By Betsy Finklea
The BAR appeared before council and several other matters were discussed at the Dillon City Council’s February meeting.
Mayor’s Report
In the Mayor’s report, Mayor Todd Davis said he had someone inquire about tennis courts in the city. He asked if they had the same agreement with the school, and it was noted that they did. The tennis courts at the school are currently offline due to construction.
Davis said he would be accepting an award from the S.C. Department of Special Needs. The city is the co-winner of the Palmetto Award for their recycling partnership with the Marion-Dillon County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs.
The mayor referred to his recent “State of the City” address in The Dillon Herald and said that the city was probably in the best financial shape it had been during his tenure.
Davis said an article in The State newspaper about another wellness center reminded him of the City of Dillon Wellness Center. He said it can’t be run as a business. He said the Wellness Center is run for the public good and he thinks the people understand and are proud of what they have. He said he didn’t think they would ever see the Wellness Center run in the black.
City Manager’s Report
In the City Manager’s report, City Manager Glen Wagner said the recent Father-Daughter Dance had over 400 people in attendance. He said he had inquiries about a mother-son dance.
He said the work was completed at the lift station at Commerce Drive, but there were still issues.
Wagner said they got bids for a bucket truck. The winning bid was $120,256. The council approved a motion to buy the truck. The funds will come from the depreciation fund and will be repaid with interest.
Wagner attended a conference for Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball. He said at request, the city will host a 15 and under state championship. This will be one age group with a maximum of eight teams.
BAR
Members of the Dillon BAR (Board of Architectural Review) were present to let the council know how they felt about the demolition of the Dilmar properties, which were donated to the city. This includes the old Belk building. Jean Berry, a board member, said they were trying to preserve what the city has and hates to see the buildings torn down. It will leave the whole block empty. This will create a vacant space from Main Street to Hampton Street.
Councilman John Braddy said this was not an arbitrary decision of council. He said they request several RFPs (Requests for Proposal), had met with numerous individuals, and tried to come up with ideas of what to do with the buildings.
He said the buildings are in such bad repair that it would be hard to preserve them.
Mayor Davis said there had been interest in the lots. He said some of those interested didn’t know what they were getting into from a demolition standpoint. Braddy said he agreed that the unknowns of the environmental effects and the unknowns of the demolition could deter interested parties.
Braddy said this wouldn’t just be left. The city will do things to make it look nice including creating green spaces and/or parking spaces until a building goes up in keeping with the historic district.
Davis said since the article in The Dillon Herald, he got a call from an existing business who asked to be kept in mind for the corner lot.
Braddy said the decision was not being made lightly to tear the building down, but he didn’t see an alternative at this point.
Berry said she felt better having talked with the council about the issue. The demolition of the buildings will require another vote of BAR.
Citizens’ Report
In the citizens’ report, Mike Bowers complained about the red tape that he has to go through with BAR to get the smallest of jobs.
He said he understands that are rules to go by, but that common sense needed to be applied. Braddy expressed his views that the process must be user friendly and to keep it from being a cumbersome process for citizens. Discussion followed.
Ordinances and Resolutions
The council approved the following ordinances and resolutions:
-Ordinance #12-01: To allow bedroom additions in Historic Overlay District (Bed & Breakfast Inns and Group Homes)
-Ordinance #12-02: Annex Joseph and Teresa Pernell Property (1223 Tyler Road)
-Resolution #01-12: Adopting a Personnel Handbook
-Resolution #02-12: Adopting MASC Legislative Agenda
