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New Ellenton council hears community services updates; charter school application filed and new businesses nearing openings
Summary
Council received updates from Christ Central and city staff about volunteer services, youth sports, a submitted charter-school application, and upcoming business openings including Smoothie Group and Ringing Outdoors. The city also plans to add a full-time city administrator next month.
Several community and economic-development updates featured in the meeting as staff and community partners described volunteer services, seasonal programs and business activity.
Tina Thomas, assistant director at Christ Central, told council the organization will host a life-skills coaching class this Saturday with Dr. Melinda Wright; the group also plans a senior day featuring food boxes and wellness classes and reported serving more than 200 people at a recent feeding event. Christ Central said it received a Golden Harvest grant to update cold-storage units and will pause clothing donations while its closet reaches capacity.
City staff reported business openings and website work. Edith Ogletree, owner of Smoothie Group, was reported as preparing for a final inspection with a tentative opening date of March 5; staff said they will coordinate a grand-opening ceremony. Additional new businesses noted by council include Ringing Outdoors, a sporting goods store, and Nuclear City Nutrition. A local bank branch and an O’Reilly auto parts location also are moving forward on site work and build-outs.
The council also heard from recreation staff that youth baseball and softball programs are under way with two T-ball teams and volunteer needs for concession stands; upgrades at the ball field include repaired water fountains and planned fencing replacements. Superior quoted faster completion if a down payment and contract are in place; the council later approved a separate Evans Park fencing motion (see article on that vote).
Mayor and staff announced that the Hope Charter School application was submitted to the state and is under review by a charter authorizer; the proposed first-year grades would be kindergarten through second grade with plans to add grades in subsequent years. The council said the initial campus would be in space next to Price Central and that charter approval is a multi-step process that may take months.
Council members also recognized outgoing city administrator Kenny and announced a new full-time city administrator will begin next month to oversee day-to-day operations, grants and other administrative functions.
No formal council action was required for these updates; council accepted reports and directed staff to continue coordinating volunteer support, business openings and charter approval steps.
