By Claire Sachse
Claire.Sachse@tryondailybulletin.com

At the regular Landrum City Council meeting held Sept. 9, council members unanimously adopted a budget for the October 2014 through June 2015 abbreviated fiscal year. Revenues are projected to be $1,460,460.95 and expenses $1,396,816. Mayor Bob Briggs said that the millage rate remains unchanged and there are no new taxes.

Council Members John Carruth, Tammy Cox, Jon Matheis, Joyce Whiteside and Randy Wohnig were present. Council Member Billy Inman was not present.

The council also unanimously adopted ordinance 2014-01 which allows the city to operate on a nine-month budget cycle until July 2015. At that time, the city will move to the same twelve-month budget cycle, July to June, as the rest of South Carolina’s agencies and municipalities.

Molly Moyer, a representative of the United Way of the Piedmont, made a presentation to the council about the agency’s “Born Learning Trails,” an initiative to encourage caregiver-child interaction through signage at parks, playgrounds, schools and trails. The signs encourage active living and offer opportunities for learning, according to Moyer. Council voted unanimously to allow installation of the series of ten signs at Brookwood Park.

Police Chief Tim Edgens and Mayor Bob Briggs led a swearing in ceremony for three new officers on the police force. Robert Smith, Chris Patterson and Roy Dameron took their oaths together.

Marilyn Ingle, membership sales manager with AirMedCare Network, operator of the Regional One medical helicopter, spoke to council members about an opportunity for the city to purchase coverage for all Landrum residents for an emergency flight, for $14,100 per year. The average cost per flight is $20,000, Ingle said. Mayor Briggs said that since council had just passed the city’s budget, they would take the offer under advisement when preparing the next fiscal year’s budget.

For the month of August, the Landrum Police Department reported 45 citations and 8 arrests in traffic stops. The department issued 13 citations and made 13 arrests in criminal incidents. Twelve cases are under criminal investigation. Six warrants were served, four accident reports filed, two funerals escorted and 61 warning citations issued.

Police Chief Tim Edgens also reported on the department’s launch of an automated telephone reassurance system for residents of Landrum called “Are You OK?” The system is designed to check on the elderly, latch-key children, people without family, the home bound, and the disabled, by making a phone call to the residence at a predetermined time every day.

The Landrum Fire Department reported four auto accidents, two smoke alarms, two lines down arcing, two medical calls, and five other calls during August.

The Landrum Area Business Association representative reported on the scarecrow contest to be held through the month of October. Winners will be announced Oct. 31.