Newberry College Seniors Honored By City Council
Newberry City Council recognized many Newberry College seniors for their community support last Tuesday night. Each student was presented with a proclamation honoring their specific achievements.
Those recognized included Ella Allardice, Ginny Bass, Alexus Brooks, Paxtyn Brown, Jaheel Butler, Aniella Casper, Tatyanna Chapman, Christian Draper, Gracie Graham, Micah McNamee, D’Ante Parker, Marley Rourk, Tristin Sundell, Erin Wilson and Chance Jackson.
Mayor Foster Senn said the students recognized had been nominated by their professors and others within the community for their contributions.
“We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors,” Senn said.
Also recognized on Tuesday were Margarita Roshka and Trevor Styron, previous Newberry College students who served as interns for the City of Newberry in 2025.
Announcements
Under announcements, Senn shared good news from around Newberry to include the city’s employee spotlight, RJ Dowd from the Newberry Fire Department. He also shared several recognitions from the Newberry Police Department along with Newberry College’s president, David Harpool extending his term.
Senn shared photos from the MLK Day march and service in Newberry as well as shared appreciation for Public Works and other city crews during the most recent winter storms.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Collin Shealy shared information on two upcoming city events – the Newberry International Festival on March 28 and Pork in the Park on April 17-18. Shealy shared with the Newberry College students in attendance how they could volunteer to help at these events as well as the upcoming fishing rodeo and summer work at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
Shealy also shared that the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Newberry Arts Center would take place on Friday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m.
New Business
Under new business, council approved a resolution to authorize and approve the acceptance of certain loan assistance monies from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority.
Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson Carlton Kinard.
This resolution authorizes the city to accept fully subsidized financial assistance from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority to support a PFAS removal pilot study and design project for the city’s drinking water system.
City Manager Jason Taylor explained that this was a forgivable loan to study the best method to remove microplastics from the city’s water. Taylor said this wasn’t a unique issue to the City of Newberry, but rather across the world and that we were working to make our water cleaner and better for us.
The funding, provided through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will be forgiven (no interest or repayment) if the city complies with all terms and conditions of the loan assistance agreement and applicable state and federal requirements.
Council also approved first reading on Tuesday of an ordinance amending the city’s annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
The purpose of the ordinance Taylor said was to address increased costs associated with renovations at the recreation complex.
Project expenses have exceeded original budget estimates due to higher than anticipated costs related to the miracle field, pickleball courts, and splash pad expansion. To address these additional costs, the proposed budget amendment includes a transfer from the general fund to the recreation complex fund in an amount not to exceed $300,000, a transfer of $280,000 from the community housing and development fund to the recreation complex fund and an amendment to the recreation complex fund to reflect these additional revenues as well as the planned use of $235,000 in fund balance.
Motion to approve first reading was made by Councilperson David DuBose and seconded by Councilperson David Force. A public hearing and second and final reading will take place on March 10.
Appointments
Council approved several appointments to various boards and commissions on Tuesday.
Glasgow made a motion to appoint Jane Bunnell to the Newberry Housing Authority Board. This motion was seconded by Kinard.
Two reappointments were made to the Accommodation Tax Advisory Commission Tuesday night. Both Clyde Hill and Frank Kelly agreed to serve another term, Senn said. Motion to appoint Hill and Kelly was made by Kinard and seconded by Glasgow.
Motion was then made by Holmes and seconded by DuBose to appoint three members to the Architectural Review Board.
Lisa Senn, Bob Montgomery and Cile Hursey agreed to reappointment, Senn said.
As final appointments, Scott Bellows and Blackwell Johnson were reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The nomination was made by DuBose and seconded by Holmes.
Next under new business, council approved a request to allow alcohol in designated event areas for the International Festival.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism staff request approval to allow alcoholic beverages within the International Festival event area on Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Permission allows beer and wine only served and sold by approved vendors only using plastic cups no larger than 16 ounces to be taken from the respective vendors into the event area.
This would allow event patrons to travel to the event area with an alcoholic beverage of beer or wine only, by foot, if they are carrying the allowed beverage in a plastic cup. Event patrons will be carded with over 21 wristbands provided by approved event vendor(s). Liquor consumption is not to be permitted in the event area.
The event area includes Main Street from Nance to McKibben Streets, Boyce Street from Nance to McKibben Streets and McKibben Street from Boyce to Main Streets.
Motion to approve the request was made by Holmes and seconded by Force.
Council then approved a resolution committing the city to matching funds for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) BUILD Grant application. The proposed project includes improvements to three bridges, Taylor said – Academy, Charles and Drayton Street, as well as the addition of a pedestrian walkway along O’Neal Street. These improvements are intended to enhance public safety, improve infrastructure resiliency and increase pedestrian connectivity within the project area.
Senn said the principal and staff at Newberry Middle School welcome the pedestrian walkway to their school and he felt that the city had a competitive application.
The total grant request is $13,230,439. The city’s match consists of $200,000 in city funds, in addition to $245,000 in CTC funds, for a combined local match of $445,000.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Holmes and seconded by Kinard.
With a motion made by Force and seconded by DuBose, City Council then approved the awarding of a bid to Don Moorhead Constructions, Inc. for the Bush River Wastewater Treatment (WWTP) Influent Pump Station.
Bid results came in significantly higher than expected. Three bids were submitted with the lowest bid at $7,924,875 being selected with Moorhead Constructions, Inc.
Taylor shared that these updates were expensive, but critical to the growth of the wastewater treatment plant.
“It will help us operate much more efficiently and save us roughly $200,000 per year on operating the facility,” he said.
A request was then approved to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Don Moorehead Constructions. Motion was made by Glasgow and seconded by Holmes.
City Council will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Newberry City Council recognized many Newberry College seniors for their community support last Tuesday night. Each student was presented with a proclamation honoring their specific achievements.
Those recognized included Ella Allardice, Ginny Bass, Alexus Brooks, Paxtyn Brown, Jaheel Butler, Aniella Casper, Tatyanna Chapman, Christian Draper, Gracie Graham, Micah McNamee, D’Ante Parker, Marley Rourk, Tristin Sundell, Erin Wilson and Chance Jackson.
Mayor Foster Senn said the students recognized had been nominated by their professors and others within the community for their contributions.
“We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors,” Senn said.
Also recognized on Tuesday were Margarita Roshka and Trevor Styron, previous Newberry College students who served as interns for the City of Newberry in 2025.
Announcements
Under announcements, Senn shared good news from around Newberry to include the city’s employee spotlight, RJ Dowd from the Newberry Fire Department. He also shared several recognitions from the Newberry Police Department along with Newberry College’s president, David Harpool extending his term.
Senn shared photos from the MLK Day march and service in Newberry as well as shared appreciation for Public Works and other city crews during the most recent winter storms.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Collin Shealy shared information on two upcoming city events – the Newberry International Festival on March 28 and Pork in the Park on April 17-18. Shealy shared with the Newberry College students in attendance how they could volunteer to help at these events as well as the upcoming fishing rodeo and summer work at the Newberry Recreation Complex.
Shealy also shared that the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Newberry Arts Center would take place on Friday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m.
New Business
Under new business, council approved a resolution to authorize and approve the acceptance of certain loan assistance monies from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority.
Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson Carlton Kinard.
This resolution authorizes the city to accept fully subsidized financial assistance from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority to support a PFAS removal pilot study and design project for the city’s drinking water system.
City Manager Jason Taylor explained that this was a forgivable loan to study the best method to remove microplastics from the city’s water. Taylor said this wasn’t a unique issue to the City of Newberry, but rather across the world and that we were working to make our water cleaner and better for us.
The funding, provided through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will be forgiven (no interest or repayment) if the city complies with all terms and conditions of the loan assistance agreement and applicable state and federal requirements.
Council also approved first reading on Tuesday of an ordinance amending the city’s annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
The purpose of the ordinance Taylor said was to address increased costs associated with renovations at the recreation complex.
Project expenses have exceeded original budget estimates due to higher than anticipated costs related to the miracle field, pickleball courts, and splash pad expansion. To address these additional costs, the proposed budget amendment includes a transfer from the general fund to the recreation complex fund in an amount not to exceed $300,000, a transfer of $280,000 from the community housing and development fund to the recreation complex fund and an amendment to the recreation complex fund to reflect these additional revenues as well as the planned use of $235,000 in fund balance.
Motion to approve first reading was made by Councilperson David DuBose and seconded by Councilperson David Force. A public hearing and second and final reading will take place on March 10.
Appointments
Council approved several appointments to various boards and commissions on Tuesday.
Glasgow made a motion to appoint Jane Bunnell to the Newberry Housing Authority Board. This motion was seconded by Kinard.
Two reappointments were made to the Accommodation Tax Advisory Commission Tuesday night. Both Clyde Hill and Frank Kelly agreed to serve another term, Senn said. Motion to appoint Hill and Kelly was made by Kinard and seconded by Glasgow.
Motion was then made by Holmes and seconded by DuBose to appoint three members to the Architectural Review Board.
Lisa Senn, Bob Montgomery and Cile Hursey agreed to reappointment, Senn said.
As final appointments, Scott Bellows and Blackwell Johnson were reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The nomination was made by DuBose and seconded by Holmes.
Next under new business, council approved a request to allow alcohol in designated event areas for the International Festival.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism staff request approval to allow alcoholic beverages within the International Festival event area on Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Permission allows beer and wine only served and sold by approved vendors only using plastic cups no larger than 16 ounces to be taken from the respective vendors into the event area.
This would allow event patrons to travel to the event area with an alcoholic beverage of beer or wine only, by foot, if they are carrying the allowed beverage in a plastic cup. Event patrons will be carded with over 21 wristbands provided by approved event vendor(s). Liquor consumption is not to be permitted in the event area.
The event area includes Main Street from Nance to McKibben Streets, Boyce Street from Nance to McKibben Streets and McKibben Street from Boyce to Main Streets.
Motion to approve the request was made by Holmes and seconded by Force.
Council then approved a resolution committing the city to matching funds for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) BUILD Grant application. The proposed project includes improvements to three bridges, Taylor said – Academy, Charles and Drayton Street, as well as the addition of a pedestrian walkway along O’Neal Street. These improvements are intended to enhance public safety, improve infrastructure resiliency and increase pedestrian connectivity within the project area.
Senn said the principal and staff at Newberry Middle School welcome the pedestrian walkway to their school and he felt that the city had a competitive application.
The total grant request is $13,230,439. The city’s match consists of $200,000 in city funds, in addition to $245,000 in CTC funds, for a combined local match of $445,000.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Holmes and seconded by Kinard.
With a motion made by Force and seconded by DuBose, City Council then approved the awarding of a bid to Don Moorhead Constructions, Inc. for the Bush River Wastewater Treatment (WWTP) Influent Pump Station.
Bid results came in significantly higher than expected. Three bids were submitted with the lowest bid at $7,924,875 being selected with Moorhead Constructions, Inc.
Taylor shared that these updates were expensive, but critical to the growth of the wastewater treatment plant.
“It will help us operate much more efficiently and save us roughly $200,000 per year on operating the facility,” he said.
A request was then approved to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Don Moorehead Constructions. Motion was made by Glasgow and seconded by Holmes.
City Council will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
