Town looking at other traffic improvements
During their meeting Tuesday, West Pelzer Town Council appointed two new members to the Planning Commission, established a Board of Zoning Appeals and agreed to place dead end signs on some streets.
Roy Budgell and Lori Budgell were appointed members of the West Pelzer Planning Commission. Council unanimously approved the resolution. The new members will receive training after the first of the new year.
Council also approved a resolution to install additional signage on all Dead End, Secondary Roads in the Town of West Pelzer. The Planning Commission recommended the signage after they held a public meeting with citizen input to discuss traffic control options.
The resolution states a need of the upgrades for public vehicular, pedestrians and bicycle safety and that citizens and staff observed and documented traffic concerns on three designated streets.
The new signage will identify “No Thru Traffic” and “Dead End” for Spring Street, Evans Street and Diane Avenue. Construction is expected to be completed prior to Feb. 28.
Council approved first reading on an ordinance to amend a section of the Zoning Ordinance Board of Zoning Appeals . The change will reduce the number of members of the West Pelzer Board of Zoning Appeals from five members to three members.
West Pelzer Town Clerk Paula Payton said the change will bring the number of members in line with the State requirement of a mininum of three members.
The term of office will be three years for one member, four years for one member and five years for one member. Second reading will be held at the next meeting of Council.
Council also approved the 2025 meeting schedule for Town Council, Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
Council meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
Council meetings will be Jan. 14; Feb. 11; Mar. 11; Apr. 8; May 13; June 10; July 8; Aug. 12; Sept. 9; Oct. 14; Nov. 18 (due to holiday) and Dec. 9.
The Planning Commission and board of Zoning appeals will meet quarterly. Meetings will be Jan 21; Apr. 15; July 15; and Oct. 21 for mandatory training.
Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Feb. 18; May 20; Aug. 19 and Oct. 21 for mandatory training.
During her report, the Town Clerk said the parade and tree lighting held Saturday had good response.
Police Chief Owens reported the Police Department had 120 calls for service, 52 traffic stops, 35 tickets, 17 warnings, 5 reports and 350 citizen contacts.
Councilman Tim Williams said SCDOT had approved a crosswalk upgrade and new school zone signs for safety of kids at West Pelzer Elementary. Williams had contacted Sen. Mike Gambrell about the upgrades and he had talked with Nick Rebovich of SCDOT.
Williams said the work will be done after the first of the year and after that they will be looking at a possible traffic light and turn lane on Hwy. 20.
He commended the Police Chief on more tickets to slow traffic coming through the Town.
He also commented about the lack of Christmas lights on Main Street this year.
Town Clerk Payton said that five decorations were up, but that due to the recent storm, many of the poles needed to be rewired with new outlets and new brackets.
Mayor Jim Riddle said the Town is working on parts of the Ten Year Plan including making Hindman Street one way and expanding parking.
Riddle said the Contractor the Town is working with has been in the hospital but “the work will get done”.
He said that West Pelzer is number 16 on the ACTC list of road projects and that they are looking at a traffic light or roundabout on Hwy. 8. Riddle said he has talked with other mayors about the project and they are talking with SCDOT. “We have been working on this for over a year”, he said.
According to the Mayor, the parking lot expansion has been delayed because adjacent property owners either don’t want to sell their property or the Town can’t afford it. Riddle said they are pushing for a way to expand the parking for the area which includes Town Hall, Chapman Park and the O’Dell Community Center.