We mentioned it before, but it’s certainly worth mentioning again, especially as high school football more officially gets underway following the various jamborees in the area. And that is, our school districts’ leadership does deserve kudos for rolling out some swift plans aimed at averting the type of violence as was witnessed last week at Greenwood High, host of the latest jamboree.

Also as previously noted, these are good steps and certainly warranted, but no one should get too comfortable and think to themselves, “There. Everything’s gonna be all right now.” Be ever vigilant.

A level of cooperation among Greenwood city and county officials warrants a thumbs up. This week, the county fire service and city fire department signed what amounts to a mutual aid agreement. In short, one will help the other as needed without concern for city and county boundaries. This agreement, in case you missed it, pertains only to fire calls and not medical calls. But it’s a great step they have taken.

Also of note and worthy of yet another thumbs up is the county’s report that its penny sales tax collection that funds the list of capital improvement projects throughout Greenwood County remains on track to collect the full amount originally anticipated.

Thumbs up and congratulations to Carol Coleman. The Greenwood native has returned home after some coastal stints to head up the joint city-county planning department following the retirement of Phil Lindler.

Having visited and worked in other areas of the state and even world, Coleman will bring an interesting perspective to the job. She has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly of planning elsewhere and here, but it is her love for where she grew up that will guide her decisions. She’s not so naïve as to think Greenwood’s city or county will ever be what it was — no, the A&P, JCPenney and Belk are not coming back to Main Street — or that they can or should aspire to be what they once were. But we believe she will help steer planning with the very best interests of the city and county not only in mind, but also in heart.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Aug 19, 2022

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-on-safety-cooperation-projects-and-planning/article_36244a21-235f-592b-bc56-085a1f90b668.html

Greenwood County Council had much to be grateful for at Tuesday’s meeting.

Councilman Dayne Pruitt, of Ninety Six, thanked Economic Development Director James Bateman for bringing industrial recruitment efforts closer to his hometown. Bateman asked council to approve a marketing right and option agreement between members of the Adams family, who own about 425 acres near Ninety Six. The agreement, Bateman said, would allow for marketing the property as a potential industrial site for incoming businesses. The agreement passed unanimously.

Council also approved a bid for timber sales to Walker and Walker Logging, which made a bid of $522,730 for about 215 acres worth of timber from the county. County Engineer Rett Templeton said the funds would go toward the Greenwood County Airport.

The Greenwood County Fire Service and Greenwood City Fire Department made official something that’s been in the works for a while — the two agencies asked council to accept an automatic aid agreement between them. County Fire Chief Steve Holmes said 75% of the county’s fire calls are within four districts close to the city. This agreement would have city firefighters automatically respond to county calls in those four districts, and the county will offer its aid to calls in the city.

The agreement only covers fire calls, not medical, Holmes said, though both agencies are more than willing to work with one another on any call when needed. The agreement passed unanimously.

Capital Project Sales Tax Coordinator Josh Skinner gave his quarterly update on CPST collections and project progress. The revenue check that came in July was for more than $3 million, and County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn’s estimates show the county likely collecting 100% of the expected revenue from the penny sales tax. It’s raked in $50.54 million so far.

Skinner said July’s check is going mostly toward the renovation of the former Civic Center site into the Wilbanks Sports Complex. Skinner gave updates on projects, saying workers had broken ground on the parks in Hodges and Troy, and at Magnolia Park. For the Grace Street Park expansion, demolition of the old water treatment plant is complete and staff has selected a designer and builder for phase two. Foundry Park’s bids came in about a month ago, but Skinner said staff is negotiating the price down as it’s currently over budget. The Ninety Six town park is also over budget, he said, and staff is seeking to tweak the project to bring the cost down to $350,000.

The boat ramp on Highway 72/221 has some of its concrete poured, but Skinner said they’re waiting on the restroom building to be delivered and installed before pouring the parking lot. Ware Shoals officials are negotiating changes to the sewer line project there, but Skinner said the Ninety Six water line project is wrapping up, as is the J.C. Fox Boozer Complex.

Next quarter’s revenue check will fund the Wilbanks project, along with the next step in the fire master plan: building a joint training facility.

In other business:

Council approved, 5-1, a boundary line agreement that gave 0.22 acres of county land to Travis Larson at 110 Dunn Lane.

Council approved second reading of an ordinance to remove two properties on Hospitality Boulevard from the multi-county business park. The city of Greenwood requested this since the properties have changed hands and are no longer receiving an incentive from being in the business park.

WCTel and Brightspeed Broadband requested council’s support in applying for grants from the state Office of Regulatory Staff, and council voted to support both companies.

Renovations at the county office building at Park Plaza are set to be finished up as work on the elections office ends. Next is work on the economic development offices, and Dorn asked council to transfer $184,462 from the general fund to complete the renovations.

Council had first reading on an ordinance that would set standards for the construction and maintenance of marine structures on Lake Greenwood. County Attorney Carson Penney said this would require dock builders to be licensed marine contractors.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Aug 17, 2022

By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/cpst-collections-on-track-city-county-firefighters-deepen-ties/article_65915c94-35d1-5867-824a-b2323d6d6761.html

The Piedmont Technical College (PTC) Area Commission presented the college’s 2022 Innovation Team of the Year Award to the PTC Economic Development Team at a meeting this year.

Members of the team include: President Dr. Hope E. Rivers, Dean of Engineering and Industrial Technology Dr. Alvie Coes III, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Continuing Education Rusty Denning, readySC™ Area Director Susan Heath, Mechatronics Technology Program Director Sam George, Machine Tool Technology Program Director Phillip Calhoun, Welding Program Director Jim Ladd, and Training Coordinator Trish Buis.

“This team has shown the utmost commitment to economic growth and collaboration in our seven-county service area,” Commission Chair Richard Cain said. “They have a vision, develop strategies, and continue to follow through with innovative projects that benefit our students, businesses, and communities. In way of thanks, the Commission is pleased to bestow this well-deserved recognition.”

When business and industry members of PTC’s multiple program advisory boards talk, the college listens, takes meticulous notes, and ultimately takes responsive action in partnership with its community. From that dialogue comes years of strategic planning not only to address workforce concerns but to build incentives for new investment in the region. PTC is a powerful resource in attracting new business investment. Its continually updated curriculum programs are offered to accommodate the most up-to-date industry workforce needs. The 2021 opening of the William H. “Billy” O’Dell Upstate Center for Advanced Manufacturing Excellence in Greenwood is a recent example of that responsiveness.

When the O’Dell Center was still an idea, all stakeholders understood it would be an ambitious — and expensive — undertaking that required innovative funding strategies, mechanisms and diversified investments. Spearheaded by the PTC Economic Development Team, the completed O’Dell Center is the culmination of years-long collaborations with state, county and federal governments, as well as support from the forward-thinking Greenwood taxpayers who passed a Capital Project Sales Tax ballot measure to help fund it.

The showplace O’Dell Center features 45,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, flexible training space, and the college’s core industrial programs. In addition, the facility offers adaptable training space for manufacturers’ use in preparing new employees or upskilling existing employees.

“The state-of-the-art facility has hosted numerous tours for visiting prospects, all of whom are most impressed with offerings in mechatronics, welding, machine tool/CNC, and customizable programs to meet their needs,” James Bateman, economic development director for Greenwood County, said in a letter supporting recognition for the team. “The partnership between PTC and readySC™ that can utilize flexible laboratory space at the O’Dell Center for new industries’ workforce training is an advantage that differentiates Greenwood County from other communities competing for economic development projects.”

PTC’s expanding capacity to train people for advanced manufacturing jobs is an important factor in Teijin Carbon Fiber’s decision to locate in Greenwood. The college also works with readySC™ to create custom training programs for local manufacturers opening facilities or expanding existing sites.

Recruitment of Teijin to Greenwood reinforced PTC’s vital role in the region’s economic development efforts. In fact, the O’Dell Center and the PTC Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Laurens County, are regular tour stops for prospective industries that are in the process of site selection.

The college’s tactical investments in new technologies and capital improvements have strengthened its corporate partnerships and, accordingly, expanded apprenticeship opportunities available to students. One example is Lonza, a global supply chain manufacturer serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nutrition industries, which operates a manufacturing facility in Greenwood.

Lonza recently partnered with PTC and Apprenticeship Carolina™ to address its need for maintenance technicians. With newly registered apprenticeships, the company has created a structured training program for critically important roles in maintenance, electronics, and a hybrid of mechanical and electrical disciplines. The apprenticeships not only fill Lonza’s immediate workforce needs, but also helps ensure that Lonza employees receive the training and experience necessary to succeed and grow in their roles with the company.

In addition, Lonza and PTC have forged a strategic partnership to recruit employees from the college’s Mechatronics Technology Program. Lonza has created an innovative work-based learning program that allows mechatronics students to take advantage of convenient six-hour shifts at the company while pursuing their studies at PTC. To date, 13 PTC students have participated in this model program.

PTC’s Career Coordinator position was created in partnership with The Greenwood Promise. That individual, Trae Cary, works alongside the Promise executive director to ensure Promise-eligible students have the opportunity to participate in work-based learning and to ensure that students are connected with employment opportunities after graduation.

Business growth and success often generates a pass-along, beneficial effect, and that is the case with PTC apprenticeships. PTC partners with many key industry leaders on apprenticeship programs, including Stoll Industries in Abbeville County, Diana Pet Food, and Ascend Performance Materials in Greenwood County. The success of these programs stimulates interest among other potential apprenticeship partners, and the growth chain is continued.

Would you like to work for an organization that truly values you? To view PTC job opportunities, go to www.ptc.edu/jobs.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Jul 27, 2022

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/lakelands_connector/ptc-innovation-team-of-the-year-redefines-creative-collaboration/article_c6246345-9cb5-5a1d-b8da-a9953ebb3804.html

There’s no tax hike in Greenwood County’s 2023 budget, although the county fire fee might be going up.

Greenwood County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn debuted the 2023 fiscal year budget for County Council at its meeting Tuesday.

The bottom line: No changes to millage rates, inflation has increased some of the county’s costs, the county is budgeting for several new hires and a change in the county’s fire service fees will have most people spending a little more than a dollar extra each month to fund six new firefighters.

Dorn gave council an overview of the changes. The county is spending nearly 24% more on employer health insurance premiums and a likely 17% more on vehicle, building and liabilities premiums. Dorn has planned for an extra $180,000 for increased fuel costs.

She was excited to share with council that county staff will get a 3% cost-of-living pay increase. The county saw a 5% increase in property values, and an similar increase in state funding from the Local Government Fund.

The county will see about $200,000 in savings from cutting retiree health benefits, a decision council made in September 2021.

While taxes aren’t rising, the county’s fire service fees will be going up. The vacant land fee is increasing from a range of $5-$50 to $10-$100. For all other categories of the fire service fee, the fee is increasing 20%; which amounts to about $13 a year.

Council unanimously approved final reading of an ordinance that brings sandwich manufacturing company E.A. Sween to Greenwood County. Previously identified as Project River, Sween will be spending $37.9 million to build a manufacturing site in the North Greenwood Industrial Park, where the company bought the speculative building put there with Capital Project Sales Tax funds.

Josh Skinner, Capital Project Sales Tax coordinator, asked council to approve a contract with Carolina Gold Construction to demolish the old driveways at the Northwest and Coronaca volunteer fire stations and pour new ones. Skinner said the driveways were in need of repair, and the bid of $201,452 covers removing the old, pouring the new and testing the new concrete, along with some other additions. Council approved moving forward with the contract.

Council approved second reading of an ordinance to rezone several properties on Boulware Drive and New Zion Road from the Rural Development District to single-family residential.

The change would allow one resident to subdivide their property and build a house for relatives, and other property owners asked to join the request because single-family zoning offers protections on future land use in the neighborhood. William Booker, one of the residents and a member of the planning commission, abstained from voting on the matter but expressed his support for rezoning at the council meeting. Council unanimously approved the request’s second reading.

In other business:

Council approved second reading of an ordinance to dissolve the Northfall Acres special tax district, which was formed to pay off a debt that will be paid off in June.

Council also approved appointment of Jerry Chastain to the Wellington Green tax district, Frank E. Jackson to Druid Hills, Sharon B. Swofford to Hunters Glen and Loy Sartin to Ammonwood.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:May 17, 2022

By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/no-tax-increase-in-greenwood-countys-2023-budget/article_3448dd8d-1016-543a-bfed-a884f771004e.html

Two Greenwood veterans are bringing a new restaurant to Lake Greenwood.

Taps at the Panorama will bring a veteran-owned craft beer venue to the lake, courtesy of Charles Thomas, Dave Donley and their families. Both veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, Thomas and Donley said while the finer details of the restaurant are not worked out, it’s going to be a veteran-themed restaurant with a laid-back atmosphere, outdoor seating and food to complement the brews.

“We’re all military people,” Thomas said. “We became friends over the years and we think it’s obvious: There’s a need on the south end of the lake.”

Taps will be located at the former site of the Panorama restaurant on the lake, along Ninety Six Highway near Seasons by the Lake. Donley said his hope is to make it a place where people can make memories and enjoy each other’s company.

“It’s great doing this with friends, we’ve had an absolute riot putting this together,” he said.

The new restaurant was among the announcements at Tuesday’s Life on the Lake Summit, Connect Lake Greenwood’s annual lake social and update on all things lake life. Jimmy Peden, CLG chairperson, said he was excited about the new restaurant alongside all the other developments coming.

CLG used to be a branch of the Greenwood S.C. Chamber of Commerce, but in January split off to become its own nonprofit serving all the counties connected by Lake Greenwood.

“We felt like we could be a neutral group with Greenwood, Laurens and Newberry,” Peden said. “We’re more than just events and the fireworks show at Lights on the Lake.”

CLG was a big proponent of the Lake Greenwood Master Plan, and since creating their first master plan in 2015 more than 50 projects detailed in the plan have been completed. These ranged from adding signage on the Highway 221/72 bridge and putting lights on the undersides of bridges to installing a lakeside walking trail at the state park.

Now the lake is ready for another master plan, and Peden said the county’s request for qualification is due soon, meaning a new master plan should be completed this year.

Aside from a campaign to make boaters aware of a new no-wake law passed earlier this year in South Carolina, Peden said CLG is working with partners throughout the lake community to facilitate economic development along Lake Greenwood’s waters while maintaining the lake’s natural beauty.

You can’t put the brakes on growth now, Peden said. People are snatching up lakeside real estate, and they’re looking to move to the area, start businesses and build.

“The secret is out,” he said.

Other guests gave updates on lake matters. Greenwood County Council member Dayne Pruitt assured lake lovers that he and other county officials have been working with Greenville-area officials to monitor the status of the Lake Conestee Dam. The dam, which is aged and was in poor condition, holds back toxic sediment that could flow down the Saluda River if the dam were to fail.

Greenwood County Sheriff Dennis Kelly showed off a new 23-foot patrol boat replacing a previous, older patrol boat. He said officers will be patrolling the lake’s waters during upcoming holiday weekends and popular lake events.

Josh Skinner, the county’s Capital Project Sales Tax coordinator, said through penny tax funds, state dollars and a Department of Natural Resources grant, the county has received about $810,000 for the boat ramps being installed at the Highway 72/221 bridge near Break on the Lake. He expects the work, which includes expanded parking by the ramps, an outdoor pavilion and a restroom facility, will be finished by late August.

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

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/new-restaurant-is-coming-to-lake-greenwood/article_0bb3a90e-01e9-5d46-bf56-a6fd67d70901.html