Volunteers Heed the Call after Pelzer Vandalism
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
More than two dozen volunteers, young and old, wearing gloves and carrying gardening tools answered the call of the Town of Pelzer on Saturday morning to restore and expand beautification projects damaged by vandalism under the cloak of darkness earlier this week.
The wildflower project included planting seeds in the S.C. 8 medians through the town and in containers at the sign welcoming folks to Pelzer. Volunteers also did other cleanup and landscaping work to spruce up the area around the center of town.
“It was pretty disheartening that someone, a vandal, came in the night and cut down all the flowers,” said Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland, who helped plant the wildflower seeds. So we're here today to do some work
“Folks are pretty upset that somebody cut down the flowers,” said Ragland. “And the thing is, those wildflowers, they're going to come back. They are something that people really enjoy and come to know Pelzer by and it's just going to get better, it's just going to get more beautiful."
Ragland said the town has been investing in and working on landscaping from the Lebby Street bridge over the Saluda River all the way to the intersection of S.C. 20.
Wildflowers were chosen because they are less expensive to maintain, are generally drought resistant and return every year without need for reseeding.
He said the total cost of the project is $30,000 and is funded by Pelzer’s hospitality tax. This included the cost of seed, excavation and dirt.
“The most expensive part was the excavation of the dirt and the grass all up and down Levy Street,” said Ragland. “I hired a local company. They live in Pelzer and Belton, one of my former students. And they dug it up. They had to hire 12 extra people and rent a skid steer and other equipment. They took all the dirt and put it down there in the hole down there by the lower boat ramp, which is something we've been trying to do anyway. So we kind of killed two birds with one stone because they've been wanting that filled up down there…I broke it down into small projects and paid for that. I followed the purchase code of the town. I followed all the rules. And when the council wanted to know every single dime I spent on this so-called wildflower project, I provided it to them.”
Ragland said the cost was in line with other town projects such as cutting down dead trees and removing brush.
“I think people are going to enjoy it for years to come. And I'm proud of this.
One volunteer, Joe Welborn, said he was on hand Saturday because the wildflower project had inspired him to do something similar.
“Will inspired me at my church where I planted 1,680 feet of wildflowers a month ago because of what he had already done out here. And when I found out what had happened, I said, 'I've got to come and help him.' I'm here, and I'm ready to go to work.”
