NEWBERRY — Newberry County Council has approved first reading of an ordinance for a fee-in-lieu of taxes and incentive agreement with Samsung.
According to County Administrator Wayne Adams, the ordinance will provide the following incentives: fee-in-lieu of taxes, a 30-year fee agreement with a fixed millage rate and four percent assessment ratio; infrastructure credit, property taxes capped at $1 million per year for years one through 10, 70 percent credit (discount from fee stream) for years 11 through 30; county grant of $3.5 million to purchase, up-fit, and perform site work on property for the project; lease so Newberry County can acquire property for the project and lease it to Samsung until Samsung has invested $30 million to up-fit the building.
Council approved first reading after Councilwoman Harriett Rucker made a motion and Councilman Travis Reeder seconded.
Council also approved first reading of an ordinance to acquire the Caterpillar building, as it relates to the above incentive.
“The ordinance authorizes the county to acquire the Caterpillar building and contiguous property for use by Samsung and related parties, and to lease such properties to the company or companies as necessary,” Adams said.
Council approved the first reading after Reeder made a motion and Councilman Steve Stockman seconded..
In other business, Council approved giving $1,500 for the Community Christmas tree and other Downtown decorations.
Anne Smith, who is volunteering with the Community Christmas Tree, discussed the importance of the decorations.
“Since 2012 Newberry has been decorated with upgraded lights and Christmas displays thanks to the donations and support from our local businesses, families and local government. We are grateful for fundraising volunteers who have been able to continue to improve the look of Downtown through the addition of commercial grade garland, wreaths, LED fixtures, faux snow machines (and the fluid for the faux snow), Christmas ornament sculptures and last year’s addition of the lighted garland around Main Street,” Smith said. “I am so proud of Newberry and how we have seen the continuity and and excitement build, I know personally I have children, 10 year old twins, we start talking about Christmas in October, after Oktoberfest. It is a thrill, the lighting of the Christmas tree starts us off, the snow is so special to them.”
According to Smith the decorations are not only enjoyed by our locals, but also the tourists that they attract. She said that in 2016 the Christmas tree lighting saw over 1,000 spectators and the events that followed saw hundreds of visitors.
“That was boosting our local economy by bringing local shoppers, diners and more,” Smith said. “For 2017 we plan to provide the same quality decorations to the community with a few additions. The biggest addition is the 500 pound, 20 plus foot community Christmas tree. In addition we are going to add more garland on Main Street. In addition to that we are also going to recognize the people who give $1,000 and up. What we did in the past is put the names of all the donors on the Christmas presents under the tree. This year we are going to take the donors names, and on the 12 Christmas trees that line Memorial Park, there is going to be a bow with their company name going down.”
Smith requested that the County sponsor the Community Christmas tree at the $1,500 level. In the past the county has given $1,000 but this year it is being requested that donors increase their donations.
“We asked everybody to increase their donations because we want to make sure the burden is not on the City. We want to make sure we raise enough money to make it easy for everybody. To date we are at about $8,600. We are looking to surpass our goal of $15,000,” Smith said.
Councilman Kirksey Koon said that if the money the county would give came from the Hospitality Tax, he would not have any problems with giving the money for the decorations. However, he feels that property tax money should not be spent in this manner.
Council approved giving the funds for the decorations by a 6-1 vote, with Koon voting against, after Rucker made a motion and Reeder seconded.
Other business
• Council approved second reading of an ordinance to rezone 7.02 acres designated from Single Family Residential to Rural. The purpose is to allow horses outright.
• Council approved second reading of an ordinance to rezone one acre designated General Commercial to Single Family Residential,. This would allow the property to continue to be used for residential purposes.