During their meeting Tuesday, Anderson County Council approved first reading on an ordinance to enact a Capital Projects Sales Tax for road maintenance in the County, considered a road closure and accepted an Opiod Settlement.
The County plans to bring a One Percent Sales and Use Tax to pay for road and safety improvements back to the ballot for voters to decide in November.
Deputy Administrator Matt Hogan said that members of a recently established County Sales Tax Commission came up with the project list and worked to clarify wording on the referendum ballot question. He said the project list they came up with will be on the referendum and cannot be changed.
If approved, the one percent sales and use tax will be for a period of 8 years beginning May 1, 2026 and will raise $277,999,013.62 for 271 paving and road projects and $52,241,707.34 for 17 bridge/culvert projects and 18 intersection safety improvements.
Hogan said the Commission focused on high traffic volume roads in the County for the resurfacing project list. Anderson County has 1553 miles of roads to maintain, he said.
District 7 Councilwoman Cindy Wilson said roads in her District from the Cheddar area to Concord Road are a major thoroughfare for drivers going East to West to get to Anderson. That thoroughfare includes Youth Center Road, Maxie Road, Cheddar Road, Breazeale Road, Hopewell Road and Concord Road, she said.
The referendum will also decide if the County will be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds not exceeding $20,000,000, and defray the capital projects authorized plus issuance costs.
A resident of Midway Road spoke against the proposed sales tax for roads and suggested a new construction impact fee as an alternative. He mentioned a new development planned on the Anderson Reservoir which could have up to 1000 homes as an example where the impact fee could offset road maintenance costs instead of current taxpayers paying for it.
Bobby Partain, Jr. of Williamston spoke briefly regarding rezoning of property in Townville from RA to R20, which was addressed later in the meeting. Partain said he is requesting the change to allow family members to build homes on the property.
A Pendleton resident raised several questions regarding the one percent sales tax and, specifically that no state roads were included on the list, that proceeds could be used for walking trails and recreation and that only 35 percent of the tax revenue would come from people outside the county.
Dr. Traca DeShields spoke on services offered for young people through The Zone Services, Inc. and the number of people the organization had helped.
Council approved third reading on an ordinance to lease County property at McCants community Center to Honor for Heroes, an organization tht helps Veterans and others.
There were no ordinances for second reading.
Council approved first reading on an ordinance to continue a lease agreement with the Anderson County Arts Council for the County Visitors Center.
Council also approved a resolution expressing intent to cease county maintenance and to authorize consent to judicial abandonment and closure of a portion of Mitchell Road in front of Whitefield Baptist Church.
Roads in the area near the Church and Jockey Lot including Bowlen Road, Mitchell Road and Old Williamston Road are currently under construction to reroute and improve safety and traffic flow.
There was discussion about leaving a channel open for Whitefield Fire Department and other emergency vehicles to get through when traffic is backed up on Hwy. 29.
County Attorney Jordan Thayer said the actual road closing and abandonment issue will go to court for a final decision. He assured Council that there will be a common understanding with all parties before the closure is presented to the court.
Council went into a brief executive session to receive legal advice regarding a rezoning appeal for property on Hattons Ford Road and a settlement with Opiod Defendants.
Folowing the executive session, Council approve first reading on an ordinance to resone 4.72 acres on Hatons Ford Road in Townville from residential Agricultural (RA) to Single Family Residential (R20).
Council also approved a settlement agreement in which the County will receive $294,144 of a $99.5 million National Opiod Settlement. According to County Administrator Rusty Burns, the funds will be used for a variety of approved opiod related projects and issues.
Councilmembers approved funding requests for Celebrate Special Families, The Zone Service, Anderson County Foster Parent Association, JBECO, The Anderson Free Clinic, Iva Recreation and Belton Area Museum.
