City of North Augusta

SOUTH CAROLINA

	October 4, 1999
	Date
	Lark W. Jones
	Mayor
	Members of City Council
Carolyn C. Baggott		Phillip T. Mottel
Pat C. Carpenter		Donald C. Smith
Kenneth J. McDowell		I. Kent Sullivan

ORDER OF BUSINESS

The regular meeting of October 4, 1999, having been duly publicized, was called to order at 7:00 P. M. by Mayor Jones.

Pastor Jim Glander of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church rendered the invocation and Mayor Jones led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members present were Mayor Jones and Councilmembers Baggott, Carpenter, McDowell, Mottel, Smith, and Sullivan. Also in attendance were Charles B. Martin, City Administrator; Bob Brooks, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services; George M. Grkovic, Director of Economic and Community Development; John P. Potter, Jr., Director of Finance; T. Lee Wetherington, Director of Public Safety; Thomas C. Zeaser, Director of Engineering/Public Works; Kelly F. Zier, City Attorney; and Donna B. Young, City Clerk.

The minutes of the regular meeting of September 20, 1999, were approved as presented by general consent.

ITEM 1. FINANCE: PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000 - PRESENTATION BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR

Charles Martin, City Administrator, presented to Council the proposed consolidated Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2000. Ordinances adopting the budget, setting the tax rates, etc. are scheduled for first reading on October 18, second reading on November 1, and third and final reading on November 15, 1999. The proposed budget was received as information by the Mayor and City Council.

Council began review of the proposed budget at a study session following the conclusion of the regular meeting.

ITEM 2. VIDEO POKER: OPPOSITION - RESOLUTION

Mayor Jones presented a resolution for City Council’s consideration that urged the Citizens of North Augusta to vote “NO” in the November 2 referendum on whether video poker should remain legal within the state of South Carolina. This resolution was considered on motion by Mayor Jones and seconded by Councilmember Baggott.

An amendment to the motion was made on motion by Councilmember McDowell, second by Councilmember Carpenter. The following amendment was considered.

The paragraph stating:

WHEREAS, the video poker industry does not create any meaningful, decent paying jobs with the opportunity for advancement and personal growth; and

was proposed to be changed to:

WHEREAS, the video poker industry does not create any jobs with the opportunity for advancement and personal growth; and

The motion to amend the motion failed. Voting for the amendment was Councilmember McDowell. Voting against the amendment were Councilmembers Baggott, Carpenter, Mottel, Smith, and Sullivan. The amendment failed. The original motion was then voted on and passed unanimously.

The resolution text is as follows:

RESOLUTION 99-24

URGING THE CITIZENS OF NORTH AUGUSTA

TO VOTE “NO” IN THE NOVEMBER 2, 1999, STATE-WIDE REFERENDUM

WHEREAS, a state-wide referendum will be held on November 2, 1999, whereby the citizens of South Carolina will have the opportunity to decide whether video poker shall remain in South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of North Augusta and Aiken County by county referendum in 1994 have already made it known that they oppose video poker gambling; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of North Augusta believes that video gambling is harmful to South Carolina because it causes lost time from jobs, wasted spending of hard earned wages, causes unmeasured pain and hurt, and separation of families; and

WHEREAS, the City of North Augusta has seen a number of crimes committed in connection with video gambling and video poker facilities; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of North Augusta further believes that video poker “casinos” have a negative impact and chilling effect on the location of top quality businesses near the “casinos,” thus stifling economic development within North Augusta; and

WHEREAS, the video poker industry does not create any meaningful, decent paying jobs with the opportunity for advancement and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, the increased revenues generated if video poker continues in South Carolina will be less than half of the negative economic impact to our State.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of North Augusta hereby urges the citizens of North Augusta, Aiken County, as well as all citizens of South Carolina to vote “NO” in the November 2, 1999, referendum.

DONE, RATIFIED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH AUGUSTA, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THIS ______ DAY OF ________________, 1999.

Carolyn C. Baggott, Councilmember	Lark W. Jones, Mayor
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember	ATTEST:
	Donna B. Young, City Clerk
Kenneth J. McDowell, Councilmember
Phillip T. Mottel, Councilmember
Donald C. Smith, Councilmember
I. Kent Sullivan, Councilmember

There being no further business, Council adjourned.

APPROVED THIS ______ DAY OF Respectfully submitted,

______________________, 1999.

Donna B. Young

City Clerk

_______________________________

Mayor Lark W. Jones