Town of Honea Path

Town Council Meeting

February 11, 2008

7:00 PM

Members present:  Mayor Meyers, William Hall, Town Administrator, Beverly Crawford, Clerk/Treasurer. Council members: Davis, Gilmer, Mattison, Taylor, and Branyon.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Meyers.  Mr. Johnny Mattison opened the meeting with prayer.

William Hall read the January 14, 2008 minutes. Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes and seconded by Mattison.  All voted in favor of the motion and the motion passed.

Mayor Meyers provided the council an update on the lights approved at the previous council meeting for Main Street.

Mayor Meyers reported on the delay of the work on Main Street streetscape project.  The contractor Earth Structures of Spartanburg, SC, has been delayed because the SC Department of Transportation did not properly design the plans for the pipe drainage on Main Street.  The Mayor stated that the work will begin soon on the project.

Rusty Burns reports on the "Paint the Town Pilot Program."  This pilot program is designed to make communities more economically competitive by improving the overall physical appearances and stabilizing neighborhood property values.  Visual impact will be enhanced by painting and making necessary repairs to facades and exteriors of at least ten low and moderate income occupied housing units within a single concentrated neighborhood.  This program is designed to be used in conjunction with volunteer labor with CDBF used for material.  Homeowners are required to assist or contribute to the improvement.  The maximum grant for the Town would be $200,000.  The Town would be required to contribute from $20,000 to $30,000 for matching support.  Councilman Davis asked William Hall to research where the Town's contribution would come from.

Rusty Burns reported on the work on the updated zoning ordinance. The plan is to update the zoning ordinance.  There will be scheduled public hearing prior to enacting changes.

Mayor Meyers reported on a $5,000 grant proposal from the State for creating bio-diesel program for the Town of Honea Path.  It is anticipated that the cost would be between 50 to 90 cents a gallon.  This compares to the current market price of diesel of $3.00 per gallon.

Mayor Meyers reported that the senior citizens have received $20,000 to upgrade their meeting place.  The funds will be given to Senior Solutions to implement the upgrade at the Watkins Center.

It was announced by Mayor Meyers that Woodland Way had been approved by the Transportation Committee to be repaved.

William Hall reviewed the budget and financial report as of January 31, 2008.  Hall reported that we are exceeding the budget in the area of gas and oil for vehicles.  Nearly all gas and oil accounts are over the budget due to the rising gas prices.  The Mayor has discussed various measures to reduce gas consumption with department heads. 

Davis asked about when the code of ordinance book for the Town of Honea Path would be updated.  Mr. Hall stated that he hoped to include funds in the new budget FY2008-09 for updating the ordinance book for the Town of Honea Path.

Mattison made a motion to adjourn and a second to the motion was made by Davis and the motion passed.

Davis made a motion to reconvene the Council meeting as it was necessary to have a executive session.  The motion was seconded by Branyon and the motion passed.

Gilmer made a motion to go back into regular session, seconded by Mattison and the motion passed.

Mattison made a motion to adjourn and a second to the motion was made by Davis and the motion passed.

Lollis Meyers, Mayor

William S. Hall, Town Administrator