Arkwright closing moves ahead

By Charles Sowell  

JUNE 23, 2011 10:32 a.m. (0)

The last piece in the Arkwright Dump closing puzzle will cost the City of Spartanburg $22,000 and require condemnation proceedings.

The council recently voted to start the condemnation of 6.79 acres owned by VigIndustries that was once part of the IMC Fertilizer Plant. The land will be used as a buffer to help ensure the clay cap planned for the dump will be effective.

City Manager Ed Memmott told council he had hoped to avoid condemnation but the owner of the property had fears about potential liability issues forcing the city’s hand. Staff is of the opinion that the city is the only responsible party in the eyes of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Without discussion, council approved a $32.7 million 2011-2012 budget that includes no new taxes and not pay raises for city employees.

The budget is about one percent less than the current $33.1 million budget. Including enterprise, special revenue and debt service funds, the total buffet is $47.6 million.

Council voted to spend  $582,402 for a fire engine made by Pierce Manufacturing. The new engine will be financed through the equipment replacement fund. The old fire engine will likely be sold to another city or town.

On a unanimous vote, council committed the city to spend  $850,996 to upgrade 37 fire agencies to meet federal narrowband requirements. The money is part of a joint upgrade agreement with fire departments around the county as part of a regional radio narrowband radio system. The contract went to the Communication Service Center, Inc. of Greenville.

The Department of Homeland Security will provide about 80 percent of the cost through a grant and the Spartanburg County Fire Protection and Prevention Board will provide the rest.

Council voted to hire Associate Municipal Court Judge Erika McJimpsey as the full-time city judge after an executive session. Memmott will negotiate the terms of the agreement.  McJimpsey is expected to serve a two-year term and earn $84,000 a year.

Chief Municipal Judge Janel Newel is resigning at the end of June.

Council voted to require Fairway Outdoor Advertising and other companies to appear before council if they want to negotiate similar agreements to the one being drafted now with Fairway to remove three billboards in exchange for a digital sign at the intersection of North Pine Street and Garner Road.

Spartanburg Housing Authority Executive Director Harry Byrd told council the agency has paid back about half of the $1.4 million in federal development funds that were used for other projects.

The rest of the money will be repaid in $20,000 monthly installments during three years.