Daniel Prince
City is applying for grant to move high-pressure gas line to Hwy. 176
At last week’s Union City Council meeting, City Administrator Joe Nichols updated City Council on the status of animal control in the city. As previously reported, Union County ended its joint contract with the city for animal control. The city was paying the county $31,000 a year for animal control services and had turned over all its equipment and supplies related to animal control to the county. The agreement had been in force for six years.
In his update, Nichols said he and Police Chief Robbie McGee sat down with interim Supervisor Bob Love and county council vice-chair Ben Ivey to discuss the matter at length. The result of the discussion was an extension of the city and county’s original agreement through March 2023, at which time the newly elected supervisor can weigh in on the matter. Nichols said there was some initial confusion, as the agreement was supposed to go into effect immediately, but the information was not conveyed to the county employees. Nichols said the situation had been remedied, and the county will be handling animal control calls for the city through March of next year. There was some question as to whether the animal control officers would need to be sworn in by the city, but Nichols and McGee said it should not be necessary.
Nichols also told council the city is applying for a $13 million natural gas grant to put in a new high-pressure gas line from Spartanburg. The intent is to move the existing line that runs through Main Street in Pacolet and Jonesville to Hwy. 176 and make the lines in Pacolet and Jonesville low pressure lines. The city has never before been able to apply for a natural gas grant, the money for which is coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed in November. $1 billion in grant funding over five years will be available for municipalities or community-owned utilities to repair, rehabilitate, or replace its natural gas distribution pipeline systems or portions of them.
At the meeting, four employees were honored for August work anniversaries. Gloria Rogers has served 31 years in the legislative department. David Grady celebrated 19 years in the public service department. Brad Weaver has served 18 years in the wastewater department, and Mitch Adams has logged five years in the utility billing department.