to put it in the paper. The council discussed things and scheduled a meeting for the second reading of the budget on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
They have two main accounts which is the general fund account and water/sewer account.
The council has almost all the bills caught up at this time except one $48,000 insurance bill which is outstanding and they need to get it paid this month. The advocate account needs to get caught up for the auditors.
The town borrowed $40,000 from the revenue account to catch up on retirement and that money need to be put back. The mayor’s advice is to get the water/sewer caught back up. The mayor is asking that they take $40,000 out of the FEMA account and put it in the water/sewer account to pay for the I-73 project.
Councilman Shelley asked was the town going to be reimbursed for the I-73 project. Mayor Mason stated yes it will be coming back to them, but they have to pay it, and it will get reimbursed.
Councilwoman Robinson stated that they don’t have anything in writing saying the FEMA money is the town’s, and it is a reimbursement to the town.
Mayor Mason said she would get the auditor to give her a call about the FEMA money.
The Library Committee called her, and there is an issue with a water line being underneath where they are going to build the library. The house is on Main Street, but the water meter/line is on Marion Street. They think they have the money to pay, and they want to make sure with the town that they can tap them in on Main Street. Mayor Mason said she didn’t know who to ask the question to being they don’t have a street/water supervisor. Councilman Taylor said he would reach out to Neeraj from Grand Strand Water and Sewer.

Councilman McGirt
Councilman McGirt thanked everyone for coming out once again to the council meeting and staying involved. He thanked the town workers for what they do for the community and citizens.

Councilman Shelley
Councilman Shelley said tha last council meeting he brought up code enforcement, and Corky Lane had volunteered.
Councilman Taylor gave Shelley a list of regulations, and there are too many rules and regulations Lane would have to follow to be a code enforcement official.
Shelley talked to the code enforcement officer that they let go, and she said she could come over when the town needed her. Councilman Shelley asked council if she could come over 2-3 hours a month.
Councilman Taylor asked if Mayor Mason would get the budget complete and see if it can be worked in the budget.

Councilwoman Crawford
Councilman Crawford said thank you again for showing concern about your town, and said if you need us we are here for you.

Councilman Taylor
Councilman Taylor asked if they figured out who is responsible for the tall lights on Main Street. Do they belong to the town or Duke? Councilman McGirt said they belong to Duke.

Councilwoman Robinson
Councilwoman Robinson thanked those who are present and thanked the council members who are there continuing to work for the citizens of Latta. She spoke with Lisa Moody from Dillon, and they are moving forward with enforcing fees on owners of buildings that have been abandoned. When she gets this information, she will pass it along to everyone. (Editor’s Note: This information appeared in the Thursday, March 9 issue of The Dillon Herald for anyone who is interested.)
Chief Bryant introduced the new officers to the council and citizens—Officer Isaiah Belin from Florence County, Officer J.D. Allen from Latta, and Officer Mason Powers from Latta.

Who-So-Ever-Will
David Templet
David asked about the sewer that ran in his yard the other week.
He also asked if the new projects that the town is doing will help with the sewer not running in his yard.
Councilman Taylor said that is for water not sewer.
The council discussed different projects that the town has done in the past and what will be done in the future and that will help with storm water.
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Norris Barr Mack
Norris Barr Mack thanked Ms. Selena for all her hard work trying annexed into the town limits. He asked for an update on the annexation. Councilwoman Robinson stated that she spoke with Ms. Selena and she has spoken to the town attorney, and he is looking into it so they can move forward.
Mack also spoke on the Latta Neighborhood Improvement Alliance as it relates to code enforcement. He said he wanted to applaud Councilman Shelley for working hard with the code enforcement and his dedication to the town. He said he also sees around town there isn’t any street signs on some street. Councilman Shelley said the place in Mullins doesn’t make the brackets anymore for the signs.

Adjournment
Mayor Mason made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Councilman Taylor seconded. It was unanimously approved by roll call vote of council
Rebecca Page/Clerk
Melinda Robinson/
Administrator-
Councilwoman