Mineral Spring Trail to be extended
During their meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council approved first reading to amend zoning in the core commercial district regarding restaurants and to amend the ordinance regarding replacement of manufactured homes.
Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby announced two upcoming ribbon cuttings for new businesses including Small Town Decor and More, 18 Beaverdam Road this Thursday at 5:30 pm and Royals Resales, LLC, 310 East Matin St., Suite E (O’Reilly’s Shopping Center) on Tuesday Feb. 10 at 5:30 pm.
Be Mine Bingo will be held 1 pm to 3 pm this Saturday at the Williamston Municipal Center. A total of $1,500 in prizes will be given away, Hamby said. First prize for adults is $500 cash. First prize for kids is $250 cash.
Council unanimously approved first reading on an ordinance to amend zoning regulations in the Core Commercial District (CC). Councilman Lee Cole was not present.
One change allows for restaurants with or without drive-thru windows. The second change under Conditional Uses allow for Hotels with a maximum height of four stories )not including basement or underground parking).
Council also unanimously approved first reading to amend an ordinance regarding nonconforming manufactured homes.
In addition to other restrictions in the ordinance, the change states that a mobile home may not be changed to another nonconforming use, reused or reoccupied after discontinuance of use or occupancy for a period exceeding 180 days.
During Good of the Order, Mayor Rockey Burgess thanked Councilman Chris Alexander for giving the invocation during the service at the sledding hill at Palmetto High Sunday morning. Burgess said that he had met with Pelzer’s new mayor Chase Smithwick and West Pelzer’s new mayor Rick Sanders to discuss “working together as one community” and scheduling of events so they do not overlap if possible.
Burgess also announced that the Town will be extending the Mineral Spring Trail near Big Creek Station (old water treatment plant) an additional 1800 linear feet. The Town has $74,000 left from a $300,000 PRC Grant received for extension of the trail from the Veterans Park to the new Saratoga Oaks subdivision on Williams Street. The leftover matching funds will cover gravel, culverts and concrete/asphalt for the extension, Burgess said.
Burgess also gave an update on the Veterans Park Bridge repair. He said working with FEMA on the repair project is a three year process and that he is moving forward on a “temporary” repair which will include removing the current bridge, replacing concrete footings and replacing the bridge on the new footings. He said it will be a two day process and he is requesting quotes on the project. One crane company has submitted a quote of $8,000 per day for moving and replacing the bridge.
Note – Following an executive session held during the January meeting, Williamston Town Council authorized the mayor to spend up to $300,000 on a garbage truck to replace the one that was totaled in a wreck involving a train recently.
