Local Radar

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No town property taxes for Town of Edgefield residents again in 2008

web posted April 3, 2007
EDGEFIELD – The residents of the Town of Edgefield will not have property taxes assessed by the town again this coming year Mayor Ken Durham announced at Monday night’s town council meeting. The budget presented Monday has very little in contingency funds allotted, “but it is balanced”, Mayor Durham said adding that it carried a “4% across the board pay raise” for town employees.

Mayor Durham said the town has received several requests for organizations “like the Civic League” requesting additional funds in this year’s budget but he did not support the increase in funds made available. “We depend on the Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for a good portion of our money,” Mayor Durham said and as a result the town will not know how much the amount will be until June or July. “It’s just not a smart move to spend money you don’t have.”

After the amount of SPLOST funds is known Mayor Durham said the town could go back and address requests for additional funding, such as the Civic League, which the mayor mentioned several times.

The spending increased 14% and was due to fuel, insurance, utility, and other operating costs increasing. Cuts were made to offest those costs and the actual budget increased just under $5,000 over last year. The budget was presented as information and the first reading will be held at the May monthly meeting.

In other business the town council approved letters of request as follows:

A request from the Edgefield Sons of Confederate Veterans to place a wreath and one small flag on the Town Square on May 10 in honor of Confederate Memorial Day and the Edgefield County Emergency Medical Services request to use the Soccer Field for EMS Appreciation Day on May 26.

Two resolutions were also passed recognizing April as Fair Housing Month and proclaiming ETV Day in the Town of Edgefield on May 18.

Under the Administrator’s Report Olin Gambrell told the council that the Shanks Project was completed in March and a new application for a $850,000 grant was being sought to upgrade sewer lines in the town. The CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) on Macedonia Street currently has two houses being worked on and another is being placed out for bid and another house destined for demolition.

Mr. Gambrell also informed the mayor and council that he received an email on Monday the states were being asked to return $34.7 billion dollars in Transportation funds which were designated for Parks Recreation and Tourism (PRT) grants offered by the states. These funds are sought for walking trails by the town. Mr. Gambrell said he understood that the recall of the funding would not affect current applications or grants already in the works.

Under New Business Town Councilman Bill Jackson brought up and issue of people making a left turn onto Main Street (US 25) from the town square. He said that due to the increase in traffic a motorist attempting to make the turn would back up traffic around the square all the way to Penn Street. He suggested a sign be placed at the location during certain hours or events such as General Sessions Court being held.

The matter was taken in for consideration. With no other business the meeting was adjourned.

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