Laurie Campbell, Events Supervisor, and council members discussed leasing each component (event hall, gazebo and amphitheater) of the park or its entirety that includes all the venues excluding the McKown Center. Council did not discuss the actual fee schedule and there were no public or businesses speaking for or against the fees.
The amended fee schedule includes higher refundable security/damage deposits, general event staff fee ($25/hour with two hour minimum) and non-profits will be required to offer proof of their status.
The McKown Center, undergoing its punch list, is scheduled for 4-hour block rentals on weekdays at $280 and $350 on weekends. The fee for 12-hour block rentals is $950 weekdays and $1,000 weekends. Non-resident and non-profit fees differ. The refundable security deposit is $250 or $350 when cooking on site. Classroom fees are $70 per 2-hour block.
• Mayor Rick Danner and council recognized employees’ anniversaries with a proclamation and a personal day off. They were:
Cathy Mayer, 5 years, police dispatch
Carlos Cortes-Arias, 5 years, fire department
David Lister, 5 years, fire department
Travis Stamey, 15 years, police department
Jim Williams, 15 years, police department
Billy Campbell 25 years, fire department
• Council amended the text of an ordinance relating to the limitation of the exemption from business license taxes for certain charitable organizations.
• Approved first reading, 7-0, for the annexation of property owned by Russ Braasch at 213 Vaughn Road to establish a zoning classification of R-12 (residential single family). The 16.74 acres are not zoned in Spartanburg County. The land is planned for residential homes near Dillard Creek Crossing.
• Approved 6-0 (Jay Arrowood recused himself) first reading of ordinance for property owned by Joy and Don Foster at Palmer Street from RM-1 (residential, multi-family) to C-2 (commercial). A third storage building is planned.
• Approved 7-0 first reading amending a city of Greer zoning ordinance to permit by special exception an amendment to allow a columbarium in the C-1, Central Business District. City Administrator Ed Driggers identified the property as First Presbyterian Church. A columbarium is a wall or other structure with recesses for urns of ashes of the dead. Driggers said, “It is not permitted in the business district but it wasn’t disallowed.”
• Approved 7-0 first reading of an ordinance to be amended between the City of Greer and the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority. Specifically the Greer Commission of Public Works (CPW) is eligible to receive 50 percent of its reserve fund back for debt service by the state agency. New legislation, based on credit ratings of which CPW qualifies, requires less reserve than past years.