NEESES - Neeses Town Council won't change the amount of tax collected by the Orangeburg County Treasurer's Office. Council voted to stay at 33 mils for the current fiscal year, set to end in June 2009, during its November meeting.

Orangeburg County Treasurer Steve Summers said the amount of a mill in Neeses this tax year is $601, which equates to $19,833 to be collected. Last year Neeses collected $18,321 on 33 mils.

Also during the meeting, Mayor Joe Corbett said one contractor has looked at the Neeses Farm Museum to ascertain the extent of the damage at the facility. The museum already suffers from water and termite damage, and the floor and roof likely will need to be replaced. Further inspection of the facility will be undertaken before the necessary work is bid, the mayor said.

Concerning the town's proposed community center, Corbett reported the search for an appropriate parcel of property is continuing. Several local property owners who have been approached have declined to sell. However, one property is under consideration, but no discussions with the owner have been initiated by town officials.

Council members learned the town received two bids to replace the doors damaged by vandals at the Neeses recreation field over the summer. No decision was made pending a closer review of one of the bids. Recently, the locks to both bathrooms at the field were also destroyed and will have to be replaced, it was noted.

Council also took no action on the town hall beautification and landscaping project. The town is awaiting one more bid, and a report from absent Councilman Renee Olenick, who is heading up the project, before proceeding.

In other business:

* The type and design that will be used for new Neeses welcome signs was agreed upon by council. Corbett will meet with the area man who is donating the funding for the signs.

* Council accepted a proclamation by South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford for Native American Month in November presented by Chief Skyye Vereen of the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek, which will also sponsor a Health & Community Services Fair at Neeses Town hall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 22.

* It was announced that a Municipal Association of South Carolina representative will meet with council on Jan. 13 to discuss revamping the town's business license schedule.

* Council agreed to hold an event in honor of "Cities Mean Business Month" in February 2009, supported by the Municipal Association of South Carolina and designed to identify key community and business leaders to open up the lines of communication for future economic success.

* The town's Christmas decorations will be hung by SCE&G crews either late this week or next week, it was reported.

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5540.

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