Greenwood County CPST set to collect near 100% of goal

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Greenwood County received more than $3 million in three months, one penny at a time.

The Capital Project Sales Tax, a 1% sales tax passed by voters in 2016, had its highest quarterly earnings since the tax started, CPST Coordinator Josh Skinner said at Tuesday’s County Council meeting. In December, January and February, the tax brought in more than $3 million, hitting a total of more than $47 million collected to date.

Skinner said County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn projects the tax will bring in all the money it needs to fund each project the county’s voters approved in 2016.

“Steffanie is confident that we’re going to get nearly 100% by 2025, which will fund all 27 projects almost completely,” Skinner said. “This is great news. Things are going well.”

The news of a near-100% collection comes nearly three years after concerns of a potential $20 million shortfall. In 2020 that predicted deficit shrank to about $10 million, based on an unlikely projection of no increase in collections for the remaining term of the tax.

At a previous meeting, Dorn said this past quarter’s collections were a record high, in part because of holiday spending. Funds from that quarter will go toward design and construction of the new Wilbanks Sports Complex at 1552 Highway 72/221 E.

Skinner told council that crews broke ground on the upgrades to the Hodges town park, and efforts to clean up the former wastewater treatment plant on the site of the Grace Street Park expansion are going well.

Updates to the Ninety Six town park are about 60% through the design process, he said, as is the design of a stormwater drain that will run through the park and toward the mill village. Gravel and asphalt are expected in the next few weeks for the boat ramp being built near the bridge over Lake Greenwood on Highway 72/221, Skinner said.

County officials are working with the state Department of Transportation on the contract for the Highway 246 expansion. Once work on the last of the county fire stations is finished, likely by late summer or early fall, more than 99% of the county’s homes will be within five minutes of a fire station.

Next quarter’s CPST check comes in July, and that along with part of October’s quarterly check will go toward funding the Wilbanks project. The rest of October’s check will go toward building a training center for first responders.

“I wish that every taxpayer in Greenwood County could see that presentation,” said Council Vice Chairperson Theo Lane, who led the meeting Tuesday in Chairperson Chuck Moates’ absence. “I concur with the treasurer. I think her forecast that we will fund it 100%.”

Council approved second reading of a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement known as Project River. The incentive agreement would bring a Minnesota-based company to Greenwood, with the company spending nearly $38 million to bring its business to the area. The company, which expects to create 300 jobs, is set to be identified at the public hearing for this FILOT agreement on May 17.

Dorn shared more good news with council. She requested their vote on two resolutions: one to spend money that’s set to be reimbursed by a state grant on equipment for 10 new school resource officers, and another to spend surplus funds on a slate of capital needs for various departments.

Dorn said the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, working with Greenwood County School District 50, secured a grant to fund 10 school resource officer positions.

The details are ironed out and the county is set to be reimbursed, but she said council needed to approve a budget amendment to spend a total of about $498,000 from the general fund to purchase vehicles, radios, Tasers and vehicle radios for the 10 officers. Dorn said the county will be reimbursed through the grant.

The other resolution was to spend excess funds in the budgets of various departments, a total of about $144,000 in surplus, on capital needs. Some of these include cellular dialers for fire and burglar alarms, a vehicle service lift, a slope mower and copier for the lake management department, and roll-off truck and half-ton pickup truck.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:May 4, 2022

By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/election/greenwood-county-cpst-set-to-collect-near-100-of-goal/article_f4b412c3-51e0-59b0-b8f2-eccbe852a7e4.html

Public meetings

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TUESDAY

LANDER UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TIME: 2 p.m.

LOCATION: F. Mitchell Johnson board room

AGENDA: Approval of minutes; President’s Report; Committee Reports: Academic Affairs – Robert Barber (Action Items: Faculty Annual Review Process, Tenure and/or Promotion Review Timeline), Enrollment and Access Management – Holly Bracknell, Finance, Facilities and Audit/Governmental and Strategic Initiatives – Don Lloyd (Action Item: Special Tuition Rate Proposal); Institutional Advancement – Marcia Hydrick, Policy – Bob Sabalis (Action Item: Americans with Disabilities Act Policy), Student Affairs/Intercollegiate Athletics – Ray Hunt; Other business/announcements/reports: Bylaw Appendix – Bob Sabalis, Faculty Senate – Dr. Daniel Harrison, Staff Senate – Anissa Lawrence; Executive Session – Discussion of employment, compensation, promotion, demotion, discipline or release of an employee, a student or person regulated by Lander University.; Adjournment

GREENWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

TIME: 4 p.m.

LOCATION: Greenwood County Library

AGENDA: Executive session at 4 p.m. Regular public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Presentations: 1. Proclamation recognizing National Correctional Officer and Employees Week at Leath Correctional Institution as May 2-6, 2022. Capital Projects Sales Tax quarterly update — Josh Skinner, CPST Coordinator. Public comment. Old business: Second reading: 1. Ordinance 2022-10 authorizing the execution and delivery of a Fee in Lieu of Tax Agreement by and between Greenwood County, South Carolina and Project River to provide for payments of fees in lieu of taxes and the issuance of certain infrastructure credits, the conveyance of certain real property to Project River, the inclusion of the subject property in a multi-county industrial park, and other related matters. – James Bateman, Economic Development Director. New business: A. Consideration of the appointment of special tax district commissioner for the following subdivisions- Canterbury, Trey Jenkins. B. Approval of revisions to Greenwood County policy 5.6, travel policy C. Resolution 2022-15 to amend the FY22 budget for the purchase of sheriff’s department vehicles and equipment awarded through a S.C. Department of Public Safety grant for school resource officers. D. Resolution 2022-16 to amend the FY22 budget for allocation of surplus funds and expenditure of needed capital expenditures. E. First readings: 1. Ordinance 2022-11 dissolving Northfall Acres as a special tax district. 2. Ordinance 2022-12 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that four parcels of land totaling approximately 2.94 acres, owned by Andrea Mitchell Terry, William Booker, Willie N. Norman Jr. and Tommy Foster located in Bradley, S.C., which changes zoning classifications from RDD to R-1.

WEDNESDAY

MCCORMICK COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP

TIME: 10 a.m.

LOCATION: 610 S. Mine St.

AGENDA: Budget workshop to discuss fiscal yea 22-23 budget.

THURSDAY

MCCORMICK COUNTY

PLANNING COMMISSION

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

LOCATION: 610 S. Mine St.

AGENDA: Old business: Zoning ordinance, comprehensive plan. Reports: County council report, economic development report. Next meeting: June 2, 2022 at the county administration center.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on: Apr 30, 2022

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/community/public-meetings/public-meetings/article_b4151cd5-1897-573e-af9e-26174f500ae4.html

Ware Shoals gets county update, looks toward sewer upgrades

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Ware Shoals officials were updated on recent county activities at their April town council meeting.

Council heard from Greenwood County Council member Theo Lane at the meeting April 19. Lane represents District 7, which includes the Town of Ware Shoals.

Lane said he used to write regular updates on county matters in the town’s newspaper, The Observer. Since the paper suspended publication in December 2020, he said he’s had to find other ways to update residents on county business, and took to speaking at council meetings.

He said he updated Ware Shoals’ council on the $65.5 million expansion of Symrise Pet Food at nearby 5300 U.S. Highway 25. He also shared an update from the county treasurer’s office on the increased revenues this past quarter from the Capital Project Sales Tax’s penny tax. The CPST is funding projects throughout the county, including sewer upgrades in Ware Shoals and a planned remodeling of Katherine Hall.

Lane also said he told council it would have a new building. The county owned a building behind the Larry Traynham Center, but Lane said he worked with the county manager to transfer ownership to the town.

Ware Shoals Mayor Scott Horne said council expected to hear from Laurens County DSS Director Darren Thames, but no representative from the agency showed up. Instead, council discussed an expiring lawn care contract and said the town will be taking over mowing the lawns that were previously handled by B&B Lawn Care.

Horne said council met in a closed-door executive session to talk about a contract with an engineering firm working on sewer upgrades near the Carnell bridge. Horne said council took no vote following the executive session, but said the project has been in the works for years and involves replacing aging sewer lines along the Saluda River.

The Capital Project Sales Tax includes an eventual $1.5 million for sewer infrastructure upgrades in Ware Shoals, although the town has been taking time to have its plans and designs reviewed. Horne said the company reviewing the sewer plans has not provided feedback, and he’s waiting for their review before moving any further.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Apr 26, 2022

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/ware-shoals-gets-county-update-looks-toward-sewer-upgrades/article_cb1425fb-6109-5807-acea-beaa557aa4a8.html

CPST rakes in $2.8 million in January; more projects are set to start

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From the lake to the Bypass and from Hodges to Ninety Six, Greenwood County is seeing the power of a penny.

The Capital Project Sales Tax has raked in more than $44 million so far, with a $2.8 million check deposited in January from the penny sales tax’s earnings over three months near the end of 2021. County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn has projected that the tax will bring in $86.7 million over its lifespan — more than 98% of the original projected target of $87.9 million.

On Tuesday Greenwood County Council approved a final design draft for the Wilbanks Sports Complex. More than $9 million in CPST funds will go to renovating the sports facilities at the old Civic Center lot on Highway 72/221, with much of this year’s penny tax funds going toward this project.

Josh Skinner, CPST coordinator, said he met Thursday with officials to discuss how the county will bid the work at the Wilbanks center out. That same day, he toured the work done at the J.C. Fox Boozer Complex in Ninety Six, which has had its baseball fields graded and finished, along with much of the infrastructure and site work.

“All the walkways are in, the fences are up, the fields are in. I think all the parking lot is done,” Skinner said.

Constructions crews are working on a new concessions and restroom stand, and the county’s Ninety Six parks supervisor Tee Timmerman said he thinks the renovated fields will make for a more playable space for teams. An additional ball field also makes the park prime for tournaments.

“It’s going to be an awesome thing for the rec department here. This is the first big set of upgrades we’ve had here at the park since the beginning,” Timmerman said. “It’s just being able to show the kids and their families that the county knows how important it is they have quality fields to play on.”

Grace Street, Foundry and Magnolia parks are set to see upgrades too. The recent demolition of the decommissioned water treatment plant on the Bypass has made room for designers to start drafting a new park entrance and building for Grace Street Park, and the county is working with the city to ready the Foundry Road site for park construction. Greenway Construction has the bid for the work on Magnolia Park but will work on Hodges’ park first.

By Break on the Lake along Highway 72/221, crews have already sank the first half of a new boat ramp Skinner said could be ready to ease boats into the lake by early summer. Workers will make the ramp first, then turn toward paving the parking lot and building a pavilion and restroom facility.

“They’re racing the rising water level out there,” Skinner said.

The county has built fire stations, with the finished Miller Road station set to open March 12. Skinner said there’s two more to go: one on Highway 221, the other on Morgan Road in Hodges. In 2023, CPST funds will go toward an about $5 million multi-agency training center for firefighters, EMS and law personnel.

In Ninety Six, Davis & Floyd is working on designs for a drainage line that will run through the set-to-be-renovated town park, also being upgraded with CPST dollars. Construction should start on both projects just after this year’s Festival of Stars, Skinner said. Work is also underway on laying new water lines in Ninety Six to replace old galvanized pipes with PVC.

The next few years have a watershed study, the widening of Highway 246, phase two of the North Greenwood Industrial Park, renovation of Katherine Hall in Ware Shoals and upgrades to the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site.

“All of that is an example of what we can do to enhance the quality of living in this county,” said County Council Chairperson Chuck Moates. “I think it’s able to provide things for this county that we would not be able to provide without significantly raising taxes.”

Council member Robbie Templeton said a portion of this tax revenue comes from shoppers from out of town.

“It’s painless, really, for our citizens,” he said. “What we get for that money far outweighs the costs.”

This is why Moates said it’s essential to soon start laying the framework for the next CPST campaign. Passing the 2016 CPST took setting up committees to explore and vet project applications and to build up public support for it, he said.

Templeton said there are some projects already in mind for another CPST if it were to pass. As building costs have increased through the coronavirus pandemic, he said some projects have had to be cut back for cost. A second CPST could give the chance to complete work that might be cut for cost in current projects.

“We cannot wait until ‘24-and-a-half to start trying to put this together,” Moates said. “It’s too critical and important a project — a need in our community, not to start sooner rather than later.”

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Feb 18, 2022

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/cpst-rakes-in-2-8-million-in-january-more-projects-are-set-to-start/article_3a4959c3-3b0d-5418-b1c2-18d857f3014f.html

Our View: Goals and wish lists worthy of exploration

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Greenwood County Council members are up to some good.

People who are more than a tad wary and distrustful of governmental bodies will typically say the opposite, but news from Tuesday’s council meeting should be viewed in a more positive light.

There, they individually and collectively discussed goals and plans for the coming years — even with sights set on 2025.

We concur with Melissa Spencer who suggested council set a date for a retreat that would give them more opportunity to connect with each other beyond their regularly scheduled meetings and to have any necessary training.

Longtime member Edith Childs also set a goal dealing with training, only her goal was to see more county staff cross-trained on areas of responsibility. A good idea, especially in these current days when employees are increasingly harder to find or retain.

Also on Childs’ list of goals is an item that, unfortunately, has a bad reputation, largely because of a poor label assigned to it. While she did not use the term “defund the police,” Childs did say she thinks the county should consider hiring a mental health specialist who could assist first responders in deescalating certain situations.

As one of the county’s leading longtime proponents of neighborhood watches and Crimestoppers hotlines, Childs has also long been supportive of law enforcement’s efforts. She is not advocating to take money from law enforcement, but rather to have someone with a particular area of expertise that might net better results than, say, an officer responding to a situation. Definitely worth exploring.

Mark Allison touted an info desk at the courthouse to make various information readily available. Granted, much or most of the information is or should be on the county website, but having a kiosk equipped with a computer that also has restricted access, might be a good idea. Saves on paper waste too.

And fresh to council, Dayne Pruitt talked about keeping tabs on the Lake Conestee Dam and the need to hold back any of the toxicity a dam break would send our way. He’s also suggesting it’s time the county get out of the volunteer fire business and consider paying and recruiting more personnel. We do appreciate all our volunteers, but this sounds like something that ought not be taken off the table.

Surely one that will raise a stink among some residents involves Chuck Moates looking ahead to 2025 and additional opportunities to float another capital project sales tax for potential countywide projects. The penny tax, he said, has proven beneficial to the county at large, which is hard to deny.

We were fairly sure the current CPST endeavor would not be a one-and-done. Its hefty project list is getting funded, but there’s no reason to think there won’t be future projects in need of funding, and that will benefit the county in general.

We supported the current CPST effort and are interested to see what might be on the next wish list. What we do know is that when such projects come up and when the general consensus is that they are needed and worthy, it’s good to have the burden of costs shared by those who visit and make purchases in our county. Such a funding source lightens the load on the residents a good bit, after all.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Feb 5, 2022

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-goals-and-wish-lists-worthy-of-exploration/article_a9682980-6a9e-5b5c-b003-a598bf8cf5f7.html

Greenwood County Council sets yearly goals, gets CPST update

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With a look ahead to what 2022 might have in store, Greenwood County Council spent part of its Tuesday meeting talking about their goals for the year.

“Each of these suggested goals are important enough to warrant an in-depth discussion and development of well-thought-out strategies in order for us to adequately address them,” said council chairperson Chuck Moates.

Council member Edith Childs said she wants to see county staff cross-trained on other employees’ responsibilities. She also wants to explore the idea of hiring a mental health specialist trained to aid first responders in de-escalating situations with people who may be in crisis.

The county could do better at getting information to people seeking help, said council member Mark Allison. He wanted to see an information desk at the courthouse that would contain details on how people can start a new business, or go about putting a dock in at their lakeside property, along with information on specific contacts for additional information.

Council member Melissa Spencer wanted to see council have a retreat in order to focus on connecting with one another over training sessions. From his recent time campaigning, council member Dayne Pruitt shared concerns he heard from constituents, including worries over the Lake Conestee Dam holding toxic sediment back that could flow into the Saluda River. He also said he wanted to see the county explore transitioning into a paid fire service to recruit more firefighters.

“I believe the fire service is infrastructure, in my opinion. I think it’s important,” he said. “The problem is our volunteers, some are aging out at some point and we’re not getting new ones.”

Council member Robbie Templeton wanted to focus on existing projects instead of racking up a wish list of new ones. Agreeing with Pruitt’s concerns about Lake Conestee, council member Theo Lane proposed organizing a meeting to hear from experts on the dam’s status. He also said he wants to see new facility space for county staff to help thin out the crowding of the courthouse.

Moates shared his interest in getting the state Department of Transportation to repair and repave some of the roads in Greenwood County, but he also set his sights to 2025.

“I don’t think it’s too soon to start thinking about our next Capital Project Sales Tax initiative,” he said. “Our success the last time we did this was built on the fact that we got out in front of it, planned it and executed our plans. That’s all I’m asking us to do now.”

Moates said the current capital projects underway have provided examples of the good the penny tax can do for Greenwood County and said council would be foolish not to invest its efforts in this revenue source. Josh Skinner, CPST coordinator, gave council a quarterly update on how the tax, its income and the projects are going.

To date, the CPST fund has collected $44,349,034.51, and Skinner said he’s hopeful the collections from December will show an increase in sales tax revenue. This quarter’s income check is being split between the upgrades being done to Grace Street, Foundry and the Ninety Six town parks. It’s also being used to pay off the new record management system for law enforcement, but the majority of the quarter’s income is going to the Greenwood recreation center being built at the Wilbanks Sports Complex — the former civic center site.

Skinner gave updates on the work underway to clear the old water treatment plant that will become part of Grace Street Park, as well as the work that has started on the new boat ramp near the bridge across Lake Greenwood on Highway 221.

The Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Site is being redesigned to meet the budget for the renovations there, and Skinner said Ware Shoals officials said they’re close to resolving a right-of-way issue to get their sewer line improvements underway. Waterline upgrades in Ninety Six should be done by mid-March, Skinner said, while work at the J.C. Fox Boozer complex in town has been going well.

Moates said these were all prime examples of why preparing for another capital projects tax campaign for 2025 is essential.

“Josh stood up here and gave us beautiful example after example after example of how that money has improved the quality of life and services in this county,” Moates said. “We are fools if we do not try to renew it and continue that kind of emphasis.”

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Feb 2, 2022

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-council-sets-yearly-goals-gets-cpst-update/article_d1cc5c1f-94ae-52e6-96de-69dd45dd0b1f.html

Greenwood County Council approves boat ramp contract

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With his hand laid atop his father’s Bible, Dayne Pruitt was sworn in Tuesday evening as Greenwood County Council’s latest elected representative for District 5.

Pruitt’s wife, Traci, held the Bible ahead of the day’s County Council meeting as Greenwood County Chief Magistrate Judge Ryan Johnson swore him in.

“As you all know, Dayne follows one prince of a fellow, Mr. Steve Brown. We still miss him and we grieve over his passing,” Council Chairperson Chuck Moates said. “Dayne is here now to open a new chapter in this endeavor, and to serve the people of the fifth district. We all on council look forward to working with him and supporting him, as together we serve all the citizens of Greenwood County.”

On his first day as a sworn council member, Pruitt had the chance to vote in a matter directly affecting his district — approving the contract for a new boat ramp on U.S. Highway 221.

“It’s always humbling and it’s an honor for your constituents to elect you to any office, at any level,” Pruitt said. “I’ve been on the school board level and now county council, and it never gets old to acknowledge that.”

At its previous meeting, county council postponed voting on approving a contract with MAR Construction for a new boat ramp at the Highway 72/221 bridge. The new ramp, which will include a restroom facility, pavilion and additional recreation areas, was approved with the Capital Project Sales Tax.

The vote was postponed to Tuesday to allow the new council member from District 5 to vote on the matter.

“Two weeks ago we were about $112,000 short for the contract,” CPST Coordinator Josh Skinner told council. “Yesterday we got some good news from the legislative delegation, which funded that additional money plus a little bit for contingency.”

Those dollars came from a state Department of Natural Resources fund earmarked for Greenwood County. Skinner and other county officials met with the Greenwood County Legislative Delegation on Monday to request about $203,000 — the needed $112,000 plus enough funds for a 5% contingency on the project’s cost. The delegation awarded these funds from two funds provided by DNR to Greenwood County.

The Capital Project Sales Tax funded about $720,000 of this project, a DNR grant covered more than $682,000 and the state appropriated $300,000 for the boat ramp and facilities. Council unanimously approved the contract Tuesday, and Skinner said groundbreaking is expected later this month. Construction is expected to be complete in late July.

“I felt like this is a much-needed request, additional recreational space for the boat ramp and especially new restroom facilities,” Pruitt said.

Council also approved a resolution allowing the county to transfer the new funds coming in for the boat ramp project to the Capital Project Sales Tax Fund.

County council voted on two rezoning requests — one that will let a woman build a home and another allowing a longtime business owner to sell his convenience store.

Mattie Roberson, the owner of 121 Cannon Road, requested 1.95 acres of her property to be rezoned from single-family residential to agricultural zoning. She said she lives in a rental home, but had contacted Clayton Homes and set up to have a manufactured home put on the property.

“I bought that land to move here and live in Greenwood,” she told council.

She ran into an issue — R-1 zoning does not allow building manufactured homes. Roberson requested a rezoning to AG-1, but the Greenwood City/County Planning Commission recommended denying the request.

Planning Director Phil Lindler said AG-1 allows for manufactured homes on lots of 7,500 square feet, but clarified that AG-3 zoning would allow a manufactured home while prohibiting any use of that land for a mobile or manufactured home park. After amending the ordinance to adjust from AG-1 to AG-3, council unanimously approved second reading of Roberson’s request.

The other zoning change was of the 0.38 acres that Promised Land Grocery sits on. The request came from Thomas Hughes on behalf of the convenience store’s owner, Willie J. Thomas Jr.

Thomas wants to sell the store, which has been in operation for about 50 years. He wants to keep the back portion of his property to incorporate it into his home. He requested the land at 3704 McCormick Highway be rezoned from Rural Development District to Neighborhood Commercial. The rezoning ordinance passed unanimously.

Council also approved appointments of members to several commissions and boards. City Council member Betty Boles, County Council member Melissa Spencer and former Greenwood Mayor Welborn Adams were all re-appointed to the GLAMNS Commission. Tony Booth was reappointed to the Locksley Hall special tax district commission, and Kym Kirby was appointed to it for the first time.

Steve Coleman, director of Project Genesis at Piedmont Technical College and head of MODELS Academy, was appointed to the Joint Board of Zoning Appeals. The BZA has the final say in appeals over alleged errors in handling an order, requirement or decision, among other responsibilities.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Jan 5, 2022

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-council-approves-boat-ramp-contract/article_0de48e8f-fd12-514c-b983-3a416d903d0f.html

Public meetings

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MONDAY

GREENWOOD CITY COUNCIL

TIME: 5 p.m.

LOCATION: 520 Monument St., room 207

AGENDA: Executive session — 1. Consider executive session to discuss the performance review of city manager. Public hearings: 1. Consider ordinance number 21-032 to authorize the city manager to issue CPW revenue bond anticipation notes in 2022, second reading. 2. Consider ordinance number 21-033 to levy tax for the city of Greenwood for 2022, second reading. 3. Consider ordinance number 21-034 to adopt the budgets for 2022, second reading. 4. Consider ordinance number 21-035 to adopt hospitality budget line item for 2022, second reading. 5. Consider ordinance number 21-036 authorizing city manager and city clerk to execute an extension of the existing site lease agreement between the city of Greenwood and the Greenwood Torso Soccer Club, second reading. Public appearances: 1. Recognize Bishop Oliver McCray of Morris Chapel Baptist Church. 2. Recognize Fire Chief Terry Strange for life saving award presentation to Chad Israel and Kevin Smith and recognition of Chez Goznell and Elliott Layne for their completion of the Georgia Smoke Divers certification. 3. Recognize Mr. Dallas Rappley representing 2Spoonz Hurricanes 11U football team. 4. Recognize Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation site Director Christopher Thomas for presentation of the Mays Legacy Award to city council. New business: 1. Consider ordinance number 22-001 Amending the city of Greenwood’s official zoning map by rezoning five parcels of land encompassing approximately 1.5 acres located at 310, 314, 316 and 318 West Cambridge Ave. and 329 West Cambridge Ave. from GC-GW (general commercial/Greenwood Main Street corridor overlay) to OP-GW (office professional/Greenwood Main Street Corridor Overlay) and one parcel of land encompassing approximately 0.64 acres located at 356 West Cambridge Ave. from GC (General commercial) to OP (office professional), first reading.

DUE WEST TOWN COUNCIL

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: 103 Main St.

AGENDA: Legislation: A. Ordinance number 05-2021, Second reading, an ordinance to adopt the model business license ordinance in accordance with the business license standardization act. B. Ordinance number 06-2021, second reading, an ordinance to change the property at the corner of Gordon Street and Carver Street Extension, formerly Carver School, parcel ID 035-09-03-005 from residential R-3 to commercial C-1. Old business: 1. Intergovernmental agreement by and between the county of Abbeville and the town of Due West to provide ambulance services to the residents and property owners within the town of Due West. Announcements: 1. MASC’s on-demand online courses consist of six sessions. For more information and to gain access to the free training sessions, visit masc.sc. 2. The Due West Police Department will be addressing squirrel problems between the dates of Dec. 20-Dec. 30 between the hours of 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Any resident experiencing problems with squirrels may contact the police department or Due West Public Works. 3. Town offices will be closed for Christmas holiday on Dec. 24, 27 and 28 and for New Year’s Day on Jan. 3. 4. The January 2022 and February 2022 council meetings will be held on the second Monday due to holidays (Jan. 10 and Feb. 14).

TUESDAY

GREENWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

TIME: 4 p.m.

LOCATION: Greenwood County Library

AGENDA: Executive session at 4 p.m. Regular public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Presentation and acceptance of Manley Garvin FY2021 final audit — Josh Garvin. New business: A. Consideration of awarding a contract for county internet and phone system — Anita Baylor, procurement officer. B. Consideration of construction contract for boat ramp — Josh Skinner, CPST coordinator. C. Consideration of contract award for the landfill design and consultant services — Rob Russian, public works director. D. Consideration of the appointment of special tax district commissioners for the following subdivisions — Steffanie Dorn, county treasurer: Spring Valley — Brad Scruggs (reappointment), District Three and Spring Valley — Joel Ridings (appointment), District Three. E. Update from the county treasurer’s office — Steffanie Dorn, county treasurer. F. Resolution 2021-44 to consider budget amendment using carryover surplus funds from fiscal year 2020 — Steffanie Dorn, county treasurer. G. Resolution 2021-45 to transfer and close EMS/fire station construction funds — Steffanie Dorn, county treasurer H. Resolution 2021-46 outlining principles governing redistricting process — Carson Penney, county attorney. I. Resolution 2021-47 to consider the approval of Greenwood School District 50 property sale — Carson Penney, county attorney. First readings: 1. Ordinance 2021-33 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that one parcel of land totaling approximately 1.95 acres, located at 121 Cannon Road in Greenwood, South Carolina which changes zoning classifications from R-1 (single family residential) to AG-1 (agricultural)(title only) — Phil Lindler, planning director. 2. Ordinance 2021-34 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that a portion of one parcel of land totaling approximately 0.38 acres, located at 3704 McCormick highway in Greenwood, South Carolina which changes zoning classifications from RDD (rural development district) to C-1 (neighborhood commercial)(title only) — Phil Lindler, planning director.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Dec 18, 2021

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/community/public-meetings/public-meetings/article_3bea4945-4693-55f2-998d-d206dbe768e9.html

Greenwood County approves new fire station, PIO position

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Greenwood County is looking for help telling its stories.

In a 4-2 vote Tuesday night, Greenwood County Council approved funding a public information officer position. The job description wasn’t laid out at the meeting, but Councilman Robbie Templeton said he was “thrilled” to cast his vote in favor of funding the role.

“I just think we have such a great story to tell in Greenwood, and we tend to be reactive rather than proactive with that,” he said. “We have so many great things to tell, and if we can find the right person to tell our story, it will help with workforce and economic development.”

Public information officers are typically responsible for handling public communication. Templeton said with County Manager Toby Chappell and attorney Carson Penney busy handling administrative and legal matters, a PIO would be free to pursue gathering and sharing the sides of Greenwood not always seen.

The position will be funded through a combination of $12,947 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, $2,158 from an Emergency Management Performance Grant and $43,155 from the Economic Development department in the county’s general fund. Councilwoman Edith Childs and Councilman Mark Allison voted against creating the job. Childs said she didn’t think it was necessary, and Allison said it was hard to justify creating a new role when costs seem to be rising.

Council also approved the contract to build its sixth and final fire station of the Capital Project Sales Tax. This station will be on Morgan Road in Hodges, across from Walt’s Shoals Junction Station. CPST Coordinator Josh Skinner said the station would add 103 new structures to the county fire service area.

The Gordon Group was the low bidder for the station’s construction contract at $403,266, Skinner said. The two-bay station will include a bathroom, office and a storage and training room. Despite being similar to the other stations built, Skinner said this one is the most expensive yet because of rising construction costs.

“We were kind of expecting it based on what we had heard,” Skinner said. “It’s the same exact station as the other two base stations.”

With this sixth station, Skinner said 99.6% of the homes in Greenwood County will be within five miles of a fire station.

In her update to council, County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn said the county’s auditors completed their field work after three weeks in her office. With no questions from the auditors so far, she said she hopes to present the audit at the Dec. 21 council meeting.

Dorn said so far this fiscal year Greenwood County has spent about 29% of its general fund budget, an improvement from its expected spending of about 33%. Local accommodations tax collections are still beneath pre-COVID-19 levels, but she said they’ve seen an increase over 2020.

So far, Greenwood County has collected 46.6% of its allowed CPST funds despite being about 53% through with the project period.

“We expect our collections will continue to grow,” Dorn said. “The difference is an expected difference.”

Dorn said she still thinks the county will collect 95% to 99% of its expected CPST revenues, barring any economic disaster.

During district reports, Councilman Theo Lane shared some news from his employer, Duke Energy. As district manager for government and community relations at Duke, Lane said he worked with staff at the company to secure $90,000 to donate to various efforts in Greenwood.

Lane said $25,000 is going to the county fire and EMS services and $10,000 to provide free travel vouchers as needed for Greenwood’s public transportation through McCormick Area Transit. Another $10,000 each is going to the Boys and Girls Club of the Lakelands, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Lander University’s nursing program and Piedmont Technical College’s MODELS Academy. He said $5,000 each will go to the Food Bank of Greenwood, Pathway House and the Lander student food bank.

“Around Thanksgiving, we always focus on food insecurity,” Lane said. “I thank council, but it really got me thinking in this regard about three months ago.”

Council Chairman Chuck Moates thanked Lane for his work securing these donations.

“Christmas has come early,” he said.

In other news:

Council unanimously approved dissolving the Magnolia Place Special Tax District. One resident spoke in favor of dissolving the district and doing away with the special tax.

Council had first reading on an ordinance to continue the use of a fire support uniform service charge on parcels in the county’s unincorporated areas.

Pam Willis was appointed a commissioner of the Grace Court Townhomes special tax district.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Nov 17, 2021

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-approves-new-fire-station-pio-position/article_372487d6-bef9-5e5d-8f1c-6feb7d58a7af.html

Greenwood County unveils tribute to Steve Brown in library

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For the first time since his death, Steve Brown’s face appeared at a Greenwood County Council meeting.

At Tuesday’s meeting, county Veterans Affairs Director Rosalind Burke presented to Brown’s family a display featuring a picture of Brown, his medals earned while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and other memorabilia commending his service to his country.

Sgt. Brown served for four years as a Marine, trained in radar-jamming technology and serving as a combat aircrewman in three combat missions.

“Sgt. Brown’s actions are a credit to the United States Marine Corps, and to the United States of America,” Burke said. “Mr. Brown was a very dedicated advocate to the veterans affairs in Greenwood, to the veteran Greenwood community and to his United States military, which he so proudly served.”

Brown’s wife, Beverly, and children, Gavin and Meagan, joined Burke in revealing the display. Council chairperson Chuck Moates thanked Burke and Brown’s family for attending the meeting and gave praise to those responsible for putting a tribute to Brown in the room council regularly meets.

“He served for decades as the Greenwood city manager and for, I believe, eight-plus years as a member and chairman of this Greenwood County Council,” Moates said. “His service to Greenwood County and his dedication to serving the citizens of Greenwood County was, without a doubt, exemplary and commendable.”

Council revisited their previous vote on amending the Wingert Road Planned Development District to allow for C&C Metal Recycling to have a pull-apart salvage yard on its property. A previous vote to approve the change failed because of a tied vote while two council members were absent, but council voted at its last meeting to re-visit their vote.

Council approved the change in a 4-2 vote, with Councilwoman Edith Childs and Moates voting against. The change allows C&C to move forward with its goals for a pull-apart operation. This is intended to salvage parts from cars intended for scrap, and to sell those parts at a reduced rate for people looking for used car components.

Council also approved a countywide change that will allow for accessory dwelling units, sometimes known as “granny flats.” The unanimous vote amended the county’s zoning ordinance to allow property owners with an existing dwelling to build one ADU on a property that’s at least five acres. These ADUs can only be up to 1,000 square feet.

Local internet company WCFiber entered a 20-year fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement in exchange for a capital investment in Greenwood County of at least $19 million. Council unanimously approved the tax incentive agreement, with an amendment to count about $7 million of existing broadband infrastructure work the company has installed this year.

The agreement has WCFiber set to install broadband infrastructure in five areas, encompassing a total of about 2,530 addresses that can receive internet service. The company is set to install this infrastructure from 2022 to 2026, but if the “take rate” — the percent of subscribers relative to the parcels the service lines pass — for any of the five areas is less than 50%, the company is not obligated to continue building in subsequent areas, according to the agreement.

Capital Project Sales Tax Coordinator Josh Skinner gave council a quarterly update on the county’s projects. This quarter saw $2,929,724 in tax revenue for the CPST, with about $41 million collected to date. The county has spent less than it has taken in so far, but with several projects about to begin, he said expenditures will match revenues.

Bids went out Sept. 21 for one of the largest sets of projects, park improvements. Skinner said officials are working with the lowest bidder to reduce the over-budget cost of the projects, which will bring upgrades to the Grace Street, Foundry and Ninety Six parks next, along with bike trails and other improvements.

The county is finalizing a contract for the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historic Preservation Site’s auditorium, and bids went out Tuesday on a boating facility on Lake Greenwood’s shores.

Next quarter’s revenue check is going toward upgrading area law enforcement’s records management systems, along with the second phase of county park improvements. This will include the Wilbanks Sports Complex, the former site of the Greenwood Civic Center.

Council members asked whether CPST tax revenues are on pace to meet the income goal of about $89 million by the end of the tax’s lifespan. County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn said if it comes up short, it might be by about 5%.

“The way numbers were coming in during the first part of this tax collection, I wasn’t sure we were going to make it,” she said.

Income hasn’t grown much following a dip from the coronavirus pandemic, but Dorn said retail experts expect spending to grow in the next quarter.

“So many of the projects, the costs have expanded,” Moates said.

Where price tags have increased, Dorn said the county has found ways to scale projects back or find other sources of funding to pay for the overage. The county is not pulling funds intended for future projects to pay for ones underway today, she said.

In other news:

County unanimously approved two boundary line adjustments for lakeside properties on Grand Harbor Boulevard and Cape Charles Court. The former received 0.03 acres of county property, while the latter received 0.04 acres.

The Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office had delinquent invoices from Carolina Recording Systems, the company that provides recording services for 911 calls. Dorn said the state office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs reimburses 80% of the cost for this service, and council approved spending $29,660.40 to pay Carolina Recording Systems.

The commissioners of the Magnolia Place Special Tax District requested to dissolve. Dorn said in asking residents their opinions, she learned many didn’t know they lived in a special tax district, or what that meant. The commissioners sought to dissolve over the $10 per lot fee the county introduced last year for special tax districts.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Nov 3, 2021

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-unveils-tribute-to-steve-brown-in-library/article_75c41f2c-6705-53aa-8898-0f65b2316383.html