WHITMIRE — After being tabled for three months, Whitmire Town Council re-opened the floor for discussion in regards to the Whitmire Golf Course.
“We have found out since that time we can certainly list the property as available and a grant will be available as early as next year to do the soil survey which would be no cost to us,” said Mayor Billy Hollingsworth. “It’s probably the most valuable asset we have to us for the golfing community, children and anyone who wants to play.”
County Councilman Scott Cain came before Council and said he believed the property was already listed as available.
“The more due diligence we can do on the property, the better it is. I think it would be advantageous to put it on the list and then put in for the grant to do the soil samples — it doesn’t stop the utilization of it or change anything until somebody buys it. I don’t see any downside to doing it except the money factor — and if we can get the grant it’ll be spring of next year to do some of the soil samples,” he said.
A motion was made by Councilman Michael Thomas to move forward with the soil testing ($3,200 – lowest bid). No one gave a second on the motion, thus it did not pass.
In other business, Barbara Miller, business consultant with the Small Business Development Center, approached Council to let them know of upcoming workshops she will be holding.
“Most of what I do is business consulting free of charge, one-on-one, totally confidential with folks who either want to start a small business, have a small business that isn’t doing as well as they’d like, a business that’s doing really well and they want to expand, or a business they might want to sell or close,” Miller said.
Miller will be offering the following workshops:
• October 31 from 8-9 a.m. “Coffee and Conversation” at her building on the Newberry College campus.
• November 13 from 9-10:30 a.m. “Minority Certifications.”
Other business:
• Prior to the Council Meeting, newly elected Councilman Marty McMurtury was sworn in by Town Clerk/Treasurer Carla Taylor. McMurtury is filling the vacant Council seat previously held by Jimmy Dunaway.
• A motion was made by Councilman Michael Thomas and seconded by Councilwoman Debbie Harris to approve the second reading of the backflow and cross connections ordinance.
• The Town of Whitmire had a beginning balance of $5,924.04, deposits $51,107.56 and expenditures $46,766.70 for an ending balance of $10,264.90. On the Public Works side, the town had a beginning balance of $80,128.33, revenue $71,245.72 and expenditures of $68,816.49 for an ending balance of $82,557.56.
• Police Chief Jeremiah Sinclair reported 79 incidents were filed for the month of September and 63 citations were issued. Some of the department’s calls included: domestic violence, possession of meth, larceny, possession of marijuana, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. The department investigated four traffic collisions.