During their meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council approved first reading on the 2024-25 budget, heard an update on upcoming events and approved a revised election ordinance.
The new budget was approved by title only with no information presented during the Council meeting. Mayor Rockey Burgess said that it is a draft budget and a work session will probably be held by Council to address final details of the budget.
Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby updated Council on upcoming events.
Hamby said ribbon cutting for (West) Main Street Liquor was held last week and that MD Liquor on Anderson Drive will be having a ribbon cutting soon. A ribbon cutting was also held recently for Carolina Family Services, located on West Main Street.
The Palmetto Middle Mentor lunch program will be held at Palmetto Middle School on May 20.
A Creekside Campout in Mineral Spring Park will be held May 24 and 25. The overnight event will include camping, sponsored food, an outdoor movie and other activities.
Hamby said an End of Summer Bash is being planned from 6 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, July 27. The event will be held in Mineral Spring Park and will include live music by the Encore Band.
The Pig in the Park Barbecue Festival and Cookoff will be held in Mineral Spring Park May 17 and 18. The Barbecue Festival is sponsored by the Williamston Masonic Lodge. The event will include live music with the Eric Scott Band. The concert is sponsored by Envision Williamston.
The monthly Dry Goods Giveaway on Greenville Drive will be held this Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon. Organizer Ken Andrews said the ministry receives 44 to 52 pallets of sanitizing supplies and other items each month that are made available to the community at no charge. He said approximately ninety percent of the items are distributed each time. There are 20 to 25 volunteers who help with packaging and distributing the items to people as they drive through in their cars.
“They love seeing the cars, and seeing people smiling when they come in”, he said. “Each car is given approximately $300 in supplies.” According to Kenny, each tractor trailer load he receives had approximately $230,000 in items that are donated to the ministry. Trucking costs have increased from $1,700 to $2,200, he said.
The supplies giveaway is currently being held at the warehouse building located at 610 Greenville Drive which was purchased by the Town last year.
Council held second reading on an election ordinance. The election will be held in conjunction with the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Books will be open for filing beginning August 1. Coming open this year are the Mayors seat (Rockey Burgess), Town Council Ward 3 (Tabitha Austin) and Town Council Ward 4 (Chris Alexander) seats.
Town residents who normally vote in the Cedar Grove precinct, will cast their ballots for the municipal election at Calvary Baptist Church.
