City Oks Main Street Paving Plan

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council on Monday approved an agreement to move ahead with paving/resurfacing a key stretch of Main Street downtown.

The planned paving project would resurface the road from the corner of South Main and Reed Street to where Tribble Street connects to North Main Street. The city is budgeting $1.5 million for the half-mile stretch of road, which includes not only proper roads but parking spaces area, but it is not expected to require that amount. The 2023 estimate for the work included in the project was $820,000.

The study and other planning is expected to take several months, and the paving is likely to be slated for 2025. Once started the project is expected to be completed in 15 days.

Council approved an $82,000 contract with Davis & Floyd for professional engineering and construction engineering and inspection in relation to services for the repaving which would continue through the completion of the work. The move is part of the city’s long-term infrastructure projects.

A move to turn the Holiday Ice in Carolina Wren Park into a real ice rink was tabled on Monday after some council members concerns over the cost and the need for a detailed marketing plan. The city was proposing an annual $137,500 contract with Seasonal Ice, LLC, to set up, run and maintain a larger rink during the holiday season which will feature a real ice surface. The funds would come from the city’s hospitality tax fund.

Council will revisit the proposal before Summer.

The move is an attempt to “take things up a notch” for the annual downtown skating experience, according to Anderson City Administrator David McCuen. The current synthetic ice surface is eight years old and nearing the end point of its life, and has some scratches and wear. Synthetic ice also requires more effort from skaters, providing 10-15 percent more resistance, and is a slower experience compared to real ice.

Holiday Ice attendance has declined in recent years, from a peak of 7,456 skaters in 2020-2021, which attracted visitors from 12 states for the 37-day season. The previous season’s year's 42-days attracted 4,548 skaters.

But the past two seasons, which had shorter seasons and fewer hours open, were hampered by rain and other poor weather and drew less than 2,000 visitors.

“It’s time to reinvigorate and make it a little more special for Christmas,” said Strickland, who said in a Monday work session the event is still popular and brings people downtown during the holidays.

The city estimates that for every person who skates, there are 2.5 visitors to Holiday Ice downtown.

“One thing I have heard from constituents over the last couple of years is the desire for a real ice rink,” said Councilman Kyle Newton, Seat 1. Newton said that other communities with real ice rinks were doing well, and that some from Anderson were traveling to visit those sites.

“I think long term it would be a good thing for the community,” said Newton.

This year Holiday Ice is scheduled to be open from Thanksgiving weekend through Dec. 31.

Also on Monday, Council:

Approved replacing one of the two the Equalization (EQ) Basin liner at Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The current liner was damaged in a recent storm, and funding is expected to come from insurance. The $248,761 bid by Cove Utility of Greenville was accepted for the work.

Approved the purchase of an $59,995 50-ton lowboy trailer from Kaufman Trailers for hauling sewer collections. The city’s current 30-ton trailer is not rated to carry our heavier full-size John Deere trackhoe.

Approved a resolution recognizing April as Fair Housing Month to “encourage all citizens to observe and support both the letter and spirit of the Fair Housing Law as an expression of the individual rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of South Carolina.”

Approved April 5, 2024 designation as National Community Development Week by the National Community Development Association to celebrate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.