County Council has started the steps to have voters decide if the county will continue to have a one cent sales tax for capital improvements.

Wednesday night the county approved a resolution to create a capital projects commission. The commission will be charged with reviewing projects and setting a list of projects that will be voted on.

The commission will be comprised of six people. Three of those will be appointed by County Council. Two will be appointed by the Newberry City Council. The two Newberry City appointees will then appoint a final person, who lives in another municipality to complete the commission.

The referendum to continue the one cent tax will be voted on in November 2010.

The funds can be used for highways, roads, streets, bridges, public parking garages, courthouses, administrative buildings, civic centers, hospitals, police and fire stations, jails, libraries, technical colleges, recreational and cultural facilities, water and sewer projects, beach access, and joint projects by counties and municipalities and school districts.

County Councilman Les Hipp voiced the two previous penny sale tax projects have provided the county with a lot of new projects that could not have otherwise be done.

"If (the commission) uses good judgement it will be a good thing for the county," said Hipp.

In other business discussed by the council:

• County Council held two executive sessions. The first was from 6 to 7 p.m. and the council meet to discuss a legal matter related to the settlement in the Highway 219 sheriff’s office building that has been vacated due to mold and moisture issues. The council then meet from 7:30 until 8 p.m. to discuss an emergency perpardens agreement with V.C. Summer Nuclear facility in Fairfield.

• The council approved a resolution to obtain reimbursement for the removal of trees at the county airport.

The state will reimburse the county $175,000 for the $426,000 project. This will leave the county paying 46 percent of the costs.

The estimates for the work came in at $544,000 and were underbid by more than $117,000.

• The council gave the first of three readings to rezone 4.55 acres of land on Jalapa and Pete Harris roads from rural to light industrial. The land currently houses a machine shop.

• The council approved an easement for the county to repair drainage from Elisha Church Road that runs onto the church’s property.

• Buddy Counts was nominated to the airport commission, Rosetta Gallman was appointed to the community hall commission, Bill Floyd was reappointed to the Disabilities and Special Needs Commission and Phil Spotts was named to the fairgrounds board.

• Council was invited to a meeting at 4 p.m. Monday with Chamber of Commerce officials. The meeting will revolve around the Chamber and Economic Development offices working together.

• The council finance committee will meet Monday. County Council will meet again on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. and the public safety and courts committee will meet on Aug. 24. All meetings will be held at the Courthouse Annex.