Administrator: County Workforce Hits Milestone; Budget, Projects Updates

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

A fiscal year budget with no millage increase, Anderson County’s population grows past 218,000 with the labor force topping 100,000 for the first time, new events at civic center and updates on various projects countywide top this month’s interview with Administrator Rusty Burns.

County council is currently working on a FY budget of nearly $300,000 million, which includes increases for law enforcement and potential raises for employees.

Among the challenges is the lack of earmark funding from the General Assembly this year.

"We had five million dollars’ worth of earmarks in the budget for various recreational projects,” said Burns. “So yes, that's five million dollars that we won't get. Now they're talking about next year turning it into a competitive grants program, and that's fine, we'll be happy to do that. But that hurts. It just hurts."

Economic Development

"And that money you mentioned, I mean, I know there's nothing on the horizon at all for this, but that money would be completely covered by hospitality tax in unincorporated areas. Yes. That's a million. Yes. That the cities are all doing. I know we've been talking about roads forever, but everybody else is talking about roads. And so there's a reason for it."

“The United States Census Bureau put out the new population figures, and we're right at 218,000, and that's from last week,” said Burns. “So that's about 11,000 additional people in a very brief period."

And as the population grows, the demand for services increases, creating challenges for council in putting together the budget. The final budget must be approved in three readings before July 1.

Burns expects June to include some major economic developments for the county.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed to have a mega blowout in June in terms of capital investment and jobs,” said Burns. “Plus, we have some other announcements, and we're excited about that.”

The newly available space at the old Oregon Rugs manufacturing plant is expected to draw attention.

“You'll have somebody wanting to go in there because space is a premium in Anderson County,” said Burns. "It is a big space. And every time somebody builds a spec building in Anderson County, it doesn't stay a spec building more than two minutes."

Sewer work at I-85 Exit 14 is complete and an announcement if expected from that area soon, Burns said. "There's a lot of land out there,” said Burns. “We're going to be getting some new stuff out there that we haven't announced yet. We can't announce it because we're still working through the details."

Burns said hitting 100,000 for the county workforce was an important milestone.

“One other thing that we're very excited about is we have reached 100,000 people in the workforce in Anderson County for the last three months, something that has not happened before,” said Burns. “That may not seem significant, but trust me, that is very significant. So, if we say we've got 218,000, and 100,000 people gainfully employed, that's pretty good.”

The workforce number indicates adults of working age, and does not include children, senior citizens or those who are unable to work due to some restrictions.

Buildings and Projects

Burns also offered updates on some key projects around the county.

The new branch of the Iva Library opens Friday on the square downtown. Burns said he pushed for the location of the branch, which was a cooperative effort between the county, the town and the school district in Iva.

“We’re very excited about the Iva library because that was a partnership between the school district, the town, Anderson County, and the Anderson County Library,” said Burns. “We got a large grant from Sen. Mike Gambrell, the school district purchased the old library building and we got a community development block grant so it was quite the project to bring all of that together. We think it's going to be really good for Iva."

Burns said a vibrant library system is also important for economic development.

"We have a wonderful library system and have some great librarians, and it helps greatly (with economic development) because it's one of the amenities that people look for when they move to an area,” said Burns.

Construction of the new Anderson County Detention Center is on schedule for completion by the end of 2026. The current center, built in 1956, is at double capacity, so the need is great.

The county met this week to continue planning and work on the lower mill property in Pelzer.

"We are in the process of getting a bid package together,” said Burns. “We’re doing Phase One environmental again on that property in Pelzer. As soon as that's done, then we can actually transfer that land from the historic commission to Anderson County.”

Meanwhile, Burns said clearing the land at the old Chiquola Mill in Honea Path is about to get under way.

“We're very close on the Chiquola Mill,” said Burns. “The bid package is being prepared to take all of those structures down so we can begin redevelopment work over there. It's been a mess forever. And that's really a great piece of land."

Burns said there is a need to be very careful on how it's developed or redeveloped and that the county and the Town of Honea Path would be systematic in the work.

Roads

The Roads Commission that will determine the priority for road construction from the one-cent tax that is being proposed in a November referendum is also in place. The county has appointed three seats to the six-member group, the City of Anderson has appointed one and two are yet to be named.

"We're going to complete within our 30-day window that we need to do that,” said Burns. “So everything is on track for that right now. They will be involved in crafting the wording of the referendum … and they will be coming up with a list of roads that are going to be involved in the referendum so you will know what you're voting on and which roads you're voting on.”

The list will include both county and municipal roads.

Land Use

While the county works with a consultant on land development regulations, three precincts in the county have already completed the first stage of the process to request zoning. Rock Springs, Shirley Store and Neals Creek – all in district three – have the signatures verified and are on track to put the zoning proposal on the November ballot.

“That’s going to be a big jump in zoning in Anderson County,” said Burns. “We're providing information, assistance on how to—not beating people in the head telling you to vote this way or that way—but explaining the process. And any other precincts that want to do it, if they wanted to do it before November, they need to hurry up.”

Burns also discussed upcoming events in the county, the historic courthouse renovation and offered Piedmont Park updates in this interview with the Anderson Observer.