By David Meade
During their meeting Tuesday, Pelzer Town Council discussed renaming Stewart Street, work on the community building, park hours, rentals in the community building and narrow streets.
Renaming Stewart Street – Mayor Roger Scott said the town was not going to honor a request by West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders to consider renaming Stewart Street. Scott said the town received a petition signed by residents on the street, asking them not to change the name. A response was sent to Mayor Sanders, stating that they were not interested in a name change for Stewart Street in Pelzer.
Community Building – Council approved a bid of $4500 for work at the Community Building. Only one bid was received for the work. Darrin Darby will complete the work which includes repairing soffit and will close out the 2015 PARD grant that paid for the work.
Council also approved new hours for the Monkey Park which will be enforced by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department. The hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 1st through September 30th and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 1st through March 31st. By approving the new hours the sheriff’s deputies can enforce them, Mayor Scott said.
Council approved a $100 hole sponsorship for the Palmetto Business Association (PBA) Annual Fall Golf Tournament. The tournament will be October 12 at the Saluda Valley Country Club.
Council approved a request by Doug Suttle to use the Community Building on Thursdays for a variety of entertainment events. The rental is for $150 each week.
Terry Davis reported that the gym is being used for basketball and other activities including a fooseball. He said they hope to add a bumper pool table. There is also consideration of opening the gym for walkers.
Davis also volunteered to replace lights in a shelter in the Monkey Park if the town will pay for materials. Council approved up to $100 for the necessary materials.
After some discussion, Council, in a 3-0 vote, approved first reading on an ordinance making River Street a one way street due to vehicles parking on both sides, making the narrow street impassable at times. . Town Clerk Cheryl Beaudreau said she had contacted most of the residents on the street who all expressed support in making it one way. Officials with Anderson County also encouraged the town to make the street a one way street. The street is also slated to be paved soon, Beaudreau said. Other streets are also on the upcoming paving list and will be widened some, she said.
After the vote there was considerable discussion about other streets in the town being narrow and the uses of paved alleyways as streets. As the discussion went on it became clear that River Street is not the only narrow street that residents have problems with. Vehicles parking on Front Street are also causing a problem in that drivers have to go into the grass and a ditch in one residents yard to get around them, according to Councilman Eddie Waits.
Waits expressed his concerns about a number of the narrow streets and what the town will do about them.
Council then went into executive session to discuss contractual matters related to the town’s water and sewer systems and personnel matters for accounting position.
After returning to open session, Scott said the town had two applicants for the accounting position and would be announcing a decision soon.
Scott also said the town is looking at options for the water and sewer systems but did not go into details.
Scott said the town is planning to open the gym on Tuesday and Thursday nights for kids to use from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Basketball games will also be held in the gym he said.
A number of Pelzer residents also participated in the Mile Long Yard Sale event sponsored by West Pelzer. Scott said there were yard sales all over town and some at the Monkey Park. Pelzer will also be participating in the upcoming Pumpkinpalooza event and the Christmas Parade on Dec. 1.
