As we reported earlier, Newberry City Council held a special meeting Tuesday for second and final reading of an ordinance to amend the wholesale power cost adjustment schedule (WPCA).

Motion to approve second reading was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David DuBose. The increase would be effective for customers during the March billing cycle.

Councilperson Clay Smith said while he understood that Hurricane Helene caused financial strain on the city, it had also caused strain on the individuals living in the city. Smith proposed the question that if FEMA were to reimburse the city 100% on their claims, could they lay out a plan to do something with the excess money to let the public know how it was being used.

“I just want to make sure we’re using that money in the right way,” Smith said.

Mayor Foster Senn added that he agreed with Smith in principle, but that similar to other utilities, the city had spent a lot of money following Hurricane Helene and that he hoped the city would be fully reimbursed by FEMA.

City Manager Jason Taylor said it would be something the city could consider and bring back before council after the dust settled and they saw how the city was reimbursed by FEMA.

Smith added that potentially the money could be placed into the city’s rate stabilization fund to help them rebuild or prepare for another potential storm.

Councilperson Lemont Glasgow added that while he was not for raising rates for customers, they needed to make sure the city stayed solvent and that the city had not really raised rates further than what was passed onto them through the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA).

Councilperson David Force added that he liked that the increase was only temporary and that following that four-month period, the city could readjust and see where they were then.

New Business

Under new business, council approved a request to accept Newberry Landing Circle, Chance Way and Connor Way into the City of Newberry’s road inventory and to accept water and wastewater infrastructure and parcel 340-1-79.

Newberry Landing has completed their buildout, and all units have been sold. The developer has requested the city take ownership of Newberry Landing Circle, Chance Way and Connor Way. The roads were built to the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) specifications and have been inspected by city staff and deemed to be in good standing.

Also included in the request is the city’s acceptance of parcel 340-1-79 which contains the wastewater pumping station that serves the development. All water and wastewater infrastructure were built to city standards and were inspected and tested throughout construction.

Motion to approve the request was made by Councilperson Carlton Kinard and seconded by Force.

City Council will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.