Greenwood County Council honors The Salvation Army in Greenwood for its 100th anniversary

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For 100 years, The Salvation Army has ministered to the needy in the community. Greenwood County Council honored the organization Tuesday for its achievement.

“We are so proud of what The Salvation Army has meant to Greenwood,” Chairperson Steve Brown said.

As Brown read the proclamation, he asked the two pastors who serve on council — Vice Chairperson Chuck Moates and Council members Melissa Spencer — to present the proclamation to Maj. Jason Hughes.

“We appreciate what you do,” Brown said to Hughes.

The organization distributed more than 150,000 pounds of food in the last years and more than 1 million pounds of food in the history of the organization’s time in Greenwood County.

“They give hope to individuals,” Brown said.

Hughes said he and the organization were blessed to be in this community.

“The Salvation Army is a tool that can be used by each community,” Hughes said.

Moates was reminded of scripture when thinking about the work of the organization.

“You put flesh to Jesus’ words,” Moates said as he quoted Matthew 25:40.

Council approved a contract with Palmetto Group Construction to construct the enhancements to the J.C. Boozer Athletic Facility as funded by the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax. Josh Skinner, the county’s CPST coordinator, provided council with the final numbers for the contract. The county’s final cost estimate for the contract was $884,473, just under the project’s budget of $887,994.

Skinner said the amount would cover renovating the facility to the site plan that was approved and offer better lighting for ballfields. However, the amount does not include a centralized restroom facility or renovations to the existing restrooms. Those specific parts of the project will be rebid and will be funded from another yet-to-be determined source.

Council members voted to approve the conversion of a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the Eaton facility on West Alexander Road. County Economic Development Director James Bateman said the conversion was to bring the FILOT up to the current simple fee process that the county has been using in recent years.

Council approved the rezoning of more than 41 acres at 3600 Old Laurens Road from R-1 residential zoning to light industrial zoning. The property is owned by Greenwood CPW and was recently de-annexed from the Greenwood City limits. CPW plans to develop the property into a pad-ready site for a future economic development tenant.

Council approved a resolution giving preliminary approval to incentives for an industrial solar farm — code name Project Cosmos — on first reading in title only to an ordinance related to a FILOT agreement on the project.

Council approved an ordinance on second reading that would allow Self Regional Healthcare to refinance revenue bonds to gain a lower interest rate. Self’s Chief Financial Officer Tim Evans said the refinance would save $6 million.

Council also approved the purchase of three trucks for the roads department using funds saved from staffing vacancies in the department.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:May 5, 2021

 By JAMES HICKS jhicks@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-council-honors-the-salvation-army-in-greenwood-for-its-100th-anniversary/article_9495f69a-0b1e-5726-a5da-1eb318ea5c4e.html

Our View: On helping others, tax collection and SC prioritization

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Bob Koch, some of us might think your bucket list is a bit much, but you surely deserve a thumbs up for turning high-risk adventures into financial pluses for deserving organizations.

Koch was featured earlier this week in a story about his plans to paddle more than 1,000 miles of shoreline along the Mississippi River. But why simply fulfill a personal wish-list item when you can turn it into a fundraiser? Koch did that when he hiked the Appalachian Trail, raising dollars for Mercy Flight, and now his paddling will raise money for The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakelands Region.

Against all odds? Well, apparently not.

People who have boosted sales tax collections in Greenwood County get a thumbs up because at this point it appears the county’s projected tax collection total to fund a number of capital projects is closer to fruition.

At one point, the voter-approved Capital Project Sales Tax initiative appeared to be headed toward a substantial shortfall, as much as $20 million, which would have stymied about a third of the initiatives intended to be funded. However, collections are apparently humming along well and if there is a shortfall, it might be closer to $4 million, which would likely mean only one project would be put on hold.

And that’s a good thing.

What’s the new state flag gonna look like? When can CWP holders walk around with their guns exposed? Who can compete in boys’ sports? Girls’ sports?

As the state legislative session winds down, those seem to be more important matters than, say, closing the Charleston loophole to allow for more effective gun buyer background checks.

They’re more important than addressing state poverty and jobs. They’re more important than focusing more on our state’s public education system and the need to ensure all South Carolina children are getting at least a “minimally adequate” education, per the state constitution, when they all should be afforded far more than minimally adequate.

Please, lawmakers, focus more on what is truly in the best interest of the state overall and less on what will get a few constituents fired up and you reelected. That’s not a blanket assessment of lawmakers, but all too often it’s easy to see where priorities go astray.

With that said, we’ll point the thumb sideways. We haven’t seen the final results, so some in Columbia will likely get a thumbs up, some a thumbs down.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Apr 30, 2021

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-on-helping-others-tax-collection-and-sc-prioritization/article_524eba63-3221-5a3f-bd67-4e9ebe612871.html

CPST rakes in record revenue with latest check

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Greenwood County received another record quarterly haul of revenue from the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax.

“It’s the highest amount we have received to date,” CPST coordinator Josh Skinner said at Tuesday’s County Council meeting.

April’s check from the state Department of Revenue totaled $2,748,986.51.The revenue is based on sales tax collected between December and February. This revenue beat the previous record set in October 2020 — $2,745,695.30 — by just under $3,300.

“This quarter’s revenue continues to show the strength of the economy in Greenwood County,” Greenwood County Manager Toby Chappell said in an email. “The CPST overall continues to move closer to the initial projection with each of these with each of these quarterly revenue installments.”

In 2016, Greenwood County voters approved the penny sales tax to raise $87,938,185 to fund 27 unique capital projects.

“The County Treasurer is projecting that we will reach $83,734,000,” Chappell said. “Which would mean that only one project would not be fully funded.”

Chappell said the Highway 25 South waterline — a $4,895,548 project — would not be accomplished based on the projection. However, Chappell stressed this is only a projection and is subject to fluctuations in the economy, consumer spending habits and other events affecting the Greenwood area.

The outlook for the projects continues to look better. In August, Chappell announced the anticipated shortfall was not as bad as it seemed at only $10 million rather than $20 million. With increased growth in revenue over the past couple of months, the potential shortfall is down to just over $4 million.

Skinner said in an email that close to $2 million of revenue will go to the Highway 246 widening project for pre-construction costs concerning design and engineering. Last month, Greenwood County Council approved the signing of an intergovernmental agreement with SCDOT to administer the project. Skinner said he is waiting on SCDOT to sign the agreement. The project should take about three weeks to complete.

The remaining $827,500.51 in funds from this month’s payment will go to the Ninety Six Mill Village Storm Water Drainage repair. Skinner said a request for qualifications for engineering services was put out earlier this week.

Greenwood County Council approved a contract with The Gordon Group to construct the volunteer fire station on Miller Road in Hodges. Greenwood County Fire Chief Steve Holmes said the station will be a one-bay station and will help extend fire coverage in the area.

Council also approved the purchase of 0.5 acres on Morgan Road in Hodges for $5,000 to construct another volunteer fire station which would add 103 structures to the fire protection map. This is the final station in the fire master plan to have service for 99.6% of the structures in the county, Skinner said.

The design for the J.C. Boozer Athletic Complex might have hit a snag in the bidding process. Skinner said there was only one bidder for the project and the bid price was more than $500,000 over budget. The project manager, Fred Guthier from ADC Engineering, and Brad Cuttill, director of parks and recreation, met with the winning bidder, Palmetto Group Construction, to get the bid lowered to about $345,000 over budget.

“We appreciate Palmetto Group working with us on that because being the only bid they really didn’t have to,” Skinner said.

Skinner said removing the central concessions and restroom facility from the project is an option to get the project under budget. This would result in the bid being $5,000 under budget.

“It would be sad if we spent the money on everything else and then left the old facilities there,” Chairman Steve Brown said.

Skinner said Cuttill has looked at renovating the current concessions building at a reduced cost but would still result in the project being over budget by the cost of renovation.

“We did plan on having that central restroom, concession,” Skinner said.

Councilman Mark Allison said changing the design of the fields by placing the spectator stands in the center will cut down on the distance of the walk to the old concession building.

“That building as you have said is in terrible condition,” Allison said. “But, I do think it is salvageable.”

Allison said using the old concession building can save money. He said $30,000 was dedicated to extending plumbing to the central concession stand while $50,000 would be used to construct a fire lane to the building, both of which would be saved if the county focuses on renovating the old structure.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Apr 26, 2021

By JAMES HICKS jhicks@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/cpst-rakes-in-record-revenue-with-latest-check/article_ac4b4905-6ea7-5b46-a6dd-704761a851dc.html

Ninety Six moves funds for new streets, sanitation equipment

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NINETY SIX — After years of trouble with the existing streets and sanitation equipment, Ninety Six’s town council voted Monday to spend about $74,000 on several new pieces of equipment.

At Monday’s town council meeting in the depot, Mayor Mike Rowe said the town had previously approved up to $75,000 to buy the new equipment, but the final bill ended up being about $74,200. Council voted unanimously to approve spending the cash for a Kubota tractor, a front-end loader and a new mower, along with a grass catcher for the mower, a new grapple bucket and two-year warrantees on the tractor, loader and mower.

Council also approved spending $1,000 for a previously unbudgeted expense — land remediation work on the old Ninety Six Mill site, in preparation for planned remodeling and renovation of the property. Rowe said the town is having to restore part of the land that was graded past where it should have been near a Duke Energy substation.

In committee reports, Councilman Charles Stevens shared that Ninety Six Fire Chief Jeff Crisp plans to step down from his role as chief effective July 1. Rowe said he wanted to consult with the firefighters on who they’d like to lead them, as the town did when Crisp became fire chief.

“I know we’ll have to name a replacement,” Rowe said. “Damon Norman is assistant fire chief, and if it goes past July 1 he can fill in for us … I know we’ve had two people interested in it, but I’d rather go to the fire department and talk with them first.”

Councilwoman Kellar Rogers asked Town Clerk Ketekash Crump-Lukie to set up a meeting with a Municode representative, so the town’s judicial committee can discuss the details of digitizing and reworking the town’s ordinance codebook. She said the town is also looking at grants and other funding sources to tear down the old community center building, which is too far gone to affordably repair.

The town requested hospitality tax funds from Greenwood County last week to help with the S.C. Festival of Stars and the town’s new Bluegrass and Harvest Festival, which is scheduled for Oct. 9, said Councilman Mickey Goodman. The town-wide yard sale is scheduled for May 1, and Goodman gave an overview of a presentation from the Greenwood County Animal Shelter and Humane Society staff about helping control the stray cat population through trapping, spaying or neutering and then releasing them.

Goodman also reminded council that bids are due May 5 on the stormwater drainage system work for the Ninety Six Mill Village under the Greenwood County Capital Projects Sales Tax. Details on the project and the request for qualifications are available online at bit.ly/3v2q1Sf.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Apr 20, 2021

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/ninety-six-moves-funds-for-new-streets-sanitation-equipment/article_5ed274e6-db42-5cab-97f3-160cf06fd274.html

Public meetings

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MONDAY

GREENWOOD CITY COUNCIL

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Greenwood City Building, Municipal Courtroom

AGENDA: Public Hearings: Consider Acceptance of a Petition Requesting the Annexation of one parcel of land, approximately 37.75 acres, located at 1925 Calhoun Road (6837-623-185) owned by Linda Marie Johnson Jenson, James Moscoe Johnson, Jr., William Hughey Johnson, Michael Burnett Johnson and Elizabeth Anna Johnson Eppley, Consider Ordinance No. 21-013 Annexing One Parcel of Land, Approximately 37.75 Acres, Located at 1925 Calhoun Road (6837-623-185) owned by Linda Marie Johnson Jenson, James Moscoe Johnson, Jr., William Hughey Johnson, Michael Burnett Johnson and Elizabeth Anna Johnson Eppley. (1st reading), Consider Ordinance No. 21-014 to Amend the City of Greenwood’s Official Zoning Map (Ordinance No. 04-020) by Rezoning One Parcel of Land, Approximately 37.75 Acres, Located at 1925 Calhoun Road from County AG-1 (Agricultural District) to City R7 (High Density Residential). (1st reading), Consider Ordinance No. 21-015 Amending Ordinance No. 20-027, the City of Greenwood Budgets for 2021. (1st reading); Public appearance: Recognize Velma Caldwell-Wardlaw Representing the Westside Coalition Planning Team, Recognize Michael Berry Requesting Ending the Mask Ordinance; New business: Consider the Appointment of Walter Roark to Replace Calhoun Mays, III, on the Board of Architectural Review, Consider the Appointment of Bryson Bouknight to Replace Sheila Reynolds on the City/County Planning Commission, Consider Executive Session to Discuss a Contractual Arrangement for the Potential use of Property Located on Griffin Avenue.

DUE WEST TOWN COUNCIL

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Due West Town Hall

AGENDA: Recognition of visitors: Boy Scout Troop 54 and Cub Scout Pack 54; Legislation: Fifth supplemental proclamation of a state of emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic dated April 10, 2021, Proclamation: Peace Officers’ Memorial Day on May 15, 2021, Ordinance: No. 01-2021 An ordinance of the Town of Due West, S.C., authorizing the Mayor of the Town of Due West to execute a grant of well water and right-of-way easement for water line with Erskine College for a period of Twenty (20) years, NO. 02-2021 First Reading of Ordinance No. 02-2021 — An ordinance of the Town of Due West, S.C., to repeal Exhibit A, Section 3 “Purpose and Duration” in its entirety, as stated in Ordinance No. 04-2016, and inserting in lieu thereof, attached Exhibit B, which by reference becomes part of the article and Code of Ordinances; Reports; Old business; New business: Fiscal year 2021-2022 department budget session presentations: fire, police, utilities; Announcements: Town Hall will be Closed for Memorial Day on May 31, 2021, Town’s Annual Spring Cleanup will be held on April 19-22, 2021, Prescription Medication Take Back on Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Due West Police Department, 103 Main Street, Due West, SC, Memorial Day’s Retiring of the Colors on May 31, 2021, Corner of Main Street and Strong Circle, Due West, SC. Sponsored by BSA Troop 54.

TUESDAY

GREENWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL

TIME: 4 p.m. — Executive Session, 5:30 p.m. — Regular Meeting

LOCATION: Greenwood County Library

AGENDA: Executive session; Presentations: Proclamation recognizing Coach Kevin Pederson and the Lander University Bearcats Basketball Team, Employee Recognition for First Quarter of 2021, Greenwood County Humane Society update; Public comment: Due to the Video Conference format of the County Council meeting to accommodate the Social Distancing requirement of the Governor, a member of the public will have the option to submit a written Public Comment. If you wish to do so, please submit your comment in writing to the Clerk to County Council via email:smcintyre@greenwoodsc.gov by Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 12:00 Noon. The meeting will be streamed live to the County YouTube Video Channel. Your comment may be read during this portion of the meeting, and will be included with the minutes and records for the meeting. If you wish to attend the meeting in person, there will be a sign up sheet and opportunity to speak during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. Pursuant to Section 2-2-9 of the Code of Ordinances of Greenwood County, as amended April 2, 2013, a member of the public may speak on any listed item appearing on the agenda, with the exception of personnel matters. Please identify the agenda item to which you will be speaking. No speaker will be allowed to speak to multiple agenda items. At the discretion of the Chairman or presiding officer, the length of time for any speaker’s presentation may be limited, and the number of speakers may also be limited; Old business: Public hearings: Second Reading: Ordinance 2021-07 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being Ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that three parcels of land totaling approximately 31.89 acres, located on Gantt Road, in Greenwood South Carolina (GPIN #6865-797-175, 6865-863-106, and 6865-852-123) changes zoning classifications from AG-2 (Agricultural District) to R-2 (Single Family Residential), Ordinance 2021-08 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being Ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that one parcel of land totaling approximately 41.85 acres, located at 3600 Old Laurens Road, in Greenwood South Carolina (GPIN #6858-685-894) changes zoning classifications from R1 (Low Density Residential) to I-1 (Light Industrial), End of public hearings; Ordinance 2021-09 consenting to the conversion of an existing lease agreement between Greenwood County (The “County”) and a company known for the time being as “Project Lake” (The “Company”) to a Fee in Lieu of Tax Agreement pursuant to Title 12, Chapter 44, South Carolina Code, 1976, as amended; authorizing the execution and delivery of a Fee in Lieu of Tax (Conversion) Agreement by and between the County and the Company; Authorizing the reconveyance by the County to the Company of the property subject to such lease agreement; and other related matters; New business: Consideration of H-Tax application for The Museum and Railroad Historical Center in the amount of $8,462.63 for expenses related to the purchase of acrylic barriers for a permanent exhibit, Update from the Capital Project Sales Tax, Consideration of approval of the Contract with The Gordon Group, LLC to build a volunteer fire station on Miller Road in Hodges, SC, Consideration of the approval to purchase 0.5 acres on Morgan Road from Ms. Ellen Bryant for a volunteer fire station, Consideration of Appointment of members to the Greenwood Farmers Market Board, Consideration of Appointment of members to the Joint Planning Commission, Consideration of the Appointment of Special Tax District Commissionersfor the following Subdivisions: Chinquapin – Ann Skinner (New), District Four, Auburn Place – Michael Berry (New), District Six, Auburn Place – Roxie Hasting (New), District Six, Auburn Place – Brittney Wells (New), District Six, Hunter’s Creek – Wilson Bruce (New), District Six, Heathwood – Gay Marshall (Reappointment), District Six, Canterbury – Lisa Emily (Reappointment), District Six, Ammonwood – Whitney Craig (New), District Seven, Update from the County Treasurer’s Office, Consideration of approval to authorize County Manager to sign sub recipient Agreement between the SC Department of Transportation and Greenwood County, Resolution 2021-14 regarding the transfer of funds from Special Appropriations to Parks and Rec budget for Legion Field projects and completed Disc Golf Course, First reading: Ordinance 2021-10 to approve the refunding of all or a portion of the Greenwood County, South Carolina, Hospital Facilities Revenue Bonds (Self Regional Healthcare) Series 2012a and the Greenwood County, South Carolina, Hospital Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds (Self Regional Healthcare) Series 2012b, through the issuance of not exceeding eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) in aggregate principal amount Greenwood County, South Carolina, Hospital Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds (Self Regional Healthcare) which may be issued in one or more series; providing for the issuance and sale of said bonds, the execution and delivery by the county of all instruments, agreements, and documents necessary to accomplish the foregoing; and other matters relating thereto (Title Only); Pending items; District reports; Manager’s report; Attorney’s report; Executive session, if needed.

PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE AREA COMMISSION

TIME: 5:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Zoom: Dial 1-646-558-8656, Meeting ID: 918 8187 3847

AGENDA: Piedmont Technical College Innovator of the Year, Innovation Team of the Year; Academic Affairs: Additions: Pre-Police Academy Training certificate, Fire Science certificate, Surgical Technology Associate Degree, Terminations: Nursing Care certificate, Surgical Technology diploma; Financial review: For approval: Highlights, Budget Status report, revenue, expense, Operating budget 2022, Plant fund projects, facts sheet; President’s report; Commission Chairman comments; Executive session.

MCCORMICK COUNTY COUNCIL

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: McCormick County Administration Center and Virtual: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/877578005

AGENDA: Speakers: Michael Barron — Fire Chief Town of McCormick, Cheryl Daniels — General Manager CPW; Decision items: Ordinance 21-01: AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022, FOR THE MCCORMICK COUNTY BUDGET FOR COUNTY ORDINARY PURPOSES AND FOR OTHER COUNTY PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE COUNTY MAY LEVY A TAX AND RECEIVE REVENUES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAXES ON ALL TAXABLE PERSONAL AND REAL PROPERTY IN MCCORMICK COUNTY FOR ALL COUNTY PURPOSES, INCLUDING SUFFICIENT TAX TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS OF MCCORMICK COUNTY PAYABLE DURING SAID FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS RELATING TO MCCORMICK COUNTY; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING TO THE COUNTY DURING SAID FISCAL YEAR. Council to consider 1st Reading (Title Only), Ordinance 21-02: AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE REVENUE SET RATES, MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND ADOPT A BUDGET FOR COUNTY OF MCCORMICK, WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022. Council to consider 1st Reading (Title Only), Ordinance 21-03: AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE REVENUE, MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND ADOPT A BUDGET FOR SAVANNAH LAKES SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022; AND PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF TAXES NECESSARY TO MEET ALL BUDGET REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR BY OTHER REVENUE SOURCES. Council to consider 1st Reading (Title Only), Ordinance 21-04: AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR ORDINARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1, FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022, TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURES THEREOF. Council to consider 1st Reading (Title Only), Ordinance 21-05: AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE REVENUE, MAKE APPROPRIATIONS AND ADOPT A BUDGET FOR MODOC SPECIAL FIRE TAX DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2022; AND PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF TAXES NECESSARY TO MEET ALL BUDGET REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR BY OTHER REVENUE SOURCES. Council to consider 1st Reading (Title Only), Council to consider appointing Cheryl Daniels to the McCormick County Planning Commission, Council to consider accepting Don Garman’s resignation from the Savannah Lakes Special Tax Commission, Council to consider appointing Ed Slimm to the Savannah Lakes Special Tax Commission to replace Don Garman, Council to consider waiving permit fees for McCormick Commissioners of Public Works Water System Improvements approximately $50,000., Council to consider authorizing Administrator to pay $2,500 from the Economic Development Account to build Zoning Map, Council to consider renewing Emergency Ordinance 20-06: Emergency Facial Covering, Council to consider termination of the existing FILOT agreement since the Milliken Plant closed in McCormick, SC, Council to consider authorizing Administrator to provide letter of permission from McCormick County Government to allow Edgefield County to place its Welcome Sign on the McCormick side of the bridge on Hwy 283 (Plum Branch Rd.); Committee reports; Information: Email from Ray Jones of Parker Poe about Milliken FILOT, DHEC final approval for Dendy & Robinson Road Water Extension, Email from DHEC Community Heroes Award, Rental Assistance Programs Information.

WEDNESDAY

CITY OF GREENWOOD

BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW

TIME: noon

LOCATION: Greenwood City Building, Room 201

AGENDA: H-21-04-01 by Lesley Lane. This is a request for the approval of replacement awnings at 213 Waller Avenue (GPIN # 6845-931-996) in the Uptown Greenwood Overlay District, H-21-04-02 by Lesley Lane. This is a request for the approval of replacement awnings at 219 Waller Avenue (GPIN # 6845-945-986) in the Uptown Greenwood Overlay District, H-21-04-03 by Good Times Brewing. This is a request for the approval of new signage (Good Times Brewing) at 233 Maxwell Avenue (GPIN # 6845-891-931) in the Uptown Greenwood Overlay District, H-21-04-04 by Lettie Jane Haynes. This is a request for the approval of exterior painting at 128 Maxwell Avenue (GPIN # 6845-859-975) in the Uptown Greenwood Overlay District, H-21-04-05 by Princess Wilson. This is a request for the approval of a window sign (“Pretty and Pampered Beauty Bar”) at 130 Maxwell Avenue, Suite 100 (GPIN # 6845-855-973) I the Uptown Greenwood Overlay District; Other business: Streetscape plans, Historical Register Nomination and Survey, Zoning Compliance update.

THURSDAY

GREENWOOD CPW

TIME: 10 a.m.

LOCATION: Greenwood CPW Boardroom

AGENDA: Financial reports: Countybank Report, Financial Statement; Business: Consideration of Dry Polymer Feed System, Microsoft Datacenter Licenses, Painting of Sedimentation Basin Clarifiers, Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring Panel.

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

By James Hicks

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/community/public-meetings/public-meetings/article_b6f19b93-5ea1-5eec-bcae-924bd8e023b9.html

Countywide RMS lets cops share info quickly from their cars

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Cops should be on the same page soon in Greenwood County.

Plans to approve a uniform, countywide digital records management system will make it easier for officers to share information with one another at a moment’s notice.

Currently, officers of the Greenwood Police Department and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office use the same RMS, which allows them to see each others’ calls and know who is responding to which emergency.

“Ninety Six PD, Ware Shoals PD — they all have their own RMS, so we can’t see their reports,” said Jonathan Link, Greenwood Police Department public information officer.

RMS software allows for officers to have a computer in their patrol cars that receive information directly from 911 dispatchers, and to share information about the calls they’re on with other officers on patrol. The location, status and call information of each 911 call is available to officers on their screen, and the information they put into the system is visible by other officers using the same system.

Recently, Greenwood County Council unanimously voted to allow the county to contract with Caliber Public Safety for a new, countywide RMS. The contract will unify the jail, sheriff’s office, Greenwood police department, Ware Shoals and Ninety Six under the same system, for a total cost of $540,000. The price tag came up less than half of the more than $1.3 million allocated for the project.

“Not only is it going to save the county $750,000 from what we budgeted,” Link said, “but one of the big things we’ve fought with is that company A makes the dispatch software, while company B makes the RMS software.”

Currently, the software used to transfer date from dispatchers to officers in the field differs from the software officers use in their patrol vehicles, Link said. The issue is that the two systems aren’t perfectly aligned, so some information from one software system doesn’t transmit easily to the other system. To solve for that, the company that makes the RMS system designed a third piece of software — an interface that allows the two systems to communicate with one another.

Under the countywide agreement with Caliber, the dispatch and RMS systems will transfer data seamlessly, Link said. The software is also cloud based, meaning the data itself isn’t stored on the officers’ computers or on a server at the law enforcement agency’s offices. Instead, the data is stored on a server managed by Caliber, and officers log into the system online.

Link said the Caliber system follows FBI and federal standards for data security.

“I’m 100% on board,” said Bryan Louis, Ware Shoals police chief. “It interlocks us in with the other agencies.”

When Greenwood County deputies respond to a 911 call near Ware Shoals, Ware Shoals officers would be able to see the details of that call under a unified system. Now, with separate systems, officers have to call in to dispatch to get information from other agencies — a countywide, uniform RMS instead puts that information in the officers’ patrol cars.

Ninety Six Police Chief Chris Porter said what he’s seen of the system seems to work smoothly, and he’s excited about the information-sharing capabilities under a uniform system. If Ninety Six officers arrest someone in a burglary case, they can easily check to see if similar burglaries have been reported to other agencies on the same system, to see whether a suspect is connected to cases being investigated by other agencies.

“It’ll cut down on a lot of on-air time and radio traffic,” he said. “I think it’ll make the community a lot safer. We’ve been talking about this for years, but didn’t have the up-front cash to do it.”

The move to a countywide RMS stems from a project approved under the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax.

“Law enforcement is an intelligence-driven business, and we rely on intel,” Link said. “Having all the major players in Greenwood County on the same system is going to make sharing that information a lot easier.”

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Mar 24, 2021

 By DAMIAN DOMINGUEZ ddominguez@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/countywide-rms-lets-cops-share-info-quickly-from-their-cars/article_3e6db66e-c351-5dfd-aa6a-2463625d0641.html

Mays joins Greenwood County Hall of Fame with posthumous honor

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A legendary figure — not only in Greenwood County history but in the history of the United States — was posthumously inducted into the Greenwood County Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“He never sought this kind of recognition or honor,” the Rev. Dwight Powell, great-nephew of Benjamin E. Mays, said of his great-uncle. “It fell on us to recognize who he was and what he was trying to do for us, for the county and for the nation.”

Powell said Mays would be honored and humbled to be inducted if he were still living.

Mays, born in Epworth more than 125 years ago, had a passion for education. He graduated from S.C. State College’s high school department with honors in 1916 and graduated from Bates College four years later. He attended the University of Chicago in 1925 where he received a Master of Arts degree and — later in 1935 — a Doctor of Philosophy.

He was the dean of Howard University’s School of Religion where he participated in three European conferences of the World Council of Churches. During a 1937 world conference of the YMCA in India where Mays served as a delegate, he met with Mahatma Gandhi to discuss nonviolence as a path for social change.

Mays was selected in 1940 as the sixth president of Morehouse College, where he was entombed upon his death. During his time at Morehouse, he mentored the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and delivered the eulogy at King’s funeral.

A trusted advisor to many U.S. presidents, he was tasked with representing the U.S. — along with Vice President Lyndon Johnson — at the funeral of Pope John Paul XXIII in Rome.

Mays retired from Morehouse after serving as president for 27 years. He later spent 12 years as president of the Atlanta School Board before retiring three years before his death in 1984.

A key architect of the civil rights movement, the South Carolina General Assembly named the intersection near his birthplace — Mays Crossroads — in 1981. His birth home was moved to the campus of GLEAMNS where a historical preservation site was established in 2011. An expansion of that site — part of the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax — has now been fully funded and is in the design phase.

Mays was also an accomplished writer and orator who authored more than eight books, 2,000 magazine articles and delivered more than 800 speeches.

In the quest to honor Mays, some in Greenwood took note of a 2018 column written by Index-Journal columnist and former staff writer Chris Trainor, who attended Thursday’s Hall of Fame celebration.

“I couldn’t think of a more deserving individual,” Trainor said. “It is long past due that Dr. Mays would be in the Greenwood County Hall of Fame.”

Loy Sartin said Mays was Greenwood County’s most distinguished resident.

“It’s a great feeling because I first nominated Dr. Mays in 2011 and he was not approved,” Sartin said. “I was so happy this time when I submitted the nomination that the committee you might say saw the light and the greatness of the individual.”

Chris Thomas, director of the Mays historic site, said Mays is deserving.

“I just think it is fantastic,” Thomas said. “I think it says a lot about our community growing in the theme of this event.

The Chamber chose the theme — Celebrating our Diversity in Greenwood — for its yearly meeting.

While Mays could not take part in the Hall of Fame induction, his family and friends came to honor his legacy as he was installed as one of Greenwood’s most revered figures.

“He is our most cherished son in Greenwood,” Trainor said. “I am just so thankful that the Greenwood Chamber saw fit to put him in the Hall of Fame.”

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Mar 26, 2021

 By JAMES HICKS jhicks@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/mays-joins-greenwood-county-hall-of-fame-with-posthumous-honor/article_52de2ece-010b-51fe-9f99-5bb2efcf62eb.html

Access to city, county records can be easy with a few helpful tips

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Access to government records can be as easy as accessing a website or sending an email — if you know what you are looking for.

The state Freedom of Information Act requires that government business be conducted openly.

“It is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner so that citizens shall be advised of the performance of public officials and of the decisions that are reached in public activity and in the formulation of public policy,” says the state statute that governs public records.

Some of these records can be accessed on government websites.

“The City of Greenwood’s website is a centralized location for citizens to access a plethora of City-related information,” Shameka Brown, the city’s FOIA officer, wrote in an email.

On the city’s website, the code of ordinances, city council meeting schedule, meeting minutes and council contact information and ward maps can be found. The city also has a citizen service request form on its website where residents can make requests.

Likewise, Greenwood County’s website provides access to a host of information.

“The County website shows routine information like the County’s budget from the current one back to FY-2011, expenditures for the 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax, and contact information for every County department, just to name a small amount of the information contained on the website,” Greenwood County Manager Toby Chappell wrote in an email.

Meeting minutes, access to past council meeting videos, ordinances and zoning rules can be found on the county’s website.

Some records require the requester to file written notice to the government seeking documents. The city provides a Freedom of Information Act Request Form on its website as does the county.

“Requests can be made by letter or in some other written form but should contain substantially the same information listed on the FOIA request form,” Brown said. “Requests should be as detailed, specific, and descriptive as possible.”

Requesting government documents can take time and in some cases cost money. FOIA requests that are too broad and vague can lead to unnecessary delays and a costly bill.

“The important thing to remember, in terms of keeping costs down and requests reasonable, is specificity when making your request,” Chappell said.

Chappell gave an example of a requestor seeking a credit card statement for county employees.

“Do not ask for credit card information statements from every County employee for the past four years when what you want is the credit card statement for employee Jim Smith for November 2020,” Chappell said.

He said the one request could require a county staffer to spend an appreciable amount of time to fulfill — which would be a cost passed along to the requestor. The more specific request would lead to a quicker response and possibly without charge, Chappell said.

He said a common mistake is a requestor being overly vague in their request. Brown had another tip for filing a FOIA request.

“Ensuring that information requested is subject to FOIA,” Brown said. “The law does not provide for exemptions.”

S.C. Code of Laws Section 30-4-40 lists a number of matters which are exempt from disclosure. Trade secrets, personal information, law enforcement records that would interfere with a proceeding or deprive a person of their right to a fair trial, documents of contractual arrangements prior to the execution of a sale, correspondence related to attorney-client privilege and compensation amounts for government employees making less than $50,000 are excluded from disclosure.

If a FOIA request will cost, both governments have set up a fee schedule.

The city charges a fee of 15 cents per copied page and will assess a “prorated hourly rate for lowest cost employee for any research or programming that requires more than 15 minutes of staff time.”

There is no charge for electronic copies unless a city employee must transfer a document to electronic format, which would result in a fee, Brown said.

The county’s rate for copies of public records is 25 cents per page. An additional fee may be added for searching and copying made by a county employee at the employee’s hourly rate.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Mar 20, 2021

 By JAMES HICKS jhicks@indexjournal.com 

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/access-to-city-county-records-can-be-easy-with-a-few-helpful-tips/article_ae64621d-9725-57d7-b1f2-362aab09f664.html

Greenwood County expands coverage of new records management system

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Greenwood County is one step closer to a countywide records management system.

Greenwood County Council voted unanimously approving a resolution allowing to allow the county to enter into a contract with Caliber Public Safety to create a countywide RMS at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The original contract with Caliber included Greenwood Police Department and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office mobile units as well as the E-911 system.

“They will add in the jail, the county sheriff’s office, the city police department along with Ware Shoals police and Ninety Six police for a total $540,000,” Josh Skinner, Capital Project Sales Tax project coordinator, said at the council meeting.

This would account for $780,000 in savings as the amount allocated for the project was approved at $1,326,535, Skinner said.

Council’s approval is contingent upon the other entities — mainly the Ninety Six Town Council and Ware Shoals Town Council — approving of the plan. Skinner made the presentation before leaving to go to the Ware Shoals Town Council meeting on Tuesday evening to seek its approval.

Skinner said he will seek Ninety Six’s approval next week.

The contract includes five years of annual service for Ware Shoals and Ninety Six and one year of annual service for the Greenwood Police Department, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office and the jail.

The RMS will allow for law enforcement agencies in the county to share records with one another as well as share with agencies nationwide, information provided by Skinner said.

Skinner was not alone in working on the project. Danny Byrd, IT director for the City of Greenwood, worked with Caliber to secure this contract.

“Danny thank you for your work on that,” Councilman Theo Lane said. “You saved the county about three-quarters of a million dollars.”

Council also approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and SCDOT for funding and administering the Highway 246 widening project.

Both projects were approved by county voters in 2016 as part of the Capital Project Sales Tax.

CPST recorded its third-highest revenue collection at $2,537,159 — just behind the $2.575 million reported in April 2020 and the $2.7 million collected in October 2020.

“A little less than our record,” Skinner said. “But we are still trending upward.”

The 1% sales tax has yielded $32,863,820.55 to date.

Skinner reported to council on the status of CPST projects.

“Parks are out of conceptual phase and moving into the actual construction and design phase,” Skinner said.

He said the plan for Grace Street is to demolish the old CPW water treatment plant to create a parking lot for the rest of the park.

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site is now fully funded.

“They found a little extra money,” Skinner said.

Council also presented a proclamation to Anne Craig, former executive director of the Greenwood Arts Council, upon her retirement after 23 years of service.

“Continue to be the bright light and star you are in this community,” Vice Chairman Chuck Moates said.

Craig thanked council for its support over the years.

Council gave its blessing for the county tax assessor to begin the five-year reassessment of properties and also approved a list of roads to be submitted to the County Transportation Committee for funding.

Robert Russian, the county’s public works director, said the list is put together on a worst first basis — having the worst roads at the top of the list for funding.

Council also approved transferring $154,900 from the 2007 Capital Project Sales Tax fund to the Hydro fund to cover additional design work for the Lake Greenwood emergency spillway project.

Rett Templeton, the county’s engineer, said the project is progressing.

“We are getting closer,” he said.

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

 By JAMES HICKS jhicks@indexjournal.com

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/news/greenwood-county-expands-coverage-of-new-records-management-system/article_c7858c40-73b8-5f0f-958e-8786fac62cef.html

Public meetings

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TODAY

TROY TOWN COUNCIL

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Troy Community Center

AGENDA: Decision items: Easter Egg Hunt, Town Hall renovation project, Town property sale, Troy Community Center Banking Account; Old business: Standardization of business license, Wisteria Park, McCormick County water system extension, Greenwood County Transportation Committee and SCDOT road repairs, MASC Hometown Development Grant, MASC SCMIRF Public Works Property and Liability Reduction Grant radar speed signs, Community Service Grant from CSX Transportation, Town of Troy Building and Inspection department, Troy Community Association Lease Fulfillment; New business: GovDeals purchase, Town credit card, Troy Community Association Easter Egg Hunt, Troy Community Center Banking Account; Departments: Troy Fire Department: Flag Etiquette resolution, Digital sign for Town Hall and the Troy Fire Department; Executive session: discussion of Troy Town Hall Renovation project bids, Request to purchase property owned by the Town of Troy, Discussion of Troy Community Center; Open discussion and public input.

NINETY SIX TOWN COUNCIL

VIRTUAL WORKSHOP

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Virtual: https://zoom.us/j/92259371269?pwd=SmZYMTM5NHlDVVhpQVlNMy9lOUU1Zz09 Meeting ID: 922 5937 1269, Passcode: 444389

AGENDA: Distribution of financial statements: October 2020 — February 2021; Petitions received and disposed of; Mayor’s report: Recommendation to expend $1,000 from the Reserve Fund for engineering services for the Old Mill Site; Report of standing committees: public safety, streets and sanitation, finance committee, judicial committee, maintenance of buildings and planning committee; Special committee reports: Main Street Revitalization, Update on Town of Ninety Six Greenwood Capital Project Sales Tax Projects; Executive session: Section 30-4-70(A)(2) Discussion of negotiations incident to a proposed contractual arrangement with Greenwood County regarding a County Wide Records Management System, and the receipt of legal advice where the advice relates to matters covered by the attorney-client privilege.

Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Mar 11, 2021

By James Hicks

Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/community/public-meetings/public-meetings/article_b57a9e99-e384-5279-b136-9e22d7664851.html