Pelzer candidates forum Oct. 22

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By Stan Welch
Pelzer Town Council met once again without Mayor Roger Scott, who is currently on dialysis at home for sixteen hours a day, according to town clerk Cheryl Boudreau. The Council heard a number of complaints about recent paving projects completed in the town, before moving into the formal business items included on the agenda.
Once they got started, the Council moved quickly through final approval of two ordinances; one dealing with the recovery of collection costs related to collection of various fees and payments, and the other which requires accurate street numbers to be placed where they are visible from the street. The purpose is to make house identification easier for first responders.
Mayor pro tem Mike Matthews then announced that there would be a ‘Meet the Candidates’ event at the community building on October 22nd at 6:00 p.m. The six candidates for the two available council seats include incumbents Eddie Waits and Gary Pridmore, as well as David Hatley, former councilman Will Ragland, Margaret Jamison and Brian Hayes. All the candidates will be available to answer questions. Anyone who resides within the Pelzer town limits is invited to attend.
Councilman Waits made a brief presentation about the potential need for an animal control ordinance. A dog running at large recently attacked both citizens and another animal, causing it to have to be euthanized. “We don’t need to get into this too deeply tonight, but we do need to begin a conversation in the coming weeks about this issue,” said Waits.
Councilwoman Olene Bear reminded the crowd of the upcoming Pelzer Pride Day this Saturday, at the monkey park, from 8:00 a.m. until. The cleanup effort will be assisted by the council’s approval of the purchase of a new chain saw for the town.
Mayor pro tem Matthews reported that the repair of the concession stand roof at the ball fields would be let out for bids at the advice of town attorney Jimmy King. The bid period will be fourteen days.
The council then heard a proposal from West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, in the form of an e-mail, inviting the town council to participate in the upcoming Pumpkinpalooza Halloween event by funding the live band at a cost of six hundred dollars. The overall cost of the event is approximately three thousand dollars. Councilmen Pridmore and Waits noted the close relationship of the two towns, with Pridmore citing Pelzer’s presence at last year’s event. But in the end, the council voted to offer three hundred dollars, an amount that Mayor Sanders later called inadequate and unacceptable.
The Council then voted to approve a resolution to support the request for paving on Guy Street, McCaughrin Street (better known as Turkey Ring), Lewis Street, Baldwin Street, Hale Street, Front Street, Baptist Street, and Pelzer Park Street. Councilman Waits noted that Frost Street, especially below the railroad tracks, was in very poor shape, and the council voted to add that street to the resolution.