Mayor Shares Good News During City Council Meeting
Mayor Foster Senn shared good news from the City of Newberry on Tuesday during City Council’s November meeting, starting with employee spotlight Heather Brown from the city’s finance department and the success of the city’s Oktoberfest event as well as the groundbreaking for the Newberry Arts Center.
Other highlights from the past month included the city’s Michael Parker named as the Newberry County Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year, council and city staff visiting students at Gallman Elementary School, the opening of Jittery Wings Quilt Company on Main Street and the success of the Newberry Veterans Day parade.
Senn also highlighted that the city’s special election voting for District 2 takes place on December 17 at 1872 Wilson Road from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Early voting for this election will take place from 8:30 a.m. beginning December 2 and ending at 5 p.m. on December 13.
A proclamation was signed Tuesday declaring December 6, 2004 as Arbor Day in the City of Newberry as it is in South Carolina. Senn shared some history on the holiday and the importance of trees to a community.
Each year for Arbor Day the city celebrates by rotating a visit to local elementary schools to plant a tree of their choosing.
City Manager’s Report
City Manager Jason Taylor shared many updates with council during his report to include the city receiving a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the Federal US Department of Transportation in the amount of $300,000. Those funds will be used to conduct a safety action plan and do safety demonstration projects in the city. This is to study and implement ways in which to make the city safer, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists, he said. Taylor said they had issued an RFP that was due December 9 for that project.
Taylor highlighted projects continuing to move forward including the city’s urban forest master plan as well as the Newberry Arts Center, the amphitheater and splash pad expansion at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
Trees in the area of Community Hall and Memorial Park had been trimmed up, Taylor said as well as closing in on the completion of the cleaning up of most of the city’s parks following Hurricane Helene. A list of those parks still closed can be found on the city’s website.
Taylor shared that city staff was doing their part to make sure the city was reimbursed through FEMA for expenses occurring following Hurricane Helene and was currently in the process of hiring a consultant to advise on what all was eligible for reimbursement.
“FEMA does allow for this consultant to be paid for as part of reimbursements,” Taylor said.
Old Business
Under old business, council approved second and final reading of an ordinance to better address the placement of sidewalk signs.
The city’s code currently does not allow sidewalk signs (sandwich boards) in the core business district and city staff is requesting this to be changed.
Prior to second reading a public hearing was held on the ordinance with no one speaking in favor or opposition. Senn declared the public hearing adjourned.
Motion to approve second reading was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David Force.
New Business
Under new business, council approved first reading of an ordinance to authorize the lease-purchase of public works equipment which includes a street sweeper, a garbage truck, an A-boom and a knuckle-boom.
Taylor said while originally $1,300,000 was budgeted for the expenses, they’d come in under budget at $1,100,000.
City Finance Director Shannon Smith solicited proposals from financial institutions for the provision of such financing and First Community Bank provided the proposal most advantageous to the city, at an interest rate of 5.05% for a term not exceeding six years.
Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Lemont Glasgow and seconded by Councilperson Carlton Kinard.
Also approved under new business was an outside water request for property located at 913 Carver Street. The property owner has agreed to execute an annexation covenant indicating a willingness to annex if the property becomes contiguous to the city limits and city council determines it is in the best interest of the city to annex the property.
There is a $2500 water tap fee and a $2550 sewer tap fee. There will be no extension.
Motion to approve the request was made by Holmes and seconded by Kinard.
City Council is required by South Carolina state law to annually approve the jury list for the City of Newberry Municipal Court. The jury list consists of registered voters within the city limits and is provided in electronic format to council from the city’s clerk of court.
Motion to approve the 2025 jury list was made by Senn and seconded by Holmes.
Also approved by City Council on Tuesday is the consideration of making December 23, 2024 a city holiday for employees.
Senn said that it had been proposed that this day be recognized as a holiday for city employees. To ensure that essential city operations continue without disruption, the police, fire, and public works departments will coordinate plans to maintain services during that period.
Motion to approve the holiday was made by Holmes and seconded by Councilperson Kinard.
Council then approved a resolution to appoint a director and alternate director to the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA) Board. Senn shared that the PMPA board had those positions open to the City of Newberry for voting purposes.
Motion was made by Kinard and seconded by Glasgow to appoint Senn as director and Taylor as alternate director.
City Council will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, December 10 at 7 p.m.
Mayor Foster Senn shared good news from the City of Newberry on Tuesday during City Council’s November meeting, starting with employee spotlight Heather Brown from the city’s finance department and the success of the city’s Oktoberfest event as well as the groundbreaking for the Newberry Arts Center.
Other highlights from the past month included the city’s Michael Parker named as the Newberry County Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year, council and city staff visiting students at Gallman Elementary School, the opening of Jittery Wings Quilt Company on Main Street and the success of the Newberry Veterans Day parade.
Senn also highlighted that the city’s special election voting for District 2 takes place on December 17 at 1872 Wilson Road from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Early voting for this election will take place from 8:30 a.m. beginning December 2 and ending at 5 p.m. on December 13.
A proclamation was signed Tuesday declaring December 6, 2004 as Arbor Day in the City of Newberry as it is in South Carolina. Senn shared some history on the holiday and the importance of trees to a community.
Each year for Arbor Day the city celebrates by rotating a visit to local elementary schools to plant a tree of their choosing.
City Manager’s Report
City Manager Jason Taylor shared many updates with council during his report to include the city receiving a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the Federal US Department of Transportation in the amount of $300,000. Those funds will be used to conduct a safety action plan and do safety demonstration projects in the city. This is to study and implement ways in which to make the city safer, especially for pedestrians and bicyclists, he said. Taylor said they had issued an RFP that was due December 9 for that project.
Taylor highlighted projects continuing to move forward including the city’s urban forest master plan as well as the Newberry Arts Center, the amphitheater and splash pad expansion at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
Trees in the area of Community Hall and Memorial Park had been trimmed up, Taylor said as well as closing in on the completion of the cleaning up of most of the city’s parks following Hurricane Helene. A list of those parks still closed can be found on the city’s website.
Taylor shared that city staff was doing their part to make sure the city was reimbursed through FEMA for expenses occurring following Hurricane Helene and was currently in the process of hiring a consultant to advise on what all was eligible for reimbursement.
“FEMA does allow for this consultant to be paid for as part of reimbursements,” Taylor said.
Old Business
Under old business, council approved second and final reading of an ordinance to better address the placement of sidewalk signs.
The city’s code currently does not allow sidewalk signs (sandwich boards) in the core business district and city staff is requesting this to be changed.
Prior to second reading a public hearing was held on the ordinance with no one speaking in favor or opposition. Senn declared the public hearing adjourned.
Motion to approve second reading was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David Force.
New Business
Under new business, council approved first reading of an ordinance to authorize the lease-purchase of public works equipment which includes a street sweeper, a garbage truck, an A-boom and a knuckle-boom.
Taylor said while originally $1,300,000 was budgeted for the expenses, they’d come in under budget at $1,100,000.
City Finance Director Shannon Smith solicited proposals from financial institutions for the provision of such financing and First Community Bank provided the proposal most advantageous to the city, at an interest rate of 5.05% for a term not exceeding six years.
Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Lemont Glasgow and seconded by Councilperson Carlton Kinard.
Also approved under new business was an outside water request for property located at 913 Carver Street. The property owner has agreed to execute an annexation covenant indicating a willingness to annex if the property becomes contiguous to the city limits and city council determines it is in the best interest of the city to annex the property.
There is a $2500 water tap fee and a $2550 sewer tap fee. There will be no extension.
Motion to approve the request was made by Holmes and seconded by Kinard.
City Council is required by South Carolina state law to annually approve the jury list for the City of Newberry Municipal Court. The jury list consists of registered voters within the city limits and is provided in electronic format to council from the city’s clerk of court.
Motion to approve the 2025 jury list was made by Senn and seconded by Holmes.
Also approved by City Council on Tuesday is the consideration of making December 23, 2024 a city holiday for employees.
Senn said that it had been proposed that this day be recognized as a holiday for city employees. To ensure that essential city operations continue without disruption, the police, fire, and public works departments will coordinate plans to maintain services during that period.
Motion to approve the holiday was made by Holmes and seconded by Councilperson Kinard.
Council then approved a resolution to appoint a director and alternate director to the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA) Board. Senn shared that the PMPA board had those positions open to the City of Newberry for voting purposes.
Motion was made by Kinard and seconded by Glasgow to appoint Senn as director and Taylor as alternate director.
City Council will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, December 10 at 7 p.m.
