Roll call

Chairman Joe Mc- Eachern, Vice Chair Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present.

Presentations

Hutchinson presented the local chapter of the National Farm- City Council with a proclamation recognizing the efforts the organization has made since 1955 when it was first organized and proclaiming November 21 through Thanksgiving Day as Farm- City week.

The organization promotes cooperation between urban and rural populations and develops programs to enhance exchange. Jamie Lamb, the son of an Eastover farmer who grows corn, wheat, and soybeans, read a statement thanking the council for their support. He also brought a bribe; a basket filled with home grown products from the local fields and gardens.

Minutes

In a major upset, the minutes from the last meeting were approved without any requested corrections from Malinowski. Either the wording is getting better or Malinowski is slowing down as the weather cools.

Administrator's report

Milton Pope told the council the dedication of the joint animal shelter has been postponed until early 2009. The project to handle animal control in the Midlands is on pace to open on time, but the groups involved decided there was too much else going on to have the dedication now. The county is doing everything it can to deal with the long lines involved in early voting. The election folks will probably work Saturday.

Agenda items

The council gave third reading approval to a proposal to lower the fine for smoking from $500 to $25. A judge in Charleston recently ruled against the $500 fine. Malinowski, who has been the lone dissenting voice on this subject, asked who got the fines when they are paid. He also wondered why the council didn't defer this item until the meeting with the sheriff to determine enforcement. He was reminded it wasn't the council's job to enforce ordinances after they become law.

Malinowski also had some problems with the wording of a Hospitality Tax amendment. He thought a three- year estimate of earnings wasn't a good way to determine how organizations were funded. He worried charitable groups might get a windfall if times are good and the three year average raises their base. Livingston pointed out the reverse was also true. If hard times come, the groups might get less than necessary. The logic seemed to satisfy Malinowski.

The A&F committee asked the council to give first reading approval to an ordinance to restrict LED signs, send the proposal to the Planning Commission for discussion, and place a 90- day moratorium on new signs until the council decides where these signs will be allowed. After some discussion about what a mess this has become, both proposals passed.

Following a recess to allow a lengthy Planning public hearing, the council reconvened to finish business including an executive session before adjourning.