[0:00] In favor, please signify by saying I. >> I.

[0:05] » Call council meeting of July 9th. >> Is there a motion to accept?

[0:11] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[0:14] » Okay.

[0:21] If you're not in the meeting, uh, don't make a motion or second. Okay. Is there

[0:25] a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. Is there a second?

[0:32] you were there.

[0:35] » Okay. >> All those in favor who are at meeting

[0:38] signify by saying I >> I

[0:42] » call council meeting July 15, 2026.

[0:48] » Motion accept. Is there a second? >> Okay. Any discussion on this

[0:53] corrections? All those in favor signify by saying I. I.

[0:57] » I. Call council meeting July 21st 2020.

[1:03] Is there a motion we accept the minutes? >> Is there a second?

[1:07] » Second. >> Any discussion? Amendments, corrections.

[1:12] All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I call council meeting July 23rd, 2026.

[1:22] Is there a motion we accept the minutes? Any

[1:28] discussion, amendments, corrections? Hearing none vote. All those in favor

[1:33] signify by saying I. >> I'm going through the call council

[1:37] meetings first. The others call council meeting public hearing July 30th, 2026.

[1:45] » Make a motion. >> Motion a second. Any discussion?

[1:49] Amendments, corrections? >> All those in favor signify by saying I.

[1:57] Call council meeting August 4th.

[2:03] » Second. >> Second.

[2:06] » Any discussion? Corrections. All those in favor signify by saying I.

[2:14] » Opposed. Call council meeting August 11, 2026.

[2:22] » Second. >> Amen. corrections.

[2:29] » Okay. All those in favor sign by saying >> I

[2:33] » Okay, let's go back. We've got uh two committee meeting. One thing I would say

[2:39] moving forward uh the committee when they meet next.

[2:48] So, do we want to hold that for the next meeting or go ahead and go since it was

[2:53] already July? Okay. There's a motion. Do I hear a motion of got to be a committee

[3:00] member? So, motion from the committee that you approve these minutes

[3:05] » and moving forward at the committee themselves

[3:12] committees meeting August 4th, 2026.

[3:19] Okay, we're all on a committee of some kind.

[3:24] Is there a second? >> Motion and a second. Any discussion?

[3:30] Corrections? Not. >> All those in favor signify by saying

[3:35] » I

[3:39] thank you. That was a lot of minutes. Took more than a minute.

[3:45] All right. So, next we're moving to the public comment section of our agenda. Is

[3:51] there anyone from the public that would like to address council?

[3:56] There's anyone here tonight who would like to address city

[4:04] going once twice.

[4:08] We'll close the close the comment section and move to something that I've

[4:12] been very much looking forward to. Dr. Sam Her

[4:17] is going to present to us on the university student agricultural project.

[4:22] » Mr.

[4:25] clarify that. >> Okay. If I just stand right here.

[4:28] » Sure. >> Well, first thank you for uh letting me

[4:31] be before you just to tell you a little bit of who I am. I'm a retired

[4:35] practitioner from the Charleston area. Moved up here in retirement. I found

[4:39] myself teaching at the school of architecture before.

[4:44] What I do is I teach the graduating students that are graduating in

[4:47] December. These are students that are kind of little off culture graduating in

[4:50] the spring and basically closing out their undergraduate degree. What I'm

[4:55] trying to do is put together a project students that makes it as real as

[4:59] possible um in terms of they have a real site to look at a real building to look

[5:05] at actual requirements of site to respond to in

[5:10] terms of designing a building. had kind of an affinity personally for

[5:14] Wah Hol and myself find myself spending a lot of

[5:19] time over here discovered that I guess your old gym building is kind of a bit

[5:25] of a change right now in terms of athletic activities to another location

[5:30] for something else and this would be a perfect building as a kind of a test for

[5:34] my students to use and I talked to Councilman Grant over here about this

[5:40] and thought I just wanted a little permission before I just show up with 10

[5:43] students wandering around trespassing on your property. So, I'm here to ask I

[5:49] guess your your blessings or whatever to be able to proceed with this thing. You

[5:53] want to be able to measure the building. We're going to go through the semester

[5:56] designing a hypothetical project for a community center and maybe some type of

[6:00] addition to the building. We have no we have we're asking nothing from you other

[6:05] than access to the building. maybe access to a few staff members, hours or

[6:10] whatever to oversee this. And we would even invite some people if they wanted

[6:15] to participate in the process along the way. They just want to see how

[6:18] architecture is made. Some people might call it sausage being made. But u

[6:24] anyways, it's a great opportunity for the students and if they can have some

[6:27] interaction that's great. I can certainly provide that. I mean, I've

[6:30] designed town halls and centers and those kind of things before my career,

[6:34] but it's really much more interesting if they have somebody to actually chat

[6:38] with. So, that's what I'm here to talk about. I'm happy to answer any questions

[6:43] that you might have. >> I like motion.

[6:47] » Absolutely. I'll second that. And I I wanted to ask let people to kind of

[6:52] clarify something too >> from our discussions on the phone. uh we

[6:57] talked about they would actually produce a deliverable that we could use a plan.

[7:02] » Well, yeah, absolutely. I haven't really decided if they're

[7:06] going to do it in teams or individuals, but there might be five as few as five

[7:10] or as many as 10 different schemes on I'll present a problem and with y'all's

[7:16] input, we might say, you know, we want to keep the gym, we want to add these

[7:19] kind of spaces, that kind of stuff. I'm probably going to have to add some

[7:22] things in to get full and real. Um, but then they would you would actually

[7:28] several different solutions to the same problem. If that makes sense. You'll see

[7:32] 10 different math solutions to one math problem.

[7:36] » We have access to that and we have access to the outcome that you do at

[7:43] some point in present.

[7:47] I may or may not be able to do that based on students timing, but I can

[7:51] certainly publish the dates that we have reviews and invite you to those reviews

[7:56] or we could even do some reviews on those dates here, but the students are

[8:00] tied to an academic. >> I understood

[8:03] one question.

[8:09] » Okay. I grew up in Columbia, went to school in Clemson, met my wife here and

[8:16] used to drive to White Waterfall. So this was back when the year the lake was

[8:20] what 5 years old and we said you know this was engaged

[8:25] I'd like to retire here one day and she like that idea we find ourselves 40

[8:30] years later

[8:38] I told Charleston

[8:42] » does anyone have any objections is it Dr.

[8:46] I'm not a doctor. No, I'm Mr. Architect >> being uh uh his students into the uh old

[8:54] where the city gym is. And as a side note, I think we're still interested in

[8:57] keeping it as a gym that rest.

[9:02] » Any kind of parameters that y'all can throw to me, I'll do, but I'll get to

[9:06] kind of coordinate the schedule and Chris is able to accommodate us, that's

[9:11] great. If not, that's great. I know administrator here shortly.

[9:26] » I don't think

[9:35] appreciate it. >> Thanks.

[9:54] All right. So we have proclamations. Uh proclamation.

[9:59] First one will be 2026-10 proclamation recognizing September as

[10:04] emergency preparedness month. Whereas our nation south and city

[10:12] are faced with the potential for disasters both both natural and man-made

[10:17] and for that can stress safety community and family resources and whereas the

[10:22] Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA emphasizes to all states,

[10:26] communities and citizens that it is better to be prepared for such events.

[10:30] And whereas FEMA provides the guidance of the plan stay informed and get

[10:35] involved to all members of the community both adults and children. And whereas

[10:40] the city of Wala Police, fire, and utility departments would like to

[10:43] encourage all its citizens to avail themselves to the information at fema's

[10:48] ready.gov website and help do their part to improve the strength and resilience

[10:53] of our great city. Therefore, I Tim Hall, mayor of the city of Wajala, South

[10:57] Carolina, hereby proclaim September National Preparedness Month in the city

[11:02] of Wala. I encourage all citizens young and old to appreciate our blessings and

[11:06] to endeavor to strengthen our community. And this is really timely basation

[11:18] involves Hispanic Heritage Month and we are having the Hispanic Heritage

[11:22] Festival. I'll remind everybody September 19th. Uh it'll be at Owens

[11:28] Park in downtown uh

[11:33] proclaiming September 15th through October 15th Hispanic Heritage Month

[11:37] holiday. Whereas each year, communities across our nation observe National

[11:41] Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the stories, cultures, and contributions

[11:45] generations of Hispanic Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the

[11:50] Caribbean, Central, and South America, representing diverse nations and

[11:54] cultures that each contribute a unique and dynamic perspective to the history

[11:58] and progress of our state. It was the theme for this year's National Hispanic

[12:02] Month. Do recognized the importance of shared

[12:07] declares that together we are more. And whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month

[12:12] provides a dedicated time to honor the valuable contributions of Hispanics and

[12:17] Latinos in the comment state as citizens who share their vibrant culture and

[12:21] enrich our communities through their unwavering dedication to faith, hard

[12:25] work, and family. Whereas the city of Warhal remains committed to enhancing

[12:30] collaboration across sectors, cultures, and ideas, advocating for resources that

[12:35] promote economic and community development and engaging with local,

[12:38] county, and statewide networks, including the South Carolina Commission

[12:42] for Minority Affairs, Hispanic Affairs Division. And whereas we proudly

[12:46] recognize, support, and celebrate the fifth annual cultural heritage

[12:50] celebration in the city of Bahal recognizing the gifts, values, and

[12:55] personal sacrifices of our Hispanic brothers and sisters are woven

[12:59] inextricably into the fabric of our shared community heritage, strengthen

[13:03] our society, and are vital to achieving our hopes and dreams for South Carolina.

[13:08] Therefore, I Tim Hall, mayor of the city of Wala, South Carolina, do hereby

[13:12] proclaim 15 through October 15th as Hispanic Heritage Month in the city of

[13:18] Wala. I encourage all citizens to celebrate and recognize the invaluable

[13:22] contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities which have enriched and

[13:26] shaped the vibrant city.

[13:33] We're going to go through a resolution. I'm going to say uh this is a

[13:38] resolution. Is Chief Sanford here? >> Yes, sir. He's coming.

[13:54] I know a lot of kids going to grow up and be for exactly the reasons that you

[13:59] all exemplify dedication community

[14:04] sacrifice that you make and we appreciate that.

[14:08] As I read this resolution service that we've done for citizens,

[14:14] our citizens, I have gotten a letter in today

[14:21] for another act which I will scan in to everyone.

[14:26] You guys do a tremendous job and we really appreciate

[14:30] read. Uh do we have a copy of that sign?

[14:41] right now. Anyway, I want to I want to read this and then all of our pictures.

[14:47] Okay. Um it's a resolution honoring practice Terry Sandford for exemplary

[14:53] service and dedication to the surrounding community.

[14:57] On the 3rd of July 2026 preparing for Wales Independence Fest, Chief Terry

[15:03] Sanford received a call from employees at a local truck supply company who were

[15:07] in distress. And whereas David own coworker who had been exposed to exhaust

[15:11] fumes and Mr. Owens was unable to move his co-orker outside and call Chief

[15:16] Sanford and whereas Chief Sanford's concern, training and experience let him

[15:20] recognize that life saving assistance might be urgently need. And whereas

[15:25] Chief Sanford own's workplace found him incoherent roused him and immediately

[15:30] called 911 dispatch and whereas Chief Sanford remained on the scene until the

[15:35] two were rushed to the hospital where both were found to have some

[15:38] life-threatening carbon monoxide exposure and low oxygen levels whereas

[15:44] Chief Samber notified Mr. Owens family and later met him at the hospital to

[15:47] check on his condition and whereas Mr. orange recovered and shared his thanks

[15:52] for city wala city council praising our chief Sanford for going above and beyond

[15:57] his calling of duty and whereas the city of wala recognizes such dedication

[16:02] professionalism strengthen the safety trust and wellbeing of the community now

[16:06] therefore be resolved by the mayor and council of the city of wala that chief

[16:10] Jerry Stanford is hereby commended and honored for his exempl service quick

[16:14] response and steadfast commitment to protecting the local community

[16:18] that is I'm sure that is only one of many that all of you have had. There are

[16:24] a lot of people that their lives to the actions of our

[16:29] recolous

[16:34] life. This is we also recognize quality of our

[16:53] Is there a motion to accept this? >> Motion

[16:56] second. Is that motion? Any discussion?

[17:02] Say >> I

[17:06] get

[17:10] some people in too.

[17:29] Yes, sir.

[17:40] » I don't think

[18:00] And then if everybody will stand, I'll get a picture with the tablet. So,

[18:14] name. >> Aubrey

[18:39] Is this okay?

[19:13] We get into

[19:22] that way.

[19:33] First reading of the ordinance 2020

[19:38] an ordinance to amend the is ordinance to amen the city of zonal ordinance.

[19:44] This is the first one since 199. >> It was about time, wasn't it?

[19:51] » I talk about it a little bit. So

[19:56] » the fire chief but >> so at your meetings we went through all

[20:02] the changes that we made. Um again just the very basis of that um try to make

[20:07] you more user friendly more flexible for you and how you know you can improve

[20:11] things that come in to be developed. Um ensuring that all the changes that have

[20:15] made over the years were incorporated. There were different versions floating

[20:18] around. So making sure that you know your base document is right, what you

[20:23] have online is right, what you have on your website is right and so and then

[20:27] trying to keep to your existing format as possible to make it easier for your

[20:32] clerk to make those changes and post them online and all those types of

[20:36] things. So um I kind of went through all the changes at the committee meetings.

[20:41] We want to go through those kind of blowby-blow again, but uh if you have

[20:45] questions or concerns or comments, um certainly happy to hear those.

[20:50] » Anyone have any questions?

[20:56] » I've got two questions. One, our planning commission has

[21:03] » Yes, they we were with them for a year. Um back in July, uh we did the public

[21:09] hearing. The only that came out of that public hearing was adding the short-term

[21:13] rental information to the ordinance there. Everybody was aware of that. That

[21:17] the only change that happened after that meeting was just me physically

[21:20] incorporating that into there and I think one or two.

[21:25] » Yes, sir. >> Second question that I have is on the

[21:28] political would you go over the limitations on

[21:37] » we're getting into what people call.

[21:50] So what it says now with the new language, it says under exempt signs. So

[21:56] that starts on page 66 and carries over to the top of page 67.

[22:01] It says political signs are exempt. They're allowed on private property. Um,

[22:06] they are not allowed in the public right ofway or on city owned property. So,

[22:11] can't be in a city park, be on a telephone pole, can't be in the road

[22:15] right away or in a, you know, median in the center of the road because that

[22:20] would all be public right away. Um, basically, if I'm, you know, I want to

[22:26] publicize a candidate, I can have a sign or multiple signs in my guard, um, you

[22:31] know, showing my support for the candidate, but it can't be in the public

[22:34] right away. can't be on telephone polls. That was really ever legal. You know,

[22:39] polls and such was never really legal. Anyway, this clarifies the fact that

[22:43] they're not allowed in the public rideway. Um there sort of a a middle

[22:48] ground between regulations. Uh we've had other ones that we've seen where, you

[22:53] know, communities charge deposits um for them before you can put them out with

[22:58] the goal really being to make sure they're all cleaned up at the end of the

[23:01] election. That six months from now there's still not a bunch of political

[23:05] signs out in the community, out on the roadways, in people's yards. So,

[23:09] » okay. So, in the city of Wala, you cannot put a political sign out anywhere

[23:13] according to this. It's written. So, except on

[23:16] » correct. That's what this says. >> Okay. Usually there's a lead. One thing

[23:21] I want to ask about usually before

[23:28] » um the day of the election probably nobody's going to say anything

[23:33] about it. There are some election rules I think that govern that

[23:38] » is under this ordinance. It is prohibited by this ordinance to do even

[23:42] the day of the election, >> right? I mean unless there's a state

[23:46] rule, state election law that would supersede this.

[23:50] I can check into that before we come back.

[24:03] » I do have a question along those lines.

[24:09] Would that also include the early voting window?

[24:12] » Yes. So, any rule that they're going to have is going to cover all those periods

[24:16] of time. So I'll I'll make sure I see what that language is exactly and bring

[24:21] that back to you before >> second reading

[24:26] that's

[24:34] first reading. Is there a motion to accept

[24:41] discussion further? All in favor of accepting first.

[24:52] » Thank you for your hard work with our planning commission and making sure that

[24:56] I know this had to be a task since >> it's a lot of work going through

[25:01] everything taking it line by line and and discussing pretty much every piece

[25:05] of paper in the document. So >> and we have our comprehensive plan. Let

[25:10] me ask you specific. Yes. >> Has it's supposed to be updated every

[25:14] five years and I think it's due for an update now.

[25:17] » Right. I know they were we were not involved in that project. I know they

[25:21] would hear that they had started that project. Um I don't know exactly where

[25:25] they are with it. I know she had presented some of that material to the

[25:29] planning commission while I was at the meetings but um I think that still had

[25:33] more work to be done. So >> right was certainly

[25:37] we have a new planner on board. Okay. Thank you very much.

[25:42] » Yes, sir.

[25:47] » Okay. Discussion and action items. We'll be talking about the community center.

[25:55] So, I'm turn

[26:05] » on this

[26:08] first. >> Well, I'll just get us started. So, we

[26:12] were originally planning on discussing the opening event and we're hoping to

[26:16] share a date. I think that date is going to be postponed because last Friday

[26:20] evening during a storm event, there was some water way into the community

[26:25] center. Um I'll let Mr. Carter kind of go through what where we're at today

[26:31] with that. >> Okay. There was actually two contact

[26:34] people today that John was at the first which was serve. John, can you summarize

[26:40] what the represented

[26:43] still has said? >> They said that

[26:51] equipment never mentioned anything. They wanted to

[26:55] know anything.

[27:03] We did leave some dehumidify

[27:32] questions about this. >> There's some there's some drywall that

[27:36] needs to be replaced out and some carpet that needs to be replaced. Is that

[27:39] right? >> Uh well, when we met with Mr.

[27:43] It was a sight down there

[27:56] and he got only I think one meeting that was out of range in terms of detecting

[28:00] moisture. >> Okay.

[28:02] » And so uh his in his opinion he did not think what would come up. He went down

[28:08] looked for bubbles in it. He put light on it and things of that nature. But he

[28:12] did say this. You need to flesh this out. He as he said Hogan is not this. He

[28:19] talked about putting guards. You're going to interstate those guards on

[28:27] put them on

[28:31] the drainage system on the far side of the street and rear of the building. And

[28:36] do some additional site work including cutting a ditch that would allow it to

[28:40] drain. And what else? John didn't say >> spillway on the right side. They call it

[28:44] something else, but spillway for the water. If it gets up to a certain point

[28:48] again and the drains get stopped up, it'll

[28:51] instead

[28:58] cost down there. It was a torrential rain.

[29:04] It washed down some of that area where it washed down from his

[29:12] area. They're talking about doing some kind of mitigation so we don't have that

[29:16] kind of problem. Would it hurt like

[29:25] something

[29:31] » that has nothing to do with the bill's been signed over to us? It's our

[29:35] responsibility.

[29:40] » Yeah. Unless

[29:44] » the only the only wet or damp place we found was in that room and it's probably

[29:53] less than 12 inches up from the floor and probably less.

[30:03] Yeah, I think that they could have done a better job.

[30:10] They're aware of that and they're trying to

[30:13] those specific things we mentioned too including trying to drain that water

[30:18] back down

[30:24] by 30 bas

[30:29] that looks about

[30:36] One of our employees had a video I saw coming off the parking lot.

[30:42] It looked like we had our own Niagara Falls.

[30:45] » That was that was actually coming from that drain. It was actually running

[30:49] around and coming down in front of the building. So that drain's working

[30:54] efficiently. You shouldn't have that problem. So when Hogan gets done with

[30:59] what they're doing, probably volunteer and myself will have to make sure that

[31:06] that alleyway up through there where the water's running is clear. It has to be

[31:12] maintained that way. I think there was even a 55gallon drum

[31:17] floating in there. It came from somewhere.

[31:21] So >> they are still planning on moving

[31:24] forward with the hydro stud. I still think

[31:27] » that's what they did today.

[31:38] » Those things I think he promised. I'm not sure. He said we'll do that.

[31:44] » Okay.

[31:53] Saturday.

[31:57] Anything else on >> As far as the res

[32:04] with you and the rec to me personally, all it needs is cleaning. They should be

[32:09] good to go. But they're also having a lot of work with the

[32:13] cameras and internet systems right now. So,

[32:17] » well, and that'll be dependent if they're bringing equipment in.

[32:22] to do and all that. We don't want to have an event while that too. So, we'll

[32:28] we'll just make it a goal of September. Hopefully, that will be completed by

[32:32] then some. >> Um, yeah. So, there there's still

[32:37] they've done a soft and allowed some groups to practice in there

[32:44] until that work is complete.

[32:50] » Anything else? make sure that we don't do it on

[32:54] September 19th.

[33:00] » Absolutely. Absolutely. We have to be cognizant of those dates.

[33:09] » Super Saturday as well. There may be other sports.

[33:16] Make sure that it is on the calendar.

[33:25] Okay. Request for proposal for deep cleaning.

[33:33] Were you taking on that?

[33:37] » Chris.

[33:41] » Yes. I'm sorry. I had the cemetery in front of that. So, yes, certainly.

[33:55] We're trying to trying to get somebody on board to start

[34:00] cleaning the depot after every event. Um, deep cleanings a year and

[34:07] then have somebody come in and spot clean at each event. Um,

[34:13] I would strongly encourage that we not try to reach out or

[34:19] a request out to major cleaning companies because I think it's going to

[34:23] cost us three times as much. I would rather would rather that we entertain

[34:29] proposals from small business owners, maybe one to two people

[34:38] on time. >> And just a little background, we had

[34:43] over the last year we working in house staff cleaning the depot. Uh

[34:50] but in terms of manpower, we just stretched pretty thin and it wasn't

[34:56] being done. So now to go back what we had before

[35:01] last year, which is contracting out to take care of the people, clean the

[35:12] RFP for maintenance. This is to try to get a little bit of

[35:18] load off of John and his staff. A good full two days to try to do that.

[35:26] The city cemetery. Uh there's more weeding and there is

[35:33] so um we like to try to find someone again reaching to a small business

[35:39] rather than a large service to get them to quote on this. Um, again,

[35:46] they're more it would save us a lot of money if we can find someone to do that.

[35:53] » Both of those request for proposals. When do we expect to have them out?

[35:58] » Yesterday, it was not it was in my

[36:04] phone. >> John is going to be the contact for both

[36:08] of them because he is in charge of facilities as well as the cemetery. So,

[36:13] he'll be their PC.

[36:18] I would love to have somebody.

[36:24] » We have not.

[36:31] » We need to bring it.

[36:38] » Yes, sir. >> Does that include the church?

[36:41] I thought we talked about that. It does. I don't think that facility is

[36:46] probably used, but what? >> Twice a year.

[36:49] » Twice a year. So, I think we can include that in the um the quote for the depot.

[37:01] » So, you need a motion from us to approve

[37:09] formulation of a request for St. John Place.

[37:14] I do. One thing I see that's not on here that probably just skipped my mind

[37:21] too is that they do need to have a business license.

[37:27] So we'll need to add that to the should

[37:44] John

[37:58] discussion. All in favor say >> I.

[38:04] » Okay. Next we're going to have is cemetery maintenance. Again we have

[38:08] funds in the budget. Is that correct?

[38:18] Motion we accept the issuance of RFP formulation of RFP for

[38:27] » second

[38:31] discussion. All those in favor signify by saying

[38:36] » I

[38:40] Okay, now we're going to And I'll tell you this is the final

[38:44] besides the administr

[39:01] you have not slept I think all weekend. Thank you for your work on this. It was

[39:07] just a very quick topline overview of what happened. We had a very

[39:12] significant event where the city of Wala just kind of ran out of water. Let folks

[39:18] know what would happen. >> Yeah. Friday evening after that storm

[39:22] come through the water plants called and said they was they had dropped on their

[39:27] tank. So we went out and looked for about three hours and not find nothing.

[39:32] And it was after it had rain. So all the ditches were flooded and everything

[39:35] else. We like I said about 3 hours Friday. There was still tanks on

[39:42] Saturday morning. I come back around probably about 4:30 and

[39:50] they had been empty. So we I started calling people in and we started looking

[39:53] and we checked every cross and everything went through the woods and we

[39:58] could not find nothing. Hey, look. From 4:30 to

[40:03] whatever time, 11, 12, I don't remember exactly when it was.

[40:08] I just have go down through Duck Pond. And um when I went to turn around, I had

[40:15] rolled my window down. I heard water and when I got a truck, I could not see the

[40:19] water, but I could hear it. The water was running under a bunch of kudzu and

[40:24] it was it was running like a river, so you would have never been able to see

[40:27] it. We uh we got it shut down.

[40:34] We got it back going

[40:38] around

[40:43] 5:00 >> I'm sure

[40:46] » Sunday morning. >> This was this was a relatively new

[40:54] probably six years ago. I don't hold to it, but I don't when I

[41:00] don't really know the cause. I'm going to say it. Lightning might have been a

[41:04] cause, but I'm not 100% sure. >> But you didn't see anything laying.

[41:08] » No, sir. But like when it's when it rains like that, that pipe moves

[41:13] constantly in the ground. So when it rains, it loosens the ground and stuff.

[41:17] And a rock might get against it. or if it's dry has been in a drought, it'll

[41:24] you know you're trying to get hard. Now I said the same thing that line moves

[41:28] constantly and something get against it and blow it out. It's the line never and

[41:35] temperature changes. It gets hot to cold, cold to hot ground changes. It's

[41:41] going pop. It's going >> split. And the pipe we're going down

[41:45] with now with pipe as we lay is something called duct tile.

[41:49] » Ductile iron >> which is iron which is a lot stronger

[41:52] than what we had. >> Yes. Duct iron splits different than

[41:55] plastic. Plastic usually most of the time it split 20 foot joint if it does

[42:01] that belt iron actually split a circle all the way around it.

[42:06] » But it's stronger. >> Yes. Yes. I mean, I've got

[42:12] 107 year old iron pot from the old the old mountain line still in the ground

[42:20] and it's still going strong. >> If I could, I'd like to

[42:26] absolutely thank you, Lane. I uh really appreciate

[42:32] the crew. We appreciate all the other cities and the police department,

[42:37] everybody working together. Uh that was a big deal for us and the citizens of

[42:43] Holland and we we really appreciate y'all coming together. Um but you know,

[42:47] I really want to get to talk about a lot of stuff goes on Facebook about

[42:53] all these breaks and stuff. People don't understand what what's going on. So, uh

[42:59] I think the mayor got with some of the girls today and they They came up with a

[43:04] lead. I'm going we're going to talk about that. So, this is

[43:09] » we've had 20 total in the last this uh this year

[43:13] » before you get this is a Patrick Jackson. He's actually my contract

[43:17] distribution oper. >> I've actually asked him to be here today

[43:21] because he can answer I mean I can answer your ball work but he can

[43:24] probably do better than I can. Okay. >> Okay.

[43:28] » I just want to go over this first related installation of new ones. We had

[43:34] seven. So, and a lot of people don't understand, you know, they're just, you

[43:38] know, they may get mud or something or air in their lines and they all get

[43:44] people get on Facebook and and just start talking and uh just messes

[43:48] everything. U on February 3rd, Stillwell tie in Wall Street. We had a B advisory

[43:56] then. March 26, Stillwell tie in South Broad Street. April 9th, Stillwell tie

[44:03] in Westminster Highway and H Highway. April 14th, Stillwell tie in West

[44:09] halfway. >> These are tieins that are new lines. May

[44:14] I ask y'all why do we have to when you put the new line to explain the full

[44:19] water advisor then? When you put a when they're doing a tap on a new line, we

[44:24] usually have to cut the line off because they're most like some people do a hot

[44:29] tap with a valve on line. They're doing not cutting in TE's and doing a valve.

[44:34] So, we got to take the kill the water so they can fill all that in. So, when you

[44:39] and when DHCK tells us when we lose significant pressure, we have to do more

[44:42] wateries. >> Okay.

[44:45] » That doesn't necessarily mean the water's going to harm you, right? That

[44:49] just means you possibility. >> Yeah,

[44:54] the reg are pretty pretty clear. Um, if you have a issue of low pressure or low

[45:00] water affects a significant portion of your distribution system, you're

[45:05] required to one or two notices. An advisory is precautionary.

[45:11] Um, a notice is mandatory. If, for example, god forbid, we have

[45:16] contamination issue, that would be a notice that might say do not use

[45:21] So I I think all of these have been and I've only been involved in a few weeks

[45:27] uh precautionary the regs are clear if you drop below 20 PSI or think there's a

[45:34] threat of contamination you need to do public notification. Um so in the last

[45:40] few weeks I probably taught this more than I taught my wife

[45:45] but we're mandated to do that. Um and smaller stuff. We can do some checks and

[45:51] balances. We do flow stuff, check chlorine, have a reasonable

[45:57] assurance that everything's safe. But we would, at least while I'm involved,

[46:01] always like air on the side of caution. Even if it's unpleasant in the public

[46:05] eye, it's there to protect the public and we're obligated to do that.

[46:11] I'm going to go by related to sele

[46:17] total of seven contractor calls. Uh this is April 1st,

[46:22] June 9th, June 23rd, June, July 10th, and July 21st. The contractor calls.

[46:30] Explain what happens with that, Zane, when we have what? Well,

[46:36] if it's fiber company, they they send crews like they'll have crews in here

[46:43] with nothing but sharp shooters and picks and dig holes and they will they

[46:48] will come and like dig a hole here, go 30 foot, dig another hole, do the same

[46:54] thing. They're using pneumatic boring systems um to um bore with. So, our dad

[47:01] are directional machines. So, A lot of them lines get heat or plows. They come

[47:06] in with plows and set them in the ground and just go and it'll rip out whatever.

[47:11] I've had I know this has been a company a few years ago, but I've actually had a

[47:15] company was plowing up Highway 11 from Nick Quick and they plowed through my 10

[47:21] in the iron line. It looked like a can over went across it. So

[47:24] » was there any repercussions toward that?

[47:28] » You can try to locate right you can try them but pay is a whole different story.

[47:36] Okay, >> let me ask one thing on that too

[47:41] that now pipes are put out with locator wire ductile.

[47:47] » Well, it still has wire on it too. We still fire wire up.

[47:51] » But in the past >> the older pipes there was no locator.

[47:56] There was no locator anything >> many many many years contractors hit it

[48:02] and we say we don't have any basis on which to

[48:06] build hitting those lines because we didn't

[48:09] have them. >> Yes sir. You got so many feet. If you're

[48:12] all >> think 30, I think.

[48:16] » I think 30 in. If you're all 30 in on your mark, it's not their fault.

[48:22] » Yeah, it just changed in May 22nd. I think

[48:26] the 811 law >> was modified this past.

[48:31] » Nothing we can do about it. We have >> no or if you're off on a mark,

[48:35] » which does happen, but if you're on your mark and you have

[48:41] Some questions are power. We have five going to them on

[48:48] April 21st at water natural cause like you know weather

[48:57] like rock blew up under the ground causing damage and

[49:03] » our lightning >> June 29th the rock station power from

[49:10] storms July 20 31st water line break natural causes

[49:17] Westminster has highway April 16th water that's again you know

[49:24] you got rocks and stuff we don't have no control over this no control

[49:32] August 16 bro

[49:39] 17 water line break tree blew over during stom hit above ground water pipes

[49:46] near playground road. Uh let me explain what goes on this gets a call or our

[49:54] water department gets a call. We don't know what causes that you kick

[50:00] in here if you need to. We don't know what causes it. They're out there trying

[50:04] to find out what causes the problem, where it's at, and what they need to do

[50:10] and how much equipment they need. Uh, so a lot of people want to know, you

[50:17] know, what are we going to do? What's happening? You know, are we going to

[50:20] have water? We won't be able to tell that until after

[50:25] they get done with everything. So when he gets done fixing everything, that's

[50:30] when they, well, we need to do water advisory. That's when we'll know where

[50:38] why it happened and where it was. He was talking to him this weekend. He was just

[50:44] it was I felt sorry for him. He had like two two or three phone calls coming in

[50:49] at one time and uh he hadn't slept in three days. You

[50:54] know, that's a dedicated, you know, his department's dedicated and uh

[50:59] you can't get him to go home. So I almost just want to make you go home

[51:04] so they sleep. So >> we have to corral

[51:09] » but goes back again. We want people to be we want people to have clean water

[51:14] and they do too. But there's a way we've got what's called a crossover. So if

[51:19] somebody's dirty water in their house, they need to contact the city. The city

[51:23] can go over there. I don't want to have to pay to clean my house out. Nor should

[51:27] they. So they got a crossover that they can put in that they take their meter

[51:32] out and they they like straight pipe and then that way some homeowner can take a

[51:40] garbage I mean a a garden hose and hook it up and then

[51:45] turn it on and let it drain their water. And we've got a gentleman doing that

[51:50] right now. He has a substantial amount of mud coming in. And when the mud comes

[51:56] in, what causes that thing? >> It's probably

[52:01] where we was when it like the tanks go low

[52:06] like rock, you know, it's probably sucking the line. So it's stirring up

[52:12] all the stuff that's like in the duck line like in all the word

[52:19] cast. >> What causes?

[52:23] » Yes, sir. after years of years of water running through it and stuff, it kind of

[52:29] it looks like rust chunks and it'll build up that side. So when you're when

[52:34] the line the tanks go dry and it's pulling that water, it's stirring that

[52:38] stuff up. It's just like when you turn a fire hydrant on the first time you use

[52:43] water is the water is dirty when it comes out the fire hydrant where it

[52:46] hadn't been running. How do you clear that out?

[52:48] » This co b flushing lines by blow offs and running hydrants and everything.

[52:55] » But a lot of it has to do with where people sit. If people sit in the bottom

[52:59] of a hole, it's not going to get out of there like it would. You're sitting up

[53:03] high. It's kind of like air. Air don't air gets trapped in the bottom the high

[53:07] spots where you have to get leave air out of the line when you're flusting.

[53:12] There's also things that the oil plants been doing with polish and stuff.

[53:18] » That's reason it's reduced a lot. Um and holder lines there's ways that they can

[53:24] keep that stuff from turning loose.

[53:31] There's ways you can make it turn loose. You go one way or the other too far. So

[53:36] that's something that Tom's done a really good job on at the water plant.

[53:40] So until we have these big breaks or breaking a lot, most of it's

[53:47] been taken care of, I believe. But I want to go back to the city other

[53:56] February 13th line was hit by city during work.

[54:02] We make mistakes, too. We fix them. You know,

[54:08] that was an accident. So, March 18th, a motor vehicle accident hit a fire hider

[54:13] on Charlie M. Fix that. May 13th, the rocking old pump station was down to the

[54:19] pressure. That's going to happen. So, we want to make things right. But the main

[54:24] thing is we need to have people call in a complaint. They got dirty water. The

[54:31] city of Wah don't want nobody that have dirty water. There's no way that we can

[54:35] clean their water. Just app just just call. And if they can't get a hold of

[54:41] the city, call me. My phone number is out there 8647232793

[54:48] and or call another council. I >> get calls

[54:54] on this. >> Any other member of

[54:57] » our people are very busy. They uh they take this to heart and we we don't want

[55:02] nobody having no drink water. I think we got some of the best water around and so

[55:08] I'm not scared to drink. >> Let me let me jump in.

[55:13] Looking at the positives. I see Zay here. John and we'll say something we

[55:17] already know is that we have you guys took our water plant

[55:24] needs improvement rating in July of 25 >> but that was not because of bad water

[55:31] because >> right I'm getting that

[55:35] » we took it from that and that was because we didn't have operational

[55:38] manuals all completely filled out with SOP in the heads or wasn't organized and

[55:45] lack a backflow program too. Kathy is making sure we have. And uh so in those

[55:51] six months, thanks to you and John and Tommy, we went from that to the highest

[55:56] rating state the state has can give. And that was impressive. Down 14 and over

[56:04] 14.5 million dollars worth of improvements to our water system

[56:08] implemented that or finalized that since June of 2024. We have a lot more to go.

[56:13] We know that. But I want to know those. And the final thing going to what Mr.

[56:18] Underwood was saying. >> I ain't done yet, but I'm

[56:22] » I'll finish this because I really want to get this out here. Since century, the

[56:26] city of Wajala's water has never failed to meet or exceed EPA standards. And

[56:32] they don't just test it coming out of the water. They test it in various

[56:36] random locations around the water system. And it has never failed to meet

[56:41] or exceed EPA standards. So the water's clean, the water's good. That has never

[56:47] been the issue of all the water. I drink it all the time.

[56:51] » I want to put this out there, too. I know Facebook is a thing out there. I

[56:56] don't do Facebook. So I may look at it, but what I see is people just want to

[57:01] stir stuff up. So they need to call the city. The city don't do something or a

[57:08] council member or something, then you know you got

[57:12] All I've seen is you see dirty water and stuff, but for the most part, I seen

[57:18] something on there last night where some a woman was fuss and they told her to go

[57:22] back to sleep. She don't even live in the city. So, you know, that's just I

[57:25] ain't even going to listen to Facebook. You don't call the city then, you know,

[57:30] we're not going we can't fix nothing on Facebook. They need to call city hall.

[57:35] you know, uh, it upsets because this is a city of Waja

[57:40] and we're sitting here and we've got a name for our, you know, people are all

[57:44] talking about that we got bad water. We got bad water. People won't move here

[57:48] because of that. That's wrong. We don't have bad water. We can fix it. It's

[57:53] dirty sometimes, but we can fix it. There's reasons why. And then you call

[57:58] that now ad hoc committee, some of the stuff,

[58:03] you know, we some personnel issues. We hadn't been able to start today. When we

[58:08] interviewed the new city administrator, he was very he was very uh enthusiastic

[58:16] about the water and the problems and stuff that he saw, you know, and it's

[58:21] not nothing that stuff we need to do. So, this water water advisory, you know,

[58:25] we need to improve some of the contact options and enhance the customer access

[58:31] to the water department, you know. But that's all us working together to do

[58:36] that. Uh

[58:40] so improve public transparency and grant funding and acquire matching dollars,

[58:45] expand information signage and city offices. Uh provide lines to the G GIS

[58:53] water mapping system. Uh but it's just it goes on and on. We haven't been able

[58:59] to implement this because they'll have, you know, with our uh

[59:05] And one of the things that I would like to do, but we were we've been talking

[59:10] about it was you hear 75% of our customer base is on the outside of the

[59:16] city. Uh let's see.

[59:23] While utility I was looking at advisory, we had talked about this. voted on it by

[59:28] advisory board. The board will be tasked with advising the utilities director and

[59:32] the city council with representing the customer respective areas. The board

[59:37] will compro comprise the uh council utility committee chair a representative

[59:43] from each of the following areas inside city limits. Okone County Council

[59:48] District 1, OK County District 2 and Okone County District 5.

[59:53] » You mean outside the city? >> Outside the city. Yes, sir. Prospective

[59:56] uh representatives will be required to apply for a seat and it's similar to a

[1:00:01] process for a planning commission or board stinging appeals BZA.

[1:00:06] Additionally, representative must be a wala utilities customer and reside

[1:00:11] within a district they represent. The advisory board would operate within a

[1:00:16] legislative or executive without his legislative or executive powers. The

[1:00:22] initiative aims to provide an avenue for customers residing outside the city

[1:00:27] limits to voice their concern and have direct representation to the city. So

[1:00:32] what that says is somebody's got a question about something. We're all

[1:00:36] talking. We're not going to Facebook and this person says this or this person

[1:00:39] says that and everything gets mixed up. You know, they got a problem, they come

[1:00:44] here, they get it fixed and we go from there.

[1:00:49] So this I don't do Facebook. I don't do it. So I won't you got to complain. I

[1:00:56] ain't looking at it. I don't Facebook and not so just be blunt and honest

[1:01:00] about it. So we're trying. So

[1:01:05] I'm shut up. >> That was well done. I I do have one

[1:01:09] observation for water advisor. There 20 of them we had this year. 12 of

[1:01:16] them, one of them are caused by, as you mentioned, new new water lines, uh, five

[1:01:22] contractors. But here's the thing, the natural causes, the things where the

[1:01:26] lines break. There were five of them. 40% of that

[1:01:31] happened three days until Saturday only had three.

[1:01:37] So that's just an interesting thing I noted from that. We had

[1:01:43] one on Saturday. One more.

[1:01:53] Why does it come out? They got still dirt.

[1:02:00] I'm not real sure on filters

[1:02:06] on that part. And I mean, it could be their side. I mean depends on what kind

[1:02:13] of pipe they got in the house and stuff, but I have been out in places that's got

[1:02:18] filters on their house called or put it on Facebook and I pulled water from my

[1:02:23] side. My water just as clean as it can be.

[1:02:28] » Anything else? >> Yeah, it's not always settlement. I've

[1:02:33] seen filters on chicken houses me evidently will oxidize out. turn, but

[1:02:42] it's typically suspended in drinking water and blood

[1:02:48] to John's point that be the corrosion inhibitor to coat the pipes to prevent

[1:02:53] that from happening.

[1:03:04] » One thing I'd like to say is the

[1:03:12] that people don't see.

[1:03:16] Last night I received a phone call. I called Zane.

[1:03:21] Somebody reported to me the water out off the playground road and Zane already

[1:03:26] knew about it. He went away. I said, "You will meet me at city hall. I'll go

[1:03:33] because I feel like I need to see what's going on so that I can

[1:03:40] not defend them but understand it. So when they located it got out there

[1:03:48] and I want you to understand it rain.

[1:03:53] There was a tree that Zayn and I probably couldn't reach around both of

[1:03:58] us. You know we would have had to hold hands

[1:04:03] and at the time he had him and Jesse there and just so happened that I was

[1:04:11] there and boys pull out chainsaws

[1:04:15] and go cut trees so that they can get to these lines

[1:04:18] » in the >> in the

[1:04:22] string.

[1:04:25] Not only that, they were power lines down.

[1:04:29] And I don't know about you, but me and water and power don't mix.

[1:04:35] Um, Zayn and I went to the yard there at

[1:04:41] their place to load pipe. It was almost an hour. It's just me and

[1:04:48] him. Now, he had other people coming in, right? because this was this was a

[1:04:54] pretty big undertaking. We get back over there and these two men

[1:04:59] in a hole almost up to their knees in mud with it still rain

[1:05:04] with some water coming out of the pipes. the things like that that people don't

[1:05:08] see that I wish they would wear GoPro cameras

[1:05:14] and record it so that some of this negative mess would shut up

[1:05:20] because the dedication that that man sitting right back there showed he said

[1:05:26] you want me to take you home it's over in the morning I got a business to run

[1:05:30] he said you want me to take you home I said no sir I'll be here you go

[1:05:36] And it it seemed like to me, Zane, it took forever because I go to bed pretty

[1:05:42] early. Matter of fact, I was in bed with my telephone ring.

[1:05:47] » He never one time complained. >> Never one time he complained.

[1:05:55] He complained about his lip hurting because he had chewed so much to back

[1:05:59] trying to calm his nerves that it burning inside of his mouth.

[1:06:05] That's the only complaint he made. He never one time complained.

[1:06:09] So what I'm saying is on these scenes, there's more to it than

[1:06:16] taking a tractor and digging a hole and fixing a pipe.

[1:06:22] Well, Chris ain't cut out for work like that. I'll just be honest with you. I I

[1:06:27] work in air condition every day. But this is what I'm going to tell you.

[1:06:32] We've got the most dedicated crews of men and women here in W that I believe

[1:06:39] we've ever had. And for that, I commend you, Zane. This town wouldn't be what it

[1:06:46] is today without you. And uh if it means anything, you old boy like me sure does

[1:06:51] appreciate. >> I I agree with that. We said at the top

[1:06:57] of the meeting, we have just our strength in this city, the team that we

[1:07:01] have dedicated voice.

[1:07:04] » You all pull together over and over. >> That being said, I don't give you

[1:07:25] one more thing. That's where the blood comes back in when the water's in that

[1:07:29] big hole. That's where we're going sometime.

[1:07:34] » All right. System. All right. Let's move on to the

[1:07:40] administrative report. >> Actually, I don't have anything to pass

[1:07:44] things I want to talk to you about going forward.

[1:07:47] First off is I got you may have administrator mailbox to correspond with

[1:07:54] something youth energy is launching a main street revitalization grant

[1:08:00] program. It looks like it fits exactly what

[1:08:06] improvement streetscape enhancement blinded windows

[1:08:11] programs

[1:08:14] finding signage things like that. You said that to me.

[1:08:17] » Yeah. Yeah, right here. I was But we definitely need to I would think we

[1:08:23] qualify. The problem is application period is August 3rd and 31st.

[1:08:28] » That's all right. >> Okay.

[1:08:31] » Just working under pressure. Well, there is

[1:08:36] this is

[1:08:43] about

[1:08:46] Thursday

[1:08:50] restoration may not be here but it's >> $3 million restoration.

[1:08:58] » It's almost said It's 10,000 ft linear feet of debris

[1:09:05] removal in one direction and 10,000 in the other direction with about

[1:09:11] 25 feet of filter. It looks like a big clean

[1:09:23] » I think it's going to be a lot. No, it starts over here at the tree farm

[1:09:29] and goes that way. >> That's where street cut it in half.

[1:09:33] » No, be oral street. So run actually run street across the popular street across

[1:09:40] church street underneath highway bridge all the way back to Toma

[1:09:46] Lake back in back behind. Yeah, of course I talked today

[1:09:58] somehow, but September one is when the occur that would be not next Tuesday,

[1:10:04] but the following Tuesday. So that's a very tight I think the city

[1:10:09] got in a time frame here. I understand they applied for grant but ACOG's going

[1:10:14] to help administer it now. Woman named her last name

[1:10:19] » Jill Francisco. >> Yeah. So anyway, okay, that's a pretty

[1:10:27] request for >> Oh, yeah. Opening on Thursday.

[1:10:31] » Big open be Thursday. >> Actually, this we got this grant about

[1:10:36] the time that the federal shutdown started. So, it got held up and that.

[1:10:40] So, we're kind of on a tight schedule to get this started.

[1:10:45] » So, we'll have to have a meeting between now and September.

[1:10:55] They have to have time to check. So I think September

[1:11:01] we have to have council approval of this before September 1st. I think he wants

[1:11:07] to come on September 1st. The impression I got today

[1:11:11] I think he wants to open check but anyway

[1:11:16] » would you confirm that timeline? I'm not talking today. He has to be

[1:11:21] approved by September 1st. >> Okay.

[1:11:27] » Last thing, one thing I talked to mayor before we leave, we I'd like to talk

[1:11:33] about possibly a budget amendment allow us to restate the revenue expending

[1:11:44] on that since he closes out the fiscal year next year. Make sure he understands

[1:11:48] to do, but it may be I might be in the best position when this process is over

[1:11:53] be able to come forward and explain it to you because it's going to require

[1:11:56] creation of accounts for outstanding projects. So I want to plant that seed

[1:12:01] in your mind that need finance Jason which is substantial

[1:12:09] » and this this revolves around >> absolutely

[1:12:16] yes. So as soon as I get a date from Jason, I'll let you folks know

[1:12:22] what needs to be done here

[1:12:29] bridge. I know we just opened up an account

[1:12:36] today and we're sending it back over. So that should be in a separate

[1:12:39] » account.

[1:12:51] Um

[1:12:56] » did you get So you got the minutes and everything.

[1:12:59] » Yes.

[1:13:05] » That's all I

[1:13:09] All right. So, uh I just want to circle back. Chris, would

[1:13:14] you make a scan of this? This is the weather committee, our fire department.

[1:13:18] Send it to all of us and also Sanford

[1:13:28] is not here.

[1:13:31] » Okay. I don't believe we have anything more I have anything more to add at this

[1:13:35] point. So we will entertain a motion that we

[1:13:40] » motion to >> motion and a second. Any discussion? Any

[1:13:45] protests? No. Okay. >> All in favor say I.

[1:13:50] » I.

[1:13:59] I don't

City of Walhalla, SC August 18th Scheduled Council Meeting Part 2

Transcript