March 18, 2024
Executive Director Jessica Holcomb of the Newberry Housing Authority provided Newberry City Council with an update Tuesday night.
Holcomb shared that the housing authority was established by city council on October 17, 1968 and is run by a board of directors that is appointed by council. Currently, they serve over 606 families in Newberry County.
The mission statement of the Newberry Housing Authority is to ensure safe, decent and affordable housing; create opportunities for residents’ self-sufficiency and economic independence; and assure fiscal integrity by all program participants.
Holcolmb shared changes to the housing authority such as their recent rebranding with a new logo, a new website, and new standardized hours.
Old Business
Under old business, council passed second and final reading of an ordinance to establish an economic development incentive program. Interim City Manager Ed Driggers asked council’s consideration for an amendment on second reading suggesting that in section 4-104.05 to add language that says “a fee equal to current planning and development application fees shall be required for final certification for each application.”
Driggers said this was in line with what we currently charge with our other application fees, with the amount being $65. While this fee may change from time to time, Driggers proposed to council that it remain in line with the standard planning and development application fees.
Motion to approve second reading with the amendment was made by Councilperson Lemont Glasgow and seconded by Councilperson Carlton Kinard. The ordinance would take effect immediately.
At last month’s meeting, the following information on the program was presented.
This ordinance enacts an economic development tool available to cities – a special property tax assessment commonly referred to as the Bailey Bill. Enacted in 1992, the Bailey Bill allows local governments to offer a property tax abatement to encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties.
For a period of no more than 20 years, the local government can lock in a special property tax assessment based on the property’s fair market value prior to rehabilitation. This allows the property owner to avoid local property tax payments on the increased value resulting from eligible renovations. The abated value is the difference between the fair market value of the building at the start of renovation and the fair market value of the building after renovation.
In order to be eligible for the special tax assessment, historic properties must receive preliminary certification by city council and final certification from the city’s Planning and Development department and city council.
Historic designation is made based on one or more of the following:
- The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places;
- The property is designated as an historic property by the City Council and is at least 50 years old, or
- The property is at least 50 years old and is located in a historic district designated by the city within the geographical area of the city.
The property’s owner must meet minimum expenditures when rehabilitating the building, with expenditures for rehabilitation exceeding 75% of the fair market value of an owner-occupied building or 50% of the fair market value of an income producing building prior to such rehabilitation. “Fair Market Value” means the appraised value certified to the city by a real estate appraiser licensed by the state of South Carolina or the most recent appraised value published by the Newberry County Tax Assessor.
New Business
Under new business, one appointment was made to the Newberry Housing Authority Board. Motion was made by Councilperson Edwin Wicker and seconded by Glasgow to appoint Alan Davis to the board.
Wicker then made a motion to appoint David Coffman and Beverly Leslie to three-year terms and to reappoint Wanda Crotwell and Christie Gardner to two-year terms to the Miss Newberry Scholarship Board. The motion was seconded by Kinard.
“They do a super job and we’re happy to appoint those folks,” Mayor Foster Senn said.
Council then passed a resolution designating the month of April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Newberry. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David Force.
Senn read the resolution for those in attendance.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Wicker provided an update to council on the US EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant.
Through December 31, 2023, Wicker said their task force had completed 10 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) through this grant.
“Through that we have identified four properties that warranted further discovery,” he said.
In February, an ESA Phase 2 assessment was conducted at 1327 Caldwell Street and Wicker said the report should be available soon and posted on the city’s website.
Wicker said they currently had site specific quality assurance project plans for 1302 College Street and 1107/1119 Harrington Street.
The next public task force meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m. Wicker said he was currently working on establishing a location that would be distributed through the city’s website and other channels as well.
Council then voted on several residency requirements for city employees. Senn shared that at council’s recent retreat in January, the topic of updating residency requirements for employees was brought up as different positions currently required those employees to live within a range of their work location and/or within the city limits.
“I think some of these things were put in with the mindset that we didn’t have the communications and mobility that we have now,” Senn said.”
Motion was made by Senn and seconded by Kinard to amend section 18.4 of the employee guidelines removing the requirements of specific positions/departmental employees to live within a 20-minute radius of their primary work location.
The next motion related to departmental leadership positions within the city. Senn said he didn’t feel the city should tie their hands if they had good employees that wanted to live on a farm, out in the country or on family land.
“It’s hard to make that decision for them,” he said.
Senn made a motion to amend section 18.4 of the employee guidelines removing the requirements for those positions to live within the city limits. The motion was seconded by Holmes. Councilpersons Kinard, Glasgow and David DuBose opposed the motion.
Finally, the discussion was held as to potentially allowing the city manager to reside within Newberry County, rather than restricting the position to the city limits. Senn said that he felt a leader could live within the county and still be a leader to the city as well as being involved in the city. Driggers also said he felt this was something that may come up with applicants for the position.
Senn made a motion to allow the city manager position to reside within Newberry County, with a second by Wicker. Councilpersons Glasgow, Kinard, DuBose and Holmes opposed the motion. The motion failed.
Interim City Manager’s Report
In his report to council, Driggers highlighted several topics discussed at an earlier meeting with city staff including making sure the city’s police department was prepared with the recent legislation in South Carolina on the open carrying of a firearm.
In regard to the city manager’s search, Driggers said advertising for the position had been closed on Sunday, March 10. However, the position is still open until filled.
Driggers said they had received very qualified applicants, with 28 being in the applicant pool.
“Of those [applicants], they come from 10 states so it’s a true national search for us,” he said. “The majority are from South Carolina.”
Each of the applicants possesses a bachelor’s degree, with 24 of the 28 applicants possessing a master’s degree or higher.
City Council will gather on March 25 in executive session to discuss applications and finalists will be identified and interviewed. The goal, Driggers said would be to welcome a new person on or before July 1 of this year.
Newberry City Council will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
