During the first meeting of 2022, Williamston Town Council held first reading on an ordinance to rezone a property on East First Street, ordinances to sell two pieces of property and approved a contract with Clearwater for operations of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Council also approved a resolution honoring longtime Williamston resident and teacher Olive Lander Wilson who recently passed away.
Council heard an update from Envision Williamston Director Roberta Hamby and awards for Deck the Halls and Christmas Park displays were presented.
In her report, Hamby said Envision Williamston had compiled a calendar of events for the town for 2022. The Main Street Challenge is being reopened with $5000 available to a new business. EW also has $6,000 available for the facade grant program, which is also being reopened. The annual HOWDY clean up day will be held Apr. 23 with a new name, Working on Williamston (WOW).
Council approved rezoning property on East First Street to the new R7 classification. Councilman Lee Cole abstained due to an interest in the property.
Council approved selling a piece of town owned property in the Gatewood Subdivision for $15,000. The town’s entrance to the Waste Water Treatment Plant crosses the property.
Council approved a resolution honoring Olive Lander Wilson.
Council approved first reading on an ordinance to sell a piece of Town property located next to the police department to Ingles. The property will be used for a required 1500 gallon “grease trap” for the Raines on Main restaurant, which is expected to be opening soon. The six foot strip of property was sold for $3,342. Mayor Rockey Burgess said the town cuts the grass and he sees no reason the town would ever need it.
Council approved a contract with Clearwater to operate and maintain the Waste Water Treatment Plant. According to Mayor Burgess, the facility has issues and needs repairs and maintenance. The town has operated the facility for the last ten years. The town budget already includes $433,150 for the operations, which will increase by approximately $40,000 to$472,087.
Burgess said Clearwater will maintain all lines, liftstations and resolving issues at the WWTP. Among them are a digester which has been down for two years and will cost $20,000 to repair and removal of sludge from the basins at a cost of $50,000. Clearwater will also be responsible for all reporting and licensing for the facility.
Councilman Cole had several comments about the contract including whether the town would be able to continue to operate its own WWTP without it. He also mentioned that by keeping the plant operating, as opposing to selling it to ReWa as other nearby towns have done, the town has a say in the rates.
Cole agreed it was something the town needed to do.
Mayor Burgess announced that the town received $4,500 from the rides company that was set up in the park during Christmas. He said the funds will be used for new Christmas decorations.
Council then went into an executive session for about 40 minutes to discuss a contract with Jacob Utilities, which provides sewer treatment services for 31 homes in the Forest Hills subdivision.
After the meeting, Mayor Burgess said that with the recent release of sewer capacity at the Town’s WWTP by Anderson County, Jacob Utility will be making payments to the town instead of the county.
