During their meeting Tuesday, Pelzer Town Council approved second reading on a new Comprehensive Plan, approved a new auditor and heard an update on several ongoing property issues.
During public comments, Linda Ford asked about demo work being done on the Community building. Mayor Ragland responded later in the meeting.
Town Clerk Cheryl Bates reported there were 40 work orders completed in November with 10 connections, 12 disconnections and 18 miscellaneous. For the police report, there were 67 traffic related, 113 contacts, 35 calls for service and one arrest.
Bates reported the Christmas Market generated $1,600 in revenue for the town.
Attorney Richard Thompson updated Council on four properties the Town has an ongoing interest in.
The Town is in the process of obtaining the former Pelzer pool property using eminent domain. Thompson said depositions have been taken from two people and a summary is being prepared.
Thompson said a new conglomerate in California is purchasing the Central Rivers hydro power company property. Closing was supposed to be held Dec. 2, but has been delayed, he said. The staff at the facility is being transferred to the new company and contact information will remain the same for now. The Town has been in discussions with the owners about using some of the property for a river front park.
Thompson said a hearing on the Church of God property will be scheduled sometime in the next two to three months. A notice will be published in the local weekly newspaper, he said, and must be published three times. The case is a civil case and will go to a non-jury trial, being decided by an Anderson County judge.
Thompson said he had not had any contact with the Pelzer Heritage Commission attorney on the Overlook Park property.
Mayor Will Ragland asked the attorney if the town should submit an offer to the Pelzer Heritage Commission (PHC) on the Overlook Park property. The attorney advised the mayor or someone from the town talk with the leadership of the PHC about the status of their offer.
The PHC had offered to donate the property to the town to be used only for parks and recreation. Town officials had an issue with the PHC requirement that the property could only be used for a park and use could not be changed in the future if needed.
Council approved second reading on a new Comprehensive Plan with some changes. Anderson County is assisting with the plan.
Henry Youmans with Anderson County Planning and Development said the plan can be updated or changed as necessary. He said it is a baseline study done by the County for future land use in Pelzer. The Comprehensive Plan will be used as a guide by the Planning Commission.
Youmans said the Planning Commission will review the proposed zoning map and a public hearing will be held to receive input on plan before final approval by council.
He said the goal is to maintain the look of Pelzer and avoid some of the random things that have been done in the past regarding planning and new growth. The map reflects zoning for mobile homes, residential, historical, mixed use-commercial development in surrounding areas and proposed residential along the river.
He said citizens can decide what works for them and the Planning Commission will approve a final future land use map which will predicate how things will develop”.
Mayor Ragland reiterated the Comprehensive Plan recognizes what is already there and is a starting point on where to begin the process of zoning, which the planning commission will approve.
Council unanimously approved second reading on the Comprehensive Plan.
Ragland announced that a representative of Greenville Water will be present for a public meeting at 7 p.m. January 17 to present information and answer questions regarding the sale of the town water system to Greenville Water.
Council unanimously approved a bid quote of $6000 by Tracee G. Anderson CPA, LLC of Simpsonville to do the annual town audit. Town Clerk Bates said several accountants were contacted about performing the audit and Anderson was the only one to respond. The company that has done audits for the town in the past is no longer doing them, Bates said.
Council approved leaving the Council meeting dates on the second Tuesday of each month, but changed the meeting time from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for 2023.
Regarding the Community Building, Mayor Ragland said the town has approved a historic tax credit consultant, Preservation South, to begin the process of applying for tax credits on renovations to the building. Forty-five percent of funds spent on renovation of the building will be refunded to the Town, according to the mayor.
The first step, in order to apply for the project to be in the historic district, is to take off the vinyl siding, he said.
Ragland said town workers have done some demo on paneling on the inside and siding on the outside of the building when they have had time and to avoid paying someone to do the work.
He said money for the renovation is approved in the budget and he is glad to see the process in motion. “I am excited to make this happen in Pelzer.” The mayor expressed thanks for interest in community involvement in the projects.
Ragland also stated that he hired someone to finish painting the fence near the Community Building so that it would be finished in time for the parade. He said he and other community volunteers had worked on getting the fence painted but had not been able to get it finished. “I wanted to get it done,” he said.
Responding to a question by Councilwoman Donna Ide about paying someone to paint the fence, Ragland said the mayor is allowed to approve expenditures of $1000 or less from the Hospitality Tax fund without having it approved by Council.
The Town of Pelzer Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, December 21, at 6 pm at the Pelzer Gym, 112 Lebby St. Two public hearings are scheduled.
One will address fees and other information required for builders or new construction in the town. The other will address subdividing two parcels of land, a setback variance for a new home and a commercial car lot.
Laura Rainey is chairman of the Planning Commission.
