County Council notes

By Charles Sowell  

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 10:35 a.m. (0)

Greenville County Council approved a $10,993.20 request from Councilwoman Lottie Gibson to pay for furniture at the Phoenix Academy lobby on the consent agenda during a short meeting Tuesday night.

The expenditure qualifies under Council District Expense – Part II Community Requests account definition, according to documents accompanying the request.

Council also learned the sheriff’s department has been awarded a $225,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to install the first part of an upgrade to sheriff’s helicopter infrared imaging system. The FLIR system allows the helicopter to produce an infrared image of objects on the ground, transmit them to ground commanders instantly so that the commanders see what the helicopter sees in real time.

FLIR is an international company with headquarters in Wilsonville, Ore. They make what is known as Forward Looking Infrared imaging systems (FLIR) for the military, law enforcement and commercial use.

Total cost for the system is $335,000 and will be paid for through grants.

Council passed at first reading an ordinance authorizing refinancing of bonds taken out by the county not to exceed $6.9 million. The county will realize a savings of about $165,000 a year in interest payments through the refinancing.

The ordinance was referred to the finance committee.

Also passing at first reading was an ordinance authorizing the Greenville County Commission on Technical Education to refinance $8.5 million in bonds through a ground lease agreement involving the county, Tech, and Branch Banking and Trust Company.

County Council next meets on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. in council chambers at County Square.