City drainage gets $2M more funding
By Tommy Howard
thoward@gtowntimes.com
Chris Eldridge shared news about $2 million in additional funding for the City of Georgetown's drainage projects with members of the Georgetown Breakfast Rotary Club recently.
He met with engineers last Monday about the project.
"We will do a lot of piping work," he said. "We will get the bulk of it in."
There will be several ponds constructed to hold water in the case of heavy rainfall -- including what he called the "swimming pool" at City Hall.
That structure will be in what is now a greenspace adjacent to the parking lot at Front and Dozier streets.
With the piping, ponds and pumps, Eldridge said, the $11 to $12 million project should take care of most flooding problems in that area of the city.
Recent awards include a million dollars each from the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study Committee (GSATS) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
With that funding, Eldridge said, "We have to have a contract by November or the money goes away."
Previously, he noted, "We had talked about not doing a pond at City Hall. The engineer said we would have to tear out about $1 million worth of piping" if the pond were to be built later.
"So, we will do the pond now."
City staff will do some of the smaller piping work themselves, rather than hiring a contractor, and that will save money.
Cooperative efforts
Eldridge also said city staff has "worked together real close with Sel Hemingway (county administrator) and Bob Barker (director of the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District) on sludge."
About 10 years ago the county agreed to a partnership with the city and GCWSD for treating sludge (wastewater solids or sewage). There was a thought that compost could be made and sold at a profit.
"That did not happen," Eldridge said.
Another idea would have cost about $3 million but local partners weren't sure that would be effective, either.
Now, Eldridge said, the sludge will go to the county landfill.
"It will cost $27 per ton for the landfill, rather than the normal $80 per ton for routine tipping fees," he said.
"I think we've kind of burned some bridges in the past. That's not good for anybody."
"There's plenty of things we can fight about, the city and county," Eldridge continued, "but some things you don't have to."
Other issues
Eldridge also said this year's city budget has been tough to get through.
For healthcare insurance for dependents of employees, the city pays about two-thirds of that cost.
"That's unheard of. In the Upstate, employees paid all of their dependent coverage," Eldridge said.
He also noted that repairs will be made to the decking for Harborwalk, more abandoned boats are being removed, and abandoned houses will be torn down if owners don't repair them or tear them down voluntarily.
Overall, Eldridge said, "I love living here. I'm really enjoying it.
"I've got a boat and been out on the water."
Lifting his foot, Eldridge said, "I've got my little Sperry boat shoes. No socks."