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City staff reports utility-billing stabilization and hurricane recovery progress; requests end to monthly recovery briefings
Summary
Administration reported the utility-billing schedule has stabilized, debris sites cleared to city satisfaction, FEMA/SEMD extension granted through Sept. 29 for overtime reimbursement, and several recovery tasks remain; staff requested the council discontinue monthly hurricane-lien updates.
City administration provided a detailed update on utility billing and hurricane recovery work during the Aug. 18 meeting, saying utility bills returned to schedule and multiple recovery projects are in final reconciliation.
"We were pretty close on the July 25 bills, but the Aug. 10 bills are the first that actually went out as they were scheduled," said Jim Clifford, city staff, reporting that the Aug. 25 billing cycle is expected to go out on time and that call volume about billing errors has decreased as cycles returned to normal.
On storm recovery, Clifford told council that all city debris sites have been cleared to staff satisfaction, most state-managed debris remains have been removed by SCDOT, and the city obtained a FEMA and State Emergency Management Division (SEMD) extension through Sept. 29 allowing overtime reimbursement for residual cleanup work. Clifford noted work remaining includes cleanup of stumps and some contractor reconciliation for invoices from firms such as Tetra Tech and Southern Disaster Recovery; reconciliation of contractor billing may continue for 60 days or longer.
Clifford said the city was not eligible for FEMA reimbursement for the Country Club Tennis Building because it was not in active use at the time of the storm, and that demolition of a pavilion at Modern Field remains delayed because electrical work must be relocated before removal. He also described ongoing NRCS-funded remediation work (a zero-match federal grant) that includes engineering work at Fleming Riverwalk Apartments and other pond maintenance projects expected to continue for several months.
Clifford said staff is also coordinating with telecommunications providers to address hanging or damaged cables; the city identified a cable in front of Liquor Inn as belonging to Segra (telecommunications firm) and expected corrective work in the coming weeks. He reported public-works crews are restoring the upper parking area at the soccer complex previously used for debris staging and confirmed the demolition contractor for the Country Club Tennis Building and final fencing work are finishing.
Finally, Clifford asked council for the discretion to discontinue monthly hurricane-lien updates, saying the operation is no longer highly visible though work continues in the background. He said he was "accountable" to council for financial reconciliation but believed the monthly briefings were no longer necessary; council members did not object during the meeting and offered thanks for staff work.
Staff provided several operational notes for residents, including that the city is testing hydrants and customers may see temporary yellow or discolored water during the flushing process, that brickpond boardwalk has structural damage and will be closed until further notice, and that demolition and other recovery tasks will continue in the background. Clifford asked staff to follow up with council if outstanding reimbursement or contract reconciliation items require additional action.
