Pelzer Town Council 2026
Pelzer’s new mayor and council met for the first time in a work session held Jan. 6. The meeting included preliminary discussion on agenda items for their first official Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Pictured are (l-r) Councilman Eddie Waits, Councilman Michael Shirley, Town Clerk Heather Graham, Mayor Chase Smithwick, Councilman Greg Pellum and Councilman Jason McElhannon.
Pelzer begins 2026 with new mayor, new council, new plan
A new administration is now in charge of running The Town of Pelzer.
Pelzer’s new Mayor Chase Smithwick and new Councilmembers Michael Shirley and Jason McElhannon joined recently installed Councilmember Greg Pellum and veteran councilmember Eddie Waits for their first official meeting, a work session, held Jan. 6.
Smithwick, Shirley and McElhannon were ceremoniously sworn in prior to the meeting.
The work session was a preliminary in preparation for their first official Council meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 13).
Agenda items for the work session included: Parks, Infrastructure, Buildings, Maintenance, Budget and Finances, Operations and Events.
Even before officially taking office, Smithwick has been in the process of meeting with officials and gathering information regarding grants and other possible funding for a variety of projects. He also has a number of areas he wants to focus on including Parks and Recreation.
PARKS & REC
Mayor Smithwick said he has already requested a $750,000 earmark from the State for Park and Bill Hopkins field renovations.
He explained that a priority for him is to provide a place for young families where kids can play. His Park plan includes upgrading the playground and providing a walking trail.
Smithwick said he wants to rebrand the ballfield area as the “Bill Hopkins Sports Complex”, and make it more usable for Town events, with better field maintenance, additional parking and other improvements, such as a full size soccer field. He said a youth soccer league is currently using the “little field”.
He also wants to bring a recreation department, including youth football, back to Pelzer.
If approved the earmark would be a base for funding the improvements. For additional funding he said he plans to seek smaller grants and “reach out for sponsorships”.
Councilman Shirley said he would like to see the gym available for walking.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Regarding Infrastructure, Smithwick mentioned addressing stormwater and drainage issues and roads. ReWa and Greenville Water currently have water and sewer work underway throughout the town and a drainage project has started. Smithwick said he is talking with officials about road replacement as part of the projects. He said he also wants to address flooding on the upper mill hill and has applied for a CBDG Disaster Relief grant for small towns.
“I think we have a really good chance of getting it”, he said.
Infrastructure problems include the stormwater system with collapsed culverts, washouts, and ditches.
Smithwick said to apply for a larger FEMA grant, there has to be a study and engineering done and infrastructure assessments which the CBDG can help cover. The Town will also have to provide matching funds, he said.
To apply the Town must also have a Hazard and Mitigation Plan. Smithwick said Anderson County does have one which they can adopt. The Mitigaton Plan will be presented to Council for approval at the Jan. 13 meeting, he said.
BUILDINGS
Smithwick said the Community Building project has already started and grants to help with funding are out. “We will take the situation, figure out it out and maximize value on the building”. ” Fighting the project is just not the thing to do right now,” he said. “We need an operational plan for this building,” including use for rentals, an outreach center and rec center. He said the $1 million building needs to be open for the public, not just private parties.
Smithwick said the Town does not have $1 million to spend on the Hospital Building. “It would put us in a bind for a couple of years.” He said he does want to see it as a Town Hall but also wants it to be used for other purposes. He suggested it be a “Community Enrichment Center”.
He said according to the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG), expanded use which gives back to the people, could make it available for extra funding.
Smithwich said it could be used for work force classes, healthcare related clinics and screenings and arts.
All three would make it more usable and give back to the community.
It would also connect with the history of the building as a Lyceum (library) and Hospital.
Smithwick said workforce training provides better trained people and better jobs. Seeking partnerships with Tri-County Tec and Greenville Tech and “offering classrooms for bettering our citizens and showing improvement”.
MAINTENANCE
Smithwick said a town truck needs some work and they may look at selling or replacing it. Also the bucket truck needs repairs amounting to approximately $6,000. He said he is considering contracting out grass cutting and weedeating and have the Town’s maintenance employees focus on public safety areas.
Councilman Waits brought up an issue he said he has been trying to get an answer to for some time regarding use of personal vehicles by town employees. The discussion included liability, insurance coverage and mileage. Waits said that he has been asked the question by citizens several times. The Mayor said he will look into it.
BUDGET & FINANCES
Mayor Smithwick said ACOG had recommended that the Town needs a budget in place “immediately”.
The previous Council approved first reading on a budget but a second and final reading planned for December was postponed to allow the new Council to have input on it.
Smithwick said they could adopt the budget and make amendments if needed. Council will begin planning soon for the 2026-27 budget which is supposed to be approved in June.
Smithwick said he will present the 25-26 budget for consideration at the Council meeting Tuesday without the funding for the Hospital renovation.
Smithwick announced that he has hired Laura Rainey as a part time office assistant. The position will be a temporary position to assist the town’s Clerk Heather Graham until they can get the office straightened out, he said. Graham was hired as the Town Clerk in November after the Town had operated more than six months without one.
As a volunteer, Rainey served as the town’s interim clerk, assisting in the office, and served as head of the Planning Commission until she resigned from both postitions in October.
Smithwick said he is looking at an audit on GIS boundaries to determine if there are Franchise Fees not being collected and a state Insurance Premium Tax. The Town is also looking at the audit situation.
OPERATIONS
The mayor said he will change a lease for the Town’s building on Courtney Street to a five year term at $800 a month.
Council will also vote on a Mayor Pro-Tem and vote on appointments to the Planning Commission at the meeting Tuesday.
EVENTS
Mayor Smithwick said the budget will include funding for the July 4th fireworks event and that he wants it to include a carnival, band and possibly food trucks. He said he wants the celebration of the 250th anniversary (of the Country) to be eventful”.
He also said he would like to have a booking and calendar system available online for facilities.
