NEWBERRY — Newberry City Council recognized two employees for having reached career benchmarks at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
First up was Don Hurst, a native of Whitmire who has been with the city for 10 consecutive years.
“Don has actually been with us a little longer than that but back a few years ago he retired to paradise in the Caribbean and he found out after about a year down there making a whole lot of money and getting suntanned that paradise was in Newberry County so he came back and we’re delighted to have him back,” City Manager Al Harvey said.
Mayor Foster Senn added: “You can take the boy out of Whitmire but you can’t take the Whitmire out of the boy.”
Beginning his career in 1988 as an electrical lineman trainee, Hurst became a full electrical lineman a few years later and has since held numerous positions currently serving as the city’s special projects manager.
“He’s probably one of the most qualified inspectors and managers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Harvey said.
Hurst is presently overseeing roughly $38 million in upcoming and ongoing city construction projects.
Second was Kyle Vaughn, who reached the two-decade mark with the fire department after beginning his career in 1996.
In a addition to being employed as a captain with the city’s department Vaughn also serves as chief of Prosperity’s volunteer fire station.
Vaughn is also a fire marshal and investigator and was named Newberry’s Firefighter of the Year in 2008.
Under old business the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget was amended to allow the $800,000 generated by a multi-county industrial park agreement to be used for the construction of the Oakland Tennis Complex.
The money was received several months prior and was held in a special fund requiring the council to adopt an ordinance in order for the funds to be expended.
A motion was made by Councilman Edwin Wicker and seconded by Councilman David DuBose with all voting in favor.
Also under old business the council presented the second reading of an ordinance to rezone eight parcels of land on Radio Street from R-8 Residential to R-6 Residential.
The R-6 designation allows for one and two family dwellings to be placed on parcels with a minimum of 6,000 sq. ft. and three and four family dwellings on plots of at least 7,000 sq. ft.
Mayor Senn explained that resident Bobby Smith, along with an investor, desire to erect duplex-like structures for rental purposes.
Following Smith’s petition to the city a forum was conducted at last month’s council meeting with no one present in opposition to the rezoning.
A motion was made by Councilman Thomas Boyd and seconded by Councilman Wicker followed by a unanimous vote.
Many local governments across the state, Newberry now included, have adopted a resolution declaring May 21 to be the South Carolina Day of Service.
“While 2015 was a year of unparalleled tragedies and other difficult challenges in South Carolina, the compassion, faith and courageous endeavors of our people and communities set the Palmetto State apart, showing that in times of need we come together, neighbors helping neighbors,” reads the resolution.
Senn said the resolution celebrates the spirit of our state by encouraging residents to give back to the community in a meaningful way.
A resolution proclaiming May as Building Safety Month was also adopted with the aim of reminding the public of, “the critical role of our community’s largely unknown guardians of public safety — our local building code officials — who assure us of safe, efficient and livable buildings.”