During their first meeting of the 2021, Williamston Town Council installed a new mayor and councilmember, set a date for a special election and approved a resolution in support of a shared use sidewalk/path on Depot Road.
Council also tabled an ordinance regarding property on Brock Lane.
Newly elected councilmember Tabitha Austin was sworn in. Austin made history as the first female to serve on Williamston Town Council and will represent Ward 3.
Councilmember Chris Alexander was sworn in to another term representing Ward 4.
Rockey Burgess was sworn in as mayor and presided over his first meeting in that capacity.
During the business portion of the meeting, Council tabled second reading on an ordinance to convey property at Brock Lane and Ridge Court to Shannon L. Kinman and Melissa Kinman.
Council approved first reading on the ordinance during a special meeting in December. The strip of property, owned by the town, was being deeded to the Kinmans due to a dispute as to the exact location of the property line and complicated by the fact that the Kinmans may have built improvements on town property.
Council approved first reading on an ordinance for a special election to fill the remaining term of office for the Ward 2 seat, vacated by Burgess when he was elected mayor. The term will expire on Dec. 31, 2022. Books will open Jan. 22 for anyone interested in running for the seat.
The election will be held on Tuesday, March 30.
Council approved a resolution in support of a shared use path on Depot Road. The shared use path/sidewalk project commits the town to work cooperatively with other partners, including the towns of West Pelzer and Pelzer. partners with Palmetto Middle School, Palmetto High School and various commercial businesses in the area.
Mayor Burgess said the project falls in line with a campaign promise he made to work with neighboring towns.
Williamston has already expressed support for a sidewalk along the northern edge of Depot Road which connects to Palmetto Road and Hamilton St.
The partnership will seek grant funding through Anderson County and SCDOT for the project.
