[0:07] [snorts] Hey, good afternoon and welcome
to our first meeting in March.
[0:12] Our invocation will be led by myself and
respects the flag bey.
[0:24] Father, we come before you today to ask
for your blessing on our city, our
[0:30] council, and our entire workforce. We
ask that you give this body the
[0:38] discernment and wisdom to make sound
decisions. We ask that you keep all our
[0:43] teammates safe and workformed. We ask
all these things in your name. Amen.
[0:49] » Amen.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:54] United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
[1:00] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
[1:12] Before
[1:20] we start our meeting, we have a
proclamation and I'm going to ask Wayne
[1:25] Lind to come up as he as he makes his
way. This has become a
[1:30] Wayne tell us the details but I think
it's a multi this has been going on for
[1:35] several years right now and we normally
do a proclamation to kind of kick this
[1:40] off to um our university which is very
important um to all of us in our city.
[1:46] So the proclamation reads, "Whereas
Anderson University is a highly
[1:50] selective comprehensive university
offering bachelor bachelor's, masters,
[1:55] and doctoral degrees on campus and
online with a well-deserved reputation
[2:01] as one of the best private institutions
in the south. And whereas at the heart
[2:06] of the education program is a
uncompromising commitment to prepare
[2:10] students with both a breath and depth of
knowledge they need not only to be
[2:15] successful in a career of their choice
but to be successful in all realms of
[2:20] life in family community work and faith.
And whereas Amis University's annual a
[2:26] day takes place on March 31st of 2026.
Whereas a day is a fundraising effort
[2:34] that provides the support necessary to
foster the academic achievements of AU
[2:39] students, further the professional
development of AU's worldclass
[2:44] facilities, [snorts]
and accelerate AU's growing campus
[2:47] programs and initiatives. And whereas
Aday is an opportunity for people
[2:51] everywhere to come together in support
of Anderson University. And whereas
[2:56] during a a day we will celebrate all
things that make Anderson special and
[3:02] Trojans across the globe will
participate in remembering the past,
[3:07] celebrating the present and impacting
the future. And whereas the city of
[3:11] Anderson wishes Anderson University a
successful a day and desires their
[3:16] alumni, friends and citizens of our city
will support the cause by joining the
[3:22] festivities, thereby strengthening the
bonds of our community. Now therefore,
[3:27] our Terrence v. Roberts along my fellow
city council members do proclaim March
[3:32] the 31st of 2026 at Anderson University
payday in the city of Anderson and
[3:38] encourage the community to share their
support of AU on social media where
[3:43] they're black and gold and demonstrate
that this community is true to AU. Sign
[3:49] this ninth day of March 2026.
Mr. Late
[3:56] » two words. But first, let me just say
we're excited about this year's A Day.
[4:01] Um, and on behalf of President Whitaker,
our board of trust, and nearly 4700
[4:07] students, I just want to thank you for
your support. Last year, we were able to
[4:11] raise a little over $800,000
with this initiative. So, we're hopeful
[4:16] this year that we'll be up there as
well. We've been on the upward trend for
[4:20] every year. Janna Shirley, my colleague,
is here and she has provided great
[4:24] leadership for that program over the
last several years. So, again, we're
[4:28] excited. We're excited about our men's
basketball team right now. Uh they just
[4:33] won the South Atlantic Conference record
season and tournament and we're hosting
[4:38] [clears throat] the NCAA Division 2 in
the South region starting this weekend.
[4:44] » Thank you.
[applause]
[4:54] » [clears throat]
[5:03] » So the minutes of our last meeting in
February, February 23rd were
[5:07] distributed. Are there any corrections
or additions to those minutes? Not hear
[5:12] any. Do I have a motion to approve?
Approve. Have a first by Dr. Thompson
[5:17] » second
>> second by Mr. Harbin.
[5:20] All those in favor say I.
>> I.
[5:22] » Opposed.
Those minutes pass unanimously.
[5:27] » We have one item of old business and
that is to request to request
[5:32] consideration of reappointment of
municipal court judges. Miss Mchuan.
[5:38] » Mayor and council. This item is general
approval for the consideration of
[5:42] reappointment of municipal judges. The
city municipal court judges were
[5:47] previously appointed two-year terms
beginning January the 1st, 2024 and
[5:52] ending December 31st, 2025.
City code section 582 specifies that
[5:58] municipal judges shall be appointed by
the council for a term not less than two
[6:02] years
no more than four years.
[6:07] The reappointment considerations for
Chief Judge Josh Allen, Judge Carolyn
[6:13] Galloway, Judge Robert King, Judge
Richard Thompson for a term of January
[6:19] 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2027. Mayor,
I yield back to council for their
[6:25] consideration.
>> Thank you. Um, any questions, comments,
[6:31] » Mr. Mayor? I make a motion that we
approve um two-year contracts for Judge
[6:39] Allen, Judge Galloway, Judge King, and
Judge Thompson.
[6:43] » Second first by Miss Harbin, second by
Mr. John Roberts.
[6:48] Any discussion?
>> I would like to say it's a shame and
[6:51] it's part of why unfortunately it's a
shame we won't be able to also nominate
[6:56] Judge Curtis Eaton. We thank you for his
service.
[7:01] Definitely
>> for sure. Great comment. [clears throat]
[7:05] Anything else?
All those in favor say I. I. Opposed.
[7:11] » That passes unanimously.
We have a couple items of new business.
[7:15] And the first item is request
consideration [clears throat] of a
[7:19] contract for the installation of
approximately 500 linear feet of 6
[7:25] in water line on East Church Street,
Manning Street, and approximately 241
[7:32] linear feet of an 8 in water line on
Joseph Street. Mr.
[7:38] The city's electric city utilities
division and the water distribution
[7:43] department operates approximately 374
miles of water distribution lines
[7:48] ranging from 3/4 in to 30 in in diameter
and serves 17,000 customers inside and
[7:54] outside of the city. The water
distribution primary function is to
[7:58] provide drinking water and water use for
for use of fire suppression. In that
[8:03] regard, the request involves improvement
to the water lines that will enhance
[8:08] availability of hydrant water flow for
fire suppression while also replace the
[8:12] water lines. A map is included in your
packet. I'll turn over Scott Banks, our
[8:17] utility director, to describe the
project as you view here on your map and
[8:22] the consideration of the bids and
contract. Mr. Banks,
[8:27] » thank you. Good evening, uh, C. This
project is uh has three uh portions to
[8:34] it. U the the currently we have two
hydrants on Manning Street do
[8:38] [clears throat] not meet fire flow
requirements and therefore can only be
[8:41] used for flushing. Uh so a portion of
this project will extend a 6-in water
[8:45] line approximately 475 ft down East
Church Street and tie into the line on
[8:50] Manning Street to increase that flow of
that hydrant at that intersection. And
[8:54] additionally, the existing 6 in on
Manning Street will be extended
[8:58] approximately 25 ft to the existing
hydrant near the intersection of Manning
[9:02] and East Market Street. And then
thirdly, we currently have a a on street
[9:08] the 4 in dead end before reaching
Tribble Street. So there's a a segment
[9:14] that where we'll install approximately
250 ft of 6-in line at the intersection
[9:19] of Trible and Joseph Streets and then
tie it to the existing 4 in on Joseph
[9:23] Street. Uh we had seven contractors that
uh submitted bids. The low bid was Davis
[9:30] Plumbing and Sewage LLC of Iowa, South
Carolina at [clears throat] $141,171.
[9:36] Um we um
are planning to fund this from the water
[9:42] utility funds and therefore staff
recommends approval of a contract with
[9:46] Davis Plumbing and Sewage LLC in the
amount of 141,170
[9:51] plus a 10% contingency of $14,11710
for a total of 1 $155,28810.
[10:01] » Thank you, sir. comments, questions.
[10:08] » Mr. Roberts,
>> um the low flow height, is that a result
[10:11] of some degradation over time or
>> Well, in this case, there's a 4 in line.
[10:17] Uh it the line is not large enough to
support the minimum flow that that we we
[10:23] strive for for fire protection.
>> So, it never was correct sufficient.
[10:27] » And then I get the dead end line. That's
never a good idea.
[10:30] » Yes, sir. Um, it looks like we have a
favorable bid.
[10:35] Um, we have experience with Davis
Plumbing.
[10:37] » Yes, sir.
>> Okay.
[10:40] Unless there are any other comments, I
move that we move forward the water line
[10:43] improvements.
>> Second.
[10:45] » First by Mayor Pro Tim, second by Mr.
Newton.
[10:49] Any further discussion? All those in
favor say I.
[10:53] » Opposed. It passes unanimously.
Our
[11:00] second item is request consideration
of a resolution of a clean water state
[11:06] revolving fund loan for the Rocky River
and generosity creek wastewater
[11:11] treatment plants improvement project.
This one queuing.
[11:14] » As part of Electric City Utilities, the
wastewater treatment department operates
[11:19] two plants that are permitted for a flow
of 9.5 million gallons a day at the
[11:23] Rocky River and 10 million gallons a day
at generosity creek wastewater treatment
[11:28] plant. As part of the our continuing
assessment and capital improvement plans
[11:34] for the plants, the city and this item
before you is seeking an application for
[11:38] funding from the clean water state
revolving fund loan program for a Rocky
[11:43] River and generosity creek wastewater
treatment plant improvement project.
[11:48] The project includes a replacement of a
floating anorobic digtor lid at the
[11:54] Rocky River wastewater treatment plant
and upgrading the SCADA system to a more
[11:59] robust and versatile software system at
both the wastewater treatment plants.
[12:04] These improvements will replace agent
infrastructure and improve our
[12:07] operations.
The state revolving fund has approved a
[12:12] lowinterest loan in amount of $2.19
million for the Rocky River and
[12:16] generosity creek project. The estimated
annual debt service payments would be
[12:21] approximately 136,000
715 based on 2.3% for 20 years uh paid
[12:29] quarterly to the state treasures office.
Uh we recently funded a waterline
[12:34] project similar means with SRF funding.
That was the East Market Street and
[12:39] Wellington Mill project at a 2.3%
interest rate as well. That was a $3.34
[12:44] million debt service. Uh the debt
service would be paid from the sewer
[12:48] fund. M administration recommends
approval of resolution 2605 for the
[12:53] application to the SRF funding as the
next step.
[12:57] » Thank you, sir. We've seen the scope of
the project. Um, are any additional
[13:02] questions or comments?
>> I think we saw this several months ago.
[13:07] » We did. That's the lid that we had to
remove, re-engineer the structural
[13:11] component of it, and instead of twisting
up, it'll go straight up like it'll ride
[13:15] straight up. Um, similar to the rest of
them. And then of course our SCADA
[13:20] system is our uh computer control system
for both plants that from time to time
[13:25] needs to be upgraded and will allow uh
more monitoring and control systems to
[13:30] be implemented throughout the the
treatment plants.
[13:33] » Thanks, Mayor. I'll make the motion to
approve the resolution.
[13:37] » Yep. First by Mr. Newton, second by Dr.
Thompson. Further discussion, Mr.
[13:42] Harvey.
>> Mr. Mchuan. So the capacity for both
[13:47] plants is just under 20 million. What
where are we at on a capacity standpoint
[13:54] real quick? Yeah, it so when you look at
daily flow, I mean we we can have a
[14:00] minimum daily flow of of 4 million
gallons a day and you could have um a a
[14:06] period that's you know a high daily flow
up to 7 to eight. Um, however, what they
[14:11] look at when they look at the the
permitted flow is allocated capacity to
[14:16] that and sometimes things come on line
for each plant and sometimes they're
[14:21] removed. We've gone through the process
of removing some recently that the
[14:25] project just never because we serve uh
the countywide
[14:30] and then also we serve um homeland parks
sewer district. So sometimes a something
[14:36] perspective thing might come online,
they reserve capacity and then you look
[14:39] at it five years later realize it's not
going to take place. So we've been
[14:42] removing some of those. So right now
we're still in good shape with that. We
[14:45] haven't hit the the threshold that
requires you to upgrade the capacity of
[14:50] the plants. What we're looking at now of
both plants is that aging infrastructure
[14:55] as far as what needs to be replaced
mechanically. And so there's several
[14:59] projects that we have upcoming that
we're engineering right now. We're doing
[15:02] a peer master per uh preliminary
engineering report for both
[15:07] [clears throat] plants that will have a
recommend recommendation of those items.
[15:10] But we also know some of our weak points
that need redundancy uh that we have in
[15:15] our capital improvement plan going
forward. So we haven't reached that that
[15:19] capacity threshold yet, but our um
certainly we have the ability there to
[15:23] expand at both plants. Uh they were well
designed and and functioned well as far
[15:28] as and have have great expansion
>> capability to them,
[15:31] » you know. I like to keep them asking
through the years um you know you read
[15:39] about other communities that don't have
capacity and have reached and can't add
[15:45] anything else. Someone a long time ago
who built these saw the growth potential
[15:50] for our area and we've always had plenty
of of capacity and it seems like our
[15:56] area is growing fast. So that's good to
know.
[15:59] » Yeah. Another thing too is uh industrial
customers. So we have uh it's public now
[16:04] that Duke Energy is looking at putting a
and they're moving ahead with their
[16:08] plans to to put a plant here a uh gener
electric generation plant here and that
[16:13] plant itself would discharge a large
amount of waste water looks like to the
[16:17] generosity plant. Um still engineering
that because it could potentially go to
[16:21] Rocky River. We do have the capacity for
that and and can take that and look
[16:24] forward to uh being a them being a
customer. Um and that would that would
[16:29] be good for us in way of revenue.
However, we'll continue to look at as
[16:33] big things come online like that our
capacity and what needs to be upgraded.
[16:37] » Thank you. Good point. Any other
questions, comments? Mr. Roberts,
[16:41] » let me tag on to Mr. Harbin. Uh do these
improvements allow any efficiencies that
[16:48] we can claw back or reclaim some of the
allocated flows?
[16:54] » Yeah. or or is this just an an
improvement that
[16:58] » Well, it was a these were this was a
mechanical failure of the lid. So, I
[17:02] mean, we this was an improvement of a
mechanical failure, right? And we this
[17:08] is just happens to be a larger project
than pumps going down and so forth that
[17:11] we're constantly replacing here and
there um as these plants run 24/7. So,
[17:18] this is more of a mechanical failure
that we will recapture back that process
[17:22] because right now it's offline. Um, and
we've been able to work do a work around
[17:26] it. And so the skater though does grab
efficiency to it. It does as far as the
[17:32] flow, the management of your flow, the
management of the chemicals, the
[17:35] treatment process and so forth. And so
as we add that in, we'll have some
[17:39] efficiency gain there
>> that will allow us to reclaim some
[17:44] allocated um flows or
>> Yeah, Mr. information you want to add on
[17:50] it's cheaper to to reclaim some that the
capacity
[17:54] » as our chief engineers will out there
Scott you have something
[17:57] » yes I I don't know that it would
reclaiming flows uh because the flow is
[18:02] is is what's coming to us but what it
will the projects that we're going to be
[18:07] recommending in the future what they
will do [snorts] is allow us to operate
[18:10] more efficiently because we'll be
putting in more electrically efficient
[18:13] pumps also the processes that we would
be going to would reduce chemical use
[18:18] there would be more of a biological
nutrient removal process that that that
[18:23] uh uh would be more u
bacterological and not not having to add
[18:29] chemicals. So, and I will add unique to
our plants um not completely unique but
[18:35] we [clears throat] do have large basins
for holding the storm water when we have
[18:39] a a quick um downpour and you have a lot
of infiltration that may come to the
[18:45] plant. So, you have a high inflow to the
plant. we have the ability to split that
[18:49] off into the basins, hold that water and
then let it trickle back in the system
[18:53] when floods reduce and that's very
helpful. Um otherwise, you know, you
[18:58] would you'd be spending a lot on the uh
capacity side that you really don't need
[19:05] all the time, but just during high flow
rain events. And so, but another goal of
[19:10] course is to reduce the infiltration
into the system period and which we've
[19:14] been rellining sewer pipes throughout
our system and doing that. So, Yeah. And
[19:18] and that's one of the things that that
will um slow the requirement from dees
[19:24] to add capacity is continuing to improve
on our collection system and reduce the
[19:30] » [clears throat]
>> ioni that's coming to us cuz
[19:32] unfortunately when that water that if
it's it's mainly rain water but we still
[19:35] have to treat it. So we're it cost us
chemicals and power. Uh whereas if we if
[19:39] it's not coming to the plant then it's
that's not costing us and it allows us
[19:44] to operate more um uh consistently when
we get rid of the items. Good good
[19:51] conversation. Anything else guys? First
and a second. All those in favor say I.
[19:57] » Opposed. That passes unanimously on the
vote.
[20:04] [clears throat]
[20:07] Our third item, and we will not have an
executive session on this item, but our
[20:11] third item is request a resolution
authorizing a project to be considered
[20:16] for participation in a special tax
assessment for rehabilitated historical
[20:22] properties.
Historic properties. Mr. Mchuan,
[20:26] » thank you. I'll turn over our plan
development director, Maurice McKenzie,
[20:29] to go over the item.
>> Okay. Thank you. Back in November, you
[20:34] adopted guidelines by ordinance that
promotes the preservation and
[20:38] redevelopment of historic properties by
granting a special tax assessment to
[20:43] qualifying rehabilitated historic
properties in the city. And this was
[20:48] made possible because the state of South
Carolina enacted Bailey bill several
[20:52] years ago, which allows local
governments to freeze the
[20:56] pre-rehabilitated assessed value of
properties that may participate in a
[21:00] program for a predetermined number of
years. And when we do receive an
[21:06] application to participate in this
program, there is a process. And the
[21:10] first step in the process is to come to
you with a resolution to authorize a
[21:14] project to be considered for
participation in the program. Uh once
[21:19] you adopt the resolution, it then goes
to the board of architectural review and
[21:23] they will confirm that the project meets
the design investment requirements and
[21:27] that's called the preliminary
certification. So that would be the next
[21:31] step following this. Once the work is
complete on the rehabilitation of the
[21:36] dwellings or the buildings, the final
certification will be granted by the
[21:40] board of architectural review if the
completed work meets all the approved
[21:45] standards and the expenditures were met
in accordance with the approved plan.
[21:50] Now, we're coming to you tonight because
there has been an application submitted
[21:54] to us and the applicant is ST Real
Estate Holdings and the properties that
[22:01] we are looking at are 215, 217, and 219
South Main Street. They are a budding
[22:08] buildings. They're at the corner of
South Main and Church Street. The fair
[22:12] market value of those buildings is
$254,400.
[22:17] and they're proposing an estimated
project cost of $2 million into these
[22:22] buildings. So, we are recommending
approval of a resolution
[22:27] authorizing this project to be
considered for participation in the
[22:30] special tax assessment for rehabilitated
historic properties. And after you
[22:36] consider this and approve it tonight, it
will then go before the board of
[22:39] architectural review for their review
and potential preliminary certification.
[22:44] and that is scheduled for March 18th.
>> Thank you. Um, any questions or comments
[22:52] on the proposal?
[23:00] » Miss Har. So, I'm not sure who exactly
ST Real Estate Holdings is, but I
[23:06] appreciate their u interest in
rehabilitating the um buildings for the
[23:13] general public. That's the old Big
John's and the building next to Big
[23:19] John's and that have been vacant for
quite a number of years. Uh, and and
[23:27] it's always exciting to see old
buildings continue their integrity and
[23:33] the the history of Anderson and someone
willing to invest and to keep that
[23:39] flavor and just reuse it for a uh for
another building versus knocking it
[23:44] down. And so with that, mayor, I'd make
a uh motion that this be referred. Uh
[23:50] this we would um this resolution
authorizing the project [clears throat]
[23:55] to be considered for participation in
the specialy property tax assessment for
[24:00] rehabilitated historic properties.
Have a first by Miss Farman, second by
[24:04] Mr. John Roberts. Any further
discussion, comments?
[24:08] » It's exciting. I hope see more come on
down the road.
[24:12] » Yep. I mean, it's in the central
business district, [clears throat] um, a
[24:16] historic district. And so, um, I echo
that. It's it would be [snorts] good to
[24:22] have it come back in, uh, in a historic
way in that in that regards.
[24:30] » Everybody members
see
[24:35] » a first and a second. All those in favor
say I. I. Opposed. That resolution
[24:40] passes unanimously.
Mor, I do have one thing.
[24:46] [clears throat]
>> Uh, we do have the Cater's Lake ribbon
[24:49] cutting. Um, it's, uh, looking forward
to that is Tuesday, March the 17th at
[24:54] 10:00 a.m. And we jo we we ask that, uh,
you join us as we celebrate the
[24:59] completion of the Cater Lake
improvements and the continued
[25:03] investment in Anderson's parks and
public spaces. We look forward to that
[25:07] event. It's going to be a great event,
especially good time. It looks like it's
[25:10] going to be sunny that day to be opening
up a new park, especially uh one that
[25:15] has the the pretty aesthetics it does
with a pond um this time of year in
[25:20] spring. So, thank you, Mayor.
>> Good. Everything's blooming. Good deal.
[25:25] Entertain a motion to adjourn.
>> So, move.
[25:27] » First by Mr. Newton, second by Mr.
Roberts. May pro Tim. All those in favor
[25:34] say I. Opposed.
We send her.