Oconee County Conservation Bank elects officers, approves transfer to avoid bank fees; meeting time decision deferred

Oconee County Conservation Bank board members met March 18 and elected officers, approved a short transfer to avoid monthly banking fees and deferred a final decision on changing the board’s regular meeting time until a full seven-member board can weigh in.

The board re-elected Emlon Jones as chair, named Perry Smith vice chair and affirmed Bridal (not present) as secretary. The board accepted the treasurer role with AJ volunteering for that position. The group approved a transfer to bring the Dogwood State Bank checking account up to a $1,000 minimum to avoid a $10 monthly fee. Members did not resolve a proposal to move regularly scheduled meetings from the traditional second Tuesday at 9 a.m. to an evening time; votes to set the meeting time at 5:30 p.m. and at 5:00 p.m. resulted in ties and the board agreed to revisit the issue on April 8 when a full board is expected.

Board operations and officer duties

The meeting began at 9 a.m. with Chair Emlon Jones noting a quorum. Jones and other members conducted an officer election by nomination and voice vote. Jennifer (staff) confirmed that secretary Bridal has served previously and that AJ agreed to take on treasurer duties; Jennifer described the treasurer’s role as signing checks when required, maintaining account balances, and approving monthly treasurer reports derived from bank statements.

Bank accounts and the $10 monthly fee

Jennifer reported two accounts: a Dogwood State Bank checking balance listed as $160 and a Local Government Investment Pool balance of $362,450.17. The board discussed a new $10 monthly fee that Dogwood State Bank began charging after the former Community First accounts converted. Bank staff told the board the fee could be avoided by converting the account to a money-market business account that earns interest, but the bank representative did not specify a required minimum for that product. The board decided as an immediate step to transfer funds so the checking account maintains approximately a $1,000 minimum and avoid the fee while members explore other banking options.

Motion and vote on transferring funds

A motion to transfer funds to bring the Dogwood State Bank account to the $1,000 minimum passed by voice vote. Board members agreed that Treasurer AJ and another board member would coordinate the transfer and follow up with additional bank inquiries. Board members also volunteered to check alternative local banks and credit unions for more favorable terms.

Meeting schedule debate and deferral

The board spent substantial time debating whether to move regular meetings from the longstanding 9 a.m. time (second Tuesday) to the evening to accommodate members who work daytime hours. Several members said the 9 a.m. schedule works for landowners and land trusts that typically apply for conservation funding during business hours; others said evening times would allow more members to attend. Two separate motions — to set meetings at 5:30 p.m. and to set them at 5:00 p.m. — each resulted in 3–3 tie votes among the six members present. With one member (Gordon) out of town, the board agreed to hold an April 8 meeting at 9 a.m. and revisit the time question when all seven members are available to break the tie.

Other routine business

The board approved minutes from its Dec. 10, 2024 meeting and accepted the treasurer’s reports for the most recent statements. Jennifer noted a recent $35,000 transfer for a Fall Creek closing and reiterated that the bank board is funded through private donations and not by county tax dollars. The board also accepted a brief fundraising and public-relations update noting the county’s membership in the South Carolina Land Trust Network and recent statewide conservation activity.

What’s next

The board asked staff to circulate application materials and the bank’s ranking/score-sheet ahead of the April meeting. The board also directed the treasurer and staff to complete the transfer to preserve the $1,000 minimum and to review other banking options; members will revisit a permanent change of meeting time on April 8 when a full board is expected to attend.