In addition to addressing the referendum to change the form of government during their regular meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council approved funding for three way finding signs, changes in wrecker fees, funding for toddler playground equipment installation and a date change for the July 4th Freedom Celebration Fireworks.
In a 3-2 vote, council approved $6000 for three Way Finding signs. The 60” x 48” signs will reflect the town’s Historic Williamston Main Street Program branding and provide arrowed directions to Mineral Spring Park, Town Hall, the Artory and the Farmers Market. The signs will be blue with premium reflective destination graphics.
Councilman Otis Scott suggested having the town seal, which depicts the spring house, on the signs instead of the Historic Williamston logo.
Councilman Rockey Burgess said he liked the branding and that the town had spent money to come up with it as a way to identify the town and market it to visitors.
Scott and councilman David Harvell were the dissenting votes on the funding.
Council approved a change in the wrecker/towing ordinance which brings the town’s fees inline with towing fees allowed by the SC Highway Patrol.
In addition to setting common fees, the ordinance was amended to require out of town wrecker services that are called in to tow a vehicle at the request of the owner, to have a town business license. If a requested wrecker service business does not have a business license, the town will use a tow service provided on the town’s regular rotation list. The change was approved unanimously.
The new fees will be set at: Class A Standard Tow flat rate of $200, Special Operations at $105 per hour, with a $29 per day storage fee allowed.
Class B will be $262 for Standard Tow, Special Operations at $164 per hour and $36 max per day storage fee. Class C will be $412 per hour with max storage fee at $49 per day.
Class C violations will be $350 per hour with a $50 max per day storage fee.
Council approved $2700 for installation of toddler playground equipment in Mineral Spring Park. The funding, which will come from the town’s Hospitality Tax fund, will be combined with a $3000 PRT grant obtained by Sen. Billy O’Dell, for the installation quote of $5672 by National Playground Construction.
The new playground equipment includes a Super Scoot, Wally the Whale Spring Rider, Firetruck Spring Rider, ASA/Wheelchair Accessible half ramp, playground border with surfacing guide, rubber mulch and Duraliner.
Kempie Shepard, who chairs the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said she was “excited about the toddler playground finally being installed in the park.”
Shepard said that the current playground area is very crowded and that the toddlers finally “will have a place of their own, a special place to play.”
The town purchased the playground equipment several months ago with SCPRT grant funding of $12500 which was obtained through the efforts of Sen. Billy O’Dell and $3462 obtained by Cindy Wilson from Anderson County.
Council approved changing the date of the July 4th fireworks show previously set for Saturday, July 4 to Friday, July 3. The change was necessary because of a problem with permitting for the Saturday show.
Council approved a one time reduction in rent for Revive Church. The church, which rents space at town hall for their weekly service, provided a stage for the Martin Luther King breakfast sponsored by the town in February. Councilman Tony Hagood requested the town consider the reduction, which was unanimously approved.
Council approved a Fair Housing resolution and heard from Mattison Broome, a third grader at Cedar Grove Elementary School, who is serving as Little Miss Lexington.
Council also heard from a representative of the area American Legion Baseball team who said the program is moving from Belton to Williamston.
