The regular meeting of November 6, 2000, having been duly publicized, was called to order by Mayor Jones.

Reverend Karen Starr of Belvedere United Methodist Church rendered the invocation and Mayor Lark Jones led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members present were Mayor Jones and Councilmembers Baggott, McDowell, Mottel, and Sullivan. Councilmember Pat Carpenter was absent.

Also in attendance were Charles B. Martin, City Administrator; Kelly Zier, City Attorney; 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; Mark S. Tate, Director of Public Utilities; T. Lee Wetherington, Director of Public Safety; Thomas C. Zeaser, Director of Engineering/Public Works; and Donna B. Young, City Clerk.

The minutes of the regular meeting of October 16, 2000 were approved as presented by general consent.

ITEM 1. FINANCE: Report of Bank Selection Committee – Receipt by Council

On motion by Mayor Jones, second by Councilmember Baggott, Council unanimously received as information the report of the Bank Selection Committee as presented by John P. Potter, Jr., Director of Finance, and the Committee’s recommendation of Wachovia Bank as the City’s bank for the next five-year period.

ITEM 2. FINANCE: Approval of Recommendation – Resolution

On motion by Councilmember Baggott, second by Councilmember Mottel, Council adopted a resolution designating Wachovia Bank as the City's bank for a period of five years commencing January 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005, and that the Mayor, City Administrator, and Director of Finance be authorized to sign all documents relating thereto. Voting for the resolution were Councilmembers Baggott, Mottel, and Sullivan. Mayor Lark Jones and Councilmember Ken McDowell abstained from voting because they serve on the Local Advisory Board for Wachovia Bank.\

The resolution text is as follows:

WHEREAS, the Mayor appointed a Bank Selection Committee to review and recommend to City Council a bank to be designated as the City's financial institution to provide banking and investment services; and

WHEREAS, the Bank Selection Committee invited proposals from all banking institutions with facilities located in North Augusta, and four banking institutions responded; and

WHEREAS, the Bank Selection Committee invited three banks for oral presentations of qualifications and services and, upon review of the written and oral presentations, the Committee recommends that Wachovia Bank be designated as the City's financial institution to provide banking and investment services.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of North Augusta, South Carolina, in meeting duly assembled and by the authority thereof, that Wachovia Bank be designated as the City's bank for a period of five years commencing January 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005, and that the Mayor, City Administrator, and Director of Finance be authorized to sign all documents relating thereto.

ITEM 3. FINANCE: Proposed Consolidated Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2001, Second Reading

On motion by Councilmember Sullivan, second by Councilmember Mottel, Council unanimously passed on second reading an ordinance adopting the proposed Fiscal Year 2001 Consolidated Budget for the City of North Augusta. Citizen comment was made by Arthur H. Shealy suggesting several reductions in proposed expenses and using the fund to reduce taxes and/or pay for employees’ insurance.

Please see the minutes of October 16, 2000 for the ordinance text.

ITEM 4. FINANCE: Taxes – Fiscal Year 2001 – Ordinance, Second Reading

On motion by Councilmember McDowell, second by Councilmember Baggott, Council unanimously passed on second reading an ordinance establishing the tax rate on all taxable property within the City of North Augusta for Fiscal Year 2001. The 2001 Fiscal Year taxes remain unchanged from 2000 and, except for adjustments for reassessment, remain at the 1992 level (10 years). Millage rates are 72.72 for the General Fund and 9.02 for the Capital Projects Fund for a total of 81.74 mills

Please see the minutes of October 16, 2000 for the ordinance text

ITEM 5. LEGAL: Martin Group, LLC And Great Games of North Augusta, Inc. vs. City of North Augusta, South Carolina – Settlement and Contract for Services – Motion by Council

On motion by Councilmember McDowell, second by Councilmember Sullivan, Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement in the "Martin Group, LLC. And Great Games of North Augusta, Inc. vs. City of North Augusta, South Carolina" suit. The settlement agreement set forth the following points:

• The Plaintiff would dismiss its case without prejudice.
• The City of North Augusta will agree to provide water service to the premises owned by the Plaintiff, subject of this action until January 1, 2002, under the following conditions:
• The service will be way of Contract between the parties.
• The utilization of the premises will be consistent with a use allowed under a C-3 Zoning Classification for the City of North Augusta.
• Services will be provided at an out-of-City billing rate.
• Following January 1, 2002, the provision of further services to the property will be a discretionary decision of the City of North Augusta.
• Should the City decide not to provide services after January 1, 2002, the City would be required to provide ninety-day written notification of such determination prior to the termination of such services.
• Both parties will be responsible for their own Attorney’s fees and Court cost related to this action.

Janice Gomillion and Tommy Jerome Ford, 728 E. Buena Vista Avenue, North Augusta, South Carolina, requested that Council authorize a refund of her sewer services at her rental residence since she was not using City sewer and had a septic tank. City Attorney, Kelly Zier, explained the process for obtaining grant monies for the sewer line, which ultimately required all City customers who had access to City sewer to tie in and use the City’s sewer. If a City customer chose not to tie on, the citizen was still responsible for the sewer fee.

ITEM 7. ZONING: 1741 Georgia Avenue - C-3, General Commercial, to R-4, Multi-Family Residential – Ordinance, Third and Final Reading

On motion by Councilmember Mottel, second by Councilmember Sullivan, Council unanimously passed on third and final reading an ordinance to amend the zoning map of the City of North Augusta by rezoning Tax Map Parcel Number 10-047.0-03-002, 4.28 ± acres, located at 1741 Georgia Avenue, from C-3, General Commercial to R-4, Multi-Family residential.

Please see the minutes of October 16, 2000 for the ordinance text.  There being no further business, Council adjourned.

APPROVED: 11/20/00