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Central council approves first readings on zoning and budgets, allocates ARPA funds for planner and sidewalk study
Summary
The Central Town Council approved first readings on multiple zoning and budget ordinances, allocated $33,000 in ARPA funds to a planner and $67,000 for a sidewalk feasibility study, and adopted base-rate policy on first reading; all motions passed by voice vote.
At a meeting of the Town Council of Central, members approved first readings on zoning amendments and budget ordinances and voted to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funds for planning and a sidewalk study, officials said.
Miss Bowers, reporting for the planning committee, successfully moved to allocate $33,000 in ARPA funds to pay Michael Foreman of Conduit Planning for work on planned-unit developments. "Michael Foreman is a planner that owns Conduit Planning and he is helping us with the PUD developments," Bowers said during the discussion. Council members raised hands to approve the motion, which carried.
The council also approved a $67,000 ARPA-funded feasibility study for sidewalks on Broad Street and Gain Street, intended to evaluate whether sidewalks can be constructed, identify needed easements and whether power poles must be moved. Miss Bowers said the study would bring in an engineer, coordinate with the state Department of Transportation on any state-owned street segments and consult Duke Energy about pole relocations. She said the engineer would provide an estimate of cost and a recommendation whether to proceed to a shovel-ready project.
Councilors took first readings of ordinance 692025 to amend several zoning sections, including rules on additional dwelling units (ADUs) and limits on storage in the Main Street/Mill district. Miss Bowers explained the ADU provision and the council passed the first reading by voice vote. Later first readings covered budget ordinances (ordinance 692025BU and the recreation 50-fund ordinance 692025 RB) and a policy establishing base rate increases for sewer, industrial and water services; members approved those first readings as presented.
Finance director Mr. Peak noted a reporting error in the general fund balance that he said he would correct and resend to council members. The meeting record shows chairs and members discussed fund numbering and confirmations that the 50 fund is self-supporting.
The council moved into executive session later in the evening under South Carolina Code 30-4-70 to discuss the sale or purchase of property; the chair stated no decisions would be made during the executive session and the meeting recessed.
What's next: First readings mean ordinances return for a subsequent reading and final vote at a later meeting; staff said the sidewalk feasibility study will report back with a cost estimate and next-step recommendation.
