During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council heard a report on services provided by the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG), heard an update on a new drug awareness program and approved a zoning change for property on Beaverdam Road.
In his presentation to Council, ACOG representative Steve Pellissier said Anderson County’s annual investment in ACOG of $93,885 in 2023 had a return on investment in grants and services amounting to $33,476,306. The ROI investment ratio amounted to $356.57 on every $1, he said. (See separate story)
Don McCown presented information on a new drug awareness program that is being introduced throughout the County. McCown said the program, Called Drugs End All Dreams (D.E.A.D.), will provide proactive education to the public on what substance abuse is doing to our community.
The Anderson County Coroner’s Office – Drug Education Initiative includes participation of the Anderson County Office of the Coroner, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, who propose establishment of a communitywide education and awareness program.
The program will establish clear and concise objectives to provide an avenue of education and public awareness that will reach all community civic organizations, churches, elementary schools, and high schools in Anderson County throughout the 2023-2024 calendar year.
Representatives of the program will have displays with information at fourteen events in Anderson County over the next forty-five days including AIM and the Mall, McCown said. Displays focusing on dangers of drinking and texting will be available at local schools.
“We plan to be involved in any social events out there,” McCown said.
Programming will involve instruction on the following topics: dangers of various drugs; signs of usage; symptoms of intoxication; Narcan administration; CPR; defibrillator access and usage; and locally available options for counseling and treatment. Program design and delivery will be informed by existing evidence-based drug education programs.
In addition to awareness, the program will provide information on where to get help. According to McCown, Anderson County had 89 substance abuse related deaths in 2023 and many of those were of the older population.
McCown also provided information on the EMS system, stating that “The EMS structure that we have is doing phenominal.”
Since going to a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV)/ Paramedic response in addition to a single EMS Ambulance service two years ago, Anderson County is seeing some of the best response time in the country.
McCown said Anderson County has 14 QRVs stationed throughout the County and has 45 paramedics and 15 part-time staffing. Forty-two percent of emergency calls are handled by the QRV Paramedics, he said. “The QRVs have the latest technology.”
A trial for a Priority 2 response time of 16:59 minutes will be extended for an additional three months.
According to McCown, the system is currently meeting the trial response time eighty-eight to ninety-two percent of the time.
In his Public Safety Committee report, District 3 Councilman Greg Elgin said the EMS response time on Priority 2 (non-life threatening) calls was extended by an additional two minutes on a trial basis which will continue to be evaluated over the next three months. He said he hopes to see if the additional response time for Priority 2 calls helps improve the goal of 9:59 response time on Priority 1 calls.
Priority 1 calls have a goal of 9:59 response time, which is being met ninety percent of the time, records show.
In other business, Council approved third reading to enlarge a joint county industrial and business park (2010 Park) of Anderson and Greenville Counties to include a new Fed Ex facility on Hwy. 81. According to Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson, a $45 million capital investment at the facility over the next five years will provide 12 new jobs with average pay of $28.43/hr.
Council approved third reading on an amendment to a fee in lieu agreement between Anderson County and Michelin North America, Inc, for Project Blue Starr. Nelson said the project has a capital investment of $56,290,000. New annual payroll $3.2 million and will provide 51 new jobs with average pay of $31.50/hr.
There were no second readings.
First reading was approved for IZD amendment for The Springs at Clemson Blvd. to reflect a density reduction.
First reading was held on an ordinance to rezone 16.3 acres on Beaverdam Road from Commercial District (C-3) to Residential Single Family District (R-20). The property is being rezoned at the request of Garnett Land Development of Coral Springs Florida.
Council approved first reading on a fee in lieu agreement for “Project Marine”. Burriss Nelson said the project reflects a $3 million investment, adding 66 new jobs with average pay of $37.63/hr.
