Tuesday, Union County Council unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance delaying reassessment for one tax year. The delay means reassessment will be completed and implemented in 2011 rather than 2010 as originally scheduled.
This was the second time in seven years that council has delayed reassessment for a year. It happened six years ago to give the county more time to implement the state law requiring reassessment take place every five years. The law allows county councils to delay reassessment for one tax year by ordinance.
Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh said this year council decided to delay reassessment to give taxpayers more time to prepare for it and to cope with the current economic downturn.
“The council felt that during this economy it would benefit local taxpayers to delay reassessment one year,” he said.
Animal cruelty
In other business, Glenn Sparks, president of the Union County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, asked council to change county law to ensure that persons convicted of abusing an animal not be permitted to reclaim the animal.
Sparks pointed to a recent case of a Union man who was convicted of mistreating a dog. He said the Union Public Safety Department charged the man under state law rather than city statute so as to prevent him from regaining the animal. State law allowed the judge to order the animal turned over to the True Care Humane Society.
To prevent animal abusers in the county from regaining the animals they abuse, Sparks asked council to change county ordinance to bring it in line with state law. In addition, Sparks asked that county animal control officers be allowed to periodically check up on convicted animal abusers to make sure they’re not mistreating other animals.
Betenbaugh directed the county attorney to look into the legality of the changes requested by Sparks.
Funding request tabled
Council also voted to table a request by Boogaloo Folk Life Productions for $5,000 to help pay for its summer production. The county has supported the group’s productions in the past.
The motion was made by council member Dora Martin, who said the matter should be taken up as part of the budget process.
Appointments
Council also voted unanimously to approve the following appointments:
• Harriet Berry and Jennifer Tazerouti to the Board of Trustees of the Union County Carnegie Library.
• Lisa Morris to the Upstate Workforce Investment Board.
• Monte Lancaster to the Union County Tourism Commission.
Council also voted unanimously to advertise for applicants for two more seats on the tourism commission.
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