BELL’S BITS
City Council unanimously adopted our 2020-2021 Annual Budget on June 11th. Here are some of the highlights:
• A balanced budget… no millage or fee increase
• Continued support of our community partners such as the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce, Museum, and Younts Center
PERSONNEL
No layoffs… actually, added four new positions:
■ Planning & Development Director
■ Assistant Public Works Director
■ An additional Crew Worker in Public Works
■ An additional Detective in the Police Department
3% cost of living increase
for all employees
o Increased the percentage of dependent health care premiums paid by the City
EQUIPMENT/VEHICLES
o Two additional police vehicles
o Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) printers and scanners for our police vehicles
o 50 sections of replacement fire hose
o One sewer vehicle replacement
o Sewer equipment such as a concrete grinder, easement machine, and a sewer camera
o One automated side load garbage truck and one debris (knuckle-boom) truck for the Public Works Department
o Natural Gas Department equipment such as an electrofusion machine and a vacuum machine trailer
o Replacement of large/industrial meters and a large meter corrector in the Natural Gas Department
o Continuation of annually replacing ageing computers and other IT equipment
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
o Door replacement at the Activities Center
o Replacement of two treadmills at the Activities Center
o Roof repair and/or replacement at both Fire Stations
o Entry upgrades at the Police Department Building
PROJECTS
o Wayfinding Signage Project Phase 2
o New City and Natural Gas websites
o Mast Arm traffic signals for the intersection of Main Street/Quillen Avenue
o Continuing our ongoing sewer rehabilitation work
o Natural Gas infrastructure for Fountain Inn High School
o Natural Gas mainline expansions for new subdivisions and new service lines
Also, at their June 11th meeting, Fountain Inn City Council unanimously voted to cancel all City-sponsored July 4th celebrations, including its scheduled fireworks display. Due to rises in confirmed COVID-19 cases locally, plus the event’s popularity with expected attendance well above a thousand people, the City cannot adequately ensure proper social distancing and safety measures to protect attendees from the spread of COVID-19. The fireworks display will be rescheduled and paired with another community event in the future. Local restaurants and stores remain open and the City encourages everyone to support local businesses over the holiday weekend as safely as they can. All residents and businesses should continue adhering to guidance issued by the CDC and SC DHEC.
The dedication of the Emanuel Sullivan Sports Complex has been set for July 3rd from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. with the ribbon cutting at 6:00 p.m. We will have a food truck on site.
The 2020 Fountain Inn Farmers Market continues each Saturday morning at Commerce Park on Depot Street from 8:00 a.m. to noon until September 12th.
The 2020 Friday Night music series, formally known as Dancing on Depot but now titled Sounds of Summer, continues in Commerce Park at 7:00 p.m. through September 11th. Sounds of Summer has controlled entrances and exits, and staff continuously monitors attendance numbers. If attendance reaches levels where safety is at risk, staff can restrict attendance and enforce additional safety measures.
Save the date for the Jeff Lynch Bike Night Wing Fest on September 11th from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Main Street. We will be honoring all First Responders and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice nineteen years ago.
The Activities Center is now open for senior adults only from 7:00 a.m. to noon. It is being closed to the public from noon to 1:00 p.m. daily for cleaning/sanitizing and then open only for our volleyball programming in the afternoon. Also, the Activities Center is set to undergo a major interior renovation beginning on June 28th and is expected to be complete towards the end of September.
Remember: The City does not pick up anything other than household garbage, recyclables, and seasonal trimmings (yard debris). Also, please remember to place your garbage container at the curb with the hinges towards the home. We will not be emptying containers placed the wrong way or with loose garbage. Notices and fines will be given for violations of our trash pick-up policy. You can always visit fountaininn.org for more information.
Shawn Bell is the City Administrator of Fountain Inn. For more information, go to www.fountaininn.org, call 864-862-4421, or email shawn.bell@fountaininn.org.■
