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MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

COTTAGEVILLE TOWN HALL
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009
7:00 P.M.

Mayor White called the meeting to order, explained the sign-in sheet, led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the roll.

Members present were Mayor White, Council Member Cook, Council Member Thomas, Council Member Eutsler and Council Member Strickland.
The following takes place in open session.
ATTESTATION
Page Line Change/Correction Reason

Minutes approved: ______________

_________________________
Terri Crosby, Town Clerk

MAYOR WHITE: At this time I’ll entertain a motion for approval of the minutes from the public hearing October 22, 2008.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS: I make the motion they be approved.
MAYOR WHITE: Do I have a second?
COUNCIL MEMBER COOK: I second.
MAYOR WHITE: All in favor?
(All council members indicated yes.)
MAYOR WHITE: Ayes have it.
The minutes of November 17, 2008, town meeting and the December 1, 2008, town meeting. Do I have a motion?
COUNCIL MEMBER STRICKLAND: I make a motion we accept it.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS: I second.
MAYOR WHITE: All in favor?
(All council members indicated yes.)
MAYOR WHITE: Ayes have it.
Okay.
At this time we’ll have the mayor’s report.
Good evening.
This start of the new year I’d like to bring council and the town up to date on a few things. Before I get in to what we’ve been working on, what needs to be addressed, I’d like to recognize a few people for what they did this past month. I’d like to say thank you to the town people decorating their homes for Christmas. I received some very nice compliments on how nice the town looked and how much they enjoyed the parade. I know the kids enjoyed it. It was the first parade for my new grandson; he had a great time.
Speaking of the parade, I would like to thank Terri and Steve Crosby and Howard Sanders (phon.). I don’t know if anyone realizes how much goes in to a parade and getting the town decorated but it wouldn’t have happened without their hard work.
I also want to thank Debbie MacMillan and Dawn Boren who assisted Terri the day of the parade. I want the town to know that these people are the ones that actually gave something back to their town on their own time without compensation. What a great concept.
And at this time I would like to thank Dawn and I have — I have a little something for you. Thank you so much for coming in on your Saturday and working with the town.
And, Debbie, I have a little something for you, too. Thank you so much. I appreciate all your hard work.
And, Terri, I have something for you, too. Thank you so much.
Okay.
And I’m sorry but I didn’t recognize the police department and the sheriff’s department with their help with traffic control and participation in the parade.
Speaking of the police department, congratulations to — congratulations on two major drug stops, one involving prescription drugs and the other on a mobile meth lab. I don’t know if anybody realizes in the town exactly how dirty this mobile meth lab situation is but, anyway, this gets the criminals and the stuff out of our town. These people weren’t from our town but they were caught here right down by Bama and — Well, actually, down on Bama Road.
The meth stop — The meth lab stop was handled so well that it didn’t end up costing the town anything as far as removal of the chemicals. The people involved, as I said, were not from the town but this kind of stuff keeps moving our way. We need to keep this and other dangerous activities away from our children.
Art Jacobs of Live 5 news commended our chief and said what great job he’s doing.
Thank you.
On a different note, Terri, the chief and I attended the Colleton County council meeting to ask for increased police jurisdiction. I will let the chief explain more of that in his report.
We will be attending the meeting to continue this effort in February.
I do want to say one thing about the county council meetings. If you get the opportunity to attend please do so. A lot goes on, these meetings, concerning your tax dollars. I hope this increased jurisdiction receives county council approval. It will be a great benefit to the town and its people.
I’m actually on the agenda for February. If anybody’s concerned about this, pro or con, please come and voice your opinion.
In other events this past month we were attending the — We attended the Colleton County delegation meeting. I was asked to speak concerning what’s going on in Cottageville. I gave a report and also mentioned about the town being hurt by the cuts to the aid to subdivision monies.
Terri, Elizabeth Allen (phon.) and myself worked on getting an infrastructure grant prepared for the old school building. I gave each member a package prepared by Miss Allen and the town. It shows what we submitted. I don’t know if you’ve all gotten that package yet or not.
If this infrastructure grant passes it will bring something great to the town in the form of jobs and facilities.
I would like for council to review the package. The package also lists Miss Allen’s credentials and resume.
The — I do want to thank Terri and Elizabeth Allen for the work on this project. We were notified about this project on Thursday evening, actually at a chamber of commerce meeting and so we really didn’t have any time that night to work on it. I was able to contact Elizabeth on Friday; the three of us got together on Saturday, reviewed the facility. Elizabeth did a lot of work on Sunday and Terri and her got back together on Monday and got this ready so we could submit it to LCOG. So we had a real short time deadline and that’s the way you find out about it. It was just kind of a, more or less, chance meeting that we were there; we were able to get everything in place and get that, you know, to get that grant submitted.
It would mean — It was, really, to move the municipal facilities over to the old building. It would provide a lot of room for the — for the facility there and it’s got a lot of other things listed in there. The project would bring anywhere between 300 and $600,000.
CTC, which is Colleton Transportation Commission, I’ll be going back to find out about the Pierce Road project. I did notice that during the month of December they were doing a survey out on the corner of Sally Ackerman.
Last time I talked to Alvin Brown (phon.) he was waiting on that survey. So hopefully this information is what he was looking for.
I did call Charles Byrd (phon.) who is the assistant to the resident engineer at SCDOT office in Walterboro to see if the local office had any information but he hasn’t gotten back in touch with me yet.
Also, another thing that I’ve been looking at is alternative sources of revenue. I’ll be attending a meeting with the municipal association next month concerning revenues. We have to get away from this ticket based economy.
This next budget I’ll be trying to formulate the separation between administration and police functions. I’ll be working on the budget calendar and also on the preliminary figures this month.
Zoning and planning, and correct me if I’m wrong, Miss Addison, but I have on here, I understand that the planning commission will be meeting next Monday evening?
MS. ADDISON: That’s correct.
MAYOR WHITE: I have concerns that were passed to me from citizens; I’ll be giving that information. I think Terri —
MS. ADDISON: I already have it. Thank you.
MAYOR WHITE: Okay.
And I also want to recognize you for that really great article that was in the paper about your work. Very good.
Okay.
And the school lease. Today I signed the lease for the old school facility. We have a lot of interest in the use of the buildings. I cannot do anything until insurance company makes an inspection. The other issues is that the school has not removed all the equipment yet. We’ll have more information in February concerning that.
And the last thing I have is an honor award presented to Miss Kaylee Phifer. And if I can get all this right, Kaylee, it says Town of Cottageville Honor Award presented to Kaylee Phifer. We hereby express our sincere appreciation for your outstanding performance in the South Carolina Music Educators Association Elementary Honor Choir. Awarded this twelfth day of January, 2009. Signed by me.
And that is all I have at this time. We’ll move on to the town clerk’s report given by Terri Crosby.
MS. CROSBY: Christmas parade went very well. I’d like to thank Debbie McMillan and Dawn for helping me with the lineup. We had 42 entries that were in the parade.
Also like to thank Cottageville Motors for lending us a car for council.
Christmas decorations were taken down last Tuesday.
Census sent me an update on the map that I updated for them. I approved it and sent it back to them. If anyone is interested in a part-time job with the census please see me and I will give you the number to call.
I’ll be meeting with several persons from the municipal association and getting information on hospitality taxes and accommodations taxes.
I’ll also be working this month on updating our business license ordinance.
I will be attending a red flag class this month which is for identity theft prevention that will have to be implemented by May of ‘09.
We put an ad in the paper for a position on the planning commission. The deadline is January 16. If anyone is interested please see me.
Also, starting next month the planning commission will be on the agenda under the committee report to give us updates on their meetings. They will be meeting next Monday after council meeting.
MS. ADDISON: The Monday after council meeting, yes.
MS. CROSBY: After council meeting.
And that’s it.
MAYOR WHITE: Okay. Thank you.
Police report given by Chief Shane Roberts.
CHIEF OF POLICE ROBERTS: Good evening.
I’d like to start off by saying that given thanks to the council, the mayor and, of course, all the citizens of Cottageville for the support you really have given me since I came here in the last part of August, you know. I knew what was ahead of me but I got to say the citizens have taken to me and I’ve taken to them as well and I’m back home and it feels good to be working for a cause.
When you have an interest in something, you know, you work harder for it. You don’t do it for a paycheck; you don’t do it for a pat on the back; you do it because this is where you live at and you want to see good things happen here and that’s what we’re doing.
And, of course, council, mayor, I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to get in here and show what professionalism is about and what professionalism is gonna do for this town. We’ve got great officers now. I’ve hired some great officers that are working. I’ve got lots of people who want to come to work here and, of course, financial reasons and so forth, we can’t hire all, all of them but we’re gonna get them. We’re gonna get them here and we’re gonna have a higher standard than we’ve ever had before.
And it’s reflective in what we’ve done. 2008 we had almost 600 cases that Cottageville police department answered and, of course, a lot of the cases that when I got here were more criminal oriented. So in turn, what I think I’m showing and what I want to continue to show is in line with what the mayor’s vision is, is that we’re just more than a traffic department. We’re a department that gets out; we patrol the streets. We’re looking for criminal interest. We’re in public service; we want to be here to be able to help you.
Currently we do assist outside of our jurisdiction for the sheriff’s department and so forth, and I think our professionalism will continue that route and, of course, as, as the county grows, as, you know, manpower with the sheriff’s office, you know, needs help and so forth, we’re always gonna be there.
I would like to say that in 2000 — coming towards 2008 we have the Christmas parade which went very well I thought, by our standards. I think everybody had a good turnout for it, just like with the Halloween, and I think what we’ve showed here in Cottageville is that we can have events. You know, you name it, we can have it here and it can be done professionally and tastefully and we’ve got a great area here to attract people to come to see what Cottageville’s all about and see what the people are all about.
Also, we did a toy drive. I don’t know if anyone in this town participated. I mean in this room participated in the toy drive but I know we got a great support from it.
Now, I got in to that towards the end of it. I started it, I started kind of late but I learned from that to prepare a little bit better next year. So I can imagine if we had the response that we did this year and I prepared late, this upcoming year, by proper preparing what we’re gonna do, and the toys were distributed by Cottageville Elementary.
Principal Naugle (phon.), his staff actually passed out the toys to, to needy children. And these are children who probably would not have gotten anything for Christmas. So I am very pleased and, to me, that’s a very good success for the town in saying what our mission is and what we do.
We do have an employee of the quarter. He is actually on patrol right now but I’m gonna recognize him here. Randall Price (phon.). He is — He’s not even been with us a year but Randall is doing great work. Randall’s a hard worker. He’s actually stepping up to the plate to — for more leadership role and it’s very impressive to see this kind of leadership coming out of small department but it’s that pride. Randall has a lot of pride in working. So I am very pleased to announce that he is our employee of the quarter for the fourth quarter of 2008. So if you happen to see him around town give him a pat on the back for me, okay?
Also, this upcoming 2009. We are gonna continue to strive and build on making us a better department, more professional department. We’re upping out standards. Every day is a challenge for us. There are things that we, you know, didn’t realize wasn’t — that we didn’t have until, wow, we don’t have this. So we’re working on that.
If anybody has seen, we have markings on our cars now. That’s a thing for our new cars and also our officers are wearing uniforms.
I do apologize for not being in my uniform but I was actually — We were actually working with a suspect, out catching a suspect earlier so I was all muddy and I didn’t want to come here muddy for y’all but we do have nice uniforms and gives a more professional look and I think it’s something, again, the town can be proud of.
As we go forward, you know, we’re gonna be having an increase in more than just traffic cases. We will be having — You know, we’ll be answering more calls. You’ll see more community policing. I am asking the churches and other community leaders to get with me and let’s work together and see what I can do for you, what the Town of Cottageville as far as the police department can do and, in turn, we can see what you can do for Cottageville as well and so if we can find out what our strengths are we can work together and be able to make it better.
I would like to say that we are currently — One of the things, my proposal as well with approval of the mayor, we do want to try to increase our jurisdiction and pretty much give jurisdiction to the Cottageville area. One of the most frustrating things that I’ve seen since I’ve been here is that just maybe, just a half a mile outside of our so-called city limits are crimes taking place. They’ll come up and say, hey, can you help me. Well, we really can’t do anything other than refer them over to the sheriff’s office and, of course, the sheriff’s office, doing the best job that they can do, still is limited in this day and time by economic status and, of course, manpower and so, therefore, you know, it’s always a delay.
Well, there’s a section of law that, actually, it always was, just like other municipalities, we’re not gonna be a leader in this. There are other municipalities out there that are currently doing this but extends this jurisdiction three miles past our current limits. So we’re actually going to the county and seeing if we can get an agreement on that.
I think it’s gonna be really good for us because what it’s gonna allow is for more proactive patrol in a lot of other areas and, of course, you know, a lot of people in here know the things that we see in Cottageville. It’s not necessarily from the individual in Cottageville; it’s right outside. It’s a small minority. So if we can end up, you know, addressing that, then, of course, we’ll end up having a better, better, more safer place to live and I think that’s exciting for everybody. I don’t think there’s anybody in here who wouldn’t disagree that, hey, I, I don’t want a better place to live.
One of the things I mentioned to council is the landings, down here one McDaniel Town (phon.) Road. Growing up, Charlie and I can tell you, we, we loved going down to fish down the landing. You could go up there, put your boat in, the whole nine yards. You do it today, chances are you’re gonna get something broken into and I’m one who told you. I leave my car, truck unlocked; I leave my windows down sometimes just so they don’t break my window. I come back and they’ve rummaged through my truck but it beats them breaking through a window.
Well, we say no more to that. If we get jurisdiction and so forth, we’re gonna be down there patrolling that. We’re gonna clean it up. It’s gone be cleaned up so that we can go down there and enjoy it with our family.
I’ve expressed concern with the mayor and mayor’s long-term vision, he would possibly like to even see some kind of rec center down there, just something so the citizens can enjoy it.
Maybe I’m a dreamer but I’m telling you right now I believe we can do it. There’s no doubt in my mind and the Cottageville Police Department will step up to it. All I ask for is your support.
And as I go through, if I can be of assistance to anybody in here, pick up the phone, give me a call. I can tell you, I may not have the right answer but I’ll try to get you the answer, I promise you that, and that’s about it.
I appreciate y’all’s time. Thank y’all.
MAYOR WHITE: Thank you.
At this time I’ll have the judicial report given by Dawn Boren.
MS. BOREN: There has been a change in walk-ins for the month. The traffic has slowed down but the phone calls average normal.
I had another meeting with Shannon Horton (phon.) from the fourteenth judicial circuit solicitor’s office. She provided me with additional pretrial intervention programs. Now we have the traffic education program which can be — which can elevate the points for traffic violations.
You hear a lot of people fussing about the traffic violations but when we educate the people more they can come in, come to court and they can get their points reduced as long as they go through the program.
It also includes community service and defensive driving training. The educational program can be used for fake ID’s, littering, alcohol and simple possession.
Chief Roberts and myself have been working together to improve the court system and coordinate a system that works best on both sides of the court.
The accomplishments that the police department has made this month will effect the Town of Cottageville in a tremendous way. The drugs that they are taking off the streets weighs great value to the town and it weighs — The value of it is way more than the monetary compensation that we can get out of it because I don’t live here but the kids, I see them every day and the police department’s doing a really good job on their end.
MAYOR WHITE: Thank you.
Chief, if you would come back.
Two things, one I do want to say that, you know, the chief’s real photogenic. He did a great job on Live 5 news.
The other thing is you didn’t
tell —
CHIEF OF POLICE ROBERTS: I did, I forgot about.
End of October we, Town of Cottageville and the police department, we actually — Coming under the previous chief I realized there was an issue about littering. I know we had several complaints about garbage being dumped and so forth. We even installed the litter hotline and, of course, I have that running back over to my phone but then I did find out through the Palmetto Pride Project they have grants that some time come available to be able to buy equipment and stuff and the grants are anywhere from, you know, $500 to $3500 and I have applied for it and as of last week we’ve been awarded $3500 from Palmetto Pride Project. So that’s equipment that we can use.