The city of Orangeburg's Edisto Memorial Gardens already tests roses for one of the nation's two major rose organizations, officials say. Now it will also test for the other one.

The city announced Tuesday that it is now affiliated with the American Rose Society and will grow and judge miniature roses for the group.

The city also announced it will soon add 55 varieties of noisette rose. The ever-blooming rose originated on Lowcountry rice plantations.

The city also plans to bring in European varieties of the noisette in future years. If Orangeburg collects the roughly 75 known varieties of the rose, it could have the largest collection of noisettes, city Superintendent of Parks Jay Hiers said.

"This is a wonderful tribute to Orangeburg, S.C. for them to recognize us," Mayor Paul Miller said when the announcement was made at city council's Tuesday meeting.

The city has been affiliated with All America Rose Selections Inc. since 1973, operating one of 20 of the organization's test gardens. Orangeburg received a certificate of achievement for outstanding rose garden maintenance for 2006 from the organization, its sixth year of receiving the recognition.

Now that it's affiliated with the second major organization, "I don't think you'll find many gardens affiliated with both," city Parks and Recreation Director Buster Smith said.

In other business, council:

* Gave the city administrator the ability to negotiate terms with SCBT, which made the low bid for an almost $1.2 million lease-purchase agreement. SCBT will finance the city's purchase of vehicles and other equipment at an interest rate of 3.45 percent.

Council approved the resolution unanimously, with Mayor Miller abstaining. Councilman Trelvis Miller was absent.

* Unanimously approved a resolution consenting to the abandonment and closing of Baldwin Street, Moore Street, Naylor Street and alleys located on South Carolina State University property.

The resolution was done at the request of the university, which needs to have clear title to those roads on its property to develop the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center.

* Gave unanimous first reading to an ordinance increasing the building permit fees, the first increase since 1993. Council previously discussed the increase as part of its budget. The vote was unanimous.

* R.jpgied an agreement with the City of Charleston, which provided assistance during South Carolina State University's homecoming. The vote was unanimous.

* Unanimously agreed to renew the "cafeteria plan," allowing city employees to make pre-tax payments for medical care.

* Gave final, third reading to four separate ordinances that will bring an "enclave of an unincorporated island" into the city. The votes were unanimous.

The properties that are being annexed include a small strip mall at the corner of Ellis Avenue and Chestnut Street, owned by Dayle Bolen and slated for a B-1 General Business zoning; two parcels owned by H.C. Collier and located between Loblolly Lane and Pinebroke Street, just off Chestnut Street, where plans call for a development of some 40 single-family detached homes; a Loblolly property owned by Felder Z. Evans Co., which has a vacant residential unit; and a Loblolly property owned by Reddick Bowman.

Miller, who has been pushing for annexation, asked anyone who wants to be annexed to call the city.

Council also approved selling a lot fronting Dogwood Avenue to HCC Developers LLC for $14,500. The property is to be used as ingress and egress to the 40-plus home development.

* Passed a resolution authorizing the construction of a spec building at the joint County/City Industrial Park. Council had previously approved plans for another company to do the work, which will now be done by Miller Valentine Southeast. Otherwise, the plans are the same.

* Honored Isadore Thomas with a resolution recognizing his 36 years, three months and eight days working for the city. Thomas retired Aug. 20.

* Received an appearance from an eighth-grade class from Felton Laboratory School.

* Proclaimed "Cleanliness" as the November 2007 Orangeburg County Community of Character trait.

T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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