During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council recognized the Public Works Division, heard an update on Countywide EMS and heard concerns about a warehouse development on Long Road.
During the Special Presentation Meeting held before the regular meeting, Council recognized Emily DeRoberts on her retirement from Duke Energy, recognized Collin Smith and Brady Kimbrell for winning the 2022 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship recently held on Lake Hartwell and approved a proclamation designating February as Black History Month in Anderson County.
Council approved a resolution to congratulate DeRoberts, who is a graduate of Wren High, Greenville Technology Electrical Engineering and Southern Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Management Science.
She is retiring from her role as District Manager for Government and Community Relations with Duke Energy. She also serves on the upstates SC Alliance executive board, Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Anderson Interfaith Ministries Board and Anderson University Board of Visitors.
During the regular meeting, Council viewed a video presentation by APWA President Keith Pugh recognizing the County for achieving the APWA Public Works Re-Accreditation. Public Works Supervisor Holt Hopkins said the County was accredited in 2010 and is one of five counties to be accredited. He said the Department had to experience 149 compliances to be in full compliance. The program reflects the best management practices for Public Works Departments, according to Hopkins. Brittany Burdett was the Accreditation Manager.
“We are very proud of this recognition,” Hopkins said. “It reflects the professionals we have in the Public Works division.” He said the recognition represents the work of 150 to 200 County employees.
Council Chairman Tommy Dunn and other councilmembers thanked the employees in the department for their work and interaction with the public. “I thank each and every one of you. You make council look good,” he said. “You find a way to fix their problem.”
District 6 Councilman Jimmy Davis said, “I know how important it is to have an accreditaton like this and how important it is to the public. I appreciate all the efforts to make this all happen.”
Council heard an update on the Countywide EMS system. In his presentation, Steve Kelly said the County had more ambulances and Quick Response Vehicles (QRVs) answering calls than ever before. The Countywide system began in September 2022 and in the first year of service was able to have 13 operating 24 hours and two operating 12 hours from County fire stations. Every QRV has a full time paramedic, he said. There is one county paramedic strategically at each of the County fire departments.
According to Kelly, the program is in the process of building an inventory of equipment and is focusing on having a presence at events in the County and providing outreach classes.
Emergency response time is 9:59 minutes, for either an ambulance or QRV, which they are achieving 91 to 92 percent of the time, he said.
The program had 11,000 more EMS responses than what they had before the program was implemented.
Kelly said the program will continue to partner with AnMed Health, monitor response times and grow relationships with business. They also plan to expand to the municipalities.
Kelly said they are planning to offer better incentive pay and provide body cameras for paramedics. They have also applied for a recognition award for Large System of the Year.
Kelly said the Anderson County EMS system is the only one in the state, and possibly in the US, that is “fully staffed”. “We are doing phenomenal. We have changed the whole culture here.”
Council also heard concerns from two residents about a proposed warehouse development on Long Road (Williamston).
David Walker and Brent Elrod presented concerns about the development which will be located between Hwy. 81 and Midway Road. Walker said the area is rural with horse farms, cattle farms, and tree farms. He said the proposed 560,000 square foot warehouse is located on 13 acres and will be all under one roof. He raised concerns about stormwater runoff and pollution that will affect the surrounding area.
Elrod, who owns property between Wilson and Hopewell Church Road, said the development will be twice the size of the FedEx distribution center and the stormwater runoff to Beaverdam Creek and along the County Sewer line will be tremendous.
County Council District 7 representative Cindy Wilson, who also lives in the area, said the development will “dwarf everything around it.” No action was taken by Council on the item.
Council did unanimously approve second reading on a zoning change request for property at 2647 Anderson Hwy. Wilson said the property, which includes commercial and residential, is owned by the same family, and the zoning request is for a “less intensive use”, from C-2 Highway Commercial to R-20 Single Family Residential on less than 1/2 acre.
Council also unanimously approved second reading on an ordinance to transfer property under the Neighborhood Initiative Program currently owned by Pelzer Heritage Commission, to the Nehemiah Community Revitalization Corporation. The five properties are located in Anderson and include 11Q Street, 1400 Evergreen Street, 416 Rogers Street, 708 Jackson Street and 309 Glenn Street. County Administrator Rusty Burns said the transfer will allow the property to come back on the County tax rolls for affordable housing.
Council unanimously approved second reading to sell the Iva library property located at 203 West Cruette Street, Iva, to Anderson School District 3. Anderson County originally purchased the property from School District Three and the School District would like to have it back. No one spoke at a public hearing on the matter.
Council approved an agreement to allow Federal Funds available to the County to be used by AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries) and ReBuild Upstate for owner qualified residences. County Administrator Burns said applicants must meet income levels and the residence must be owner occupied. The agreement will commit up to $150,000 in Federal HOME program funding to both of the organizations with the funds to be used for owner-occupied housing repairs (OOHR).
Council also approved a contract naming Harper General Contractors the Construction Manager for the Pendleton/Clemson/Anderson Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant. The $750,000 contract will be administered by the Town of Pendleton.
Council approved a request by Councilman Jimmy Davis for $5,000 from Recreation Funds be allocated to Connect Powdersville for the Rhythym on the River Community Event.
Council also approved a request by Generation 4, a 501C3 non profit in Belton for $2,000. The funds will be used in Partnership with Welfare Baptist Church to host an African American Lecture Series that will feature scholars from Clemson University, Ohio State University and the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. The event will be held in conjunction to the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation initiative.
