City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, folks. Let me call the meeting to order. I'd like to um do so. Uh and this is a regularly scheduled, called, and convened Greer uh city council meeting, April the 28th, 2026. Having called the meeting to order, I'd like to ask Councilman Corium Booker if he would please to lead us in the pledge of allegiance followed by an invocation. If you'd like to join us, please stand. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Dearly Father God, we thank you for this time tonight to come together as city council members um to do the business of the city. Lord, we ask you just to continue to cover the city of Greer, continue to cover all our citizens, all the visitors, uh, everyone that that grace the the the hollows of this city. Father, Lord, we ask you just to continue to be amongst us all. Help us to make decisions tonight that's fair and equitable for all our citizens that we that we have the privilege to serve, Father. And Lord, we thank you for everything you're doing in the city of Greer, in the city of in the state of South Carolina, in this wonderful United States of America. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. With that then let's uh council let's um move on to public forum. Miss Duncan, anybody to appear in public forum this evening? No sir. With that then council let's move to the minutes. Uh our last meeting was held April the 14th, 2026. I'll entertain a motion to receive. So move. Second. And a second. Any items of note that need to be brought to the attention of the clerk? Hearing none. Miss Duncan.

Mr. Yes. Mr. Booker, yes. Mr. Hopper, yes. Mr. Lander, yes. Mr. Bettis, yes. Mr. Lamb, yes. Mayor Danner,

yes. Council, it is our privilege this evening to recognize um two folks that are with us this evening. Um we have a anniversary that we will um that we will celebrate and also an awareness month. So, um, going to celebrate a 90th anniversary this evening and thank goodness that doesn't include

No, you're looking a little old. I'm going to ask the rare to come up here this evening, please. Got a microphone somewhere down there. You did it, sir.

Y'all slide in and smile. You know, a proclamation is a celebration need to uh to identify or to help us recognize agencies, different celebrations that we have here throughout the city. I cannot think of one that is more appropriate than This this organization through it 90 years has been a constant in this community and has you will hear proclamation been a real uh source of stability and empowerment to to our community. There there are few communities that have organizations like this with this type of history and a foreseeable future for at least another 90 years. While I suspect that they all would hope that there would come a period in time when their services weren't needed as much,

they do a great job at uh helping our And so it is is with great pride. Tonight I recognize relief and resource agencies on their 90th anniversary. And it says whereas we relief and resources agency was chartered in 1936 to help neighbors in crisis during the great depression. And whereas through it stability, empowerment and family resource center programs, career relief and resource agency serves neighbors in need along dedicated community partners and volunteers with poverty prevention to access to community resources and pathways to long-term stability. Thus providing a hand up, not a hand out. And whereas relief and resource agencies exist to transform neighbors in neighborhood to thrive by providing services to eliminate poverty and help neighbors overcome barriers for success across every neighbor. I therefore myself and the city council congratulate career relief resource agencies on the occasion of their 90th anniversary. We wish to thank them. Thank it and volunteers for their dedicated service to those in need in our community inusing humanitar. Join me in a round of applause for the 90th anniversary of Carolyn Robertson, executive director. I want to thank the mayor council and the city of for this recognition. We are deeply honored um to celebrate 90 years of service in a community that always

believed in every neighbor does matter. Rley's story is really rear's story. Generations of people, businesses, churches, volunteers, donors, and leaders all coming together to support neighbors in need and help families move towards stability and success. We're grateful to everyone who has been part of this mission and we look forward to continuing to serve this community for many, many, many years to come. Thank you very much.

Appreciate it. Thank you. I'm going to ask Nisha to come up if she would please. This is a proclamation to announce that This is lupus awareness month. He says whereas lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 1.5 million Americans and estimated 55,000 South Carolinians causing the immune system to attack healthy tissue and inflammation pain and damage to the skin and brain. Whereas Lucas is often difficult to diagnose because his symptoms illnesses in two cases are alike resulting in significant delays diagnosis and treatment. L is primarily affect often strikes during their most productive years, family life, mental health and overall quality of life. Whereas increased public awareness, early detention, detection, improved health care access, and ongoing research are critical to improving the lives of those living with Mich fight of the butterfly movement has worked to raise awareness, advocate for and empower lupus warriors and promote understanding of chronic illness throughout South Carolina and beyond.

Therefore, the city of acknowledges the courage, strength, preservation of warriors, caregivers and advocates who continue to fight for visibility, understand myself and this council did proclaim the month of May 2026 as blue month, South Carolina on behalf of the city council encourage all citizens to learn more about support those imped butterfly movement in efforts to increase awareness and to find cure. Please join me in a round of applause to category. We thank you. with special recognitions uh done at this point in time. Uh council departmental reports are contained in your packet. You have those there for information from department heads andor

the administrator. Um, we have Chris Klene join us this evening for our financial activity report. The floor is yours, sir.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Financial performance summary for March 2026. Starting in the general fund, we had a cash balance of 29,410,000. Year-to- date revenues of 46,13,000. Year-to- date expenditures of 41,249,000. We are 2% under budget. There is a favorable revenue benchmark variance of 4,365,000, an unfavorable expenditure benchmark variance of 1,76,000 and overall a favorable benchmark variance of 2,658,000. Moving hospitality fund, we had a cash balance of 2,46,000. Year-to- date revenues of 2,987,000, year-to- date expenditures of 2,848,000. Finally, stormwater fund, we had a cash balance of 5,80,000, year-to- date revenues of 1,495,000, and year-to- date expenditures of 974,000. With that, be happy to stand for any questions.

Council floor is open in the um storm water and the um hospitality number. Um does auditors do they say you should keep so much in reserve? You should be spending out so much, you know, the way we do our our general fund. General fund. Is that um yeah I think I think the more of the same applies also going to be based off need especially with storm water depending on projects but all things considered that same percentage is typically across the board

because you know I know that we have a lot of demand for storm water services and and we generally keep a there's generally a high balance in there. Yes sir. Okay. Do we have projects that are going to take that $5 million? We do have several projects still budgeted that will be we'll be seeing come to fruition here in the next several months um and which will may potentially also lead into next year's as well budget others. Thank you sir. Thank you. We appreciate it. Absolutely.

Council, let's move to the administrator's report. Mr. Marman. Oh, excuse me. I'm going to be a broken record again. Um, council, please uh take a look at the fire department um report uh especially on the delayed response from EMS and where we've had to provide the ALS support for transport. um the delays are that's that that's bad enough, but where we're providing the ALS service, uh we aren't the ambulance service. We're not the EMS service. Um but we're supplementing both counties that way.

So noted. Thank you, sir. With that, then let's move to the administrator's report.

Mr. Mayor, council, thank you. Um got a number of items to go through this evening. Uh so if you'll bear with me and at any point if you have any questions uh just just shout. Uh two real quick uh date reminders. Uh council will have a housing work session where we discuss the housing uh the housing study that was done. This will be on May 12th. So the um between 5:30 and 6:30. So before the next council meeting and that will be in at 5:30. I also uh want to remind you of the first of three budget work sessions beginning May 7th, so next Thursday. We will they will be at noon in these chambers. Reminder about the farmers market, Sunday the 3rd and May 10th. Uh both from 11:00 a.m. to 2 in the city city park. Uh two announcements as as for the Center for the Arts. uh want to remind you to visit the Bing Davis exhibit at the Center for the Arts May 3rd through the 6th. Mr. Davis, who was born in Greer, but moved shortly after he was born, is returning to showcase his artwork. In his almost 89 years, Mr. Davis has traveled and exhibited his artwork all over the world, and received many awards and honors, founded arts organizations, and touched the lives of many people through his art. Uh Mr. Airwood and a number of uh council members had some questions as we went through the a tax numbers last week specifically about Dia de los Muertos. I do want to um shout out to um Robin Bay and her team and all of our team in parks recreation um the Dia de los Muertos Festival won two regional awards at the Southeast Festival and Events Association. The first was for a unique seasonal event and the second for best event under $20,000. So, just to kind of give you an idea of not only the impact it's had on our community, but the um impact it's had uh in its unique um uniqueness uh in the Southeast Regional uh Events Association. Building safety

month is recognized each May and is a valuable reminder to shine a light on the standards and the professionals behind that everyday protection. So, uh want to shout out to our folks in planning and development. Uh they have themed this year built to last and it reflects where Greer is right now. Our community is one of the fastest growing in the upstate. So with every permit issued, every inspection completed, and every set of plans reviewed, it's a direct investment in Greer's long-term safety and re resilience. Um, also in the PD, the police department's detention center will be celebrating National Correctional Officers and Employees Week along with the entire nation May 4th through the 10th. this week has been formally recognized by Congress through a proclamation honoring correctional officers and employees nationwide for the critical role that they play in public safety. I'd like to now to transition to a quick update on a number of our capital projects that we are currently underway. Uh in the design phase, the Greentown playground replacement is in design. Uh the um the awarded bluewater civil design PO was sent on the 20th, so about a week ago. Uh with an engineering kickoff meeting scheduled for this week. Uh under plan review, the Wards Creek Trail is um our our consulting engineers are working to address some comments and they will resubmit by the 1st of May. Uh the 95% drawings will also be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Transportation Friday, May 1st. Um and uh GMC has provided a preliminary concept for Wards Creek Park based on feedback from kickoff meeting and we're working to schedule review meetings moving forward in the construction phase of um where we are with a number of our projects that if you've not noticed work being done on the detention center um it's good because you're that means you're looking at it from the outside not the inside. Um, but the project started May uh, excuse me, project

started Monday the 19th of April. Uh, we're at that two week phase to uh to do some um, final work uh, with weather pending and we've had some weather today obviously, but um, we expect a twoe project completion for that. The Memorial Drive parking lot improvements, the grading per permit was issued on the 6th. Uh, and we have a project kickoff meeting scheduled for Wednesday the 29th. We anticipate that project starting on the 4th of May. Uh, Century Park drainage improvements. The landscaping contractor is on site this week preparing for the irrigation install. Handrail installation begins um tomorrow and Thursday. Irrigation begins Thursday, weather pending and side and landscaping to follow irrigation installation. On to the sports and event center. Uh if you've not noticed, structural steel is ongoing. Uh we have uh scheduled for this week uh fireproofing in areas D and E. Uh plumbing in area C. Um level D and E. We have some more plumbing rough in and HVAC pipe and duct rough in in area C along with various electrical um roughins uh throughout the facility. Uh the topping out ceremony is scheduled for the 6th, so next Wednesday um at 10:00 a.m. The uh public safety training facility, we are right on the edge of getting our CO issued uh hopefully within the next uh 10 days. Plumbing trim out wrapped up uh on the 24th. We have painters on site wrapping up by the end of this week. Um, some IT work is being installed. Uh, and then work on the monument sign and the dumpster enclosure started about a week ago. And then furniture installation will be scheduled for the week of May 11th through the 14th. Uh, the South Tiger River Trail dry weather has

allowed significant progress. We are completing uh we are tracking for completion at the end of June. Final concrete pour was completed on the 20th. forms were removed on the 24th and boardwalk fabrication uh pending finalized design from our structural engineer. We anticipate this week being done. And finally, the Stevens field wall, the scoreboard installation is ongoing and painting the remaining existing wall to match the new will occur in the coming weeks. That is the update for this this council meeting on our capital projects. Um I would be glad to answer any questions. um right now or um if you have any that you'd like to follow up with me or Mr. Cell um or our construction team, we'll be glad to uh answer them as you have them. Mr. Mayor, that concludes my report.

I got a question. Where's the Memorial Drive parking lot? I was wondering the same thing, but I figured I was supposed to know. Yes. Yes. Memorial Drive. It has a parking lot. smalls.

Okay. Thank you, Mayorman. Yes, sir.

I mentioned this to the mayor the other day. I I discovered there's a a small plaque on City Stadium that identifies the date um when everything got rolling on as 1933. I always thought it was I believe what it was. It was and I'm probably I may be wrong, but it was funded um I guess through the federal government. the Greer City Council is the one who authorized to borrow that money to build that site. Um and and since we're in budget time, since we are celebrating 150 years, um this this that facility will be approaching 100 sooner than later. And maybe we should start thinking about um doing some pretty significant upfits to it to recognize that 100 years.

That's our retractable roof. That's I like that idea. Um we did discuss that and uh I have a I have a a note to follow up with the museum on that. Oh, that's right. Um if I if I'm not mistaken, that was a WPA project. It was that's what I was thinking. and um and uh so yeah, there is there is definitely some history there. We also I think between me and you identified at least three other springs that probably need to be memorialized in some regard.

So um I will get that in front of our staff in the in the museum as soon as we can. Yeah. others. If uh if you did not have a chance to get by here last uh last weekend, uh the international festival was held on Saturday to uh to wide acclaim. We had a uh very good crowd, lots of people that were here. Um, one of the things that I really enjoy about that particular festival is not only the diversity that um that this community embraces, but the number of children that are involved in that festival as well too. Uh, very very f childfriendly and lots of different kinds of games and um booths and uh getting your world map and getting all the countries on there. I think we had uh if I'm not mistaken 22 countries in the um parade of countries and uh more than that represented here um either by by booth or uh other um other presents. So uh and it also involves a number of volunteers from our community too. Uh lots of schoolaged kids that get to volunteer and and do and do things. Um our parking garage um up the street right there uh was full all day. We had to monitor it to to let people in and and out. So um great event. Got got a little rain at the end of the day, but uh it went well. I would urge you to make plans to uh join us next year for the international festival. With that then councel let's move to items of old business. We have two before us this evening. The first of which is the second and

final reading of ordinance number 7-2026. This is an ordinance to provide for the annexation of a certain property owned by Susan and Steven Davis located at 209 Windsor Road by 100% petition and to establish a zoning classification of suburban neighborhood for said property. Miss Cotti joins us this evening. any new or additional information in regards to those? Uh, thank you, mayor. Uh, planning commission held a public hearing on April 13th and recommended approval. Council entertain a motion for the purpose of discussion. So move. Second.

Floor is open for discussion. questions, comments hearing none. Miss Duncan, Mr. Awood, yes. Mr. Booker, yes. Mr. Hopper, yes. Mr. Lander, yes. Mr. Bettis, yes. Mr. Lamb, yes. Mayor Danner,

yes. Council, the second item of new business, I mean old business this evening before us is the ordinance uh numbered 8-2026. This is an ordinance to provide for the annexation of a certain property owned by Benjamin Use Jr. located at 1471 West Wade Hampton Boulevard by 100% petition and to establish a zoning classification of commercial corridor for said property. Miss Cotti, uh, planning commission also held a public hearing for this item on, um, Monday, April 13th, and recommended approval. With approval, I'll entertain a motion to receive. So move second.

And a second. Floor is open for discussion questions comments hearing none. Miss Duncan Mr. Wood yes Mr. Booker yes Mr. Humper yes Mr. Lander yes Mr. Bettis yes Mr. Lamb. Yes. Mayor Danner.

Yes. Thank you. Uh, in matters of new business, our first is an award recommendation. This is project 202616, Greer City Hall interior renovation. City of Greer Capital Projects Department solicited sealed bids from qualified offers for the Greer City Hall interior renovation. Project cost was budgeted in the general fund. Bid opening was held April 2nd, 2026. Uh, three bids were received. Bid summaries attached. Uh, for your reference, staff recommends awarding approval for the Greer City Hall Interior Renovation to PNF's Construction LLC in the amount of $127,999. Miss Carmo joins us for this discussion. The floor is yours. Thank you, mayor and council. The uh project had very well um turned out during the pre-bid meeting. Uh the uh team had uh three as you mentioned three bids uh received uh and those are reviewed after evaluation. Uh we are recommending award to PNF construction u for the reference sheet. And with that, I'll open it up for any questions.

For this purpose of discussion and questions, I'll entertain a motion to receive. So move. Second. Second. And a second. Floor's open. Why what we wound up with one bid that was only eligible. That's correct. What uh well, first of all, how many folks for showed up or showed interest in the project? We had 16 companies show up at the pre-bid meeting. And then we only received three bids. That's correct, sir.

And then we've got we got three bids and two of them um you deemed ineligible and the third bids significantly lower. You got do you have any explanation as to?

Yes. uh the uh very lowest company uh did did not um conform with the required time frame for the completion of the project that was uh specified in the solicitation. So that deemed them inel ineligible. the uh second lowest company um based on past performance on a very recent project. Um that's why we uh the team deemed them in ineligible as well for um for this work. What is what is the time frame that we assign for that project?

We have to complete this project before the end of the fiscal year. uh since it's in general funds. Uh so they had to um meet a June 30th deadline final completion um and final inspection already passed as well. What are we doing? Uh we're doing renovations to the third floor uh converting a storage room into an office space. We're also adding a uh small conference room.

There was the correspondence going back with the other biders about the time frame and they said they couldn't meet it or uh how does that work? The solicitation had very specific completion date as I mentioned because of the funding we have to meet uh the work completion and invoicing submission to our finance department. Uh with these sol the bids, they also had to submit a project completion schedule uh for the team to review and they had um a very lengthy construction um schedule which was not going to work with what was stipulated in the solicitation.

Okay. You mentioned because of the funding is there but I thought this was this was coming out of the general fund. Correct. Correct. And so we don't have any leeway of saying you um because this that's a pretty tight time um especially for workloads of contractors now uh to be done by June 30th. Mhm. So we did we don't have any leeway of saying okay we we we only we've you got said you had 16 originally. Yes sir.

And um and I think you just answered this. How did any of them respond back as to why they were not submitting? Uh they did not. Um if the council need it, I can certainly reach out to some of the companies. Um but they did not they have an option to specify um in our platform um a reason for not submitting but we did verify and none none um marked any specific reason could have been the time. Yes, like you said.

So PNF construction agreed to the to the deadline. What kind of ramifications are there if they don't meet that deadline? I'll let the project team answer that. Um John Gogenau on this project for the matter of the record. I'd appreciate it. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Sorry. I apologize. Uh yes, on this particular project, if it goes over, we have the retainage. We could withhold. Um there is liquidated damages. They don't mount them up. It's mount a whole lot, but they are an incentive to meet the deadline.

Okay. And I guess just cuz I'm new to this, I mean the the the bid amount is quite quite different. Um what would be the effect on our side if we didn't complete it by June? Well, if we don't complete by that and that I don't I'd have turned that over to procurement. Um, as far as the ramifications to that, um, we this, let me backtrack.

This is kind of a new procedure with us working with procurement. We had a little more leeway in the past. Now we're hold held to that 30 dead 30 30th deadline on the budget. So, as we're progressing and and more adherent to the procurement process, John helps behind you. That's what try to clarify for you. So, after June 30, anything that were to hit his budget, it would make him look over for the following year. That's the only reason we're doing it, just because of

because we don't do carryovers. it would be absorbed back into a fund balance and we would not have budgeted in the fiscal 27 year for that project. I mean is there any leeway that we I mean because when you start doing very different yeah when you start doing liquidated damages and these are this is a small project um and if if somebody wants it they're you're going to be paying a premium for something like this. Yes, sir.

So, I'm not sure that that's the wisest just because of an accounting process. Uh because we do have projects that are budgeted in a budget year that do carry over and we continue. There's um that that that's may be a discussion you need to have in house to figure out what what kind of premium we're paying just to get it done before June 30th. Yeah, I believe some of the other biders during the pre-bid uh there was concern then too and that I think is why they didn't respond because they were asking if they could do after hours which then would obligate us to to supply somebody to to monitor them through the you know then we said no no after hours, no weekend work um because we don't have the overtime budgeted for for that. Um so that may have been part of the partial, you know, reasoning for them not to return a bid.

Probably we need to look at that. Um, okay. Let's just get everybody up. Let let uh Mr. Airwood uh we Mr. Lander, we we hear what you're saying. We have uh acknowledged that our capital projects program needs to have more flexibility in it. As we move forward, we are going to establish a capital projects budget which will allow us to go over budget years. Mhm.

So we'll budget for a project, put money into the fund. The project is going to go over spread between two fiscal years. It will be addressed. In this particular case, this project was budgeted in this fiscal year. Those funds according to our current accounting principles with the fund 11 expire June 30th. We wanted to get the project done because the money, this project is under budget for what was budgeted. the money's in the current budget. We would just have to rebudget those dollars in the next budget if we were to delay or to carry over the budget to the next year. We're trying to get it accomplished. We put the solicitation out. We did have responses to the solicitation. The one that we're recommending has committed to do the project within the time frame that we established. So, we feel comfortable in selecting and moving forward and that's our recommendation. It's entirely up to council if you want to, you know, change that, but or or ask us to go through a different process, but I just wanted to make sure that it was full disclosure about where things stood. But as we move forward, we will be looking at more of a capital funds project budget rather than a fiscal year fund 11 money budget for the year expires on June 30th because we are running into this that we get to the end of the year. We have a number of projects we're still trying to accomplish and uh and we're trying to get them under so that we don't have to inflate the next year's budget because we did weren't able to accomplish those projects. But we hear the concerns and we are addressing them as we move forward. This particular project, we've got positions that are being requested or when and we're moving folks around. We're running out of space. We're trying to get the office spaces built uh as quickly as possible so that we can accommodate folks as uh as we grow. But that's where everything stands with it

right now. Is that change in process is that something that we would look to implement in the new budget year as part of I believe that we're going to be established to have our capital funds project uh budget established for this upcoming budget year. Yes, sir. And that'll be something we'll be looking at during your workshops. I know there's more logistics than just getting the work done, but I think it this a timely discussion. You know, Mr. Wood points out is a small project but you know this type of thing added up over and over that's that is a significant difference in in expenditure you know for the if that's the only difference. Um,

well, part of the problem too is the rock and hard place we come when we do rebid these, we've run into in the past where the time's elapsing between the time we get it out the first time and and the next time it goes out to bid, the cost increased and we end up paying more than we thought we would save by Well, the increased amount may be due to the time frame that they might have said for two months worth of work, we're going to have to do this, right? We're going to put 10 people.

Exactly. You're absolutely correct. Um there are different as people are probably aware some there are variety of reasons why bids come in the way that they do. Um there are times bids come in that uh someone may say well if I'm going to do the job uh I'm going to put this bid on the table and because I'll do it for that and because I'll make the money and move forward. Some will say I can get I can't get it done within that time frame so I'm not going to bid at all.

Uh some will say I can commit the resources and I need the project for variety reasons for their business. So they'll be more aggressive in their bidding. It's it's sometimes we try to look at it. We try to compare all the factors that are equal in each one but in the long run um sometimes it's a mystery as to why those bids come in a particular way. But there could be time factors, inconvenience factors, different factors that that that come into play. We've seen it time and time again. Team we've got together now is doing uh a really good job in breaking things down uh as good as possible uh so that we can get the most uh effective and competitive bid uh that we can recommend to council for moving forward on a project.

Council, I believe you've you've been heard. I think that's been demonstrated this evening. Um the award u recommendation and the project uh 202616 is before us this evening for the purpose of further discussion. I'll entertain a motion to receive. So move you you you have a motion. We got a motion in a second. Oh, we did. Okay. With that then any additional questions or comments? What was the budget amount originally for this project? 191,000 do have sorry one more question um

just one now just one um moving good gosh 60 60ish percent a little bit more percent of the of let's say the lowest bid to the next fiscal year would still save us money in the long run. Just going to point out that fact Andy from U are we building one office or is it multiple offices and a conference room?

Currently, right now HR is using one what was an office at one time. They've converted that into a makeshift uh conference room. So, we'll be moving that conference room space over and creating a new space for that. So, that'll open up. That'll give us one office. Currently, where they have their record storage, we'll be moving the record storage out and putting it where the current mail room is. That'll open up that'll provide two offices. Um, so all in all, you're going to have two offices, a new conference room, and then the mail room will have to be upgraded as well to outfit the new HR record storage. The conference room space is going to go in that area in the lobby. That's where that um next to the mayor's office as you enter into where it splits down the hallways.

Do you have any heartburn if we kick this into the next budget year or does it need to be done now? That is council's prerogative. This is this is council's money. Well, how bad do we need the space? Well, I know how um I really know how much Mr. Bettis in particular likes adding personnel and So, we have a whole lot of personnel that we're requesting in this next budget. In all seriousness, uh we have done this project.

We have done without this um for a number of years and we you've seen we've kind of made do. Um again, I think Mike's explanation is is apt and appropriate. This is um it was budgeted. The timing is what the timing is. And um if council sees fit to move this, then we will make do. What is the time frame if you remember the time frame of completion for the lowest bidder? Is it way outside of the scope? It was cons I want to say over a month. Yeah, over a month over. Okay. And we budgeted how much was it? 911,000. See, we're saving money that we can cut a mill next year then.

That's Yeah, just telling you who the Council, I'm ready to call the question. Move the previous question. Miss Duncan. Mr. Awood? Yes. Mr. Booker? Yes. Mr. Hopper? No. Mr. Lander? No. Mr. Bettis? Yes. Mr. Lamb? Yes. Mayor Danner? Yes.

Thank you. Next item before us is the first reading of ordinance number 12-2026. This is an ordinance to change the zoning classification of a certain property owned by McBuilt a construction LLC located at 202 Ford Street from manufacturing and logistics to traditional neighborhood. Miss Cotti,

thank you mayor and councel. Um so again this is a resoning request. It is um one parcel approximately half an acre. Um this is the aerial map. Again, it is um located on Ford Street. This is the current zoning map. Um you'll see that this area and the surrounding area are zoned manufacturing and logistics. Um the tan color that you see is all suburban neighborhood. Um the brown to the north is DRD designer review district and then that red color is commercial general. Um this is the future land use map. This entire area is designated as traditional neighborhood. Um this is a current um street view of the site. Um the applicant is planning to um demo the structure that's currently on the site. It is in um poor condition. Um and then subdivide and build single family detached homes. Um so again the request is to reszone to traditional neighborhood. Um surrounding zoning is manufacturing and logistics and there's a mix of commercial and residential surrounding this. Um it is um consistent with the comprehensive plan. Um the lot size is consistent with um similar around the neighborhood. Um staff recommendation was approval. Planning Commission um had a public hearing on April 13th and also recommended approval with a 60 vote and I am happy to answer any questions.

By show of hand, is the owner of the property or representative of the owner of their property with us this evening? Yes, sir. Are you available for questions? Yes. Okay. We'll we'll ask you if there are any. Okay. All right. Thank you. For the purposes of discussion, I'll entertain a motion. So move. Second. Floor is open. Questions. The the intent is to subdivide the lot into and to build single family detach. Is there a a current plan on on how many houses would be built on that road?

Um I can defer to the applicant for that. Um the maximum per density would be five. Um but due to lot frontage and lot size I believe the max would be four but if if you're okay now your time.

Thank you sir. Yes. Would you identify yourself for the a matter of the record? Saria. Uh, I own the, uh, property and, um, yeah, I would like to subdivide it into four lots and build houses consistent with the neighborhood. They're not going to be huge. It's just going to be about 1,800 square feet. Others? Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Comments. Just as an interesting note, if you read the deed, this was originally owned by Monigan Mills.

I think there might have been a shirt factory back there at one point. Could have been others. Miss Duncan, Mr. Airwood. Yes, Mr. Booker. Yes, Mr. Hopper. Yes, Mr. Lander. Yes, Mr. Bettis. Yes, Mr. Lamb. Yes, Mayor Danner.

Yes. Thank you. Council, the last item before us this evening is the first reading of ordinance number 13-2026, a 14th supplement ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of city of Greer, South Carolina combined utility system revenue bonds in one or more series in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding 33 million authorizing the mayor or city administrator and the chairman or general manager of the Greer Commission of Public Works to determine certain matters. And with respect to the bonds, prescribing the form and details of the bonds and other matters relating there too, Mark Reier, general manager of the Greer Commission of Public Works joins this evening, joins us this evening. The floor is yours, sir.

Good evening. Um as as the mayor said uh we are looking to uh issue uh some some uh new debt uh about 22 million in projects with a not to exceed of 33 million uh and uh primarily these projects are related to the water and uh wastewater systems. Um and uh I think they're listed out um in the uh ordinance that you all have. Uh but there are uh some some updates um to lift stations um some expansion activities at the wastewater plant. Um some um rehab work in the uh water plant and uh some additional work uh in the water and wastewater uh piping in the streets. That's what I've got

for the purpose of discussion. Then I'll entertain a motion to receive. So moved and a second. Second. Floor is open for discussion or questions. Is um these improvements uh is it just to maintain current uh capacities or are you building in more capacity? We're we're adding capacity in certain components. Yeah. Certain pieces. And what what components are you adding capacity? Um we've got uh new pumps going in some pump stations with larger capacities. Uh we've That would be for sewer.

Sewer. Correct. Yeah. Um on the uh plant side, we've got uh a handful of different activities that are increasing capacity uh at the headworks basically at the front end of the plant. And did did you mention anything about uh freshwater improvement or Yeah. Yeah. So, we're doing we're doing some treatment uh some some rehab and some uh updates at the water plant as well as water lines. And is that just um updates or does that actually increase capacity? Uh combination of the both. Uh you know, anytime we're in replacing piping, the majority of the time we're increasing size. So yeah,

you know, the the the city and CPW historically has had a a um partnership uh as such where we work together for the betterment of the of our city and um what is CPW's stance on growth? Well, I think the stance on growth has historically been uh since the early 2000s is that, you know, we want the growth to pay for the growth. Uh we went with impact fees. I think we were the second city in the state to bring on impact fees. Um in the 1981 19 time frame, we started adding cost in on the electric service. Um uh postcoid, we made that those electric charges 100% borne by the growth. Um, and that is now mirrored in just about every municipal electric and co-op in the state. I

I don't get that. That's probably not the question I should ask. What is CPW's stance on promoting growth or restricting growth? Well, I don't think we restrict growth. Wait, so you promote growth?

Yeah. I mean, I think we're anytime we have an opportunity to help the the city grow or help the systems grow, we we you know, we try to help the customer or whoever the end user is. We get requests, I don't know, you know, sometimes couple times a week for new activities, new businesses, things like that. So, I mean, we're we're not uh if you're asking if we're shutting shutting down growth or or trying to squatchch growth, that's not at all the case. We are however trying to make sure that we're not asking the current rateayers uh to pay for that growth. Sure. And as they should. Yeah. So I mean that's

now does does that potentially turn some folks down? I I don't know. I mean we we on on the electric side I can say that you know in certain cases uh you know maybe we don't get uh selected as the electric provider and you know that's a disappointment because to the end user we will ultimately be cheaper uh but you know there's an upfront cost and that those cheaper rates come from the fact that we're not adding those upfront we're not adding those upfront costs on on the current rate payers. So

I understand. Now when is CPW hard and fast on your um the the development cost? Uh as far as let's let's say there was an industry that came in that needed whatever kind of utility service, but it would take a uh some kind of improvement on your side. Uh does um CPW look at just the hard and fast rules that you have or do they do do you guys look at a a much bigger picture that the jobs it would be creating the um the um you know the ancillary spin-off businesses that kind of thing.

Yeah, I think um we we uh you know we we stay pretty hard and fast on those rules. Uh but that doesn't mean that we don't try to you know work with developments. Are there opportunities and and ways that we can help them try to find funding for some of the stuff? Um you know I mean I think what we see and we see it with some of the largest manufacturers in in and around the city is that they're wanting to come and try to get onto our system not from the because they have to pay upfront costs. It's because they want the lower long-term cost. Mhm.

So, I mean, you have some developers that'll build a a warehouse or something. They don't care who the end user is. They're going to flip the building. Someone else is going to pay the bills. So, those folks will come in and say, "Well, we don't want to pay anything upfront, you know." Sure. But anybody that's going to be continuing apartment complexes, things like that, they absolutely want to want to stick with the services because it's all long term it'll be cheaper. And you said that um you some of this money is going to be used for piping. Yeah. Yeah. You talking about you talking about replacement of new water lines and things? Water lines, wastewater lines. Yeah, you got it. Okay. Yep.

And what what's CPW stance on repairing the roadways after you have to dig a trench? Well, we've got an agreement with the city to to for y'all to handle the paving. Um, so we we pass that over to you. Now, if it's a DOT project or something like that, we've got to bring it up to DOT spec and and the like. And we we you know, when we have a project, we absorb all those costs related to the paving activities. We try to minimize it because as you all know, paving costs are pretty high.

Correct. Correct. and what would be CPW's response because this is one of the things that I'm looking at and kind of getting off topic but uh that that I want to push is that uh we don't normally do this uh but I'd like to put it in an ordinance form based on the size of the cut that there would be more than just say a trench repair that it would be an entire tire lane or a tire width of the road. There's you you mentioned other municipalities around other service areas. Um they're they're they require repairs to roads more differently than what we do. And and this gets into road paving and the cost that it creates for our citizens because as you know, you cut a road, it's never the same again. Um, but what is CPW stance on that?

Well, I think uh I mean I probably defer to Andy and Steve and whoever handles y'all's paving. I mean, we we're we're doing what we're passing it over to y'all. Uh, and if you have specs, I think your specs don't I think a lot of them are mirror what what the DOT does in terms of requirements for it. So if those became what CPW stance on it on in terms of paving. Yes.

Well, I mean we we try to get in and and get the road back to how it whatever the requirements are for, you know, if it's Spartanberg DOT, whether it's Greenville, those two are different. Whether it's city, that's different. I mean the the requirements are somewhat similar but different in all cases and we find sometimes even between different engineers inside those counties it's different. So terms of the requirement. So yeah I mean we don't we don't want to go and put something in and have to go back and put more dollars into it to you know if it's not done correctly or if it settles or anything like that. kind of the goal is to get it done, get it done right the first time and minimize the cost on the on the customer. So, I mean, I think if you if an ordinance, you you know, if you all enacted an ordinance and uh that we're changing the way that roads are done, then, you know, of course, we would adhere to whatever those requirements are along with everybody else that's cutting

others. Did uh the commission vote with unanimous consent to move forward with these bonds? Correct. Yep. Now, in 2024, I believe it was, we had a similar discussion concerning bonds for CPW. Um how did those translate? You know, how did those projects end up going? So, those are those are gas related projects. Uh and uh those are underway. Um and that's that's where those So this time it's I guess it's catered towards sewer and water.

Correct. Yeah. There's a there's a small uh electrical that's a that's a carryover of of it's it's at the water plant. Uh it's to provide some redundancy, but it also has an opportunity to provide some uh electrical cost savings in the future. So I I do have one question about what we're what we're doing. Um, and this would be on on our side. Uh, and I'm glad you brought that up about the gas projects. A lot of that I'm assuming was up 290 going towards 25. Is that part of those projects? No, that was that was Piedmont. That was Piedmont, correct? Yeah.

The um So, all the work that you're looking to do with these dollars is contained within the boundaries of the city. uh the what we're doing with the these dollars is contain I would say for the most part yeah I mean you know there we go down a road and the city limits may not be on it may jump around on the road for example you know

but so we're we're we're backing up the debt we're basically saying if something went haywire they don't they they default on it becomes the city residents issue how does that work with when there are when when this these assets that they put in the ground are or they're not in the city limits does that affect so first off that that's the debt is not y'all's debt that first main paragraph in there and actually it's listed in your ordinance I mean in your in your audit on page 35 it says that this debt is not at all related to the city and the taxes can't be used to repay the debt

you didn't get that text. What text? One of your commissioners texted me to to that effect yesterday. Uh so that I wouldn't be surprised. I knew it. Um and that's my question is if the city has no real influence, no control over fees, bonds, rates, any of that, why are we even doing this? I I I think it it all stems from old bankqualified loans, bank qualified debt. that's uniform across.

I I think the administrator can shed some light on this is a basically a ministerial action. If I I I think to your point, the original idea was that if the whole system collapsed at one point in time as as the way the two organizations were were created or the city was created and then the other came about that the city becomes the ultimate guarantor of that. But as to their borrowing and their and and and and their revenue and that sort of thing, this is just a

this is formality a formality for us, is it not? I mean,

Mr. Mayor, that's absolutely correct. This is a ministerial function of this council. Um, and uh, Mr. Mr. Reier is is right also that this kind of hearkens back to those bank qualified loans that I think somewhere around 2017 became a non-issue. I think the federal government rectified that. Um I think some of this debate hearkens back a number of years to um the taxpayers having to in a nuclear meltdown scenario having to bear the burden of the cost of the bonds. But also there was the debate about whether or not their borrowing impacted our debt capacity. Both that's those are mutually exclusive issues. So in this particular case, Mr. Bettis, to answer your question, um this is Mr. Gear filling out his role as the general manager for the GR Commission for Public Works seeking this council's approval of something that we are legally qualified and obligated to approve. So what?

We cannot withhold approval unreasonably. But if we vote no, it doesn't matter. Yeah. Well, I I imagine it does put us in a different strata of legal questions because I or the mayor still have to sign off on the bond itself because the law requires that. But the law also precludes our But we had no input. We had we we had no information at all. We're voting on something that unless you're a lawyer, you know nothing about. Mr. Bettis, I would agree with that. that this is a legislative issue that is above this council's pay grade as far as

but you okay go back to something you said that you and I know that you and the mayor have to sign off on it so you're signing off on it saying yeah we stand behind this is that is that we stand behind I as far as I'm concerned Mr. Fairwood. My signature, the mayor's signature is ministerial in function. It just it it's min. It's effectively notorizing it until until a creditor comes back trying to collect dollars. And

if that creditor came back to try and collect dollars from the city of Greer, they're pumping a dry well because we are not obligated to that debt in any way, shape, or form. It is rate debts predicated on their revenues by their rateayers. Now, Mr. Airwood, yes, you're absolutely correct. A num most of their rateayers or at least a bulk of them are city residents, but those are still their their tax dollars will not be leveraged to cover that debt. Okay. So then then then why I mean I mean I'm not I just want to know why.

I Mr. I I I think it see I tell you it does seem uh like that that by doing this we are giving it it's it's kind of like a um because CPW or any other service like that does not have the ability to raise taxes. It's it's like if we don't pass the budget, the state comes in and says, "We'll pass it for you, and the way we're going to fund it is we're going to raise your taxes." If you have a default on bonds, bond payments, then uh they don't have that ability um to to say we are going to raise your taxes to pay for this. So it I I don't I mean if if it's if it's a non-issue, I don't know why we are making it an issue and why don't we just stop this?

I would it actually to me it actually puts risk on our citizens if we don't have to have it. uh because you know I mean that you can say that they're pumping it or going at a dry well but um there would be a lot of cost that would be borne by our citizens if something like that were done.

Yes sir. I now if in an and please jump in but in a nuclear meltdown situation where they're unable to cover their debt yes there will the citizens the people that live in the city of Greer and their customers will have financial problems but it'll be be it'll be predicated specifically on the utilities that they pay. It will have nothing to do with our ability to deliver police, fire, parks and recreation planning and development etc. Their tax dollars are not impacted at all. It's unrelated, but at the end of the day, that the reason why we're doing this is to allow for future growth and keep up with the growth that we've been seeing in the city, right?

Yeah. I mean, it's a combination of things. I mean, we're we're, you know, 25 years ago, we did a major update at the wastewater plant, and we have burned through a lot of that capacity over the last 25 years, and we're preparing for the next round of that. uh and getting out in front of some of this stuff earlier uh is is of course as as you mentioned on the last thing, it gets more expensive when you go out and rebid it. And uh you know, we've seen since 20120 40 to 70% increases in all of these activities. Some of that's paving, some of it's piping. I mean it's it's you know so the the earlier we can get to some of this stuff and get out in front of it and that's what we're working on uh with a lot of these projects is trying to get out and get ahead of some of these things as in in preparation for for you know that that future growth.

Yeah. What kind of capacity? Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. I just I'm I I don't see why we'd push back if I mean, we're continue to annex land and approve traditional neighborhoods and stuff. I mean, they're going to they're they have they have to they have to increase their infrastructure. I mean, or no, nobody's arguing. I'm not arguing that. I'm just I don't know what we're talking about then. Yeah. No, I I'm I'm talking about it's always been uh I guess until 2017 that we were behind. We were backing the debt. We were saying, "Yeah, if something happens, we're here for it."

And you saying, "Well, yeah, that that not that we were backing the debt, but that there was a con there was a conflict between our debt capacity and theirs." And I think that was what a bulk of the dis the concern was up to that 2017ish time frame is that it was a it was a debt capacity concern. We were competing for debt capacity and I think all of that and and I know um I never was under the impression that we were competing for debt capacity.

I think that was some of the concern in the years leading up to that. But the fact of the matter is is under section 7 of this the of the ordinance that y'all are considering tonight, it clearly states that their debt is not our debt. And and Mr. Mr. Bettis, you make an excellent point. Mr. Airwood, you make an excellent point. Then what are we doing here? Is what is this? And the only thing I can say is it's a vestigial legal requirement that may be like spitting on sidewalks. Why do why does it matter anymore? And I think in this particular case it may not matter but it's a legal requirement and CPW's here fulfilling that legal requirement and this council's obligated requirement by whom who

the state legislature look I mean we're beating this to death and if we're going to grow we got no choice. I mean let's we need to move on. I will recommend this. Charles and I had a tour. Mark gave us a tour. It was very enlightening. Learned a ton of stuff. I would encourage hit mark up. I'm sure they can work out something. What's the what is the capacity of our reservoirs now as far as u dealing with new growth and providing water? Uh in terms of you you want in terms of annual capacity or no no what what

there's 800 acres in that lake right there. Yes. So how many years? Yes. years. Like years. How long? Many years. I mean, I I think I've seen studies as long as 50 years. And so, are in your long-term plans, are you guys looking at building another reservoir?

No, I think you know, there's if if you look at the the um the amount of uh land that's there and the availability, we've got feet that we can raise those lakes. So, if there were uh opportunities or or challenges in in the future, we could potentially look to raise those lakes. So, you got, you know, 12 feet probably you could bring 10 to 12 feet you could bring up uh Robinson. Um and you've got, you know, somewhat similar to that in in Cunningham. Logistically, we'd be able to service south of 85 as that continues to grow from that increased capacity that you're talking about. Uh are you talking water or you talking about

water?

Yeah. So so water, you know, is an interesting one because the city has expanded so far out of its original kind of footprint that it's into the Blue Ridge Rural Water. So you've got Blue Ridge Rural Water in the north side serving a lot of your customers, uh a lot of your your residents and we are selling them that water. But that's yeah that they're that's you know you're you're some of the the uh residents up there are getting that directly. So we we run into that. So but we're serving that area now south of 85 you know we're we're bound you run into SJWD uh and you run into uh Greenville water and the like as you get get further west. Um but yeah, I mean there's there's plenty of of drinking water capacity and uh you know years ago they expanded the water the the water filter plant and uh there's plenty of treatment capacity there. They bought that treatment uh very very inexpensively. Um you know it's to to build a plant of that size now would be you know hundreds of millions of dollars. Uh and so there is a lot of drinking. We run about uh 50% of that plant's capacity right now on average, maybe a little bit less. So there's plenty of raw water capacity in the reservoirs and plenty of treatment capacity at the plant. Wastewater is a different story. Um there's we we've got capacity at the wastewater plant, but we're beginning to get to a point. And the way uh the state looks at it is when you get to 80% you got to have a plan to go beyond 100% and when you get to 90% you got to be under construction. So those are kind of thresholds that we don't want to get to. We want to kind of be out in front of those and you know you don't don't want to be under the gun having to try to get a project done in a time frame or have to turn people away and say we just simply can't get to the capacity and time to bring your project online and the like. And right now uh just to give you an idea uh you know

wastewater uh plants are running uh about $30 to $50 a gallon. So to recreate what we have out there is anywhere between a quarter of a billion dollars and almost 400 million. So I mean it's these are significant dollars. And so by being able to kind of rehab and rebuild and attach on as as you guys saw when we you when you went out there adding these pieces on will, you know, is a a much less cost than having to build new uh you know down uh at a at a later time. So costs are just I mean that used to be a dollar a gallon just 101 15 years ago and that's that's amazing increases. So

So Mr. year. This raises kind of an interesting philosophical question. Um, south of 85 is is is a stretch in some regards. And one of the things that that we have a little bit of angst about is the is the fact that the way our annexation laws are that you know we've we've got areas that are completely surrounded by the city and some areas that are in the county and in the city and it creates I would say difficulties in providing service um with your current line of thought that that you explained earlier. Um would would and particularly now hearing what the cost of new facilities would be. Um, is it is it do you think it's the commission's uh thought process that it might be other it might be easier and less expensive to let other providers provide sewer and electric and water south of 85?

I don't I I think it's going to be less expensive for them. I mean, just just look at what we've got inside the city um today, you know, on the other side of of Gibb Scholes Road. Those folks that are being treated by uh by Riwa, it's 100% higher. So, I think our commission is, you know, it's was created by the same folks that that elected y'all 110 years ago to to fulfill a mission of competing and providing a safer, more reliable, more cost-effective service. So, I think our mission stays the same. We still want to try to get down there and provide that service. Now again, that may come at some cost to those those folks coming in on the front end, but on the back end, the customers that that that we have and the residents that come in the city, the hope would be that they'd be able to continue enjoying low low rates. So,

the city's um growth and the city's existence in my estimation since I've been a councilman has depended a lot on growth. that we've been able to keep levels uh fairly consistently low and and if without that growth, it would have been a much different story. Is the same true of CPW? Does your future depend on growth or can you just say, "Okay, that's far as we're going."

No, I mean, we're we just, you know, get get into some numbers here and uh you know, we we we we're anticipating spending about 42 or 43 million this year on capital. That's fairly consistent year-over-year. Um, you know, I mean, you're you get 10 years out and you're, you know, we're we're about $250 million in the last 10 years in capital spend. A lot of that has been related to growth type activities. So, to your point, uh, if the growth stopped completely, I don't I don't know that it would be a a terrible thing from a financial perspective. Um, but I think uh you know that's not we're not the goal isn't to get to a certain size and then say that's it. That's not Yeah, I mean it it certainly I think would be uh there would be a lot less capital spend if if you weren't growing. Um and uh you know but we're we're prepared for growth. We've got capacity. We continue we've built new substations. we're, you know, queuing up a whole bunch more uh industries. Uh so I I mean our our plan is to continue to to expand uh as we have been and you know talk about hard and fast rules. I mean one of the one of the things that uh you know I've been I've been amazed with in my nine years up here is uh that the commission has said absolutely if you want sewer you're coming in the city no questions asked. And I I mean I I can tell you we get calls regularly just this one time, let us go in and we won't we don't want to annex. We want you know and and they have said absolutely under no circumstances can you come in can you get that sewer without coming into the city. So um you know I think those are I think they're you know prepared to help continue growing. I think we've got the

capacity. The hope is to do some of these kinds of things and continue uh making sure we have ample room to grow uh as the as the needs continue to come towards us. Well, since the mayor waxed philosophical, I'll ask you one more and then I'll leave you alone. It's an issue that's bothered me for a long time. Have have has there been any discussion uh with you and the commissioners at all about expanding the number of people on that commission to possibly allow some people of color or women to enter it? I don't I don't know that I've I mean that's certainly up to the up to the uh that I don't know that I I can answer that. Yeah. I mean I I

by state law it's it's it's limited to three. Correct. It is. And but I mean the voters the voters can I mean those are three elected it would be change by ballot by the way. I it's it's state law. It's state law. It's it's written in there. Yeah. They change those all the time. They do change those all the time. Yeah. Sometimes not always.

So so I don't I don't you know we don't there's I don't know that there's an opinion of you know hey let's do this or not do this but we're we're operating inside the bounds of what's there today. and you know every every two years one of the commissioners is up for election. Um and I think that the the consistency that you've seen and uh you know uh Mr. Gibson was up here a couple of months ago for you know 40 plus years. I think that's a that's a byproduct of the residents and the rateayers saying we we appreciate what you're doing and we want you to keep doing it. And I think you know if you look back at the time that these folks have been here uh Mr. How is our current chairman is here and he's 20 going into his 28th year I think. So I mean these I I think you know if if the if the residents would would like someone different you know every two years I think they have an opportunity to to to do something different. Um, but I think that right now I think everybody's pretty happy that they're 39 our electric rates right now are 39% below the national average.

So in that same vein, do you anticipate that there's going to be any rate increases with this funding related to the borrowing? No, I think that I think on the contrary, you know, you you you you can cash fund these things or you can bond fund them. You bond fund them. This is a short term. It's a 18-year note that we're doing, but we're giving an opportunity for folks that are coming in to help pay some of that during the the upcoming years as opposed to saying to the folks today, hey, we need this kind of cash upfront to continue doing these activities. So, okay, we have um we have um one final.

Yeah, I'm going to let with um I think we've we've we've covered a lot of ground and and not all of it necessarily to this discussion. Um, last call on on questions.

You've mentioned rates several times, which is great. And I, you know, of course I'm a customer and it's everybody likes to pay less, of course. Um, well, actually two questions, and I think I know the answer to this. Um, we have a utility pole at my house on the corner lot that's been changed out, and it's been sitting there leaning over for a long time. still has still has I guess it's cable or phone. Uh y'all have any ability to rush that matter up to get it going cuz we have the

What was your You knew the answer to that one? What do you What was your thought on the answer to that one? I had the same conversation with the mayor last week. I I I'll just use as what I tell council is we have a forest of abandoned utility poles within our city. And then when you just start looking outside the city, it just gets bigger and bigger. Um, it is that a state regulation as far as it gives open-ended time for who everybody else that's attached onto that?

I don't know that there's a state regulation around it. And I think that's probably part of the challenge. And and what we hear from the telco providers is basically that they have a set amount for this area of dollars available and they'll get to as many polls as they can and when they're done with that amount of dollars they'll try next year. I can tell you how to solve that. Just saw that pole down and let it lay on the ground. They'll come fix it. The the the other question is the um the rates. Did y'all just have a small rate increase not long ago? We made some changes to the facilities charges on the water and the wastewater side

cuz I knew we one of your commissioners gave us grief about millillage and then turned right around and voted to raise rates. So we'll um Okay, last question. Anything else? So Andy, on documents like this, um, is our legal counsel involved or do they put it all together and then just give it to us or has has Daniel reviewed something like this?

Uh, in in effect, it is on CPW to to verify the veracity of all the information both between their bond council and uh, their financial advisor. Like I said, this is ministerial and function and we are here to sign Miss Duncan, Mr. Erwood, no. Mr. Booker, no. Mr. Hopper, yes. Mr. Lander, yes. Mr. Bettis, no. Mr. Lamb, yes. Mayor Danner, yes. Thank you, sir.

Appreciate it. Council in executive session this evening. We have no matters to discuss.