During their meeting Monday (April 8), Williamston Town Council approved a property purchase, two budget amendments for two recently purchased sanitation trucks and street paving requests.
Martin Okereke, representative of a new Pelzer United Soccer Club, requested use of the Williamston soccer fields for a new youth soccer program.
Okereke said the organization will offer pick up games this spring and organized games in the fall. He said the Pelzer United Soccer Club plans to be associated with the Easley Soccer Club for rec games for ages 5-14 and will have licensed coaches.
Councilman Lee Cole, who headed a local soccer program (the Palmetto Soccer Club now defunct) for several years, said he supported the request and made a motion to allow the exact terms of use be worked out by the mayor. Councilman Chris Alexander seconded and the request was unanimously approved. Councilman Tony Hagood was not present.
Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby reported that a ribbon cutting was held Friday for a new business, Wicked Licks, located on Anderson Drive in Williamston. She said more than one thousand people showed up over the weekend for their grand opening.
Hamby said that fifty vendors participated in the Junk in the Truck yard sale. The Pastors breakfast had seven pastors and may be held in the fall as a dinner.
The back to school bookbag giveaway sponsored with the Police Department will be a “shopping experience” for invited participants who will be able to visit tables set up with items for their bags, Hamby said.
The Hometown Heroes banner program honoring local Veterans will have 25 new banners added, she said. The banners will be up in May for Armed Forces Day and will remain up through July 4. New Envision Williamston banners have also been ordered and will be put up after the Hometown Heroes banners program expires.
Envision Williamston will participate in the Palmetto Business Association Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday sponsoring photos with the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny will also be making an appearance on the Historic Williamston Fire Truck on April 17 from 5 pm to 8 pm. The Williamston Fire Department will be offering rides at different communities in the town, she said.
Envision Williamston will sponsor a Rock the Spring Concert this Saturday, April 12 in Mineral Spring Park. The free event will feature Kendall Lanford and will start at 6 pm.
Envision Williamston will sponsor a Working on Williamston Town cleanup day beginning at 8 am on April 19. Anyone interested in participating can meet at the amphitheater in Mineral Spring Park. Lunch will be provided by First Citizens Bank.
A Cinco De Mayo event with fun and DJ EZ will be held at the Amphitheater in Mineral Spring Park on May 3 at 6 p.m. The event will be in the evening of the second day of the Spring Water Festival being held May 2 & 3 this year.
EW will also sponsor an event in the park on May 16 featuring the Combo Kings and a craft market.
Hamby said she is also getting bids for a new back drop curtain for the stage in Town Hall auditorium.
Council approved second reading on a budget amendment for the purchase of a Kenworth sanitation truck recently purchased from the Town of Honea Path for $100,000.
Council also approved first reading on a budget amendment for the purchase of a 2014 Freightliner sanitation truck in the amount of $109,000. The vehicle had a problem with the flywheel two weeks after it was purchased several months ago. Mayor Rockey Burgess said some screws were loose on the flywheel and the problem was fixed. He said the 25 cubic yard truck is in good condition and will save the town money in the number of trips required to the landfill. It was mentioned that a sanitation truck the town purchased new in 2020 has had a lot of trouble and will probably be sold.
Council approved a list of streets to be submitted for paving request to the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC). Councilman David Rogers said the Town has two paving requests already submitted to the ACTC. Paving for a request list that has been approved by the ACTC should begin work in June.
Council approved the purchase of a lot on Scott Street. The agenda item failed to pass with a 2-2 vote held at a special called meeting Mar. 17. Councilman Lee Cole made motion to bring the issue back to the table for another vote. Cole, who was not able to attend that meeting due to a closing that took longer than expected, said that he believes it is in the public interest for the town to purchase the property and that the town’s planned use for the property was projected to have a significant profit once the house was moved onto it and it was sold.
The property, Lot 21, Scott Street, (TMS Number 221-02-03-016), is owned by John B. Roache and Bonnie R. Meeks, and is located adjacent to a lot the Town already owns. Purchase price for the property is $8,000.
Mayor Burgess said the small lot once had a trailer on it and if purchased by the Town, would be combined with the adjacent lot the town already owns.
A donated house would be moved from the present location at the corner of Rogers Street and Mauldin Street to Scott Street and placed in the center of the combined lots.
Burgess said cost to move the donated house would be approximately $30,000 and there would be additional renovation costs. The ordinance authorized up to $80,000 total for the project.
According to Burgess, the expected sale price of the renovated house is $170,000 to $180,000. He said the project is expected to generate $100,000 for the town’s general fund.
Mayor Burgess said having the two lots would make the “market (for the house) much more desirable and that it would improve the area and add to the tax base for the town”.
The purchase was approved with a 3-1 vote with Councilman David Rogers voting no.
Councilman Chris Alexander said “It is an improvement to the community and will make two barely usable properties combined into one more desirable. I think it would benefit the community.”
Council approved a resolution recognizing April as Fair Housing Month.
