During their meeting Feb. 13, Williamston Town Council approved the annexation of property at the Career Center, a list of roads for paving and a two contracts for sewer system repairs.
Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby updated Council on upcoming events including Be Mine Bingo this Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon, Breakfast with Pastors March 7 and a Town Clean Up Day on April 22.
The free Bingo event will be held at Town Hall and will include prizes. It is being sponsored by Envision Williamston, the Palmetto Business Association and Piedmont Post Acute.
Hamby also announced an Envision Williamston concert series which will feature four concert events. The series will begin on Friday, April 28 with the Jamie Wright Band. The event will be held from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Mineral Spring Park and there will be food trucks. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Municipal Center Auditorium.
Three other concert events will be held on the following consecutive Fridays. The second concert will be a Cinco De Mayo celebration on May 5. On May 12 the event will feature beach music with the Carolina Coast Band. On May 19 Kendall Lanford will perform country music. The May 19 event will be held in conjunction with the annual Pig in the Park Barbecue Festival.
Under new business, Council approved a resolution authorizing the Acceptance of SC Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) Loan Assistance Monies.
Mayor Rockey Burgess said the Town received a RIA loan/grant of approximately $200,000 for repairs to the Town’s sewer effluent line on Big Creek. Burgess said a portion of the creek bank supporting the line washed out approximately one year ago and a section of the sewer line, is unsupported. The town will pay for the repairs and will be reimbursed 100 percent by the EIA, according to Burgess. “We have done very well in obtaining money for infrastructure,” he said.
Council approved a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month. Councilman Tony Hagood reported that the Martin Luther King breakfast was well attended and had a good speaker.
Council approved a list of eleven streets to be submitted to the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC) for paving. Included are Anderson Street, Dove Street, “C” Street, Attaway Street, Whilden Drive, Lakeview Drive, Payne Drive, Parker Street, Sullivan Street, Lee Street and Maddison Drive. The ACTC recently approved $1.7 million for paving projects in Williamston. Mayor Burgess said Williamston has applied for paving in the past but was “pushed to the back” until now. The Town is required to provide a 10 percent match which amounts to $167,515.
Councilman Lee Cole reiterated that the funding request for paving was submitted several years ago and other roads in Williamston are being considered for future requests.
Burgess added that generally the town can submit five streets for paving to ACTC and funding averages two miles per year.
Burgess also updated Council on the Cherokee Road bridge which is currently down to one lane due to severe rust on an I-beam support. The mayor said the town has hired an engineering firm to look at the needed repair and they are currently looking for a contractor to perform the work. He said the expected cost for the repair work will be approximately $40,000 and the work should be done in the next thirty to forty-five days.
During the discussion, Burgess said the Town has also also applied to the RIA for $550,000 in Stormwater assistance. If approved, the funds will be used to repair galvanized pipe that has been in place since the 1950s and 1970s.
In other action, Council approved the annexation of five parcels of land on Belton Hwy. The property includes the Anderson School Districts One & Two Career and Technology and related property. Councilman Cole requested the ordinance include wording stating that the property will be zoned Institutional (INS).
Ashley Gelder presented a Story Walk project that she would like to see in Mineral Spring Park. Gelder said the project would include up to 16 posts with acrylic cases. The stations would be placed throughout the park and could be used for a story or other educational purposes and can be changed out. She suggested locating the project in the Veterans Park area of the Park. Burgess indicated the Town would be interested in the project. He said the they are currently looking at several things for the Veterans Park and Council would consider where to put it. Cost for the project would be approximately $5,000 Gelder said. She plans to pay for it with grant monies.
Second reading on amending a parade ordinance was tabled.
Council then went into executive session for a personnel issue and to discuss a contract issue.
Upon returning to open session, Council approved a $264,632 contract with Code Utility to perform sludge removal from a basin at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The sludge is being removed from a basin that currently has a torn liner which will be replaced. Cost for the new liner is approximately $200,000 according to Mayor Burgess. Total cost for the repair will be approximately $800,000, he said. Burgess also said town employees have worked to pump to a digester area of the plant, which helped bring the cost down.
Following the meeting, Mayor Burgess todl The Journal he is working with College of Charleston and Clemson University through the Riley Mayor Design Fellowship. The project includes design for an overall plan for the town done by students at both schools. It also includes the park area, he said. The plan will be presented to Council and the public at a future meeting of Council.
