Council authorizes RFP for contentious fire gate after residents speak in opposition; vote 6–1

Greenville City Council voted 6–1 to authorize the city manager to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to obtain cost estimates for a fire gate at the Shelton Hem/Cheltenham connection after staff said prior estimates exceeded the manager's purchasing authority.

City staff (S3) explained earlier council action placed a requirement for a gate and that updated cost estimates put the gate above the manager's $50,000 authority, so an RFP was needed. "Based on the estimates we received, more than 50,000," staff said, explaining the RFP is intended to seek competitive pricing.

Several residents opposed moving forward. Jimmy Hamilton (S18), who lives on Regent Lane, said losing the Cheltenham connection would remove an important alternate route and noted flooding and narrow alternative roads: "If I'm out and about over the next couple of days and especially at night ... I will use Cheltenham provided there is no gate keeping me..." Howard Wines (S19) described the Cheltenham route as a safer alternate path than Old Mill Road and said he had changed his view since the original debate. Council members debated precedent, neighborhood access and legal exposure; councilman/members who supported issuing the RFP said they wanted to honor prior commitments and obtain cost estimates before making a final decision. The motion authorizing issuance of an RFP passed 6–1.

Why it matters: the decision restarts a contentious neighborhood infrastructure question that affects access and emergency response options; authorizing an RFP does not itself build the gate, but it begins a procurement step that will return cost estimates for council consideration.