Environmental concerns at local golf course discussed by council

JOHNSONVILLE—Roy Aldridge with The Wellman Club appeared before the Johnsonville City Council to discuss sediment problems in the golf course ponds. Aldridge said housing developers located behind the golf course didn’t share the same vision as the club, creating a run off condition at the course.

“Both are under the same management and that will be an advantage for the city,” Aldridge said. “The problem is all our problem… We have brought this to the attention of the City for the past two years.”

Aldridge invited each member of the Council to come to the course, look the situation over and then take some action to help relieve this situation. “We must get it arrested,” he concluded.
Councilman Dale Strickland asked if DHEC should be involved.
Councilman Carl Skinner said, “We first have to determine what is in there before we can do anything.”

Aldridge responded by saying there is oil and gas coming from the north side, to which Councilman Kelly said he felt the Environmental Protection Agency needed to be involved.
Aldridge said he would be more than happy to run a chemical analysis.

Kelly noted that all runoff from the red light beyond Pine Oaks goes that way, including the runoff from the highway. Aldridge said on the agenda for the course this winter is clearing undergrowth and tree removal. The Council took this situation under advisement and said it would follow up on the issue.

In other business, Diane Lane of the Winyah Community Hospice was scheduled to appear before council to request a proclamation declaring November “Hospice Month” in city. Unable to attend, Mayor Steve Dukes presented the request in her absence and the council voted unanimously for the proclamation.

Jackie Stasney appeared during the public forum to discuss the streetlights on Maple Street. She said there dark areas exist on portions of the street and more lights are needed.
Mayor Dukes said they had asked the police to check the streetlights when they are out patrolling at night and bring any problems to the attention of the city administrator.
“We are paying for the lights and they might as well have them burning,” the mayor said.

The Council also discussed drainage issues on Pine and Marion Streets. Mayor Dukes asked City Administrator Scott Tanner to contact the Department of Transportation on the matter.
Council authorized the Administrator to sign the loan documents to purchase a Police Car as approved in the 2010 budget and also approved septic discharge for septic haulers for fiscal year 2010.
Councilwoman Diane Marsh noted November is Domestic Violence Month and it was recognized locally by a tree planting at the City Park in memory of the late Teresa Powell Hanna, the former Johnsonville city administrator killed several years ago as a result of domestic violence. She recognized the senior citizens who meet regularly at the Meeting House as participants in the tree planting ceremony.

Properties on Maple Street, which had been addressed by the council before, that have received complaints of unsightly lots were again discussed. The council said owners need to be contacted about cleaning up their property.

“With the holidays coming on and the parades within the city, (it) is a good time to recommend cleaning up within the city,” Dukes said.

Councilman Brad Richardson who chairs the Christmas Parade said the parade date is Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m. with line up at 2:30 p.m. He said the recent fundraiser for the parade netted $2400. He also noted the Johnsonville Middle and High School students will help with the decorating of the park as a community service project prior to the tree lighting ceremony there. Mrs. Stasney asked that a notice be put on the marquee so that the community can be advised of the date and time and help also.

Richardson also stated that he took offense to an letter appearing in the Weekly Observer citing what Richardson saw as derogatory comments about the city from Alan Hutto of the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina. Hutto, in a letter to the Florence County Council regarding a recent proposal to change zoning within the city to prohibit manufactured housing in certain areas, said according to recent census data the average income of Johnsonville residence would be conducive to utilizing manufactured housing rather than discriminating against it. It was to that point that Richardson took offence. 

Council entered into executive session to discuss a personnel matter concerning the Water Department as well as a contractual matter. After a session of nearly an hour and a half, council entered back into open session. Mayor Dukes said no action was taken on either matter.