PICKENS — The old water tower that stands watch over the city of Pickens will soon get a new look.
City council voted during its regular monthly meeting on Monday night to have portions of the structure repainted with the city’s new logo. The logo will face towards town and will be able to be seen coming into town up U.S. 178 and all along Main Street.
Council voted unanimously with all members in attendance to accept a bid of $9,000 to clean and repaint the tank. The logo is expected to go from the railing along the tank to underneath the existing roof.
Also at the meeting, mayor David Owens honored local Girl Scouts with a special proclamation declaring 2012 as “Year of the Girl” in honor of Girl Scouting’s 100th anniversary. The mayor recognized Girl Scout Troop 4115 and presented them with the proclamation during Monday night’s meeting at city hall.
In other business, council voted to pass the final reading of an ordinance that would make the city of Pickens’ elections more in line and uniform with other elections in the county. The measure would change filing for office from September to August.
Council then voted to pass the first reading to rezone 221 Hampton Avenue from general business to residential, along with the first reading of an ordinance that would make it mandatory for all city businesses to have a roll cart or dumpster for sanitation. City administrator Katherine Brackett said the roll carts will cost businesses $25, and if a business desires two roll carts, the cost would be $35 for both.
Low bids were accepted for projects including the Lewis Street Storm Water Project, Pickens Middle Fire Metering Station, Jewel Street Sanitary Sewer Extension project and the final phase of a waterline upgrade on S.C. 8.
Land Planning Associates was awarded the contract for the Lewis Street Project at a cost of $7,150.
McConnell Grading got the bid for the Pickens Middle Fire Metering Station ($30,000) and Jewel Street Sanitary Sewer Extension project ($45,316.25). These two projects, although going through the city of Pickens, will totally be reimbursed by the School District of Pickens County.
The S.C. 8 waterline upgrade was awarded to Tugaloo Pipeline at a cost of $191,168.50
Council voted to pass an amendment to the City Lake policies. The lake is the reservoir for the city and will no longer allow public fishing. The main reason for the change is the city’s decision to stock the lake with carp to help the lake ecologically.
It was also announced that the city will hold a special input meeting on the proposed amphitheater downtown near the historic Bradley-Boggs house. The meeting will be a chance for local business owners and residents to voice their opinion on the amphitheater’s design. The meeting is set for city hall on March 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Council also decided to push forward and be the first city in the county to offer a wireless internet cloud from Legacy Square to the Pickens Chamber of Commerce building on Main Street. The cloud will be a chance for downtown businesses to offer internet along with outdoor seating and dining. The cost for the project will be $6,400 and will be installed by Global Vision. Once the cloud is installed, the city will shoulder the cost of $545 per month for service and would allow internet connection free of charge along Main Street. The cloud is not intended to take the place of businesses’ existing internet, but is intended only to allow customers of Main Street businesses access.