Daniel Prince
Council votes to approve matching funds for regional wastewater project, Buffalo Mill Pond upgrades
Union County Council covered a lot of ground in its meeting last night, which started at 4:30 p.m. with a needs assessment public hearing and did not wrap up until around 6:45. Council approved third and final reading of a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with MycoWorks, as well as third reading of an ordinance creating a joint county Industrial and Business Park. Sherri Burdette, vice president of logistics and supply chain with MycoWorks was on hand for the meeting. Her first day on the job included a site visit to the spec building in Union where the company will locate. She said she is excited that the company is locating in Union and thanked council for all its support in making the deal happen. Supervisor Frank Hart thanked her and the company, as well, welcoming them to Union County and expressing excitement for the future. He said MycoWorks represents a new industry sector for the county and offers an exciting product. MycoWorks makes a leather alternative out of mushroom mycelium.
Council also passed third and final reading of a redistricting ordinance setting the new boundaries for Union County Council districts for the next 10 years. The districts are set based on the new 2020 US Census numbers for the county and brings the districts to within a maximum deviation of 3.8% of the ideal district size. The plan had to be approved prior to the primary election filing date, which opens March 16. The county worked with the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office to draw up the new district lines.
In other business, council approved two resolutions. One was to commit to local matching funds for regional infrastructure grants dealing with bringing industrial sewer to the 176 corridor in Jonesville and to the Trakas site, opening up the northern end of the county for further development. The county is partnering with the City of Union and Town of Jonesville for the project. It is applying for a $9.7 million grant from the US Department of Commerce. The county is pledging up to $1.3 million in support funding. He said they have the expectation of receiving Community Development Block Grant funding and have also requested funding from the SC Power Team as well, which will lower the commitment level for the county.
The second resolution commits matching funds to upgrade the Buffalo Mill Village Park. The county is applying for a $602,925 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for funding for the project. The county was newly included in the ARC following the passage of the national infrastructure bill. The grant requires a 30% local match, so council was asked to approve $180,877.50 in matching funds for the project. Supervisor Frank Hart explains what the project will entail:
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Council passed the resolution unanimously.
We will have more highlights from the meeting in future newscasts.