For the 31st year in a row, the City of Newberry received a “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting,” which is presented annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States to governments that have achieved the highest standards of perfection in their accounting procedures.
“There are very few municipalities in the United States that receive this level of competency,” Mayor Foster Senn said. “Finance Director Shannon Smith and her staff have done an outstanding job.”
Several other employees were recognized by council Tuesday for various milestones and achievements.
From the Newberry Police Department, Scottie Peay was recognized for his five years of service. Peay began working with the city in 2019 and currently holds the title of Narcotics Lieutenant.
Yolanda Williams was also recognized for her 10 years of service with the police department. Williams began working with the city in 2014 and currently holds the position of police sergeant.
Recognized for his 25 years of service, was Jason Stuhr, also with the police department. Stuhr began working with the city in 1999 and currently holds the position of lieutenant over training.
From the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, Oswaldo Tapia was recognized for his 10 years of service. Tapia began working with the city in 2014 and holds the title of parks maintenance specialist.
Brandon Riddle was recognized for his 15 years of service to the city’s utilities department. Riddle began his work with the city in 2009 and currently holds the title of water plant supervisor.
Two employees were recognized from the Newberry Fire Department on Tuesday. The first, Colton Roberts for his five years of service. Roberts started working with the city in 2019 and currently holds the position of lieutenant.
For his 25 years of service and retirement from the City of Newberry, Ben Dukes was recognized by council. Dukes began his career with the city in 1999 and held the position of fire captain. Fire Chief Gene Shealy said Dukes planned to stay on as a volunteer for the department.
City Updates
Senn shared many good news updates from Newberry including the success of the recent Main Street Lights event, promotions within the city’s police and fire departments, the Miss Newberry Scholarship competition and positive feedback on city staff following Hurricane Helene.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Wicker provided an update to council on the US EPA Brownfields Assessment grant sharing that they had several more properties that they were working to get them to the point of having them ready for redevelopment.
Wicker said they planned to pull the advisory board together one more time prior to the end of the year.
In his report to council, City Manager Jason Taylor shared that the city had received an $88,000 COPS grant for purchasing additional cameras to use throughout the city. The goal, he said was to purchase 25 cameras.
Police Chief Kevin Goodman said that since the cameras were put in place, they’d probably helped solve approximately 95% of shootings that had occurred within the city. In addition, he said the cameras had assisted with car wrecks as well.
“We need these cameras to be our eyes in places when we can’t be there,” he said.
Taylor also shared the city had put out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for landscape architects. The city has lots of ongoing projects and Taylor said they were looking to interconnect new projects with other projects previously completed and that this would be an indefinite delivery contract, allowing the city to pick up the phone and call on this architect as opposed to going through the typical procurement process. To date, he said the city had received 13 RFQs.
“We’ll start vetting those and moving forward with that,” he said.
The CTC, Taylor said recently granted the city $225,000 to go towards the engineering of the Drayton Street bridge. Once the engineering is completed, Taylor said the city hoped to go after additional grant funding sources to make the necessary repairs to the bridge.
Additionally, Taylor shared the city had also received at Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $362,500 to clean up/demolish vacant or dilapidated structures in the Wise Street area.
Annual Financial Report
Marcy Loucks of McKinley, Cooper and Company presented council on Tuesday with an overview of the FY2023-2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Loucks said the city’s financial statements were fairly stated as of June 30, 2024, and continued to reflect GASB Accounting Standards. She said the firm would be issuing a clean, unmodified opinion, which is the best opinion the city can receive.
Loucks summarized the various funds for council saying that the city had a positive net position of almost $82 million. The city has 12% of their net position that is unrestricted for use, Loucks said and that the city had very little debt, which included capital leases such as on needed equipment.
The city has 12% of their funding that is unrestricted and available for use, Loucks said, with many folks she sees in the negative in that category.
“Y’all have a good net position,” she said.
Old Business
Under old business, motion was made by Councilperson David DuBose and seconded by Councilperson Jackie Holmes to postpone first reading to amend the zoning map for tax numbers 401-13, 401-64, and 401-65 until March 2025.
Approved under old business was second and final reading of an ordinance to authorize the lease-purchase of public works equipment. The equipment includes a street sweeper, garbage truck, an A-boom and a knuckle-boom. Motion was made by Councilperson Glasgow and seconded by DuBose.
New Business
Under new business, council approved a resolution to authorize signatures for check signing. It is required that two authorized city employees sign checks on behalf of the city. This resolution authorizes the city manager, finance director and assistance finance director to sign checks. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David Force.
The Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) operates the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program through their Area Agency on Aging. This program inspects and investigates complaints in DHEC-licensed long-term care facilities across Fairfield, Richland, Lexington and Newberry counties.
Their efforts aim to ensure the safety and proper treatment of the residents. In support of this, the CMCOG Board of Directors has adopted a resolution requesting the SC Legislature to consider enacting a law requiring security cameras in these facilities and the CMCOG has invited the City of Newberry to pass a resolution in support of these efforts.
Senn shared that he had spoken with both White Oak and J.F. Hawkins in Newberry and both already have security cameras in place at their facilities which was great news.
Motion was made by Glasgow and seconded by DuBose to support the CMCOG’s efforts.
Consideration was passed to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with the Newberry Opera House Foundation. The city and NOH Foundation desire to establish terms in a written agreement that include the city relinquishing employees to the foundation that solely work at the opera house.
“The opera house will have the ability to fully supervise their employees,” Taylor said.
Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Carlton Kinard and seconded by Holmes.
First reading of an ordinance was then passed to approve the revised by-laws for the Newberry Opera House Foundation.
These by-laws introduce several updates including changes in the size of the board, removing the financial requirement of board members and improving language for clarity.
Motion was made by Holmes and seconded by Kinard to approve the by-laws with a change to the section mentioning the foundation board can be comprised of anywhere from 3-15 members. The suggested size from council was 7-15 members.
Clarification was also asked of Director Anne Pickney Smith prior to second reading on the section mentioning taking action could be done without a meeting of the board.
Public Comment
Under public comment, Antwan Harris, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Small Business Association in the office of disaster recovery shared that their office was working side by side with FEMA for disaster recovery following Hurricane Helene. Harris shared that their deadline for applications for their disaster loans was January 7, 2025.
“We have loans for small businesses, non-profits, large businesses, homeowners and renters,” he said.
Harris shared that their office had representatives set up in all FEMA disaster resources centers.
Other Updates
City Council will meet again on Tuesday, January 14 at 7 p.m.
