Town Council - Regular Meeting

most meaningful efforts is the Keith Barn legacy project. This project focuses on u refurbishing the physical structure connected to black history in Pendleton. The Keys Barn is more than a place. It's a tangible link to the people that helped serve this town. Through careful research, documentation, and planning, the foundation is ensuring that this history will not be lost and that future generations understand its significance. In addition to preservation, the foundation is deeply committed to education and community engagement. Through programming, storytelling, and public events, they create opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection. This April, the foundation will host a community festival celebrating black history and culture in Pendleton. An important opportunity to come together, build understanding, and honor the past while looking forward. Much of this work happens quietly through volunteer time, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility to do the work the right way. That commitment deserves recognition. On behalf of town council and the town of Pendleton, I want to thank the Pendleton Foundation for Black History and Culture for their leadership, their persistence, and their vision. We are grateful for the work you do to pervert preserve history, strengthen community, and ensure that Pendleton's story is told fully and thoughtfully. We are proud to recognize you tonight and we look forward to we look forward to continuing to help bring awareness to your work in the months ahead. I have MEMORIES [applause] [applause]

[applause] [cough] [clears throat]

RIGHT. Um public hearing, citizens input on curbside recycling and bulk container services and potential service modifications or discontinuation. Our next agenda item is item four, a public hearing to receive citizens input on curbside recycling and bulk container services, including potential service modifications or discontinuation. I want to be very clear at the outset. No decisions will be made tonight. This public hearing is strictly an opportunity for residents to share feedback, concerns, and ideas related to these services. As council discussed at our January meeting, this conversation is taking place due to increasing operational costs, service challenges, and the need to evaluate how we best deliver services in a financially responsible way while still meeting community needs. At this time, I will open the public hearing and ask our public works director, Jay, to come forward and provide some background information to help with the discussion.

Mayor Council, how y'all doing? Hi, Jay. So, I've got a short 87 slide power. No, I'm kidding. is 13. But I've got some numbers for you guys to consider. Um I had to do some notes. This is my fourth PowerPoint this week. So I'm a little skewed with numbers. But as we get going, yeah,

I'm just going to talk and get it up. Everything up here is bullet points. I've got my talking points right here. So, I want to talk with walk council through where sanitation costs are, how growth is impacting us, and how we can protect core trash services going forward. I can't talk about recycle and bulk containers without talking about sanitation as a whole. Um, so I'm going to throw out a lot of numbers. They're going to be in ranges and they're based off of our budget. Uh the presentation will explain sanitation costs, why they're increasing, why growth matters, and how uh staff can protect reliable roll- cart services. Uh just understand this is a [clears throat] financial and operational discussion. It's not a service failure discussion. And just keep in mind that sanitation is a service that council can choose to provide or not. It's not something that's mandatory through dehack or anything. [clears throat] Hey. All right, slide two. All right, so again, this isn't a service failure. It's about cost pressure, growth, and making sure our sanitation model keeps working as Pendleton grows. You're going to see real numbers, current costs, revenues, growth impacts. And note that sanitation is operating as designed, but external cost and expansion are driving losses right now. sanitation costs increasing, service demands growing, and that our current model is not financially sustainable. Uh, this is about keeping roll cart service reliable as Pendleton grows. Slide three. Right now, sanitation is responsible for everything on this list up here. Uh, these are essential public services. Others are market driven or commercial style services, which creates financial strain for us. going to four.

So, roll cart service will continue regardless of any changes. I'm pretty sure everybody knew that because that's kind of what our focus is. Uh leaf service, brush pickup, bulk pickup will remain core municipal services and are not being proposed for any type of elimination. Bulk and brush services can also be excessive or abnormal which we deal with also. They are cost with that. So, if you want to empty your house out, if you move and you want to put everything on side of the road, we don't just pick that up. You there's a cost associated with that. Um, sometimes folks don't like that, but we've only got so much room on our trucks to pick up at one time. All right, slide five. So, our staffing and our operational costs are relatively stable. The biggest pressure comes from disposal contracts, fuel, capital equipment, and growthdriven expansion. Breakdown cost three potential are three full-time employees that I have in recycling right now cost a town $188,439 annual. And that's excluding the the dollar per hour incentive for that guy to hang on the back of that truck or the two guys to hang on the back of the truck going down the road. So, they get a buck extra and we hope to goodness they don't uh cause a workman's comp claim for us by falling off of it. So, incentive, let's see. So, fuel truck maintenance, workers comp, replacement carts, we've got probably another $100,000 that we add into that annually on that cost. Uniforms at $3,500 each what we typically have by the years up on each guy. So now we're looking at $10,500.

Threeman truck, just a base without overtime is $62,813. So disposal sanitation contracts alone, they're budgeted $688,99 for 2026. Capital equipment spending this year totals $670,000, bringing sanitation budget to roughly $1.3 million. It's a lot of money. And slide six. So revenue. Let's talk about revenue. Sanitation fees bring about $32,000 in a month. We expect to service about 2,411 carts in fiscal year 27. And your revenue is going to range. So those ranges I was talking about between 384,000 and $45,000. So when we have vacancies, people aren't charged their monthly fees. People sell their homes, they move, guys quit. You know, we just have there's there's issues that fluctuate those those revenues yearly. And it's not a finite number that I can nail down. It's just fluctuates, unfortunately. Bulk containers generate around 55,000. I think there the exact number is $55,32. That's annually. So total revenue and let's say we'll use the low end $384,000 uh so the total revenue is about $439,000 a year that sanitation will bring in. So total fixed expenses is about $743,298. This includes the two employees that I have to pull off our streets department to work sanitation. We have to run two trucks currently because of weight. Trucks are only

allowed to hold so much weight by law. So, we've had to cut weight. So, we have to run two trash trucks and a sanit and a recycle truck. So, our cost is driven and the streets department is basically non-existent for everybody who sees that street sign that's down or is missing a sign. I don't have a street department right now. It is. We get it when we can. You need your rideway cut. Streets. Your ditch is filled up. Needs to be ditched. Streets. Needs a parking lot marked. That's streets. Thermoplastic streets. I can't do any of that. I I have to I have to cut the weights on trash. Um so our total debt service payment, look [snorts] at this at your vehicle payment. It's $217,97 monthly that we have to pay on trucks to get the trash up. So that's so as a total we're budgeted with the numbers 964,391 with just those numbers. So we're running a loss at $525,391 every year right now. That's our loss in sanitation. So, it's easy to say half a million dollars we're losing every year. So, cart cost, they're $14 each. If you want another cart, 79 bucks, that's not going to put much of a dent in any of these costs, but I'll tell you here in just a second what it will do. So, just understand this is a structural and this is structural. It's not mismanagement. And unfortunately fees do not currently reflect the true cost of the service. Slide seven. All right. Why recycling alone does not

solve this issue issue. Recycling is tied operationally to bulk dumpsters which currently generates that 55,32 in annual profit. So if we eliminate both that removes that revenue. So where are we going to make it up? [clears throat] The quickest way you add about $2 to your cart fee. So it goes to $14 to $16. It don't take it all, but it takes the vast majority of that loss. If you want to look at covering the full deficit, you're looking at $34 a cart. I don't think anybody wants to pay $34 a cart. So, $34 that will cover leaf, brush, bulk, and whatever we have to maintain on recycling center andor a cardboard route or dumpsters, whichever decided to do with cardboard. Don't get scared because I throw that number out. Nobody has made these decisions on any of this. I'm just saying that's what it would take to cover that loss. So, slide eight, growth is compounding our issue. New subdivision, Sunrise, when it comes on, it's 142 lots. Belvadier 2 or Lton Ridge, you're looking at 72 lots. Central Roads got another 26 coming. And we're probably going to have to add an additional trash route just to cover this. I don't want to adjust routes because people are used to their routes and they want to keep them. I will do my best to keep you where you are right now, but we are probably at some point going to have to make an adjustment just due to these subdivisions coming online. [snorts] We had 124 new homes that were permitted in 25. So, this means more labor, more fuel, equipment, disposal cost.

Regardless of recycling decisions, we've got cost coming. So, slide nine. We're getting there. I'm going to frame the core problem. Sanitation is managing three different risk profiles. We've got trash collection, we've got a commodity market recycling, and we've got commercial style dumpster service. It's all within one budget. So, trash collection is an ordinance mandated service. Town service levels to ensure waste is removed regularly to protect health, safety, and the environment. And recycling works kind of like a commodity market. Materials we collect, cardboard, plastic, metals, they have prices that go up and down just like crops and fuel. When prices are good, recycling costs less. When prices drop or contamination rises, which is what we're facing right now, prices uh the the town pays more to get rid of it. So, dumpster service functions like a commercial utility. It's an optional usagebased service that private companies are designed to provide more efficiently than we are. I don't know if anybody's ever paid any attention the way we do dumpsters. It's very antiquated. It's a winch system on the back. It takes three guys where if you go to downtown Anderson or Clemson, you see them coming in there, one guy in a truck picks it from the front and dumps it. I don't think anybody here wants to buy a $500,000 truck and to go to that type of service. It's just it's not something I see that's essential for us. So all of this makes cost unpredictable and it's difficult to control. Go to slide 10. So recommendation town I'd like for the town to focus on predictable core services like roll carts, leaf service, brush, and

I use the term limited bulk pickup because I think bulk by itself is very misleading. Like the folks, like I said, don't want to empty their house out. We'll get it. you just need to come pay that little fee so we can take that truck straight to Star or Belton or wherever we got to go because it's going to be one shot deal with that. Uh and then while transitioning dumpsters and optional cardboard dumpsters to private providers, uh recycling can still be utilized at 1600 East Queen. That's right in front of public works. We've got a recycling center there. it gets used. Trust me, it's uh we may have to talk to them about servicing it a little more often than what they do. So, going into 11, what does this accomplish financially and operationally? It's going to slow future cost growth. It's going to remove market risk from the town. It focuses staff and equipment on sanitation services and still preserves recycling access through private or county options. So, what are we requesting of our council? Confirmation of core municipal services. It's basically input that we'll get tonight. What council decides on uh author authorization to transition recycling and dumpsters to private providers and guidance on future sanitation fee adjustments. Growth makes action necessary. At this point, we're growing too fast to keep up with everything. And if anybody's interested, I do have numbers from the last three months, but I won't bore you with it unless you [laughter] want it.

Thanks. Uh, thanks, Jay. Before um I ask members of our public to come speak, I was wondering if I could ask you a couple questions. Absolutely. What percentage of what is actually being placed on the curb to be recycled is actually recycled currently? None of it is contaminated.

That is the biggest problem we're having right now is we have so much household trash that's being put in those 18 gallon totes. We have glass. We have the unwashed plastics. We have kitty litter that's bagged. Um the folks that like to clean their clean up after the dogs in the yard, they throw it in the tote. And we literally just don't have time. We've tried not picking it up and then town hall gets inundated with calls, why aren't you picking up my recycle? We put flyers out. No change. And that's not to say that we don't have folks that are doing their part holistically. I don't think we have had a recycle truck make it to the center since August of last year because contamination is so high. And it seems like the more we tried to put out the education or the paperwork or the rules, it just got worse. We have some folks that may have four or five totes and it's just full of trash. It's just another roll cart, unfortunately. M [clears throat]

is there any do members of council have any questions for Jay? Yes, ma'am. Um, one of the things that, you know, you talked about and I don't think people realize um whether or not we get new houses, this is an issue that's going to have to be addressed. Yes, ma'am. Um because it just is. And I want to know, are we needing I know we're going to be, you know, with everything new coming out. I know we're going to need more equipment. Yes, ma'am.

We're also going to need better upkeep or or more more um more appointed upkeep of what we have. But um what are we looking at as far as personnel? Because I think people, you know, people are really quick to say, "Oh, well, they don't do anything. They're not doing this." You know, these guys do be more than rock truck. Um

Oh, yeah. But they also need to realize that there's more to what needs to be done um than just picking up the garbage. We have, you know, you're already putting people off of different, you know, projects within public works to to pick up trash. Um so what are we looking at as far as increasing personnel?

I'll take as many as y'all would give me, but well, let me I know that's everybody. Give me more guys. So currently like if we kept running sanitation how we have done it in the past traditionally with the trucks we have I need three guys per truck. So I need a minimum of nine people in sanitation to run daily routes. Now with the side loader currently I'm doing it with eight because I still have a employee with him because we're going through that adjustment phase. folks don't know how to place their carts yet, we've got stickers we're putting on the carts that point them which which way to go or they place it beside their car or they or right beside their recycle tote. So we there shouldn't be anything within three feet around that cart so that truck can grab it. Once folks get used to that, I can run one man truck with that side loader. problem is if we continue to do recycling and dumpsters that requires a threeman setup because those trucks are designed for a rear load. They're not the totes aren't designed to be picked up by side loader. I mean, you could I wouldn't even say one guy on the back of a recycle truck because just the amount of totes. You need two guys back there. So with the dumpsters, do businesses pay like a monthly fee like we do for roll carts?

Yes, ma'am. And doing away with the dumpsters b they can contract and plate.

So there should there would be if that's the route that we end up going that's decided on. There should probably be a phase period to where this date the town looks to go away from our dumpster service. We could even give a list of services around that they could even call and price. Um, now as far as the replacement on the dumpsters, I don't know if that's something the town obviously would have to pull ours in because the ones we use now will not work for a front loader recycle truck or dumpster truck, I should Is this is this something and and I don't know this um David I'm gonna have to have you put on your your hat [clears throat] your other hat. Um when we when we when a business [clears throat] comes in

is dumpster fees part of a business license is this or you look at what type of business it is and say look you've got to have a dumpster. Well we refer them if they have to have a dumpster we refer them to public works for them to work out whatever they need. Okay. So we don't really didn't handle that in in the planning. Okay. So it's nothing that we're saying, oh, you get this for being a business in only if they request it from what I understand. Yeah, we we do have some places that have a private service. It's very few. Right. But I mean, you know, when we look at what the cost effective and where we've got to cut, then um I think if we roll out a program with the businesses with these dumpsters carts [clears throat]

and um I don't know, but I'm quite sure depending, you know, because I look at how how trash pickup is outside the city and there are plenty of people with these businesses. So, I'm assuming with enough um leeway they it'll it'll be basically what they're paying now. I I would assume Yeah, it should be close. I have not looked Okay. Commercial call for private. My last question for you is uh are there other communities surrounding us that still do curbside recycling or No, ma'am. We are it. Okay. [clears throat]

I think Clemson might have been the last and they ended in 22, I believe. So, so we're at um right, thank you. And one of the things that hurt us, too, and some of this is old news, but in 2018, China's national sword policy, they restricted the intake of a lot of the recycle materials that we would ship to them. So, now we're having to deal with it here. So cost have went up because China's like, "Yeah, we're tired of getting the US's trash basically." [clears throat] So that kind of hurt. JF, one question for you. Yes, ma'am. Ma'am,

what percentage of the homes in Pendleton will not be able to use the side loading truck because of their way they're positioned. Certainly some on East Queen have that condition.

I I have been pleasantly surprised that Willie has been able every route to utilize that truck. Now, that's not to say, no, let me back up. Church Street would be a prime example. I would not want him to back down Church Street in that thing. And matter of fact, we would probably consider that a short street to where after the route, we would go back in a truck, like a pickup. And we do that with some places already that are tight alleyways. Falls and Mian, I believe, has a alleyway that we have to do the same service with just because e either truck we have just won't fit in there. So regardless of when we get to the side loader where that is our primary means of picking up the roller carts. Yes, ma'am.

We're still going to have a need to have additional service to get narrow roads and inaccessible homes. Is that correct? Yes, but it is a very small footprint. Okay. Very small. I'm talking about we can get it we get it with a pickup truck currently. That's how small it is. Are we requiring um when new developments come and they're doing you know in the planning and development stage are we going to and this may go to UDA UDO as well are we going to say to them this is the dimensions you need so we can make sure that your trucks their pickups no well they're pretty standard will fit the problem we run into is people parking in the road

it ain't so much the dimension or width of the roads even the culde-sacs as the folks that park and it happens. We'll have them parked on this side of the road and the neighbor right here will park here and you can't even drive a Volkswagen between them, much less a 50,000lb truck. Uh we do make a point to try to get out and knock on doors and ask, "Hey, can you can you move your vehicle so we can get through?" Because we don't want to refuse or not pick anybody up if they're expecting their service. Nobody wants to come home and find their trash can if at their driveway still full. It happens. I'm sorry. It happens.

I I appreciate your time and your presentation, Jay. Um, at this point, I'm going to open up the floor to public comments. Um, just as a reminder, comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. Speaker must be a Pendleton resident, business owner, or town property owner. And we do ask that you please state your name and address for the record. Um and I um and we ask that the comments remain respectful and focus on the topic at hand. Any public comments I am call 219 street. We don't know what's going on in the meeting unless it's hearsay like they had a suspicious thing for Miss Marian. We did not know about it. I think everybody in the reward didn't know east council. Plus number two I believe in secondary area cuz no ice whenever you do get snow ice they don't have nothing for people to come down the road no dirt or nothing. So that's the main thing of mine and I want to say that and we have a whole lot of neighbors in war three. We don't know who they are and where they coming from. We didn't know that. We need to know that. We need to know the town the police in the area. We don't know that. We need to have special communication with the independ. Thank you.

Thank you. And um these comments are we will have time for public comments um later in the meeting, but these comments are specifically related to um citizen input on curbside recycling and bulk container services.

I'm Greg. I live on Buchanan Circle. Greg. Greg. I didn't hear your name. That's all. Greg. Last name. Anderson. Thank you. I had a few questions about the presentation you did. Yes, sir. What was comments? It's just comments. Just comments. It's just public comments. What do you mean? You just say comments. You can't question to one individual.

I can't ask about the present. Okay. So, I'll ask anyone who can answer. I have a question about the presentation or do I have to say my comment is I didn't hear something on the presentation. Can you go over whoever can answer this? Can you please go over the uniform costs? I missed what you said. Uh Jay, I have a question for you. Can you please go over the uniform cost? We'll find a workaround. I got you.

I can. So currently we're looking it cost about 3500 each guy for the uniform. Now that's not just a pair of pants and a buttoned up shirt. That's standard is 11 pair of pants are issued. 11 shirts, rain gear, cold weather gear, gloves, capsu, uh boots, and replacement of those as they wear out because we also do have we're going to a casual Friday where we got some t-shirts for the guys as well. So, at over a year's time frame, 3500 is really on the lower end for that type of equipment. So that's what So $300 per month per person.

29 292. Yeah. Can we go through a service to handle it? Okay. So I mean I understand the clothing you describe doesn't sound like something anyone wears dayto day, but could you Right. No, I'm saying it's not like what I'm wearing now. I understand it's it's specific clothing. Could you have some kind of stockpile of it so that everyone doesn't need to get issued the bulk at once and as they wear out issue them? Where would I stockpile it?

Greg, could you purchase things in bulk or sorry, Jay, could you purchase things in bulk? [snorts] We could, but I don't have the means to store it anywhere. And it's typically done through a service where everything is laundered and any kind of damage is taken care of to the clothing as it's turned in. And it also allows us to track the clothing because everything is scanned in through this company. So, it's an accountability thing as well.

All right, I'm going to move on. I have more I'll email about that. Um yeah, also you mentioned that it's possible to go to cardboard only um cardboard pickup. Is isn't metal the most valuable recycled item? Um for weight,

we're out of time. I will try to rephrase your question because I'm allowed to ask questions. Jay, can you describe if metal is a recyclable item and if we can get money for that? It it very much is for the private community, but there's no public works that I'm tracking that does metal pickup. Um, it's typically recycled recycled materials. We get your plastics, your corrugated cardboard, not pizza boxes. We get a lot of those, but no glass. We only do glass. So, if you want to do metal, that is something that most people do on their own on the private side or they have somebody come in and pick it up and get paid for it and then they take it somewhere and process it to the center.

Um, and I will say, Greg, that Jay is wonderful at responding to emails and responds like right away. And I know this because I get copied on all of these messages. Um, so feel free I'll send some emails. I don't understand why I can't ask a question here because this is a it's for public comment. So you can say any you can propose anything and no one can ask about it. What can I ask if it's factual? I mean that's

what we're doing. This is what this was for. Jay did the presentation and basically the comments are are you know we want to know your comments on how how people feel about recycling and where it's going. This is not a question answer and right now we're just want to know what people feel. We're not even voting on this tonight. This is for information only, which is why we're not taking questions. But if somebody has a question, they can, you know, respond to any of us on council or Jay himself or better yet, if you want to set up a meeting to come and sit down and talk oneonone with any of us, especially Jay, that's what it is. But this is just an information gathering session for us. So if you wanted to state that you think we ought to, you know, you can make a statement how you feel about recycling and where it's going. But your time is up now. So we'd have to throw somebody else.

Okay. Thank you. So I feel like it would be beneficial for everyone who spent time to come out here to hear my question because maybe other people have a question. So I don't understand why you're making it so rigid that we can't say certain things. We're not doing that. What we're doing and and this is the way it's been working for years and years. Um, I suggest that if you have a problem with how we do the procedures for town council that sometime you come and set and meet with us and go over your concerns. Okay. My comment is I have problems how you do it. Did not. Are there any other public comments in regard to citizen input on curbside recycling and bulk container services?

Hi, I'm Teresa Horton. I live on 415 West Minister Drive in the Hood and I love recycling. I'll be honest with you. I when we started it, I went around and tried to educate my whole neighborhood. I love it. And um it makes it really simple. Even though I do take my glass out there, I take my plastic bags to Food Lion and I do the cans at the fire department. Um, and so now it's it's heartbreaking to say, but yeah, I I just agree with a lot of the discussion and with Jay with the cost of it's so expensive that um to keep up with to keep that curbside recycling going is just a hard thing to do for our town. and I hate to see it go, but the ones of us who want to recycle, there's still conveniences close right around here to do it. So, I just wanted to let y'all know that. And I don't want it to be a question since it's public comments, but I hadn't really seen the lift truck, the new one much. I think it came through my hood once. Um, but it seems like it had to do two laps because it picks up on one side of the road and then it makes another lap to pick up the other side. Is there a way that? Nope. It's not a question. Just so that they only have to do one lap. Is there Have we looked at that kind of stuff? I don't know, Jay.

It does have to make some rounds because it is because they're on both sides of the street. side. The only way to remedy that is everybody will put the trash [clears throat] cans on one side of the street. And I guarantee you that's not going to happen. [laughter] We'll go down and come back. Thanks y'all. Thank you.

I hadn't planned to speak tonight, but in listening to

Mona Fleming 209 Plantation Drive, Pendleton, South Carolina 29670. Okay. Um, I think most of the people up here knew me. [laughter] Anyway, when I worked, there was a phrase that I used sometime that said, "Your lack of planning should not constitute an emergency for the office staff." I'm using that as an example because we right now have an emergency with recycling. And I just want to say the UDO's coming on. I appreciate everything everybody in this office of town does, but lack of planning has created this emergency.

Hi, Lisa Kefir, 694 Pinewood Drive. Um, it's much scarier on this side than that side. So, um, if I stutter, apologies. First, I want to thank all the public works employees. You have a very hard and often truly thankless job and you keep this town running clean and timely. And it's really, really appreciated. And Jay, I really appreciate your transparency in the numbers. As a person who is fairly new to this town, who grew up with single stream curbside recycling, I was not aware of the expense and scope of work that public works does. And so I really appreciate you creating that transparency for the residents. Um that said, I think we are at a point with challenge in our growth and our planning. Um, town residents have not been set up for success to make recycling, whether that's single stream or cardboard only, successful. One of the main errors with contamination is wet cardboard. Our bins are open container. We live in the south. It rains, cardboard gets wet, it's now trash. And those are hard containers to for the employees to work with on a daily basis. Before we before council decides on a path forward, I would encourage looking at infrastructure changes to see if a litted bin surface regardless of cardboard, single stream or other is viable as a sustainable solution. Um, one that would be compatible with a sidelift one-man truck would be incredible um and critical if we are going to do recycling. I think there also does need to be robust and community engagement. It is hard when you get a flyer on your trash lid to not have it fall in the bin. I'm sorry if some of that happens. Um, communication has gone really well over the last couple of years and I know it's going to

continue to be remarkable, but if we want to do recycling, people need to know how to do it correctly. And there's a lot of rules to follow and it's not universal between counties or municipalities and it's often easy to get this incorrect. And then I do want to touch on we are growing rapidly and we do need a plan on how we're going to set up our residents and our town staff for success in our infrastructure changes. Whether that's removing bulk pickup and recycling. If that's the case, I would request that the town provide a list of recommended contractors. This is a common thing in different municipalities that they contract out all waste treatment and they provide a list to residents so they can select their one um if they decide to go for utilize that service. Um I know there's a lot of work being done on this and so um thank you and I'm sure it's going to be a great solution in the end. Good evening. My name is Angela Viney and I'm new to the community. I've only been here a little over two months and I've been very impressed with the town of Pendleton. For a small community, you are you've got I mean, you're doing everything. I get a daily or sometimes two or three times a day update on what's going on, especially now with the storm and such. But in regards to recycling and uh waste, I think we're doing a great job with recycling. What we probably lack is some additional information. Education. Education is key. Now, I know we just got those door tags. They were great. But what would really help and the first time I ever went to Queen Street to use that facility, I noticed there's really no signs that say what what they take. And people were throwing everything in there. And then they're throwing cardboard boxes that are not even broken

down. I spent one afternoon breaking all the cardboard boxes down so that people could put more in. Otherwise, they're on the ground. So, we need some additional education, I think. But I appreciate all that everybody does. Thank you.

Any other comments related to curbside recycling and bulk container services? Kim Mark 336 South Broad. Uh, as I understand it, by taking away the curbside recycling, everything that's being taken away now, we can do ourselves right down there on Queen. Correct. So, if that's it, my comment is uh to save money. I also very glad that I'm I believe I'm not seeing any employees go and they'll just shift it and we'll get some more help in other areas. Great move. And uh I can get off my butt and take my recycling down there. So I I don't see any reason I I don't see where the loss is to me as a citizen. So that's it.

Thank you. Any other comments? Well, I appreciate Thank you to everyone who shared comments this evening. Your input's important and we really do appreciate it. Seeing no uh further speakers, I will now close the public [clears throat] hearing. Council will take this information under adisement and any further discussion or action will occur at a later meeting. Moving on. [sighs and gasps] Uh next we will move on to item five, approval of the minutes. Item 5A is the consideration of minutes from the following meetings. January 6, 2026 regular town council meeting. January 12th, 2026 called meeting. January 22nd, 2026 called meeting. Council has received these minutes in advance for review at their at this time. Is there a motion to approve the minutes as presented?

Motion to approve as presented. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. [snorts] At this time, we will open the floor for public comments. Um, these comments can be about anything. Um, as a reminder, these remarks are limited to three minutes per speaker and may be made by Pendleton residents, business owners, and town property owners. Please begin by stating your name and address for the record. And we welcome your comments.

Teresa Horton, 415 West Minister Drive. And I just want to say thank you to David for checking on the hood, for going to the trouble of looking at the Duke power outage map during the storm. And the only neighborhood that didn't have power during that time was my neighborhood. And you called our ward lady and she let us know that. And we appreciate you for doing that as our police chief, not as our planning person, but as our police chief, because I've never never known of that being done before, and I just appreciate it more than you'll ever know.

Thank you so much. [applause] Kerry Fleming, 204 East Queen Street. I would just like to urge the council when you consider later in the meeting the resolution to ask South Carolina DOT to consider a four-way stop um at MC the split at mechanic and broad. I can guarantee you that all that's going to do is make traffic go up North Broad Street. People are not going to stop there when they're going right. Certainly isn't going to do a thing to stop trucks in town. I would urge you to change that to have them look at putting a four-way stop at Mihan Falls at that intersection where the light is because if those trucks come off and they have to stop immediately at Mihan Falls, it's going to be discouraging. I would also ask them to consider a four-way stop right here where the bridge is because I don't know how many other people have had it happen, but I've stopped. I've been turning left to come up here and had a million people not stop at that stop sign and almost had head-on collisions. If there was a full stop there, whether you're going straight on Queen or going left to follow 88, we wouldn't have that issue. And again, trucks would have another stop. So that's my comment. Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there someone? Go ahead. Come on. All right. Barbara Mona Mona Fleming 209 Plantation Drive, Pendleton. I am clarifying what I said before. As I said, I thank everybody on council and who work in this building. What I meant by lack of planning is, and all of you have been on council 60 days,

well, [laughter] no, [applause] three three years or less. And so what I'm saying is when we get a call from developers to develop, then there needs to be a whole list of things that those developers have to know. And one of them is how is it going to affect public works? And I brought this up when Steve and former public's work people when brush was not getting picked up. And the excuse was, well, we have all these new neighborhoods. That's lack of planning. If you've got new neighborhoods, you've got this many more brush pickups, garbage pickups, recycling pickups. If that is continued, there needs to be some checks and balances so that we don't just come in here and check off new growth. Yes, South Carolina's growing rapidly, but there are stipulations. These developers are making a hell of a lot of money and therefore they should work on parking, work on playgrounds, work on a green space, and that should be mandated by this town. And when the town decides on it, then those developers need to know and the town needs to know we have this many more pickups now. And that is what I meant by lack of planning. When I sat down, I said, "People think I'm ungrateful to this town. I've lived here 40 plus years. My entire career was spent here." And I love this town. And I think everybody sitting up here knows that. But we have got to start planning

because I asked that question years ago and my brush still didn't get picked up for two years. [laughter] [snorts]

Lindseay Wattley, 170 Grand Oak Circle. So, I'm speaking as a resident. Um, over 50 Pendleton folks gathered at the community center and at the Jenkins House on January 19th, 2026 in the cold and wind. I can confirm it was very cold. Chief David Pollson provided blue light cover on Central Road. And the town provided donuts, coffee, juice at both work sites. Our little litter patrols were a little short on bags because they've done so much pickup during the fall and between all of our town events. We picked up litter on Central Road, Brown, West and East Queen, Keith, North and South Mechanic, Krenshaw, Greenville, and Lebanon. And the crews picked up 70 bags of trash and did a thorough job of getting that roadside trash picked up before the winter storm. The crews at Jenkins House, which is where I was, planted trees, spread mulch, cleaned up the trails and the grounds, and helped get the historic home ready for the grand opening in February. Sue Watts, shout out to Sue, she's a saint, worked with the children to plant burr oak acorns. Not only did she teach them how to plant them, but she talked about the viability or the vi whether or not they're viable to be planted. So, they drop them in water and they float and they sank. And she talked to the kids about that, which was lovely to see. The full trail is now open and we'll have more mulch spreading this spring and more trees. So, um I'm up here to say thank you to the volunteers who showed up and these are people who live here and who work here and who love Pendleton. Um they're not getting paid to pick up trash. They're literally taking time out of their day to freeze and pick up trash for the community and it's a wonderful thing. Um, before I came to Pendleton, I worked for another municipality and I've lived in another city. And that's one of the things moving here and being part of the town that is so special is that sense of community and um the volunteers that come out to help simply because they want to make Pendleton beautiful. So, our next day of service is March 28th with Pendleton Pride in Motion. Um, so if you're interested in that, you can talk to Nancy and Pendleton um the

Pendleton Pride in Motion about that. So, just came to say that and let everybody know about what we did on January 19th. Thank you.

Hey, uh Theodore Ager, 404 North Mechanic Street. Uh my question is uh where uh do the town stand with regards to the uh uh road closure on Moore Street? Yes. Yes. It's been closed for quite some time now. Okay. We will get that addressed for you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat]

No, no, no. That's No, don't. Thank you. Excuse me. I'm had a cop tonight. I would like to say Bernie's married and and had the oldest one in on war three. We're the oldest one. We're in there 80 something years. 80 something years. [applause] All right. [clears throat] Seeing no more public comments, I'm going to close public comments. Next, we move to item seven, uh, councils. Oh, sorry. Go ahead.

Were you closing? Yes, I was going to. Do you have a public comment? Okay.

Sorry, it's difficult to hear back there. My name is Alex Borski. I'm at 1200 Cherry Street Extension um just outside the city limits. My wife and I live there on a on a horse farm and uh uh I just want to take issue with what Harbor had said earlier. I understand the town has rules for the conduct of its meeting. [snorts] In this American democracy, we elect people and we expect them to listen to what the public says and to be answerable to what the public says. If this is not the forum for it, I don't know what this podium's for. In another instance, I have a difficulty following council rules when council continues to uh completely ignore certain state rules regarding um executive session and regarding the ability of an adjacent property owner to speak when an issue fears relative to adjoining property. So you are not with clean hands. So let's be careful about what we permit and what we disallow. I appreciate your time and I'd be willing to comment further on those items I mentioned at any point in time. What I'd like to add is it's not a suitable alternate to ask us to approach council people individually. We have no confidence that what is told us and confidence one onone that the council will stand behind that when it convenes as a group. So one is not a substitute for the other. Thank you for your time.

May I respond? No, we just hear comments. All right. Any other public comments? Seeing no one step forward for public comments, I'm going to close public comments. Next, we will move to item seven, council's comments and reports. So, this portion of the agenda provides council members the opportunity to share updates, observations, and information relevant to their roles and count in committee assignments. I'll begin with Councilwoman Barbara Hamburg. Councilwoman Hamburg serves as the council's liaison to the Pendleton Volunteer Fire Department. Barbara, I'm going to turn it over to you for any updates you'd like to share.

We have no updates at this time. Okay. Thank you. Um, next I'll recognize Councilman Jeff Vandry. Councilman Vandry serves as the council's liaison to the Pendleton Recreation Association. Jeff, I'll turn it over to you for any updates or reports. Sure. [clears throat]

Yeah. Yeah, the winter uh 2026 winter basketball season has seen strong community engagement with 162 total registrations allowing the formation of 20 teams across all age divisions. One of the highlights is that uh the formation of a dedicated all girls eight and under team. This is the first time since at least 2023 that the organization has had sufficient registration numbers to feel an all girls team in this division marking a significant milestone for the growth of girls sports and Pendleton. The P [clears throat] board has been active in securing facility improvements, enhancing safety protocols, and strengthening the organization's financial help. Uh, out of Veterans Park, field two is being renovated. Excuse [clears throat] me. Major renovations are underway. Grading and side installation are largely complete with final work expected to be finished by midFebruary. There's new equipment. A new pitching mound has been delivered for the baseball program, and fence poles and cats have been ordered to upgrade field safety and aesthetics. The P is working closely with the town to finalize additional improvements, including temporary fence for T-ball and foul poles. The board recently approved the purchase of used synthetic turf to further enhance facility durability and usability and discussions are ongoing regarding the construction of a new 20x 24 metal storage building to better house equipment. Um with potential town council approval targeted from March. Uh they've established set up a lightning detection system to ensure player and spectator safety. Uh we're moving forward with installation of that lightning detection system at Veterans Park to standardsize field closure protocols during inclement weather. The board is exploring opportunities to expand safety training for director level staff, including CPR, first aid, and AED certifications, potentially in collaboration with town training sessions. A new financial aid policy and procedures guide have been adopted to formalize the process for granting aid, ensuring that financial barriers do not

prevent local youth from participating in sports. Um, recent fundraising efforts have generated $19,000. Um, and they have new banking protocols and oversight procedures implemented to protect organizational funds. And the last thing is strategic planning. The board has approved participation in confidential exploratory discussions regarding long-term facilities planning ensuring that P is prepared to meet the future needs of Pendleton's [snorts] growing population. Thank you, Jeeoff. And will you remind us of when the P's meetings are? They're the tomorrow, the first Wednesday of every month, and they're welcome. They're right here and more than welcome to come and get involved any way you want.

What time? Uh 6:30. 6:30. And I'm going to um ask Barbara to um to share something about the fire department. And can you also share when their meetings are? They have two a month.

Um that I don't have the information on the the meetings because I have not attended. Um that was health related. It wasn't age related. Um, one of the things I do want to report on, we did have a um, public comment session on and and information session really on the new substation that'll be going out on Highway 76. We haven't made a vote on that yet. Um, you can go online to YouTube and see that session. Um, there were people who did watch online. We did have a good session with questions and answers. This is something that is needed um out on that side of town. So, please, you know, if you if you need to approach any of us um do so and the fire department. Um what is happening is we have a re we have a person who is donating the building and it will be fitted for our firing needs. What is happening is the fire department is not coming to us asking for money. What they're asking for is the release of the funds that we hold for them. This is money um that has been allocated through our state legislature at a time and if we don't spend it, we can lose it. That has happened once before in the past. We had more money allocated, didn't get used, got taken back. So that's where we are. Thank you.

I just want to make a clarification. I don't think they're donating the building. The the fire department is buying the purchase. Yes, they're purchasing the building. My bad. Perfect. Next, we will move into departmental reports. We'll begin with the police department. Chief Pollson, thank you for being here. Please share your report. Mr. Mayor, Council, good evening. [snorts]

First, I'd like to just start off by saying thank you so much for the comments. They really mean a whole lot more than you'll ever know. So, we appreciate that. Uh, January was a pretty busy month for us. Uh, we answered six over 635 calls for service. In that same month, we did 28 reports, eight of which were cleared by arrest or a warrant. Additionally, we had 97 warrant 97 warning tickets issued and 34 state citations were issued. One of the things that I'm really excited about and one of our goals this year is our community outreach engagement that we're going to do um is really trying to get the community involved with our police officers and our police department involved with our community. We are partnering with Wake and Bake Restaurant which is on on Mechanic Street down by U Falls of Mihan on February the 27th between 5:30 and 6:30. I'm going to have all the officers there. I'll be there. Come up there. We're going to be there for an hour. We're going to sit there. Come have coffee with us. Miss Barbie, who owns Wake and Bake, has been very gracious. She said she would donate the coffee. Come sit with us. Now, I did tell her that there was no way that we could have a room full of police officers and no donuts around. So, you [laughter] know, I cannot confirm or deny that there may be some donuts passed around. So, just please come out and see us. The other thing that we're really doing is I'm excited about is February the 10th, which I believe is next Tuesday. We're doing a listening session with Miss Nancy Vonmire at the library. Um, come on out. Let's sit down if you have any questions or concerns or if you want to bring them to me. And I promise you, I did not ask Miss Cobb come to speak tonight because, you know, she brought that up and I didn't ask her to ask. That was great. So, uh, last year, um, further in the report, last year we were able to, uh, install some license plate reading cameras in our vehicles. So, we've got, I think, four of them in our cars. What that technology allows us to do if we have a stolen car or something like that or a missing person or a missing adult and they know they're in a vehicle, we can take that vehicle information, put it in a report, it enters their license plate

number in the system, and if one of our officers is behind the car, it alerts them and says, "Hey, you know, this is a car you need to look at." So, if it's stolen or, you know, you're missing or something like that. So, it's it's a technology that we've put into place, it's really paid off. Um, Officer Wallace was able to recover a stolen vehicle utilizing this technology. Um the incident also led to the seizure of 6.25 grams of methamphetamines and an arrest for the stolen vehicle. So it's a really great technology tool that we have. Um and it's really really paying off. Um as part of our continued investigation from the joint operation that we talked about last month where we did the uh search warrant, the federal search warrants with the DEA, um Anderson County, and all those other agencies. The police department with this month we seized approximately 267 grams of methamphetamine. Although we haven't tied a body to that methamphetamine yet, we're still working towards that. But just to kind of put that in perspective, typically when we deal with we see something like this on the street, you're dealing with one, two, three, four grams of methamphetamine. That's about that size right there is what you're looking for. What we recovered here was a half of a pound of methamphetamines. It's one of the biggest mess that I've seen since I've been here. Um, it has a street value of almost $10,000. And like I said, we haven't been able to tie that to an individual yet. We're still working through that, but at the bare minimum, we got a half a pound of meth off the street. So, that was a very important and very good thing. It was a a very large operation. I was very proud of all the officers that we have in the department because everybody was able to get in that in that investigation. The Penalt Police Department also assisted with the winter storm the weekend of January 23rd through January 26. This was the ice storm we had. Um, again, I want to echo the the mayor's comments, say thank you so much. Throughout that whole weekend, we did not work one accident. We only had one tree that fell and Jay was able to get that out. So again, I just want to say thank you to you citizens for not getting out there, listening to us and understanding that, you know, that ice is a is a bad thing. So thank you for doing that. And then lastly, uh we assisted the Pendleton Police Department assisted Anderson County with a shooting here in town. We

had a young man that got shot in the arm. Um the sheriff's office actually investigated this and we really appreciate the work they did. They were able to close that case out with an arrest of two juveniles. I know that the sheriff's office committed a lot of time to this and we appreciate what they did because it would have really put a strain on us. We absolutely could have done it. We have the capabilities to do it, but because they they had already started it, it really it really went smoothly. So hopefully that'll end in a nice resolution. Um, one last thing that I have, I did receive an email from a uh Liam Chandler who was really wanting to commend Officer Wallace for something he helped him with at the uh car wash in town. So, I wanted to just make sure we brought that up. And that's all I have as mayor. And I'll be glad to answer any questions if anybody has any.

Good. Thank you. Thank you, D.

I'm next going to ask uh our town administrator to come [snorts] and make or deliver a report um and also to address some planning things. Uh but before um Steve talks, I want to say that I have received a lot of complaints about um brush and trees that are um uh encroaching and impeding our sidewalks in town. And I have asked code enforcement to start going out and um and talking or communicating with property owners that have brush encroaching on sidewalks. So I just want to make I guess make a public comment make the public aware that I have been receiving a lot of complaints. I was in my office um um yesterday and it was just residents over and over again and that seemed to be the constant theme for about three hours. And so I wanted to make sure that I addressed that um before before Steve did so you knew that um that that's why we were going to be talking to those um those residents. And then Steve, you also make sure to address uh the the question that was posed at the podium.

Um last month was actually a uh somewhat productive month for planning. Uh Owen found six businesses in town operating without a business license. That's a uh 460 $436 in business license fees he was able to collect. Uh we also met [clears throat]

uh actually Owen, David, me and Officer Bishop met with the Falls of Mian HOA at the library to talk about parking to talk about how Jay can't drive his garbage trucks through there cuz you know the uh that was actually what sprung that on. So um so we had about a two-hour meeting with them. They're looking at some ways to uh work with their residents and taking on some self-p policing type items. Uh so that was a good meeting. We explained to them what we can do from both a planning standpoint and an enforcement standpoint and reiterate to them we don't like to go out and write tickets. If y'all can handle it yourself cuz it's always better before you handle it handle it. Uh January 12th, um we had a meeting with council as far as the village hills design overlay district uh with Rebecca Vance and we have taken back some information on that and we're working on drafting the new ordinance with those inputs in there. And then on the 22nd, Owen and uh participated with Jay. Uh we have a house being built on B Street and they have a little bit of problem tying into the sewer. they're going to have to pump down to our sewer line which is going to cause an approach with permit and and possibly some rightaway acquisitions if they have to get it from some adjacent properties. Uh we have a planning commission on 12th and then the UDO steering committee on the 17th. Uh and then for permits, we issued 12 permits. Six of those were for new homes. Uh one was for roof, two were for grading, and one was for interior uh renovation. One was for building addition and one was an encroachment permit. And an encroachment permit is when anybody works in our rightway. They have to get a permit from us to have permission to work in our rightway. That way we know if they damage our sewer lines or water lines or

cut the road open, don't repair it. You know, we know who to go after. Uh as far as [clears throat] mine goes for the month, the most interesting report of everybody's. Um if you like numbers, it is. So, uh, we build had our bill date on 120. Uh, we build 8,500,000 gallons of water. That was $85,000 in revenue. And 7.8 million gallons of sewer is $105,000 in revenue. And we build $35,44 in the flat rate sewer billing. Uh, some general updates. Again, I want to thank my staff and team uh for preparing for the winter storm. Uh they obviously listened during Colleen because we were very well prepared. Uh and that says a lot. Uh we did have some people stay overnight uh to watch a couple things. Didn't have a whole lot of major issues. Uh we were more worried about the ice than we were the snow. The only thing with the ice is we lost power at one of our pump stations the next day when Duke was repairing things. they cut it off and didn't tell us and that created an overflow and we reported that to the state and Jason since cleaned that up. Um, but they did a great job and you know we're we're appreciative of them. They worked hard and that took a whole week you know going into one storm. It took about four days to get all the equipment ready, everything gassed up. We sit in what they call emergency management meetings that nobody realized. We have this whole phone list and everything else that we go through. We even have a seat down in Anderson we can go sit in if we want to. Uh but we've had about five of those during the whole thing and every day you're checking in. Uh then you go right out of that and you got trash routes backed up right into another storm. Uh so that was a lot of work on staff and and I just appreciate everything they were able to do. Um council at the time uh we were attending hometown legislative action day for part of it. Uh we had a good trip down there. We were able to meet

for representatives. Uh we have asked council for some ideas on what they call we used to call earmarks. Uh they're now calling a community investment or community infrastructure investment grants. Uh, and I have a list there of what I got back from council, which is the South Mechanic Street, multi-use path, the East Queen Street, Calhoun upgrades, uh, new police department building, Barracks Place renovations, Veterans Park, uh, bridge replacement at Max Drive-In, and money to repair stream crossings along the rightways. Uh, so we we will try to work something up on what we have numbers for and submit back to our delegation and see what they can do for us. Uh Amy has been had a very busy month. Uh we had to file our DAC filings which is what we have to file for all our public bonds. Uh that includes our audit along with a whole bunch of other information we have to get and we have to have it filed by the end of the month along with W2s and 1099s going out and closing out. Although it's a calendar year, most businesses run on calendar years. We still have stuff we have to close out even though we run the June 30th. Um so we had to do that. Um the uh doghouse roof uh we found had a leak in it from something striking it. Uh we're not sure if it was a drone somebody was flying and they flew into the roof or if it was a something caught in the wind that caught it during these storms and and went into the roof. But we've had guy roofing out. It's it's cut all the way down to the roof deck. Um so there's probably some leakage inside the building now, too. Uh they're going to come out and repair it just soon as they can. Um fleet update. Uh our brand new garbage truck. Uh we're trying to get all the warranty work done we can on it. Uh so we have it back at Duncan getting serviced again. And we have our dump truck. Uh unfortunately we were down to one dump truck during the storms. Uh cuz

this new emission systems they have you're not used to dealing with diesel trucks. Um the deaf emission systems are causing a lot of problems, especially if you can't get them regened fast enough, which is you have to go through a process of warming them up. So, we have it back at the dealership so that they can replace the emission system in it at no cost to us. So, it's it's under warranty. Uh and I left this one in here. I meant to to put an update. I left in here. We did get the the repair done on Queen Street and Broad. We thought it was actually the hydrant foot. ended up being they had tapped uh Carrie's meter off the hydrant foot. What?

Which was what was leaking was her service line. So, we were able to just put a new service line on if I hadn't get Duke out there. Her service line actually broke, which is what told us it was the service line and not the foot of the hydrant at that point. Uh so, that one was repaired and then Mr. Roger. As far as uh Morris goes, we had to repair a valve on Queen Street and we have a valve insertion company come tomorrow to insert us a valve that's line is what we call an AC line. So it's essentially a concrete line. Uh and it's got a crack in it. And so we're putting another valve somewhere else so we can shut it off so we can cut that whole line out. Otherwise, it's a 6 in line. If it breaks, we've got no way to cut it off and then we're really in trouble. Uh, one thing during the storm is or after the storm and you about 19 degree weather, we spent about seven hours repairing a break on a ductal iron that that froze up. Uh, so I do appreciate public works going out there and doing that because if you've never been in water up to your waist in 19°ree weather, you don't know what fun is. So the uh some capital projects uh Weston House is moving along. Duke finally moved the pole. Our signal crew came in and mounted the signals. We're just waiting on DOT to approve either how they want us to time the lights and then the the person will come in and program the lights. Then we'll finish the pavement and striping. Crosswalk signals are in on both sides. Uh so all that's moving along Winston Street, we're at the 95% mark on construction, 80% mark on payout. Uh we're just waiting on the paving to come in. You're you're not going to pave in 19 degree weather. Um I doubt they're even running the plant, so you can't keep the asphalt hot enough to even get here. Um the uh East Queen Street. Uh we met back with uh GMC. We have broken out from Bailey to Worley to look at the improvements at the school and the crosswalk and they're

supposed to be getting us back a rough draft number on that and what that'll look like along with what shrinking the design of Calhoun Street is going to look like. And Bruise parking lot actually HD was finally able to get out there today to start the utility work on the main street side. They've been working with Main Exchange coordinating that. Um, so we're going to work from that point up and then we're we're going to be able now to bring them in. We've already met with with uh Bruise at the square once. We're going to meet them again, tell them we're getting ready to start coming into the parking lot at this point. So it it won't be but another couple weeks.

So which retaining wall is mentioned with the Bruce [snorts] parking lot? Is that the one with the wine bar one? No, that's the Buddy Durm. Oh, the Buddy Durm retaining wall. Okay. So that that retaining wall keeps moving slightly

and we have to be at 7 feet. So we moved our sewer line to accommodate main exchange. Uh so we we're going to be at 7 ft at the back side of the parking lot on the footer of that wall and that is about a $50,000 power pole sitting at the top of the wall of course. And then there's another power pole that costs about $30,000 to move. And so we're trying to coordinate, can Duke come and hold those poles while we dig and us brace the wall and dig around it, but at some point we're going to have to as a town address the wall permanently and and it's, you know, I don't even know what that wall is going to cost, but last time I got it priced about $70,000. So the and then mainly it's because the utilities sitting on top of it and it's mainly the pole sitting on top of it causing most problems.

So when we look at that wall, should we also look at the wall [snorts] this um over behind the the um candy stores parking lot over there?

I mean that would be better to do all the walls at one time. Um we're we sent a what we call RFI. a request for information to our engineers to ask them, you know, what options do we have? You can't get to what they call 2:1 slope in there. The parking lot would be useless at that point. Um because you have to come into the parking lot to create slope. You can't go back toward the utilities. So you I don't know if there's a whole lot and you're you know to do that whole parking lot and to do the other parking lot. It wouldn't surprise me if that was a4 million dollar worth of walls. for both of them. for both of them. And that's just right,

you know, total guess right there. But looking looking bringing an engineer to look at both of them at the same time would be better than bringing in an engineer for this one and later on the other one. We know there's going to be problems that need to be addressed.

Yeah, you have to have any wall over five feet now has to be completely engineered. So, also, uh, one last thing, we opened the bids for Village Hills Water and Sewer. Uh, they they came in about 600,000 under budget. So, it's going to end up being about 1.63 million, I think, was the low bid. So, we were very happy with that. We got a million dollars from the state just to do that. And then the state gave us another $400,000 on Central. So, we'll move central's match over here set for the generator on central. So,

um I have a question about the Westinghouse light signal. Can we get DOT to kind of group all those from 187 all the way through? I guess the last one is at triangle tech to make sure those are flowing. Um I can some kind of synchronization. So I can ask from what I understand now they're using AI to synchronize them. So there's so it's got to be foolproof. So [laughter] or either it's going to make great pictures of you know so so you're telling me every one of those has some kind of [clears throat] camera to watch. I mean is it what you're telling me they're adjusting based on traffic flow?

That's what they told me. So they they have the loops and the ground to trigger, but that silver box over there is what do actually controls. Um, so it runs on automatic system until they notice there's something and then they try to have them timed so that they run. The the problem is is that because you got the trigger in the ground. It's essentially counting weight times on cars. So, it's not always going to be 100% synced unless they just I've seen cities where they sync them and you just go right through and then 30 seconds later it's the other way. So, but yeah, they do talk back and forth to each other.

All right. So, the road closed for more street, how much longer will that road be? [snorts] So, if they get that valve in tomorrow, when when are you going to go out there and put that line in? Right. Yeah. We will have it exposed at 07 in the morning. We'll start the Rover Brothers will be there at 8:30 to start the insertion valve and that should let us control the water on Moore Street where we can shut that line down for repair and get the road back open. We've had to use ground penetrating radar to verify the lines. We're open tomorrow. You got it.

And I and I did ask Chief Bolson to um you know, as we have kind of an increase of construction on the square with the parking lots and with exchange, it seems like people are just parking everywhere and it's a nightmare. And I I feel [snorts] like when I drove today, it seemed like um it might be hurting our small businesses. And so I did ask Chief Collison to to kind of keep an eye on that to make sure that there's still, you know, places that people can park to make sure that our businesses are flourishing. All right, perfect. Thank you,

Steve. I just want to congratulate you and your team on the storm prep. And again, after Helen, you guys did a a great job and it's very comforting to know that when these big events, weather events happen at our our town has taken the right steps. Thank you.

Our final report this evening is sorry, I was really excited for your report. report this evening is the strategic plan update. Um, strategic [clears throat] plan coordinator, Councilwoman Lind. Thank you, Mayor. Um, everyone seems to be off to a strong start in the new year, even though we've had some cold days and some challenging weather. Team one has been very productive this month in the area of branded initiatives. The team has reviewed all the applications, interviewed the final three, and has made a recommendation for council to consider tonight. Um, secondly, team one has created a page on the town's website that will reflect action taken by the three teams of the strategic planning process. [clears throat] This website is under the government tab on the website um and will allow you uh the public all of you and the three teams to report their updates and achievements. Hopefully that'll keep everybody in the loop a little bit better. Um, team two continues with efforts to review the current benefit package and get feedback from the staff. An employee survey has been completed and the committee is consolidating that information and the team has continued to work on employee reviews. Reviews are a new process for the town. Um, and we hope that the benefit to that they will benefit the employees and the town's organizational process. Um [clears throat] team three is working towards developing a business recruitment plan. Members have spoken with PABA about getting feedback from the local current local businesses. Um we'll do that at their at the PABA's uh February meeting. The team has worked with the Clemson Chamber to get data on shopping trends and leakage and this team will continue to gather information from other sources on retail and service sectors. Um, our team leads meeting will be on Friday and the next

quarterly strategic planning review will be on March the 10th.

Thank you. Action items 9.8, resolution certifying abandoned textile site. Item 9, sorry, I'm getting tired. [laughter] Item 9.8 A is the consideration of a resolution to provide certain certifications regarding an regarding an abandoned textile mill site located at 244 Cherry Street. This resolution allows the town to certify that the property meets the state definition of an abandoned textile mill site under South Carolina law. This certification is required for the property owner to pursue state income tax credits only. It does not provide any local property tax relief, fee wavers, or financial incentives from the town of Hamilton. This is a technical certification that has been reviewed by the town attorney and is based on documentation submitted by the applicant. At this time, I'll open the floor for council discussion.

Mayor, I'm going to recuse myself from this. Seeing no further discussion, this action before council is the approval of the resolution as presented. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Second. There a second. Any further discussion? What what exactly does this do?

So essentially the applicant provided us with information. We then asked our town attorney to to look it over and because they have asked the town to provide a letter. The letter allows them to be eligible for this um uh for the um I don't for them to be able to apply for this to the state for this. What does this do as far as income taxes? Do y'all does this affect the money that Jenkins House brings in on tours and things along that line?

I don't think we we can ask that. This is um so it should have been in your packet um but it does not provide any it has really nothing to do with the town of Pendleton. This is just for them to be able to apply with the state and they just needed a letter from us and we're all we are doing is just saying yes is just giving them a letter and saying that based on what we receive from the application meets the standards for them to be able to apply for this. Okay, perfect. So, we have a motion. I have a second. Um, any further discussion?

All in favor? Perfect. Motion carries. Lynn, come back. [laughter] Lynn, come back. Um, item 9. B is the consideration of a resolution directing staff to explore a potential recreation partnership with the YMCA of Anderson County. This resolution authorizes town staff to conduct a an information gathering and feasibility assessment only. It does not authorize any contract funding commitment or agreement. The goal is to better understand what a potential partnership could look like in including programming, facilities, staffing, financial considerations, and legal requirements. Any findings will be brought to council at a future meeting for future discussion and direction. At this time, I'll open the floor for council discussion.

Well, I know the P, the Pendleton Recreation Association is excited about the possibilities of this. Seeing no further discussion, the action before council is a is the approval of the resolution directing staff to explore a potential recreation partnership and return and return findings to council. Is there a motion? I move. Is there a second? Second.

All any further discussion? All in favor? Perfect. Motion carries. Sorry. Trying with the discussion. All right. 9. Uh, item 9. C is the consideration of a resolution requesting the South Carolina Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study for a potential hallway stop at the intersection of Broad Street and South Mechanic Street. This intersection is under SCOT jurisdiction. Approval of this resolution simply authorizes staff to formally uh requests a traffic study. Any decision regarding traffic control would be made by SC DOT and brought to council if action is required on the town's part. At this time, I'll open the floor for council discussion.

I'd like to comment on the public comment. Krie talked about um a couple of other intersections. Would it be possible since they're doing um the study at the at the split um could we also do a couple of other intersections since they're going to be in town? Nick is going to do those, right, Steve? Uh yeah, they're I'm assuming he'll do them, right?

I'm assuming he's the one doing them. And I and I think since traffic studies are done at intersections, there are some key intersections in town. And since he's going to be in town, would it be possible to expand the study to get the intersection at Greenville Street and East Queen, which is right, the one right out here? And then while we're at it, can we get, you know, any data that we need for the main stoplight that we're going to stop? I've not seen the numbers on that as well. That's already done. That's great. And then um at the four-way stop at the United Community Bank and Wake and Bank,

we uh we can request that. I I do want to say that anytime we bring any of this to SC DOT, I'll be honest, it delays all of our projects, Nancy. Um so like I'll give you an example. Like we were like ready to go for, you know, talking to them about a crosswalk um beside the elementary school. we ask for further studies. That further study is going to delay that project a year. And so as much as So I I will do my best to try to, you know, to talk to them, but I guess my thing is I would like I would prefer to go to them with one project at a time to get those projects up and moving than to continually cause more things on their plate and and further delay. I also want to say that SDOT approached us about this intersection. I did not approach them. I had a we're going to start having a quarterly meeting with SD dot and when my first meeting I you know talked to them about intersections that I felt were were very important. I did not bring up um broad in mechanic street although I do know that that has been um

bad intersection.

Yeah. Been a bad intersection and they actually came [clears throat] to us and said that based on our research this is where we suggest that a allway stop should go and so this um essentially resolution would just give you know give our town staff the permission to direct that. Um, I also did, and you were in that meeting, we met with Sheriff McBride, and we asked him about four-way stops versus, um, traffic signals. And, um, uh, you know, and he did say that people are more likely to blow through stop signs than traffic signals. And so, I don't know if that maybe changes, you know, perceptions. I know it definitely kind of changed mine a little bit because I tend to actually stop at four ways. Um, but anyway, so I just wanted to kind of I guess this is an item for discussion, so I just wanted to have a discussion.

But is there a way that we could ceue up these other because when you normally when you do a traffic study, like I said, you're studying intersections, it doesn't cost that much extra time to get an additional intersection. But if South Carolina DOT is unable to manage more than one intersection at a time, which is quite startling, what's that? It's just our area is so big. like our SE dot goes all the way from is it middle middleberry or 96 all the way to us and so they just have so much going on that I think

could we explore perhaps in our budget hearings to find out what it costs to do one perhaps we could do our own traffic study and not in not um we look at considering that at least um and see what it would cost to do our own because it's typically around $15,000 an intersection to do a traffic study. And so if we can look at perhaps we do one and give the data to do DOT as a possibility for those for the other intersections. I will bring that up when we meet with SC again and see what they or or we do our own.

I just appreciate the priority that's being placed on this. We're talking about it every meeting. I saw that there was uh um the lights uh out in 187 in Vosabel. The traffic lights are up there now. I don't know how long they've been up there, but I don't know when they're going to start working either, but that is a that is a very that's a major thing. And yeah, there's a there's a lot of things that we'd like to do in regards to traffic calming in this town and the crosswalk at the elementary and that we're it's it's a priority and I appreciate that. Any further discussion? Is there a motion? I'll move. Is there a second?

Second. Uh, any further discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. [laughter] [cough] Item 9.D is the consideration of waving special event fees for the Bishop Branch Baptist Church for their vacation Bible school day camp to be held at Veterans Park this summer. This is a nonprofit community-based program that the town has partnered with in prior years. Council action would wave um applicable park rentals and special event fees in accordance with town policy. At this time, I'll open the floor for council discussions.

So, is this is this um waiting the total amount or just the fees and the special event fees?

Their request was to pay 150 total for the entire rental of the space and field use. I I just would like to discussion. I just would like to say that if we are going to continue to wave fees for nonprofits that perhaps we have a town policy to do that that allows our staff to do that. That way we're not constantly bringing this before council every time. Um so either I think we're going to start we just wave the fees and we have a policy that we wave fees for nonprofits or we don't. I think that would save I know our um our wonderful our wonderful women working up front and council some time. So just something to consider for future meetings. [cough and laughter]

Um seeing no further discussion, the action for council is the approval of the P waver request. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? Motion carries. [snorts]

Item 9. E is the consideration of awarding the bid for the town of Pendleton's branding and cultural identification project. Following a competitive process that included eight proposals and four interviews, staff recommends recommends awarding the bid by destination by design. The final negotiated cost is $38,000 which aligns with the approved budget and includes a strong emphasis on community [clears throat] engagement and transparency throughout the process. At this time, I'll open the floor for council discussion. Seeing no seeing no further discussion, the actions of our council is the approval to award the bid to designation by design. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Is there a second? A second.

Any further discussion? One just one quick thing footnote. Remember, they're going to coordinate with your decoration committee as well. Yes, they are. And Lynn is actually on that committee. Okay, perfect. Also just appreciate all the time that that committee put into that and I hope that we can uh get it to operate the way that it is saying it's going to.

Um all those in favor motion carries [clears throat] upcoming opportunities to connect. I'm just going to kind of briefly go over these, although Chief Pollson did a did a wonderful job of reminding us. On February 10th, Councilwoman Nancy Meyer is hosting a listening session along with Chief Pollson at the library from 5 to 6:00 p.m. On Thursday, February 2nd, community conversations with myself and Mayor Prom Len Merchant at the Elks Lodge from 10 to 11. On Sunday, February 15th at 3:00 will be a celebration of the Jenkins House. On Tuesday, February 24th from 6:00 to 7, the Pendleton Historic Foundation for Black History and Culture will have a program on Pendleton Trailblazers at the Pendleton Library. And on February 27th, Coffee with the Cops and Hint Hint Baby Donuts um strawberries with sprinkles, please, David. Um from 5:30 to 7 will be Coffee with the Cops at Wake from 5 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Um also, and Nancy reminded me of this today and so thank you Nancy. Um, as we head into Valentine's Day, just reminding everyone it's February 14th. Um, I want to take a moment to encourage everyone to support our local businesses. Whether it's picking up candy or chocolates or grabbing flowers or enjoying dinner right here in town, choosing local makes a difference. Our small businesses are the heart of Pendleton and days like Valentine's Day are an opportunity to celebrate the people we love while also celebrating the people who make our community so special. So, I'm asking you to celebrate your sweetheart this Valentine's Day, and I hope you'll consider doing it right here in Pendleton. Uh, we will um uh executive session. Uh, we will then consider an executive session under SD code 32-4-70A1 to discuss appointments to town boards and commissions. Call for a motion to enter executive session. I make a

motion. Second. All in favor? What should you carry?