Council Hears Reports; Considers Loss of CATbus Service

Anderson County County left the posted agenda Tuesday night after Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd told council that unless the county comes up with funding before the end of 2013, the Clemson Area Transit (CAT) bus will no longer serve the city of Anderson.

Floyd said the county to find $107,000 to get keep the route running. She said that many students from Anderson attending Clemson University, Tri-County Technical College and Southern Wesleyan University will be left without transportation to school if the bus route is discontinued. She added that workers and senior citizens also rely on the bus for transportation. Floyd said the bus reduced traffic by 50 cars per day, keeping the area below the pollution levels in the regional containment system. 

Councilwoman Cindy Wilson said the county had asked Tri-County Tech and others to help provide funding for the CAT bus. Wilson said the route serves a narrow section of the county and that council asked CAT to charge for the transportation.  

Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said the issue the finance committee looked at earlier was not the then $125,000 purchase of the bus, but the $180,000 annual recurring cost to the county to fund the bus service. 

“At that time we could have purchased the bus for $125,000 (based on an 80/20 match)  but we were also looking at an additional annual $180,000 going forward,” Burns said. 

Council Chairman Francis Crowder suspended debate on the issue, saying it had not been placed on the public agenda and that supporting documentation was not included.

“This is not an issue we need to be debating tonight,” said Councilman Tommy Dunn. “I think we need to meet soon and work on this issue. I appreciate Miss Floyd’s passion for this and  I think we need to meet and find a way to make this thing work” Dunn said.

Council heard an update from the Animal Welfare Ad Hoc Committee on Tuesday night, but was unprepared to present a formal recommendation. 

“We have had two very good meetings (of the committee),” said Councilman Tom Allen, chairman of the Animal Welfare Ad Hoc Committee. “We don’t have anything in writing yet, because we want to give members of the community to have input into this. This could be the first time the people write a county ordinance. We hope to have something in writing in time for the next council meeting. We have a great committee and will have a good ordinance come out of this,” Allen said. 

“We don’t need to get in a hurry,” Dunn said. “We need to take our time and make sure this is done right.”

Council was unanimous in approving the finance committee’s report, including a $1 transfer of funds in the Sheriff Department’s budget (rounded up from .83 cents).

Council also approved on second reading, an ordinance which will raise sewer rates and change the solid waste fee structures for some Anderson citizens and businesses. 

Almost 4,100 homeowners in Anderson County will be paying an extra $15 per month for sewer as part of the sewer and solid waste fee structures approved by Anderson County Council Tuesday night. 

Businesses in the county will pay an additional $15 per residential equivalent unit in sewer fees, which is a 400 gallons per day capacity. According to county records, the increase will cost the average fast food restaurant in the county an additional $45 per month and the average grocery store an extra $450 per month in sewer and solid waste fees. 

“Our current sewer fund bleeds $2.7 million per year,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns in a June meeting. “This is an attempt to make it more solvent.” 

Burns said then the increased fees will bring in the $2.7 million Anderson County is currently losing each year. He also said the fees will come close to meeting current sewer needs but will not address ongoing needs or future construction 

Solid waste fees would also be increased by $4.35 annually, bringing the residential rate to $69.38 per year and the commercial rate $80.19 per year. The solid waste rate increase is the first since 2010.

On Tuesday night Council also:

Introduced the area’s new Tenth Circuit Public Defender Hevery Young.

Approved fee-in-lieu-of-tax existing agreement for SMS-SC LLC.

Approved the acceptance of Rivendell III Subdivision into the county road system. 

Approved the creation of the Sharen Ridge Subdivision Special Tax District. 

Heard reports from the Airport Ad Hoc Committee. 

Approved a resolution honoring Ruth Hazel Maddox Wilkerson for her “outstanding example of servant leadership and her successful efforts in education to make Anderson County a better place to live and work.” 

Officially expressed gratitude to Anderson County Employees, Community/Church organizations and volunteers who participated in the Emergency Response, relief and Recover efforts in the discovery of a puppy mill in Anderson County.

Issued a proclamation that Salem Missionary Baptist Church is a thriving religious institution in Anderson County and will celebrate its 125"' Anniversary on October 13.