During their February 14 meeting, Pelzer Town Council approved second reading on an increase in the Duke Energy franchise fee, approved new Planning and Development fees and held first reading on a new business license ordinance.
Town Clerk Cheryl Bates reported there were 72 work orders completed in January with 16 connects, 23 disconnects and 33 miscellaneous. For the police report there were 64 traffic, 125 contacts, 47 calls for service and 7 arrests.
Town Attorney Richard Thompson provided a brief update on the Church of God property and pool property. The legal process on both properties is still ongoing.
He said he had been in contact with the Pelzer Heritage Commission (PHC) about the status of property that was being donated to the town and may have the issues wrapped up by the next meeting of Council.
Anderson County Planning and Development & Building Director Alesia Hunter updated Council on several issued related to the new Planning and Zoning ordinance the Town is implementing.
Hunter said people living in unpermitted campers is a problem which presents a fire hazard. She said motorhomes and campers are unsafe to live in and are not permitted in Anderson County except for recreational purposes. “They don’t meet the minimum code requirements for safety and are only approved for RV parks, not on an individual lot.”
Hunter said the County has had several calls from people in Pelzer concerned about living in a camper or motorhome.
Under the business portion of the meeting, Mayor Will Ragland told Council that the Town had not received approval from the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC) for C Fund assistance for paving. He said a recent request was pushed back to May. He said if approved, the Town will have to provide a percentage match.
Council approved an increase from 3 percent to 5 percent in the Duke Energy Franchise Fee. Councilmembers Eddie Waits and Donna Ide were opposed to the increase. The funds will be used to help pay for additional streetlights.
Council unanimously approved second reading on a fee schedule for Planning and Development. The fee schedule is for new construction and development in Pelzer and includes fees for new signs, food trucks, new construction and other related items.
Council unanimously approved second reading on the establishment of and new Board of Zoning Appeals. The Board needs at least three Pelzer citizens to be appointed to it.
Council approved first reading on a new business license ordinance (see separate story).
Mayor Will Ragland said the new business license fee is designed to provide revenue for the general operations of the Town. Ragland said the business license rates are “very low” and “the rates can be changed.”
The new business license will go into effect on May 1. The calculation is based on the gross income of the prior year.
The business license fee will be $20 up to the first $2,000 in gross revenue and then $1.50 per $1,000 after that.
Mayor Ragland reported that electrical work at the Pelzer gym has been completed.
Following the meeting, Ragland told The Journal that a lot of good information was presented by representatives of Greenville Water during a recent public meeting. He also said the sale of the Town’s water system to Greenville Water is proceeding.
