ELLOREE - The Town of Elloree is gearing up for its Jan. 13 special election to fill the town council seat vacated at the death of Council Barry Pauling back in June. Paul's term expires in November 2011.

After Pauling's death, a nonpartisan write-in election was held on Sept. 30 to fill the seat, but that election was overturned because the Orangeburg County Office of Voter Registration and Elections failed to place notices in the newspaper advertising the election as required by state law.

The scheduling of the new election was discussed briefly at the November Elloree Town Council meeting, with Administrator John Singh noting the town is only responsible for providing poll workers and certifying election results.

The new council election has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, Howard Jackson, County Voter Registration and Elections director, said Wednesday. Filing for the council seat will open at noon on Saturday, Nov. 15 and close at noon on Nov. 29, Jackson said.

During the council meeting, Mayor Van Stickles announced four new businesses opened in the town in the past two months. Stickles welcomed Danny and Elaine Nesbitt, who recently opened the Railroad Café in Elloree and thanked them for meeting the need for a restaurant in the town. Stickles also welcomed Lake Side Landscaping and Feed, owned and operated by Brian Hooks. Lake Side relocated from Santee this month and will share a building with another new business, Jan's Pet Parlor, owned and operated by Jennifer Cope-Jobe. Mike Daniel, an attorney from Mt. Pleasant, was also welcomed to Elloree.

Singh reported the Law Track Software was installed on all computers in the town hall and the police department. The software will increase the ability to track tickets, court dispositions and court revenue, Singh said. It will also aid officers in transmitting reports to SLED, he said. The new system can be used for receipts, dockets and other court related functions to streamline court administration functions, the administrator said. The software will be purchased for $3,500 from Nicholson Business Systems and paid for with funds generated from court fines, he said.

Singh announced the town will hold its Lights of Winter event on Saturday, Nov. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. with the Cooking on Cleveland Cook-Off and ending at 7 p.m. with the announcement of the contest winners and the turning on of the downtown lights. Dr. Bob Holman will sign copies of his book, "Homeward Bound," at the Elloree Heritage Museum that evening from 5-7 p.m., and a silent auction for the Pork Fest Pigs will be held.

In other business:

* Council gave final approval to annexation of Lot No. 10 on Monsum Court into the town limits. No objections were voiced at a public hearing on the annexation held Nov. 3.

* Council gave second reading to an ordinance to annex the property at 740 Hampton Street into the town limits. A public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 to review the proposed annexation.

* Council approved second reading of an ordinance to enter into a franchise agreement with Tri-County Electric Cooperative.

* Council reviewed a request by Police Chief Preston Avinger and Town Clerk Chasity Canaday to amend the 2008-09 budget related to revenue from police fines. The town does not include ticket revenue in its annual budget and had decided to amend the budget quarterly to reflect any revenue generated. At that time, the council will also approve expenditures for that revenue. Stickles said the fines collected for the third quarter of 2008 totaled $13,205.00, with $7,606.51 remitted to the State Treasurer, $642.73 retained for Victims Assistance, $495.58 for the Police Equipment Fund and $4,460.18 retained by the town. Council reviewed the $4,460.18 in revenue and requested expenditures.

* Singh said Elloree Town Hall will close at noon on Nov. 26 and will remained closed Nov. 27 and 28 for Thanksgiving. The town hall will close at noon on Dec. 24 and remain closed Dec. 25 and 26 for Christmas.

* Singh announced Stickles was named to the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and will begin serving in January.

* Stickles said he and Singh met with county officials to discuss projects for the town, particularly the Elloree Community Center. A meeting will be held Dec. 10 between town and county officials and state representatives to determine if that project is still feasible.

T&D Correspondent Danielle Sanders can be reached by e-mail at crazyd_308@hotmail.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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