WHITMIRE — Whitmire Town Council passed the first reading of the addition to the town nuisance ordinance, which gives the town the authority to take an individual to court.

“I think we can enact the ordinance on what we already have, we also could name a public officer to manage it and take care of it, right now the chief and his officers are doing it,” said Mayor Billy Hollingsworth.

The motion was made by Councilman Michael Thomas and seconded by Councilmen Galen Roche and Jimmy Dunaway.

In other business, a motion was made by Chrystal Harsha to offer Robert Lake IV the position of town attorney, effective July 1, salary to be determined. Councilman Thomas seconded the motion.

Council approved the indigent defense agreement between the Town of Whitmire and Charles Verner after a motion from Thomas and a second from Councilman Dwight Lane.

“To make a long story short, if someone asked for a public defender it would cost us $100 an hour for the time he spends, all we need to do is approve and sign this and take it to Charles Verner,” Hollingsworth said.

A motion was made by Thomas to approve up to $1,000 be spent for the Citizens Advisory and Tourism Committee to purchase billboards advertising the I2I Yard Sale. The motion was seconded by Harsha.

Council also passed the Fair Housing Resolution which designates April as Fair Housing Month after a motion from Thomas and a second from Roche.

Other business:

• Police Chief Jeremiah Sinclair reported that for the month of March there were a total of 96 incident reports, 123 citations, three warrants served or withdrawn and one traffic accident. Some of the department’s calls included domestic violence, shoplifting, aggravated assault, larceny, possession of marijuana, possession of meth and forgery.

• Hollingsworth reported that for the month the Town of Whitmire had a beginning balance of $55,162.35 with $37,605.45 in deposits and $72,803.18 in expenditures for an ending balance of $19,964.62.On the public works side the town had a beginning balance of $70,986.92 with a total revenue of $63,022.15 and expenditures of $104,073.13 for an ending balance of $29,935.94.

• June 7-9 will be Party in the Pines Festival starting a 6 p.m. with the parade Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

• Hollingsworth informed Council that the golf course property, previously discussed, is not for sale.

Hollingsworth
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Hollingsworth2018.jpgHollingsworth

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@newberryobserver.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.