Jim Fair
Fire Department Captains wait their turn to present the 2013 annual report to City Council Tuesday.
Jim Fair
Captain Jolene Vancil was read a proclamation by Mayor Rick Danner on her retiring from the Greer Police Department after 23 years of service.
Jim Fair
James Center spoke of long waits at railroad crossings, more noise caused by Norfolk Southern trains idling near his home and the South Carolina Port Authority allegedly reneging on landscaping plans along Moore Street.
Jim Fair
Greer Fire Department firefighters will wear this specially designed badge to commemorate its Centennial anniversary. The badge reflects 2014 and the years 1914-2014 of service to the Greer community.
Greer’s fire department was organized Nov. 1, 1914 after the city put in a citywide water system. The first fire chief of record was Mack Fowler. The first fire truck was bought in 1919.
City Council, at Tuesday’s meeting, was briefed on the fire department’s 2013 annual report and given T-shirts to commemorate the centennial anniversary.
BLOCK GRANT/HOME FUNDS APPROVED: City Council approved, 6-0 (Wayne Griffin absent), a proclamation for the allocation of $534,777 in Greenville County Community Development Block Grant and Home Funds for 2014.
COUNCIL ELIMINATES SENIOR FUNDING: Seniors felt Council’s axe for $5,300 requested by the Parks & Recreation Department for the Cannon Senior Center Program to teach piano lessons. Council approved funding last year when parks and recreation staff described how seniors were taught keyboarding through piano techniques. The funds were part of $39,000 for public service/special projects.
Council members approved verbatim, without comment, the distribution suggestions of Martin Livingston, executive director of the Greenville County Redevelopment Association. Council had the option of approving, rejecting or modifying the funds.
MORE NOISE ABOUT TRAINS AND PORT: James Center of Irving Street told council Tuesday night the Norfolk Southern trains coming into the Inland Port are longer, noisier and idling engines are causing the sound to reverberate off his house. He told council he timed one train blocking a crossing for 10 minutes.
“If Mr. Driggers (City Administrator Ed Driggers) would go down there he would find it’s not better, it’s worse,” Center said. “They were supposed to put berms up and they didn’t. All they did was plant a few trees.”
PITCHING FOR IMPROVEMENTS: Allison Ringer, who lives on Trade Street and is a member of the Trade Street Association, asked Council to consider extending sidewalks on Trade Street and adding more traffic calming.
“I’m asking for more infrastructure for our neighborhood,” Stringer said in the public forum. “We still have a lot of need for more sidewalks on Trade Street from where they stop at the 500 block. And we can use more traffic calming and more walk ability.”
RETIRING: Captain Jolene Vancil was read a proclamation on her retiring from the Greer Police Department after 23 years of service.
GRANDSON NO. 2: Greer Fire Chief Chris Harvey is celebrating being a grandfather for the second time. Jack Reed Harvey was born four weeks ago. His first grandson, James Christopher Strom, celebrates his second birthday May 1.
“Jack will carry on the Harvey dynasty. I think I will call him JR,” Harvey said, smiling widely.
NICE THREADS: City Councilwoman Judy Albert (District 6) complimented Greer Fire Captains on their dress uniforms with their spit-polished shoes. The Greer Fire Department presented its 2013 report.
SCOUTS PLEDGE: The Blue Ridge Council Boy Scouts Troop 646 led the Pledge of Allegiance to open Tuesday’s council meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Passed, 6-0, annual safety statement, first and final reading, Ordinance 4-2014.
Passed, 6-0, bloodborne pathogen standard, first and final reading, Ordinance 5-2014.