Council OK’s $1.2 Million Budget

BLYTHEWOOD – At its regular Monday night meeting, Town Council passed an administrative ordinance to adopt a $1.2 million budget for the Town for the fiscal year 2013-14 that includes an Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of maintaining the Doko Manor. Council also passed a laundry list of final readings including zoning and annexation of Dusty Broom’s 11.43 property on Blythewood Road close to the intersection of Fulmer Road. Council voted to change the zoning from Rural to Community Commercial zoning. Council also finalized an administrative ordinance amending residential and commercial building and inspection fees in the town and an ordinance establishing a schedule of fees for development permits and related reviews, zoning map amendments, proceedings before the boards of Zoning Appeals and Architectural Review, and providing for other permit fees.

Mayor J. Michael Ross announced that the Town Hall has posted new hours and will now be open from 8 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We have a full staff now — five full-time office employees and one part time,” Ross said, “so I think this is one way we can better accommodate the public.”

Ross also announced that staff members would now be available to assist the Town’s various volunteer committees like the ball field committee, the park committee and others.

Town Administrator John Perry reported that the I-77 landscape work at Exit 27 is nearing completion and that the several dead trees among the new plantings will be replaced by the landscape contractor in the fall. He said the landscape company who did the work is under the direction of the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT), which has assured the Town that the work will be completed satisfactorily. Perry also announced that, starting next week, SCDOT will begin maintaining and mowing the grass on a 6-mile expanse along I-77. He also reported that the Town is in contract negotiations for the completion of the playground in the park and that he hopes the work will be finished by the end of the summer.

Council voted to go into executive session to discuss “matters relating to the proposed location, expansion or the provision of services encouraging location of expansion of industries or other business in the area served by the public body.” No action was taken.

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