WHITMIRE — Mayor Billy Hollingsworth updated Whitmire Town Council on issues with the river pump system in town along with a Town Hall renovation update during Monday night’s meeting.

The town is currently running on fire trucks pumping water to the filter plant due to issues with the diesel pump. Hollingsworth said it is costing the town more money than they would like, but a new pump has been ordered.

“We’re just waiting on parts to put it back together on that system, we’re in no danger of anything, we’re just running off of a diesel instead of our regular system,” he said.

He also added the town should know something within the next 7-10 days on the loan application for $250,000 that has been submitted. In addition to the loan application, Hollingsworth said representatives will be at next month’s meeting on March 11 to give an update on Town Hall renovations.

In other business, Christianna Gilliam with the Whitmire Jaycees spoke before Council to discuss the possibility of moving the Party in the Pines stage and selling beer during the festival, which will be held June 6-8.

Gilliam said they are looking to block off the street at Market Street almost in front of the bank to allow a better flow throughout the festival. Another idea the Jaycees were considering was moving the stage into the bank parking lot.

Gilliam also inquired about having a power box put up, possibly constructing one if Council approved the moving of the stage and selling of beer during the festival. Gilliam said the cutoff for beer would be at Town Hall where no beverages would be allowed past that point.

Hollingsworth said the town will have to look into the legalities of overriding the open container law in town to allow beer for that Friday and Saturday. He advised Council to think about Gilliam’s requests and a decision will be made at next month’s meeting, they said.

In financial reports for the month, the Town of Whitmire had a beginning balance of $15,000.80, deposits $93,789.71 and expenditures of $82,200.80 for an ending balance of $26,589.71.

“As of the end of January, we’ve taken in 46 percent of the budget and spent 69 percent of the budget, 11 percent over at this point,” Hollingsworth said. “Nine of that is insurance, retirement and taxes. I do not know if I misbudgeted, or if it’s went up that much to be that high.”

On the public works side, the town had a beginning balance of $55,606.09, revenue $66,245.76 and expenditures of $96,054.71 for an ending balance of $25,797.14.

“We should be around 58 percent of the budget, we took in 57 percent and spent 60 percent, three percent over at the end of January,” Hollingsworth said.

Other business:

• Officer David Lawson reported the Whitmire Police Department filed 117 incidents for the month of January along with 124 citations. Some of the department’s calls included: Domestic violence, burglary, theft of motor vehicle, marijuana and breach of trust motor vehicle. Four traffic collisions were investigated.

• The Whitmire Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt will be held on April 13 at Heritage Park at 3 p.m.

• A motion was made by Councilman Michael Thomas and seconded by Councilman Galen Roche to approve the Law Enforcement Assistance and Support Agreement with Prosperity.

• A motion was made by Thomas and seconded by Councilman Dwight Lane to allow Thomas to proceed with any testing (soil testing, mapping, etc.) that needs to be done on the golf course. Last month discussion was brought up to put the golf course on the market — not to sell it — but see if there is an interest from anybody.

Hollingsworth
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Hollingsworth2018.jpgHollingsworth

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@championcarolinas.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.