By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
The Woodruff City Council’s April meeting was punctuated by an emotional statement from City Manager Lee Bailey regarding the growth and changes the city is experiencing.
“All of us are experiencing the growth and the changes in Woodruff, and there is a lot to be thankful for,” Bailey told the Council during his city manager’s report. “Restaurants are full, we’re getting a new school, new businesses are coming to town, and these are good things. Some people don’t agree with that, but we should be proud of it.”
He went on to say that several years ago, the city had holes in its vehicle fleet, and the city had a hard time making ends meet with the budget. The growth the city is experiencing has gone a long way to improving the city and benefiting residents, he added.
“We’ve come a long way, but there is still a long way to go,” Bailey said. “It’s fun to be a part of it and to see the changes.”
He continued to say that the growth will continue to benefit the city by bringing in a new grocery store at some point and other new businesses. He thanked the council for their support and vision over the years in helping bring the changes to fruition.
“We’re proud of our community and where we are from,” Bailey added. He also said the city is being mindful of the growth and the importance of maintaining Woodruff’s identity. “We don’t want to be Greer or Simpsonville. We want to be Woodruff.”
Council members agreed with Bailey’s assessment and commended him on his work and leadership through continued growth.
In business items, the Council gave final approval to the rezoning of a 0.191-acre parcel at 162 Wofford Street from R-1 to R-2A single-family residential. The rezoning provides the property owner with smaller setbacks to allow for the potential of developing duplexes on the site.
They also approved the final reading of an ordinance to amend the city ordinances to replace section 13 regarding the towing of abandoned vehicles. The previous ordinance required the city to take any towed vehicles to city hall for storage, which just moved the nuisance vehicle from one city property to another. The new ordinance will allow the city to have a towing company tow the vehicle to its storage yard after property notification.
The Council also approved the second reading of an ordinance to authorize the city to continue an intergovernmental agreement with the Municipal Association of South Carolina. The agreement provides access to various services and programs the city utilizes, for example, the collection of delinquent utility bills. They also approved a resolution to declare April as Fair Housing Month, which is part of an agreement for grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Woodruff City Council meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public, and the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 30.
