MINUTES
TURBEVILLE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
January 11, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy Hicks, Councilmembers Herbert Mims, Albert Mobley, Judy Coker, and Ericson Coker
Others Present: Town Clerk Kaitlin Alexander, Public Works Director Ellis Evans, Town Administrator Howard Garland, Clarendon County Councilman Pat Coker, and Tonya Byrd
1. Mayor Hicks called the town council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and declared that a quorum was present. Councilmember Mobley offered the invocation.
2. Mayor Hicks introduced for council’s consideration the agenda for the January 11, 2024, regular council meeting. A motion was made by Councilmember Mims to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Judy Coker and passed by unanimous vote.
3. Mayor Hicks asked if anyone was present who wished to address council. Clarendon County Councilman Pat Coker mentioned that Clarendon County is currently taking applications to fill the position for a temporary County Administrator.
4. Mayor Hicks introduced for council’s consideration the minutes from the November 14, 2023, regular council meeting. A motion was made by Councilmember Mims to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Ericson Coker and passed by unanimous vote.
5. Mayor Hicks mentioned that they are looking for candidates to fill a position on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. Tonya Byrd was nominated as a candidate for the Planning Commission as well as Caroline Floyd to fill a spot on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilmember Ericson Coker made a motion to elect Tonya Bryd to the Planning Commission with a second from Councilmember Mobley. Councilmember Judy Coker made a motion to elect Caroline Floyd to the BZA and was seconded by Councilmember Mims.
6. Mr. Steve Barrineau, from Barrineau Public Utilities, addressed council concerning applying for a grant. Since Olanta is not a municipality, they must be sponsored by a municipality in order to apply. They are trying to build a new tank and lines. Town Administrator Howard Garland said if we would not have to pay anything then Turbeville could move forward with sponsorship. Easttern Engineering out of Lake City would be doing the work and that the price of the project had doubled since the pandemic. Councilmember Judy Coker said as long as nothing falls back on the town, she didn’t see an issue with this. Councilmember Mims made a motion and was seconded by Councilmember Ericson Coker.
7. Mr. Stacey Floyd introduced for councils’ consideration the idea of finding a new way to do an outreach launch. He is wanting to start doing tent revivals and wanted to see if it would be possible to use Town Square May 19 th - May 22 nd . Mayor Hicks mentioned that every event held on Town Square would need insurance and would have to notify the Sheriff. Councilmember Judy Coker asked if we would be getting any updates on final plans for the event and Mr. Floyd said that they would. The event would end around 9:30 p.m. each night
and if it ran over, the music would be turned down. Councilmember Judy Coker made a motion to accept this request and was seconded by Councilmember Mims.
8. Public Works Director Ellis Evans gave an update on the Cypress Street Well Project and said that the engineers had finished building it and were currently testing it now. Hopefully in two to three weeks it will be on the site. Evans also mentioned that they had a blower go out and that a new blower would cost about $30,000. It is being currently being rebuilt.
9. Administrator Garland made mention of forms needing to be filled out by February 15 th for the SC Ethics Commission. It was also mentioned amongst council how the town had money sitting in the bank from the American Rescue Plan and how it had to be spent by 2026.
Garland thinks the town should use some of that money to fix Town Hall. Councilmember Mims asked if some of that money could be used for landscaping since we are having issues with tree roots messing up sidewalks and Garland was not entirely sure if we could.
10. There being no further business, Councilmember Mims made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mobley and passed by a unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm.
