West Pelzer approves funding for fire department parking lot improvements

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By David Meade
During their meeting Tuesday, West Pelzer Town Council approved a resolution recognizing the week of October 7-13 as Fire Prevention week, accepted information on FOIA fees and approved a Hazard Mitigation Plan with Anderson County Emergency Preparedness.
The week of October 7-13 will be recognized as Fire Prevention week in West Pelzer. Mayor Blake Sanders said the designation reminds residents to have a home fire escape plan and encouraged practicing it twice a year, especially if you have young children.
The resolution also recognizes West Pelzer’s first responders.
The 2018 Fire Prevention Week theme is “Look. Listen. Learn” which reflects the importance of looking for possible fire hazards, listening to smoke alarms and learning the ways out of your home.
Several members of the West Pelzer Fire Department were present for the meeting.

Pictured above – Members of the West Pelzer Fire Department attended the West Pelzer Town Council meeting Tuesday. where a resolution was approved recognizing October 7-13 as Fire Prevention Week. Pictured are (l-r) – Councilman Donnie Jeanes, Councilmember Vicky Farmer, Chris Fuller, Matt Turner, Justin Emery, David Huff, West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, Councilman Jim Riddle and Councilman Johnny Rogers. (Journal photo)

Council also approved funding of $2700 for seal coat and crack fill for the West Pelzer Fire Department parking lot. The funds will come from the town’s allocated paving funds from Anderson County.
Work on the parking lot will include cleaning by broom and blower, apply seal coat tar and latex hardener to 1550 square yards, restripe to existing specifications and filling cracks. Mull Stone Asphalt will do the work.
Council approved the work 4-0 with Councilman Donnie Jeanes abstaining.
Council also accepted a fee schedule for Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests.
Under the guidelines, the town will respond to requests for records less than two years old in ten days and for records more than two years old in twenty days.
Costs are based on $12 per hour for retrieval and copy of records and 10 cents per page for black and white. There will be no charge for records taking less than one half hour. There is an official form for making a FOIA request.
The information will be posted on the town website.
Council also approved a resolution adopting the Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Plan. County Emergency Director David Baker presented information on the Anderson/Oconee Counties Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Baker said FEMA recommends municipalities and counties have some type of assessment plan for hazards or disasters.
Representatives of West Pelzer previously met with Emergency Service Division and identified areas that could be affected by a disaster, Baker said.
By approving the plan, Baker said the municipality becomes eligible for reimbursement for expenses associated with a disaster.
Baker said storms and power outages are the greatest threats to the upstate. Among threats listed in the resolution are tornadoes/highwinds, winter storms, hurricanes, hail storms/thunderstorms, drought/heat wave, earthquakes, wildfires and floods.
The approval authorizes Anderson County to execute the plan on behalf of the town.
Mayor Blake Sanders announced upcoming events including the Mile Long Yard Sale on Saturday, Oct. 6, PumpkinPalooza in Chapman Park on Oct. 27, Mistletoe Market Nov. 10 and Beards and Biceps event Nov. 30.
Sanders also said that he had recently spoken on “vibrant communities” to the Ten at the Top organization at the T. D. Center in Greenville.
He is also participating in a focus group with Anderson School District One that will be looking at and making recommendations to plans for two middle schools, classroom additions and safety and security in District One.