CITY OF GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA

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1 CITY OF GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA MINUTES of the MEETING of GREER CITY COUNCIL MEETING LOCATION: 301 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC PUBLIC HEARING REDISTRICTING The City of Greer Council will hold a Public Hearing Tuesday, at 6:30 pm at Greer City Hall, in the Council Chambers located at 301 East Poinsett Street on the following: The 2010 Census data reflects shifts in population among City of Greer election districts as defined by existing boundaries indicating new boundaries are required to assure compliance with the principle of one person, one vote. Our desire is to make the needed adjustments in the boundaries of the election districts and we invite the Community to share their ideas regarding the redistricting process. Greer City Council met in a Public Hearing Session with Mayor Rick Danner presiding. Mayor Danner called the Public Hearing to order at 6:32 p.m. Council members present: Council members absent: Jay Arrowood, Kimberly Bookert, Lee Dumas, Wryley Bettis and Judy Albert Councilman Wayne Griffin arrived at 6:37. Others present: Ed Driggers, City Administrator, Mike Sell, Assistant City Administrator, Tammela Duncan, Municipal Clerk, Steve Owens Communications Manager and various other staff and media. The Greenville News, The Greer Citizen and the Spartanburg Herald Journal were notified of the meeting by on September 9, Speakers Mike Sell, Assistant City Administrator updated Council on the progress of redistricting and review the timeline. Perry Williams, 401 West Poinsett Street, Greer stated he was an advocate of moving forward as quickly as possible with redistricting. Mr. Williams encouraged council to draw the lines to best suit the city and not the incumbents. C. L. Askew, 21 Olivine Way, Greer was concerned about not being able to locate the City Council meeting minutes on the website. He wanted to know how Mr. Bowers came up with the deviation numbers. He was also concerned about why the criteria were not posted on the website. He stated some of the terms in the criteria were left undefined. Mr. Askew left a list of questions with the clerk. He also questioned the number of members on the Commission of Public Works board.

2 Mayor Danner asked three times if anyone else would like to speak regarding Redistricting no one indicated a desire to speak. The Public Hearing adjourned at 7:02 p.m. REGULAR SESSION Greer City Council met in Regular Session with Mayor Rick Danner presiding. Council members present: Jay Arrowood, Wayne Griffin, Kimberly Bookert, Lee Dumas, Wryley Bettis, Judy Albert Council members absent: Others present: Ed Driggers, City Administrator, Mike Sell, Assistant City Administrator, Tammela Duncan, Municipal Clerk, Steve Owens, Communications Manager and various other staff and media. The Greenville News, The Greer Citizen and the Spartanburg Herald Journal were notified of the meeting by on September 9, Mayor Danner called the Regular Session to order at 7:02 p.m. Invocation was given by Councilman Lee Dumas. INVOCATION PUBLIC FORUM No one signed up to speak during the Public Forum session. MINUTES OF August 23, 2011 Councilman Wryley Bettis made a motion that the minutes of August 23, 2011 be received as written. Councilwoman Kimberly Bookert seconded the motion. PRESENTATION Skipper Burns, Director of Public Services Skipper Burns, Director of Public Services presented his annual report. Discussion held. Page 2 of 5

3 PETITIONER James Elmore, 275 Lyman Lake Rd, Lyman 29365, Mr. Elmore wanted to appeal the decision of the appeal board. Mayor Danner informed Mr. Elmore he would receive a response from the city Staff or the City Attorney. Calendar Items: ADMINISTRATOR S REPORT Ed Driggers, City Administrator Sundays, September 11 th - October 9 th - Harvest Market 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Thursday, September 29 th Employee Health Fair 7:00 am until 2:00 pm. Friday, October 14 th Employee Safety Breakfast. Street Paving We received a communication from the Greenville County Legislative Delegation Transportation Committee (they distribute C Funds to projects within Greenville County) for a number of years now we have participated in a match program with them earlier we were advised they would continue that program this year and now we ve received a bit of good news, that they are investigating the possibility of expanding that program (putting more dollars into the pot). They ve ask us what would be the amount that we would anticipate that we could participate in we are notifying them that we budgeted one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.) and would like to be considered for an additional one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.) match enabling us to do three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.) worth of paving in the year but because we have been able to have some reserves in that fund if there are additional dollars we indicated that we believe we have the ability to do that in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.) requesting from them and additional three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.) in matching funds enabling us to do six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.) of streets. That level of funding goes a long way. We don t know to what level that funding will or will not ultimately be appropriated at but certainly wanted to make you aware that they ve extended the inquiry to us of our interest of expanding the program and we responded to them yes. We will bring to you the recommended list in both Spartanburg and Greenville counties, our programs are separate. If there are areas you want to make sure we are reviewing for that rating system please make sure we are aware of those. Cardinal Real Estate Friday of last week we filed for foreclosure relative to the Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital project with cardinal Real Estate. We have been advised by our legal counsel that we need to allow this process to work through the court system; there is a very intentional and deliberate process that foreclosure would indeed go through. As we have communicated through our City Attorney John Duggan it is our desire that Cardinal Real Estate will be able to fulfill their commitment for the purchase of that property, we still look forward to that hopefully occurring but because of the situation in that they have not been able to fulfill their contractual obligation we did fill it was necessary to proceed with the foreclosure action. A copy of our statement on that has been distributed to our local media; we provided a copy of that to you as well. We will make sure that is provided on our website as well. Website Website information was disseminated to Council. (Attached) Page 3 of 5

4 Mr. Driggers stated he had three (3) items for consideration during Executive Session, one (1) Economic Development matter (piece of property inside the city) and two (2) Personnel matters (information from our grievance committee and the other I need feed back from council) I do not anticipate any action to be taken. OLD BUSINESS Redistricting Plan Councilman Bettis stated As we ve mentioned before we would like to get assistance from Mr. Bowers (Bobby Bowers, Director of Research for the State Budget and Control Board) and if you are going to appoint some representatives I would be glad to volunteer. Mayor Danner asked Council to allow himself, Councilman Bettis as he has volunteered and Councilman Griffin to join him in meeting with Mr. Bowers and have them give us some options that we might present to council for the beginning of the discussion regarding the redistricting process. Councilman Jay Arrowood made a motion to allow Mayor Danner, Councilman Bettis and Councilman Griffin serve on the committee. Councilwoman Judy Albert seconded the motion. NEW BUSINESS First Reading of Annexation Ordinance Number AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY DONALD B. DILLARD AND DENNIS T. DILLARD TRUST LOCATED ON DILLARD ROAD BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PETITION; AND TO ESTABLISH A ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF DRD (DESIGN REVIEW DISTRICT) FOR SAID PROPERTY Phil Rhoads, Director of Building and Development Standards presented the ordinance. An individual was present but did not speak. Councilman Wayne Griffin made a motion to receive First Reading of Annexation Ordinance Number Councilwoman Kimberly Bookert seconded the motion. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Danner stated an Executive Session was needed to discuss one (1) Economic Development matter and two (2) Personnel matters. In Councilman Jay Arrowood made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss the matters stated by the Mayor. Councilwoman Kimberly Bookert seconded the motion. Page 4 of 5

5 (7:53 p.m.) Mayor Danner stated during Executive Session Council discussed one (1) Economic Development matter and two (2) Personnel matters and no action would be needed. Out Councilman Wayne Griffin made a motion to come out of Executive Session. Councilman Wryley Bettis seconded the motion. (8:20 p.m.) The Regular Session adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Tammela Duncan, Municipal Clerk Richard W. Danner, Mayor Page 5 of 5