Mount Pleasant council approves transmission‑line engineering PO, orders subdivision lighting and repasses parade ordinance; changes Friday hours

Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant City Council on Aug. 25 approved several administrative items including a $385,000 requisition to an engineering firm for the Fairview–Mount Pleasant transmission line project, authorized purchase of 13 street/park light poles and repassed an ordinance regulating parade seating and use of public property. Council members also voted to change city hall Friday hours to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting in September.

The council said the $385,000 requisition (PO 80820251252) to TRC will be paid from a larger federal grant established for the transmission‑line project; the council packet lists a grant balance cited in discussion as approximately $1.19 million. Councilmembers said TRC will break engineering billing out so partner jurisdictions can pay their proportional shares as the project proceeds.

Councilmembers said the transmission project aims to add a substation site north of town, near the cement plant, to relieve loading on the city’s North Loop and to enable service to developing Westfield areas. The packet and discussion said construction could begin in early 2027, with an expectation that materials must meet the grant’s American‑made requirements. The council approved the TRC requisition by roll call.

Also approved was requisition 80820251229 to Westco for 13 light poles and accessories for $17,348.37. Council discussion said the poles will serve a subdivision and park, and that the power department is advancing the purchase from its budget with the intent to seek reimbursement or budget replenishment later.

The council repassed Mount Pleasant City Ordinance 2025‑7 (a renumbering of a previously adopted parade ordinance) to regulate parade seating, parking and use of public property before the Hub City Day Parade; members said the text is unchanged and only the ordinance number was corrected.

On administrative items, the council approved the invoice register and transaction register and approved minutes from July meetings as presented.

Votes at a glance

- Approve invoice register (07/19/2025–08/08/2025) — Motion moved by Paul; second noted in the record; roll call recorded multiple yes votes and motion carried. Amount cited in the packet: $753,546.21 (packet shows a range of invoicing dates and amounts; clerk record used $753,546.21).

- Requisition 80820251229 to Westco — 13 light poles — $17,348.37 — Motion by Rodney; second by Paul; roll call recorded as yes votes and motion carried.

- Requisition 80820251252 to TRC — engineering services for transmission line — $385,000 (to be charged against a ~ $1.19M grant) — Motion by Bull; second by Ronnie; roll call recorded as yes votes and motion carried.

- Repass Ordinance 2025‑7 (renumbering; no text changes) — Motion moved and seconded; roll call recorded yes votes and ordinance repassed.

- Change city hall Friday hours to 9 a.m.–1 p.m., starting in September — Motion by Paul; second by Vole; council voted in favor; implementation to start the first Friday in September.

Why it matters

The TRC requisition advances engineering work on a federally funded transmission‑line project the city says is intended to relieve load on the existing loop and to enable expanded service to Westfield areas; that work establishes schedules and procurement constraints (including American‑made material requirements) that will shape the project timetable. The light‑pole purchase reflects local prioritization of neighborhood/park lighting and a temporary use of power‑department funds to secure grant timing. The Friday hours change is an operational change affecting when residents can meet staff in person.

Background and details

Council discussion of the TRC requisition described a kickoff meeting held recently and an aggressive schedule that anticipates construction in January–February 2027, with an allowable project window extending to December 2028. TRC staff, the council said, agreed to break the engineering scope so partner jurisdictions pay their shares (discussion cited an approximate 60/40 split between Fairview and Mount Pleasant for engineering fees).

During the light‑pole discussion, council members noted one pole in the subdivision had been previously damaged and expected insurance reimbursement; councilmembers asked staff to work with the finance department about how to replenish the power department budget after the poles are purchased.

The ordinance repass simply corrected a duplicate ordinance number in the codification process; no text changes were discussed.

Implementation items and follow‑up

Council directed staff to track grant GL numbers for the transmission line separately and to bill partner jurisdictions their shares as engineering work progresses. Staff was instructed to notify the council about major schedule shifts or upcoming outages related to the transmission work. For the light poles, staff said they will follow up with the finance department on reimbursement strategy.

Ending

Councilmembers said they want transparency on federal grant spending and will receive periodic updates as the transmission project advances. The council did not set a separate public hearing for the transmission engineering PO; the requisition was approved as a consent/regular meeting item.