By Stan Welch
The Anderson County Council addressed a workmanlike agenda Tuesday night, approving a lease for the use of land at the airport by Tri-County Tech, as well as approving first reading of an ordinance creating a special tax district in District Five. A zoning request was also tabled.
The special tax district is the result of a developer’s earlier failure to construct the roads in a development to the state and county standards.
The residents of the Ashwood Subdivision, plagued by the condition of the roads, are forming a special tax district to repair and upgrade them. The county will finance the project up front, and the funds will be repaid by the special tax levied on the residents.
District Five Council Representative Tommy Dunn said, “We have adjusted the requirements for developers so that this problem should be a thing of the past. But these folks want this problem solved and they are willing to do this in order to make that happen.”
The Council also gave unanimous third reading approval to a five year lease with the Tri-County Technical College for the use of five acres of land at the airport. The land will be the site of a training program that will teach the use of heavy equipment.
The lease allows the county to relocate the program if someone shows an interest in developing the site.
District Seven Councilwoman Cindy Wilson challenged a rezoning request for two sites totaling approximately 1.18 acres located at 1010 Crestview Road, near the site of the proposed Veterans Nursing Home. The request for the change in zoning did not include any declaration of what the land would be used for if it was rezoned.
Council Chair Francis Crowder, who faced considerable political heat over similar issues related to the East West Connector, shared Wilson’s concerns.
No one spoke at a public hearing prior to the first reading of the proposed change, although a member of the audience called out that the proposed project would be related to the veterans facility.
Chairman Crowder ruled the person out of order and the request was tabled until further information can be obtained.
