By Stan Welch
The Anderson County Council gave third reading to several ordinances Tuesday, including one providing economic incentives to a project designed to redevelop a somewhat blighted stretch of Main Street across from the town hall and police station. The city would be the driving force behind the project.
Another ordinance approved the issuing of $2.8 million for the enlargement of the Starr C&D landfill, and the purchase of a baler for use at the municipal recovery facility to bale cardboard. The county also renewed its individual agreement with BMW; a basically clerical action required of each county as part of the statewide agreement reached with BMW twenty years ago.
Council gave second reading approval to an economic incentive package for a project currently identified as project 20180430. The arrangement between the county and the company, which will employ 31 people, will result in a $6.2 million capital investment, with an annual payroll of $1.2 million. Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson stated that over the twenty year life of the arrangement, the economic impact of the company in the Anderson economy will be $261 million.
A rezoning request for a seventy five acre subdivision received second reading approval as well. The proposed development, currently named Spencer’s Trail, will be located in the area of the intersection of Crestview Road and Midway Road, near Harriett Circle. Between one hundred seventy and one hundred eighty single residents are slated for construction. Twenty five acres will be set aside as green space, to include a park, a trail and a playground.
District One Councilman Craig Wootten expressed his intention to contact the county delegation about funding to make needed alterations in the intersection of Midway and Crestview Roads.
In addition, the Council approved the issuance and sale of $28.7 million dollars worth of special source revenue bonds to finance the expansion of the county sewer system. Councilman Wooten, who served on the committee that has been working on that expansion for a year or so, reminded an audience member who had twice risen during public hearings to complain about what she perceived as the county’s failure to improve infrastructure, that the proposed projects will extend sewer lines to every interstate exit in the county.
The sale of just over 4 acres of land to TTI at their site near exit 27 was also approved, as was the leasing of .75 acre to Duke Energy Carolinas, who will build an eight million dollar, solar powered emergency shelter. The site will be on the grounds of the Anderson County Sports and Entertainment Center.
