Greenwood County Council Addresses Disaster Recovery and Economic Development Initiatives

Greenwood: A Day of Decisions and Debris Cleanup

Greetings from Greenwood! It’s a sunny day with a gentle high of 63°F and a comforting breeze from the north at 5 to 10 mph. As the skies promise clear blues and a cool evening dropping to a low of 38°F, the Greenwood County Council gears up for another busy session.

At today’s meeting, the council had a packed agenda covering a variety of vital topics, including disaster response and economic developments. One significant highlight from this gathering was a presentation by Economic Development Director James Bateman, who introduced a resolution aimed at amending the Master Agreement for the Greenwood Newberry Industrial Park. The council members listened intently and gave the amendment a green light, thus paving the way for new changes within the park.

Moving from development to cleanup, the persistent challenge of dealing with storm debris from Hurricane Helene was a hot topic. Although weeks have sailed by since Helene visited with her turbulent weather, remnants still lie scattered across the county. The council made a decisive move by unanimously approving a debris removal contract with the state Department of Transportation. Members like Mark Allison raised awareness about potential limitations on what debris might be removed, acknowledging that removing tangled debris or debris caught on infrastructure might need a more phased approach. With cleanup expectations being realistic, county manager Toby Chappell set the stage: “This task might stretch across months, not just days or weeks.”

For concerned residents, there’s helpful news: they can drop off storm debris at the county landfill free of charge. Questions or clarifications? There’s a handy debris hotline awaiting your call at 864-321-1097. Notably, the City of Greenwood synchronized efforts by also signing the same debris removal agreement with SCDOT.

Switching gears back to financial and procurement operations post-hurricane, County Treasurer Steffanie Dorn sought the council’s permission to alter the procurement policy for emergencies, allowing purchases over $50,000 as part of hurricane recovery. She remained optimistic on reimbursements from FEMA.

In another economic development, an amendment was approved influencing the Green River Industrial Park boundaries. James Bateman explained that this motion was a legal step to ensure a current industry remains within county lines while enabling them to access statutory job creation incentives.

Additional updates included a quarterly economic snapshot from Neil Chapman and Jared Davison of First Citizens Bank. Their reports depicted a positive trend: inflation downfall nearing the Fed’s long-term aim of 2%, alongside a notable 50 basis point cut in rates by the Fed.

Furthermore, the council approved a uniform contract with CINTAS for county employees, predicting a handsome savings of about $11,000 annually. Treasurer Dorn’s financial presentation was uplifting, showcasing a 9% hike in hospitality collections and a fruitful delinquent tax initiative.

For the forward planners: the council’s next meeting is on Wednesday, Nov. 6, shifted to sidestep the general election that would have coincided with the regular Tuesday schedule.

A reminder for residents: stay abreast of these updates by contacting Renee Ortiz directly or connecting via social media. Feel free to share your story ideas and tips our way too!

Stay informed and have a sunny day in Greenwood!