Oconee County Council Holds Regular Council Meeting; Economic Development Announcement Expected At Next Meeting
(Seneca, SC)———————–Oconee County Council held their regular council meeting in Council Chambers at Pine Street Tuesday night and several items were on the agenda. According to County Council Chairman Julian Davis, an economic development announcement will be coming up at the next Council meeting on April 2nd regarding what is known now as Project Plan 4 after Council had a second reading of that ordinance Tuesday night.
According to Chairman Davis, Council also approved a request for stone, rock and erosion control materials in the amount of around $71,000 for the campus of the Foothills YMCA that is currently under construction, plus, Council also approved up to $300,000 in matching funds for the application for a grant in the amount of $500,000 for water and sewer infrastructure expansion at the Seneca Rail Park on Shiloh Road in Seneca.
Council also approved grants from the Accommodations Tax Fund for several events and organizations in the County, including Seneca Fest, the Walhalla Performing Arts Center and the South Carolina Apple Festival.
Davis also commented on the continued discussions regarding the Sewer South Project between the County and the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority. Davis believes that the County and the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority are closer to an agreement that could be completed during the first couple of weeks of April. According to Davis, the County has removed the request for as seat on the Sewer Authority Board and they will be petitioning the cities to have a seat on the Board.
Davis says that the County will retain Phase One of the project that currently has lines in the ground which stretches down to the Highway 59 Industrial Park and that Phase Two, which involves a grant, would be maintained by the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority. Davis said the ownership of Phase One by the County did not seem to be a “hang up” on the grant for Phase Two but Davis says that the lines from Phase One need to be in the ground in order for Phase Two to work.