During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council recognized the Anderson School District 1 & 2 Career and Technology Center’s WPPB My Pulse Radio director and students and heard a report on return on investment from the Appalachian Council of Governments which brought in $4.6 million in funding for project in the County.
Council approved a resolution congratulating the ACTC’s My Pulse Radio for winning the 2023 High School Radio Station of the Year at the intercollegiate broadcasting system student media conference held in New York earlier this year.
The Media Broadcasting Program at the ACTC, under the direction of John Boone, founded WPPB, The Pulse, a broadcasting radio station created and operated by students from Wren, Palmetto, Powdersville, and Belton-Honea Path High Schools.
The program competed February 24-25 at the IBSNYC 2023 Conference at the Sheraton Times Square where WPPB students were finalists in 14 categories, won first place in four categories—Best Talk Program for “Teen Takes,” Best Radio Drama for “Whodunnit Episode 2,” Best Logo for “Mankind Unresolved,” and Best News Feature Story for “Chaos at the Well,”—and took home the top prize as Best High School Radio Station of the Year.
Council also approved resolutions honoring Lillie Vassar, Eliza Woklken and Olivia Clark of Girl Scout Troop 3324 for winning the Girl Scout Silver Award, an optional award that is the highest achievement a Cadette can earn. The three, under Troop Leader and Project Advisor Courtney Huggins, recently constructed an activity trail to promote physical activity at Midway Elementary School, coordinating donations from Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the Midway PTO to fund the project.
Council also approved a resolution honoring the memory of Lester Lowry Brock for his lifetime of extrarodinary, dedicated service to the community and country. Brock passed away on March 24, 2023.
Brock served in the United States Air Force and enjoyed a long career in the community as a contractor. Brock was an icon in the community and touched countless lives for the better as the head coach of the Crescent Elite Shooters. Family members and members of the Crescent Elite Shooters team were present to receive the honor.
Council also heard a report on Return on Investment from Steven Pelissier, Executive Director of the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG).
ACOG provides a range of services for local governments as they partner to build a competitive economy and promote health, livable communities that preserve area residents’ quality of life.
According to Pelissier, Anderson County invested $93,885 and saw a return on that investment of $4,661,522, a ratio of $49.65 for every $1 invested.
Funding for Anderson County included: $319,603 in Appalachian Regional Commission Grants; $1,750,000 in Community Development Block Grants; $444,500 in Rural Infrastructure Authority Grants, $55,000 in Transit Sesrvices, $400,000 for Transportation Improvements; $1,027,545 for Services to Seniors and $764,874 for Workforce Development.
The Williamston area benefitted from three of the ACOG grants with $319,603 ARC grant for Phase 1 of the Saratoga Spring Trail; $444,500 Rural Infrastructure Authority Grant and $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
for water line replacement in the Mill Village.
The new Iva Library project and the Pendleton neighborhood Revitalization project each received a $500,000 CDBG grant.
Seniors in Anderson County benefitted from a variety of services including in-home help for 86 seniors; 84,378 hot, frozen and shelf-stable meals deliverted to 544 seniors; assistance with Medicare enrollment and options; answering 78 complaints of 57 cases regarding quality of care in long-term care facilities; completed 582 assessments of seniors for needed service and provided $115,934 in caregiver respite services.
ACOG also provided technical assistance including guidance on budgeting, ARPA reporting, social media policies, and human resource matters to Pelzer, West Pelzer, Belton and Pendleton.
ACOG also assisted with planning services for a comprehensive plan update for Williamston, the West Side Neighborhood plan for Pendleton and began work on the US Hwy. 29 to I-85 Corridor Study for Anderson County.
Council approved third reading on update of code enforcement relating to solid waste, unlawful disposal, dispatch and environmental enforcement to bring it inline with state law.
Council approved third reading to restrict truck traffic on Major Road and Moore Road in the Wren area.
In other business, Council unanimously approved second reading on the 2023-34 budget of $277,943,230.
Council approved second reading to amend the Code of Ordinances regarding traffic studies required of developers.
Council approved second reading on rezoning of property on Highway 76 in the Sandy Springs – Denver area. Councilman Brett Sanders recused himself from the vote because he owns property in the area. The rezoning involves an increase in the number of units of a devlopment from 176 to 250.
Council approved first reading on a fee in lieu of tax agreements for “Project Little Brother” to allow for a half million dollar offset to help cover unforeseen costs for infrastructure for a $30 million, 408,000 sq. ft. project at Exit 32.
Council also approved an expansion of a joint county industrial park related to “Project Little Brother”.
Council approved a resolution allowing an agreement with ReWa to provide sewer service South of I-85 on Hwy. 8 for a new project called “Big Brother”. ReWa already provides sewer services on the north side of Hwy. 8.
