City Manager Shares City Of Newberry Updates
In his report to City Council on Tuesday, City Manager Jason Taylor shared several updates to include the completion of the sun shades/awnings surrounding the fields at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
No parking signs have also been added along College Street, Taylor said as the city was approached with concerns from Newberry College on safety as many vehicles park along the street during football season, etc.
New signage was also placed in the downtown area on garbage collection bins. Taylor said some of the downtown bins were being overused, rather than for their intended use for downtown residents and merchants to use.
“We’re trying to encourage folks not to do that and if you’re caught you will be fined,” he said. “We’re asking folks be considerate when using those and not to abuse them.”
As part of his report, Taylor asked Utility Director Scott Motsinger to provide an update on the South Carolina Infrastructure Improvement Program (SCIIP) grant the city had received, almost a $12 million investment.
As current project updates, Motsinger shared:
- Scott’s Creek Interceptor Sewer Upgrade: contractors have run into rock that will need to be blasted. However, Motsinger said those within a 400-foot radius had been notified. “It should really be anticlimactic, but we want to be transparent in what’s going on,” he said.
- Bush River and Kraft sewer line replacements (broken into 3 projects)
- Project 1A begins at the city’s wastewater plant and comes up to Highway 121 and is almost 65% complete.
- Project 1B begins on the other side of Highway 121 and moves forward to the Santee Cooper line where it crosses the city’s right of way. Motsinger said this project was about 13% complete as it was a bigger section.
- Project 2 begins further up the line and at this point, the right of way has been re-cleared, Motsinger said is about 5% completed.
Motsinger said all these projects were expected to culminate by June 2026.
PRT Updates
Collin Shealy, director of the Parks, Recreation and Tourism department provided an update for council on Newberry’s Oktoberfest event sharing that this year’s event would kick off on Friday, October 3 from 5-8 p.m. The main stage will come in on Friday, Shealy said with live music taking place between 6-8 p.m. German beer will be available as well as food, to which Shealy said they were calling German Brews and Bites.
On Saturday, October 4, the traditional Oktoberfest event will take place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. downtown. This year, Shealy said they had more than 20 food vendors and more than 50 artisan and craft vendors as well as multiple biergartens.
Taylor then shared that the PRT department planned to hold a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 24 at 5 p.m. for the re-dedication of Willowbrook Cabin. Located in Willowbrook Park, 704 Crosson Street, repairs had been made to the building’s kitchen, restrooms and other areas.
This facility is recently frequented throughout the year, Shealy said.
In his report to City Council on Tuesday, City Manager Jason Taylor shared several updates to include the completion of the sun shades/awnings surrounding the fields at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
No parking signs have also been added along College Street, Taylor said as the city was approached with concerns from Newberry College on safety as many vehicles park along the street during football season, etc.
New signage was also placed in the downtown area on garbage collection bins. Taylor said some of the downtown bins were being overused, rather than for their intended use for downtown residents and merchants to use.
“We’re trying to encourage folks not to do that and if you’re caught you will be fined,” he said. “We’re asking folks be considerate when using those and not to abuse them.”
As part of his report, Taylor asked Utility Director Scott Motsinger to provide an update on the South Carolina Infrastructure Improvement Program (SCIIP) grant the city had received, almost a $12 million investment.
As current project updates, Motsinger shared:
- Scott’s Creek Interceptor Sewer Upgrade: contractors have run into rock that will need to be blasted. However, Motsinger said those within a 400-foot radius had been notified. “It should really be anticlimactic, but we want to be transparent in what’s going on,” he said.
- Bush River and Kraft sewer line replacements (broken into 3 projects)
- Project 1A begins at the city’s wastewater plant and comes up to Highway 121 and is almost 65% complete.
- Project 1B begins on the other side of Highway 121 and moves forward to the Santee Cooper line where it crosses the city’s right of way. Motsinger said this project was about 13% complete as it was a bigger section.
- Project 2 begins further up the line and at this point, the right of way has been re-cleared, Motsinger said is about 5% completed.
Motsinger said all these projects were expected to culminate by June 2026.
PRT Updates
Collin Shealy, director of the Parks, Recreation and Tourism department provided an update for council on Newberry’s Oktoberfest event sharing that this year’s event would kick off on Friday, October 3 from 5-8 p.m. The main stage will come in on Friday, Shealy said with live music taking place between 6-8 p.m. German beer will be available as well as food, to which Shealy said they were calling German Brews and Bites.
On Saturday, October 4, the traditional Oktoberfest event will take place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. downtown. This year, Shealy said they had more than 20 food vendors and more than 50 artisan and craft vendors as well as multiple biergartens.
Taylor then shared that the PRT department planned to hold a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 24 at 5 p.m. for the re-dedication of Willowbrook Cabin. Located in Willowbrook Park, 704 Crosson Street, repairs had been made to the building’s kitchen, restrooms and other areas.
This facility is recently frequented throughout the year, Shealy said.
