News Archive Commissioners hear report on EPA sewer document During their regular monthly meeting Sept. 26, the Piedmont Public Service District Board of Commissioners discussed wording in a Federal sewer mandate and other items. Attorney John Pruitt presented a revised Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contract relating to Piedmont’s sewer system, however commissioners decided not to sign the contract until they looked it over again. Commissioners C. E. “Ed” Poore Jr. and Al McAbee both said they had reservations about signing the document, citing wording in several places that they would like to see changed. Pruitt said  the EPA document is a Federal response to aging sewer line problems facing the district. Pruitt said the EPA recognized that there is a problem all over the country with aging infrastructure and came up with guidelines to address the problems. The original document is based on a larger model city, Pruitt said. Pruitt said his firm has negotiated  with the EPA to make wording in the document manageable for Piedmont. The goal of the document, according to Pruitt is to establish a preventative maintenance program which uses manpower and resources to inspect, upgrade and prevent leaks, resulting in a lower longterm cost. He said there are also public and safety issues addressed by the mandate. The EPA requires documentation and a schedule of programs showing steps are being taken to improve the system. He also said the mandate could be terminated in 12 months if the district shows progress. The district could face fines by not complying with the EPA mandates. Pruitt said Piedmont’s sewer system problems are associated with old clay pipe and orangeburg pipe, which are failing. The district has applied for some state funds and a $90,000 state appropriation is to be used for mapping the system, officials said. Phase 1 of the project included mapping and Phase 2 will include a yearly inspection program, according to Pruitt. Recent mapping showed Piedmont has approximately 250 manholes. The proposed maintenance program will include looking at 5 to 10 manholes each week with the entire system being inspected every 3-5 years. The program will hopefully prevent longterm problems, Pruitt said. Due to the negotiations, wording in the document has been reduced and the document presented to Commissioners  is considerably smaller than the original . Chair Marsha Rogers said benches are in for the ball park and painting is being done on the inside of buildings at the park. Poore said a workshop was held with consultant Rusty Burns recently. Burns is currently working to secure a $90,000 grant to help with the sewer situation, $10,000 in park funds from the legislative delegation and a monitor and fire grant. Burns will also provide ongoing documentation for projects he is working on for the District, Poore said. In other business, Commissioners decided to be assigned a specific area to assist the administrator. Commissioners will be appointed to work with finance, sewage, recreation and fire. The district will also be taking bids on a maintenance contract. The current contract ends in October. Sealed bids will be accepted and opened in November. Details of the contract, which begins in January, will be posted on the fire station bulletin board officials said. A mandatory walk through with Piedmont officials will be announced. The district will also place two fire trucks out for bid.  Administrator Butch Nichols  told commissioners the Fire Department parking lot needs asphalt repairs in front and back.  The next meeting of the Piedmont Public Service District Board of Commissioners will be held Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Powdersville sewer project underway Anderson County officials broke ground Tuesday on the Powdersville sewer project. The $773,498 project will include six new sewer line sections installed near Hwy. 153 in Powdersville that will tie into existing sewer lines in the area, officials said. The Powdersville Sewer Project is one of sixteen projects identified in the Anderson County ten year sewer plan. Construction is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete. The 20,600 ft. of 8-inch-diameter line will direct sewer flow to the Georges Creek Waste Water Treatment plant which is expected to be completed next year, officials said. Contractor for the project is Kris Mechanical of Easley.  BP Barber and Associates are engineers on the project. Construction is expected to begin immediately with funding for the project coming from the state revolving fund. County officials broke ground on another sewer project in the area in August. A 12,000 ft. sewer line is currently being installed at the intersection of I-85 and State Hwy. 8. Contractor of  the S. C. Hwy. 8 and I-85 sewer project is Don Moorhead Construction of Belton. Engineer for the $498,319 project is BP Barber and Associates. Both projects are part of the 10 year sewer plan which is supposed to promote economic growth and development in Anderson County and to provide sewer service to existing and developing residential areas. The Powdersville project is in Council District 6, represented by Bill Dees. The Hwy. 8 and I-85 project is in Council District 6 and 7, represented by Cindy Wilson. Cooley to seek Ward 2 seat Tony Cooley has announced his candidacy for Williamston Town Council, Ward Two. Cooley, a native of Williamston, says he is seeking office because he feels the town could use a fresh perspective. “I believe it’s time for a change in city government,” Cooley says. “If I’m elected, people will have a voice in how things are done.” Cooley is employed by Michelin Tire Corporation. He and his wife, Fran, are members of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Their son, Preston, is a senior at the College of Charleston and the cofounder of the Williamston Area Historical Commission. Also vying for the Ward Two Town Council seat are incumbent Jimmy Rogers and newcomer Cecil Cothran. In Ward One, Harold Mackey is running as incumbent. His opponents are Greg Cole and John Sherard. The nonpartisan election is set for Nov. 5. Williamston Town Council members serve four-year staggered terms, with two seats coming up for reelection every two years. The two four-year terms will run from Jan. 1, 2003 to Dec. 31, 2006.