After a lengthy discussion and early comments from citizens, Anderson County Council on Tuesday tabled a second vote on an ordinance which would have allowed individual council districts to place a six-month moratorium on new housing developments of more than 25 units.

Some council members expressed concerns the current ordinance might not stand up to legal challenges, but vowed to work together for a solution they can agree on before the next meeting.

The 126-year-old structure is suffering from lack of regular structural maintenance, with rotten timbers, crumbling and loose bricks, water leaks, a damaged and aging roof and poor gutters. The interior has also been in need of work for years.

This exhibit explores how places, people, and circumstances spark innovation and invention in rural communities and include photographs, videos, interactive areas, and digital stories aimed to display the experience of the leaders, challenges, successes, and future of innovation in each town.

More than 70 volunteers gathered in the AnMed parking lot near North Street on Friday morning to build the walls for a new house for Habitat for Humanity of Anderson.

Army Sergeant First Class Daniel Metzdorf could have chosen any town in America to call home. Metzdorf chose Honea Path.

The funds have been distributed to AIM, Hope Missions of the Upstate, Rebuild Upstate and others find permanent housing or provide repairs to allow them to stay in their homes.

After a very challenging year, that included the first hurricane to reach the county in history, the S.C. Emergency Management Association has chosen Anderson County’s division as the top agency in the state for 2024.

It’s the first time Anderson Emergency Management has received the award.

The plan, which has been in the works for more than two years, has included bringing in a consultant to help gather community consensus and public input to craft a vision for the future of the city, said Maurice McKenzie, planning and development director for the City of Anderson.

Land use, roads and upgrades to facilities top the news in Anderson County this week, and Administrator Rusty Burns expects even more activity in the months ahead.

Council also approved:

Annexation of .57 acres at 1212 Reed Road, which is owned by Concord Baptist Church. The land will be used for a new childhood education center.

The purchase of a new generator for the Rocky River Station. The current there was damaged during Hurricane Helene and more than 35 years old, so council approved a $148,200 bid from Blanchard Energy, Greenville to replace pump. Funding will come from the city’s sewer fund and council is applying to FEMA to pay for 75 percent of the cost of the new pump.

The move, which seeks to bring all starting teacher salaries in the state to a minimum of $48,500, would affect only one of the five school districts in Anderson County. School Dist. 1 currently pays starting teachers $47,900, but officials there say that will increase beyond the new minimum state proposed salaries in the coming school year. Dist. 2 currently pays teachers right out of college $50,002, Dist. 3 $49,320, Dist. 4 $49,313 and Dist. 4 $50,000.

Anderson City Council will vote on Monday to apply for state tax credits tax under the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act to restore and rehabilitate the 4.5-acre site that was home to the Townsend Mill Cotton Mill property.

The site, which borders Bleckley Street, Lee Street, West Mauldin and First Avenue is owned by Fairway Development Partners, LLC, seeks to develop the site for residential use.

The play wastes little time inviting the audience to choose the killer. But as in all of Christie’s work, everyone is a good suspect and deceit, lies, secrets and misdirection lurk around every corner. As suspects drop one by one, there are false clues, visual misdirections and sleight of hand action to cast suspicion and doubt on all.

Anderson School Dist. 5 approved a motion on Tuesday, pending legal review, to become the first district in the county to pay board members. Board members will be paid $300 per month, and the board chair will receive $350 per month if the process clears review.

Local sponsors, Hill Elective and Robert Rainey have paid to rent the theater for the event, which is limited to the first 200 who register for a free ticket. Tickets here. The Salvation Army of Anderson, Hope Missions of the Upstate, Family Promise, South Main Chapel & Mercy Center, The Lot Project, Asher House and the United Way of Anderson County after the film will briefly address efforts to help ease homelessness and find affordable housing in Anderson.

Eastern Engineered Wood Products announced today plans to bring 31 new jobs and a $18.7 million investment to Belton for a new regional distribution center.

A wholesale distributor of engineered wood products, the new distribution center, to be located at 110 Milliken Drive in Belton, will service lumber dealers and component manufacturers in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The original plan called for a 60-day countywide pause in allowing new housing developments over 25 housing units without additional approval of full council. The hybrid plan approved would allow each council member to choose whether to pause building in their district.

Sadlers Creek State Park is now one of 30 in South Carolina to offer charging stations for electric vehicles. Park visitors who pay admission fees will have free use of the chargers on a first-come, first served basis.

Little attention was given to the presidents on the wall except on their birthdays in February. Each year on Feb. 22 we had a lesson on Washington on his birthday, and the same for Lincoln on his Feb. 12 birthday each year.

Anderson County Council will vote on a plan to donate 24 properties to non-profit corporations to help improve the challenge of finding affordable housing.

The measure, which will require three votes to pass, will use $2.1 million of a grant allocated funds to address affordable housing for these projects.