Abbeville County Council met Monday night, approving a resolution that will create a Department of Public Safety within Abbeville County government.
County Council chairman Bryan McClain asked for Resolution 2024-04 to be moved on the agenda until after executive session, because there was a personnel matter related to the resolution that needed to be discussed in executive session.
When Council came back into open session, Council voted to pass Resolution 2024-04 unanimously by all Council members present. Council member Billy Norris was absent from the meeting.
The resolution was tabled at the January meeting for further study.
The new Department would combine E911, the County fire services, and EMS. The County is planning to hire a department head for the new department.
“We’ll advertise immediately for it,” Abbeville County Director David Garner said Tuesday.
In other matters Monday night, the incoming Abbeville County Clerk to Council, Heather Martin, was introduced.
The current Clerk to Council, Lynn Sopolosky, is going to retire at the end of February.
Council also approved Resolution 2024--06 authorizing the County Director to enter into a purchase agreement with Love Chevrolet for the purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit not to exceed $51,988.
Council also passed Resolution 2024-07 authorizing the County Director to enter into a purchase agreement with O.C. Welch for the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor not to exceed $43,915.
In his County Director’s report, County Director David Garner told Council that the first budget workshop in preparation for the 24-25 fiscal year is slated for Feb. 26.
He thanked Sopolosky for her years of service.
Council also approved the members of the County fire commission, as nominated by the various County fire departments.
During the public comment period, Mack Beaty of Abbeville spoke, and talked about the need for more open discussion among County Council members during Council meetings.
Before the Council meeting, there was a County Transportation Committee meeting, and the Committee agreed to a request from the Abbeville County roads and bridges department requesting $250,000 for road materials such as gravel, crusher run, pipe, signage for maintenance and rehabilitation projects throughout the county.
The members of the Transportation Committee are the same as those as those on County Council.
Council also heard a report from Stephen Taylor on WCTEL’s efforts to bring broadband to under-served areas of Abbeville County.