Crowd at Council to Voice Bus Support; Tax Levy Certified

While no official action was taken on identifying funding for the Clemson Area Transit and Homeland Park bus routes at Anderson County Council on Tuesday night, it was high on the agenda of a packed house who told council the buses were an essential part of life for many Anderson citizens.

“My only transportation is the Anderson city bus and the Clemson bus to get me to work.,” said Anderson native Joyce Ann McIntosh. “If the buses get taken away, I will have to find another job.” 

One full-time student said the buses were the only way he had to get back to school. Another citizen commented that she had visited with those who ride the buses and many depended on the buses on a regular basis to get to the doctor, library, store or any other place they had to go. Former bus riders said the buses allowed them to get their education and that there are many others who absolutely need the public transportation.

“I am disabled and the Homeland Park and CAT buses are my only means of transportation,” said William Bolt. Bolt said the bus was his only means of transportation to his doctor and the grocery store.

“Not everybody is privileged to have transportation,” said Rev. Sam Stewart, pastor of Charity Springs Community Church in Anderson. Stewart, who said his son rode the bus while earning his degree at Southern Wesleyan University and that his daughter, currently a Tri-County Technical College student, is also riding the CAT bus to school.

“I hope we believe what we just professed (in the pledge of allegiance), that we desire liberty and justice for all,” Stewart said. “Let’s do what we can so everybody can make it.” 

“The CAT bus, the Homeland Park bus should stay because people are using the buses for almost everything,” said Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd, stepping out from her official role to speak as a citizen. “If we would think ahead, we could have a means of mass transportation in Anderson County for everybody.”

“Yes, the bus will run until June 30, 2014, but we have to make a decision by Dec. 30 to let people know what we are going to do, “ Floyd said. “Fellow council members, let’s not drag this out,” Floyd said. “Let’s let people know what we are going to do.” 

Anderson County Councilwoman Cindy Wilson said she resented the implication that she in not concerned with underprivileged citizens in the county. Wilson told those in attendance that Floyd was chairman of the Planning and Public Works Community last year and did not push the issue forward. 

Wilson said she is working to understand what funding is available for the bus routes and how it can be appropriated and that she has contacted U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Rep-SC, to find out what grants are already available.

Floyd shot back that she was not allowed to bring the issue up last November because Wilson hijacked the issue into the finance committee which she chaired. 

Later, in a report from the Planning and Works Committee, Wilson said no official recommendation would be made to the full council on the bus system until more complete information and economics were clearly defined. Plans are to talk to officials in Clemson as the group moves forward on the Clemson Area Transit decision. 

The contract between the county and city was also discussed concerning the Homeland Park bus route. 

She added that a potential fee from bus fares or Tri-County Technical College were discussed. The committee is hoping Sen. Scott’s grant writer could participate in future meetings.  

“This issue is a complex one,” Wilson said. “It will probably be many meetings before we are ready for a vote.”

Tackling the official agenda, council passed a resolution to offered an inducement agreement incentives which promises a $4.5 million new investment and additional 22 full-time jobs for Mergon Corporation in Anderson. The company, which already operates in Anderson County, was being called Project Windermere, but the Anderson Observer has indentified the Irish-based business as advanced plastics manufacturer Mergon. The agreement includes fee-in-lieu-of tax structures for the business and other infrastructure inducements. The average salaries for the new jobs will be $13 per hour. 

Burris Nelson. director of economic development for Anderson County, said the company’s economic impact for the first year will be $4.3 million, with a 20-year total community impact of $26 million. 

Nelson said the international company considered moving the current operation which includes 100 jobs, to Eastern Europe or Mexico before deciding to stay in Anderson.

Also on Tuesday night, council:

Certified the County Tax Levy for 2013. 

Heard a report from the South Carolina Upstate Equine Council, which outlined the contributions of the group and the T. Ed Garrison Arena ,and noted that Anderson ranked second in the state in horse populations.  

Approved on first reading an ordinance amending Ordinance 1/99-00-1, the Anderson County Zoning Ordinance, as adopted lily 20, 1999, by amending the Anderson County Official Zoning Map to rezone from C-2 (Highway Commercial) to R-A (Residential

Agricultural) two parcels of land, identified along Lakeside Drive, Denver Road, and Clemson Boulevard, consisting of +/- 24.93 acres in the Denver-Sandy Springs Precinct

Approved on second reading fee-in-lieu-of tax structures for SMF-SC, LLC. 

Approved an ordinance limiting some forms of traffic on Orr Road.

Approved on second reading an ordinance to provide for the creation of the Sharen Ridge Subdivision Special Tax District.