Edgefield County Council held a special called meeting, Thursday, Jan. 14, to, among other things, approve the second reading of an ordinance authorizing the purchase of a general obligation bond for Edgefield County Hospital. The matter was first presented to Council at their Jan. monthly meeting, Jan. 5, 2016. At that time, ECH board member John Pettigrew asked Council to obtain the bond for the hospital saying it would be used to pay off two other bonds currently held by ECH. Pettigrew told Council that savings from current lower interest rates as well as savings that would be seen by cutting the time of the two bonds were expected to amount to over $500,000 by the end of the 15 year term of the new bond. At that meeting, Council unanimously passed this issue on first reading by title only. During discussion of the matter at the special called meeting, Vice-Chairwoman Genia Blackwell questioned if there were any other outstanding bonds for ECH other than the two presented to which she was informed that there are not. This matter passed its second reading in a 3-0 vote; Councilmen Rodney Ashcraft and Albert Talbert were not present for the vote. The third reading for this ordinance, as well as a public hearing on the matter, is planned for Council’s next monthly meeting, Feb. 2. After this portion of the meeting, Council went into executive session. Upon their return, no action was taken. Tiffani Ireland