A protest was filed after the original bids were cast, with the complaint stating the bid process had not been advertised in the local paper, The Newberry Observer.
After the project was rebid, low bidder Cannon Associates came in with a bid of $78,500 for the work, which was $19,457 less than the previous low bid. Cannon was selected to do the roofing work.
The new bids ranged up to $111,500, with six companies bidding for the project.
In other business, discussed at Wednesday’s County Council meeting:
• Councilman John Caldwell asked for an executive session for a legal, contractual rental matter. The Observer objected to the executive session stating there was not enough clarification given to go into an executive session.
According to the Freedom of Information Act, officials must state the specific purpose of the executive session.
“This statement of specific purpose requirement is not satisfied by making a general statement such as ‘personal matter’ or ‘contractual matter,’” according to the Public Official’s Guide to Compliance with S.C.’s Freedom of Information Act.
Council returned from executive session, stating the matter requested by Caldwell was not executive session material and discussions were stopped. No vote was taken on the matter.
The subject of the behind-doors discussion was never made public.
• Council proclaimed March as Disabilities and Special Needs month.
• Council received information about the 2010 census and steps to be taken for the project.
• Second reading was given to revise the county’s current budget. The revisions are due to $600,000 in budget cuts.
• First reading was taken to rezone just over 20 acres of land on Highway 76 near Kiblers and Candy Kitchen roads near Georgia Pacific from single family residential to general commercial.
The reason given for the rezoning of the land is for future development of the property that can not be accomplished under the current zoning.
• Jesse Baker was appointed to represent the Whitmire district on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Bill Waldrop nominated Baker.
Councilman Les Hipp question Waldrop’s nomination since Waldrop does not represent the area and was told the appointment could be made if Councilman Edgar Baker, who serves the area, did not object.
Jesse Baker is Edgar Baker’s son and Edgar Baker abstained from voting on the matter.
• Meagan Setzler was appointed to serve for District 7, served by Caldwell, on the Recreation Commission.
• County employees Bob Beard’s and Teresa Ball’s names were drawn from a hat to serve on the Employee Grievance Committee.
• Springdale Outdoor Service gave a low bid of $101,205.91 to do restorative landscaping at the Country Club of Newberry due to the county cutting trees on the property for aircraft to land at the airport.
The Country Club will pay $25,213 to relocate a cart path and the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) will pay for much of the project.
County Attorney Wayne Adams said the county would only pay “several thousand dollars“ for the work.
The high bid for the project was $159,872 and four companies bid on the work.
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