During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council approved second reading on an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Belton for the Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement services within the City of Belton.
County Administrator Rusty Burns said that under the agreement, the Sheriff’s Department will provide two deputies and a Sergeant who will be stationed in Belton. The Sheriff’s Department will provide 24/7 law enforcement coverage for the City, Burns said.
The City of Belton is eliminating their police department and will pay Anderson County $100,000 monthly for law enforcement services to be provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Under the five year agreement, officers will be considered employees of the Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office agrees to provide all necessary equipment, property, training, uniforms, and other supplies for the use of the deputies, on the same basis as the Sheriff’s Office provides training and equipment to the Sheriff’s regular deputies.
Patrol cars issued to the deputies assigned to the City may be marked and equipped in the same manner as the general patrol vehicles of the Sheriff. The Sheriff may install additional badges, or modify any badges, on any vehicle to designate its use for the City.
District Three Councilman Greg Elgin said the agreement will be “net zero” for the County. Elgin said it is hard for small town police departments to pay what other agencies pay. “This will help the city keep police officers there.”
Belton Mayor Eleanor Dorn said, “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with you all. We are one hundred percent committed.”
Administrator Rusty Burns said he has already been contacted by two other towns in Anderson County about the possibility of having law enforcement service provided by the County.
In other business, Council approved third reading on an amendment to reduce density for The Spring development on Hwy. 76 in the Denver/Sandy Springs precinct area. The applicant, L&W Properties LLC of Travelers Rest, requested the project be rezoned to Innovative Zoning District (IZD), downsizing from 225 apartments to 125 single family townhouses.
Council approved third reading on an amendment in the zoning ordinance to rezone 16.3 acres on Beaverdam Road from Commercial District (C-3) to Residential Single-Family District (R-20). The request was made by Garnett Land Development Corporation of Coral Springs, Fla.
Council approved third reading on a fee in lieu of tax agreement for Halton MEI USA, Inc (Project Marine) located in Council District 6 (Powdersville).
Council approved second reading on an agreement to enlarge the Anderson and Greenville Counties (2010) joint county industrial and business park for “Project Catapult”.
“Project Catapult” will be located in Greenville County. Under joint county industrial business park agreements, Anderson County receives one percent of the tax revenues on the business or industry when it is located in Greenville County.
If a business or industry locates in Anderson County, Greenville County will receive one percent of the tax revenues for the property. Councilwoman Cindy Wilson pointed out that Industries are taxed at 10.5 percent, Businesses are taxed at 6 percent and residential properties at 4 percent.
Council approved second reading to update a lease agreement for businesses locating in the Incubator/Soft Landing Economic Development facility at 1428 Pearman Dairy Road. Attorney Jordan Thayer said the agreement gives the county better control over the spaces at the facility.
Council approved second reading on a business template lease agreement for the Incubator/Soft Landing Economic Development Center at 1428 Pearman Diary Road. Thayer told Council the change addresses use of the facility by entities that don’t technically qualify as an Incubator/Soft Landing business.
Council approved a resolution consenting to the transfer and assignment of a FILOT agreement by COI Anderson Phase 2-346 LLC to SPUS9 Exchange Logistics LP.
Council approved a bid of $487,355 by Foothills Contracting Service LLC of Central, for a new tire loading dock at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). The facility is located at 104 Landfill Rd., Belton. Councilman Jimmy Davis said he is looking forward to the improvement being made at the facility.
Council approved a bid of $1,199,000 by Jonscot General Contractors for the Iva Branch Library project. School District 3 is providing funds for the project. Senator Mike Gambrell and House Representative Jay West are also seeking funding for the project to locate a new library on Main St. in Iva.
Council approved a bid of $28,850 by C.E. Bourne & Company of Greenwood for a new roof on the Sheriff’s Department office.
Council approved two requests by Councilman Jimmy Davis. Davis requested $500 for Zone Services for a summer camp program and $1000 for the Piedmont Public Service District/Bridge 327 for school supplies for the community.
Other council members also requested funding for various entities.
Administrator Burns reported that Anderson County has applied for funding from the SC Opiod Recovery Fund to reimburse AnMed for treatment of indigent persons with opiod use disorder, to expand services provided by Faces and Voices of Recovery Upstate at AnMed Medical Center and funding for Love Well for a Residential Center program for women.
