Daniel Prince
Apr 13, 2023
Top priority is extending industrial sewer to the county line
At Tuesday’s Union County Council meeting, the council voted 4-1, with Danny Bright opposed, to accept the Prioritized Community Needs list. The list is required by the Department of Commerce when applying for Community Development Block Grant funding. Supervisor Phillip Russell said the top three priorities are the ones for which the county can seek those funds, but it won’t stop the county from pursuing other funding sources and working on other priorities. The top priority is the extension of water and sewer lines to serve the area on Highway 176 between the Belk Distribution Center and the Spartanburg County line, as well as the Trakas Industrial Park and other areas not currently being served. The #2 priority is one the county has been addressing and has been receiving grants for, which is to seek funding to address needs in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods for water, sewer, and drainage work, demolition of dilapidated houses, housing needs, street improvements, new sidewalks and sidewalk improvements, and safety measures. This includes parts of Ottaray, Buffalo, Monarch, Excelsior, and Union mill village areas. The third priority is to seek funding to improve fire and police services for county residents, including construction of police and fire substations, purchase of two new aerial fire trucks to serve the county, and additional fire hydrants to improve fire protection in rural, underserved areas of the county. Other listed priorities, some of which could fall under other areas of CDBG funding or other types of grants, includes seeking funds for brownfield site assessments and cleanups throughout the county, particularly for the cleanup of the Buffalo Mill site and to revitalize that community; protecting historic properties to enhance tourism opportunities, including the Buffalo Mill building, the Union County Community Hospital, the Cross Keys House, the Dawkins House, and the historic Robert Mills Jail; renovation of the old Sims school for use as a multi-use community center; seek funding for a planning grant to study water needs and fire stations throughout the county; expand recreational facilities throughout the county; and more.
Council accepted Union County Development Board Director Dolton Williams’ recommendation that Joe Nichols and Andrena Powell-Baker fill the seats on the board that are reserved for public and private utility representatives.
Council approved filling four vacant budgeted positions. Healthy U Behavioral Health Services has two open positions—one for a clinical counselor and one for peer support. The probate judge’s office needs a probate clerk. Clerk of Court Melanie Lawson has a vacancy in the Common Pleas court. Supervisor Phillip Russell made a capital funds request. He said the county has saved $57,000 in capital expenditures over the past budget year. He recommended that council earmark that for moving expenses for the county’s move to the South State Bank building, which is anticipated in May or June. He said they may not spend it all, but it will be nice to have in case unexpected expenses pop up in the moving process.