Town accepts temporary road into system, addresses other issues

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By David Meade

During their meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council accepted a new road, changed insurance coverage which will save the town money and tabled a landscape ordinance.

Council heard also from a local business owner who said her business was not being used as a supplier by the local recreation department and from the town’s Main Street Director who said the Scarecrow Decorating Contest is creating excitement.

Pamela Owens, owner of Palmetto Trophy and Awards, said she is not being allowed to provide trophies for the town’s recreation program since it has been joined with the Pelzer Recreation Department.

“They have been going somewhere else,” she said. “We deserve some of the Williamston business. Some of that needs to be local. Why is Williamston being taken somewhere else and not being done local?” she asked.

Mayor Durham said the town does allow preference and some discretion on bids and prices for local businesses and that he would meet with the recreation program coordinator about it.

Owens also asked about the status of the Gray Drive bridge.

Mayor Durham said it has been presented to the County and the situation now lies with the county and the railroad. He said he expects a decision soon.

Police Chief Tony Taylor presented October statistics for the department. He said the department is investigating a business which he said is a suspected prostitution house. He also said the department will have an online community survey available soon to “allow residents to have added value and help with assistance in criminal prevention. We want to bring the community into partner with us.”

The survey will be posted on the town’s website and the department Facebook page, he said.

Main Street Executive Director Sonya Crandall reported the Envision Williamston program has a number of initiatives underway including the scarecrow decorating contest, which she said has been “very successful” with more than 37 entries.

Crandall said the People’s Choice online voting has already generated more than 800 votes. “Having that kind of response from a small community of this size is tremendous,” she said.

Crandall said the participation of churches, businesses and the public have created “a lot of energy and excitement for our town.”

She said a Main Street committee is looking at a Gateway design with common themes of fountains and landscaping. They will apply for a 50/50 matching grant and some private funding to help fund the projects, Crandall said.

The Envision Williamston program is also working on a Main Street Challenge program “to encourage new businesses to locate and start up in the town,” Crandall said.

A coffee shop has already committed with “a handshake agreement,” Crandall said. “We hope to encourage many other type businesses to our community.”

Crandall announced that the Envision Williamston Community Planning Team will meet this Thursday and present information to the public at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Second reading on a landscaping ordinance was tabled. Durham said the content of the ordinance needed to be reviewed to determine if it will affect any planned developments.

Council unanimously approved a resolution to accept a temporary roadway known as “Ridge Court Extension” into the municipal road system of the Town of Williamston. The resolution states the town wishes to accept and dedicate the temporary road into a permanent public municipal road which will be known as Ridge Court Extension.

The road is approximately 0.3 miles long.

A question about an easement involved with the temporary roadway resulted in Council going into executive session with the town attorney for legal advice. Upon returning to open session there was no discussion of the issue.

Council also approved a proclamation recognizing Nov. 16-20 as South Carolina Crossing Guard Appreciation Week.

Council approved a settlement proposal from Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc (GMC) involving a cost overrun on the Ellison Street and Hill Street repaving project that is currently underway.

The incident resulted in a lengthy executive session at the last meeting of council.

The issue involved a cost overrun due to changes made for drainage and other issues, according to Mayor Durham.

Council approved a lease agreement with MedShore Ambulance Service with a 4-1 vote. Councilman David Harvell voted against the agreement stating he needed more time to look it over. The agreement covers use of the Williamston Rescue Squad building which the town owns and MedShore is now using to provide EMS services to the area.

Council unanimously approved a change in liablility and workers comp insurance which town officials say will save the town money.

The town will change to insurance coverage offered through the SC Municipal Association which will result in approximatly $13,000 in savings, according to Town Clerk Michelle Starnes.

During closing comments, Mayor Durham said the town is assessing storm damage related to Hurricane Joaquin and plans to apply for FEMA relief funds for necessary repairs. Durham said the FEMA reimbursement is 75 percent and the state may cover half of the remaining 25 percent of any projects.

The town has several areas that received additional damage from the rains associated with the hurricane. He also said that FEMA requires all repairs paid from the funding to be repaired to 500 year flood standards.

Being considered are: damage to the Gatewood entrance, culverts on Dove St., a sink hole on Pelzer Avenue and degrading of the roadway on Mattison Street.

Durham announced there will be a Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 at the town’s Veterans Memorial.