By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Council held a brief called meeting on Wednesday to deal with matters related to the inland port.
The council passed the first reading of “An Ordinance Authorizing The Purchase Of Approximately 158.18 Acres Of Land Shown On A Plat Of The Dillon Inland Port Parcel Recorded In The Office Of The Clerk Of Court For Dillon County In Plat Book 46 At Page 284 In An Amount Not To Exceed Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,400,000.00) And Authorizing The Execution Of A Contract Between Dillon County And The South Carolina Ports Authority For The Conveyance Of Said 158.18 Acres And Authorizing The Conveyance Of Said 158.18 Acres To The South Carolina Ports Authority Pursuant To The Terms Of Said Contract.”  Motion was made by Councilman Robbie Coward and seconded by Councilman James Campbell. All approved.
County Administrator Rodney Berry said this was an ordinance authorizing them to buy the property. County Attorney Alan Berry said they do not have the contract fully negotiated. He said they haven’t provided it yet, but they needed it before the second reading to include with the full ordinance.
The second matter taken up was the first reading of “An Ordinance To Amend Ordinance No. 16-04, Relating To The Appropriation Of Funds And The Approval Of A Detailed Budget For Dillon County For The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2016 And Ending On June 30, 2017, To Further Provide For Revenue And Expenditures During The Fiscal Year; And To Provide For Matters Related Thereto.”  This is an amendment to the budget. Finance Director Richard Gaddy said this basically deals with two line items. One to add in the funds for the land purchase as revenue and then another to take it our as an expense. Councilman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr. asked if they would have a copy of the amendment prior to the second reading. He was told they would. Councilman Harold Moody made the motion to accept the first reading, seconded by Councilman Stevie Grice. The vote was unanimous