Pelzer Monkey Park to get new picnic tables

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By David Meade

During their regular monthly meeting Monday, Pelzer Town Council discussed a sewer rate increase (see separate story), decided to purchase picnic tables for the Monkey Park and to limit citizen input during meetings. Brad West told Council that Senator Billy O’Dell had secured a $5000 SCPARD grant which will require a 20 percent $1000 match.

West said he priced updated playground equipment to replace old equipment but the funds were not nearly enough to consider purchasing new playground equipment. West instead presented information on picnic tables for the park. After some dicsussion, Council decided to go with six aluminum tables at a cost of $979 each.

Details on the equipment and pricing will be included in a grant application West and town clerk Heather Holcombe will put together this week.

Holcombe also announced that citizen input will be limited to two minutes during future meetings due to recent meetings running long. Holcombe said councilmembers decided to limit the comments. After some discussion, and obvious irritation of some citizens, it was decided to make the input limit three minutes per person.

Pelzer Town Council does allow interaction between citizens, the clerk, the administrator and councilmembers during the public comments portion of their meeting.

During public comments there was discussion about services provided by the town, franchise fees, the breakdown of water bills, REWA and Greenville Water costs and absentee ballots for the upcoming Pelzer annexation referendum.

Holcombe said that if the referendum passes, franchise fees charged on services provided by Duke Energy and cable bills would bring additional funds that could help with the town’s budget.

Council decided to hold a budget work session to discuss the proposed sewer rate increase and possible reductions in expenses.

The special called budget meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18. First reading on the 2015-16 budget will be held during the meeting.

Second reading on the budget is expected at the June 8 meeting of council.

The Pelzer Annexation Referendum election will be held on the following day, Tuesday, June 9.