ST. MATTHEWS -- By making an adjustment on the local options sales tax credit available to property owners, Calhoun County Council was able to counterbalance the 2.5-mill tax increase.

Council approved a resolution Monday that sets the millage rate and the local option sales tax credit factor.

County Administrator Lee Prickett reported that the county will have a 2.5-mill hike in overall millage, including a half mill in the general fund for the Law Enforcement Complex and 2 mills in the special education fund for Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and the Gressette Center.

“Last year we held off on the millage increase and used reserves,” he said.

The millage rate will be 257.5 mills for most county residents and 259.5 mills for those in the Sandy Run special fire district. For the owner of a $100,000 house, the increase will mean an extra $10 on the tax bill.

However, by also increasing the tax relief credit from the local option sales tax, Prickett said, the owner of a $100,000 home will get an extra $13.

“So, the additional credit will offset the additional millage,” he said.

In other business, council approved the hiring of Civil Engineers of Columbia, an engineering consultant, for the county’s Planning Commission.

The consultant will provide the necessary environmental information related to the town of St. Matthews’ plans to construct a wastewater drip irrigation system for treated sewage at the intersection of Highways 601 and 176. The study will look at the environmental impact on nearby residents, many of whom are opposed to the project.

The budget is $10,000, based on the firm’s $125 hourly rate.

“And we have to pay that for the town of St. Matthews?” asked Council Chairman David Summers.

Councilman James Haigler expressed concern that the county has no independent decision-making power.

“It’s their baby and we get it shoved on us,” said Haigler, who complained that no one from the town attended the Planning Commission’s last public hearing.

According to Prickett, the issue is before the county Planning Commission because the town’s system will be located in an unincorporated area of the county.

Asked by Councilwoman Helen Carson if there has been opposition, Prickett said, “Oh, yes. The neighbors don’t want it in their backyard.”

Summers said that most people wouldn’t know the drip irrigation system -- which is an alternative to the spray field -- was there.

“Some folks kicked up a big stink about it and got the people stirred up,” he said. “We ought to allow the commission to get the consulting firm to get them back-up data. ... If it doesn’t work, it’s the town of St. Matthews, not us. They’ll have to dig it up.”

The town’s current system empties into a creek. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has issued an order to “take it some place other than the creek.”

If approved, the underground drip irrigation system would be one of the first in the state.

St. Matthews has applied for a loan/grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development to finance the project.

In other business, council:

n Authorized Summers and Gardner Architects to provide a plan for recently purchased county property in the Sandy Run area. Future plans call for three buildings on the property: one for an Emergency Medical Services substation, one for a water department and magistrate’s office and one for a library annex.

n Agreed to a $3,000 low bid proposal from Benassist to provide an actuarial study. Federal mandates will require local governments to provide for the unfunded liability for retirees’ health benefits over a 30-year period.

n Approved a contract with Smith Data for a remote backup system for the county’s computer system. The new system, which includes a start-up cost of $160.50, will cost $85 a month for an annual contract of $1,180.50.

n Approved a cable communications easement request by Time Warner for a small area along the Lexington County line.

n Appointed Kevin Hodges as interim building official and Shayla Jenkins as interim planning and zoning administrator.

n Received as information, concerns from George and Moses Gates, brothers who complained that five of their family’s cars were illegally taken and demolished by an Orangeburg recycling company.

An investigator with the sheriff’s department explained that his office, which had done all it could, does not get involved in civil matters. Maintaining that it had no authority in the matter, council suggested that the Gates family get a lawyer.

n Received a certificate of appreciation from the National Association of Veterans’ Affairs Officers. Bill Snipes, the county’s veterans’ affairs officer, made the presentation and thanked council for its $1,000 appropriation toward the national convention, held recently in Charleston.

n Welcomed Rich Fletcher, Midlands representative for SCANA.

n In closed, executive session, discussed a contractual matter concerning a wastewater operating contract, a personnel matter involving collections and a legal matter on Columbia Energy.

n T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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