Council to Evaluate All County-Owned Structures
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County is in the process of evaluating the buildings and structures it owns with an eye toward the future.
Currently, there are more than 100 structures identified as the county’s responsibility for maintenance and/or repair, and the county council finance committee is weighing how some of these properties might be better used or sold.
“I want to visit every site to determine which ones the county needs, and which ones we need to get rid of,” said County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders, who serves as chair of the finance committee.
“We hope to find that some of these properties might be valuable as a way to generate revenue for the county to create a fund to set aside for special projects and capital projects,” said Sanders.
The structures on the list include a variety of familiar buildings and shelters and other places not as widely recognized by citizens of Anderson County.
The following is a list of county-owned structures and their current status and the known needs for some of the sites:
The historic courthouse, currently in need of $3.5 million for roof and related repairs and another $3 million for other structural repairs.
The “new” county courthouse, currently in need of $900,000 carpet (bunching up in spots and creating hazards) and paint. The carpet is the original carpet installed in the building 33 years ago.
The 1428 County Complex, old Singer/TTI building, needs seven HVAC units at a total cost of $125,000. Current units are 20-plus years old and failing. That property also includes a Facilities Shed, Guard Shack, R&B Storage, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office Dust Down Area and Evidence Area.
The Anderson County Museum, which includes three buildings, the main museum, the museum school house and the museum tack shop.
The Voter Registrations and Election building and Ronnie Townsend Court Building, both of which require maintenance.
The Anderson County Courthouse Annex, where taxes are paid, in the old Kroger building on East River Street.
The Agricultural Building on Tower Street, which is used for Probation and Parole, needs $230,000 in work.
Wastewater and sewer work buildings include the waste water main office, the waste water techs office, and two portable buildings.
Twelve structures at the Anderson County Airport, including the new Airport Terminal, storage and 10 hangars.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is a large department with many buildings and a variety of needs, including $125,000 for a roof for the main department building. The county also owns property for the Sheriff’s Forensics department, the Clyde Stone building and 911-dispatch. In addition, the county owns the department’s substation in Watson Village and the Anderson County Coroner’s Office on Camson Road.
Same is true for the Anderson County Sports and Entertainment Complex, which includes the civic center (which still has the original carpet from 1991), the amphitheater stage (plus ticket booths, concessions and restrooms), the restrooms for the soccer and tennis facilities, the picnic shelter and the Chris Taylor Park gazebo.
Nearby, the Recycling Education Center at 590s Woodcrest Drive/
Anderson County PAWS building, a pet storage structure, and two PAWS Cargo Containers structures.
The Anderson County Library System owns the buildings for main site in Anderson, Pendleton, Belton, Honea Path and Powdersville.
The McCants Community Campus/Field House, home to Special Populations, the Jo Brown center for senior citizens, and Meals on Wheels of Anderson.
The Anderson County Farmers Market building and pavilion.
The Anderson County Fleet Services facilities at 1410 Pearman Dairy Road, a newer facility.
The Public Defender's Office at 500 S. McDuffie Street.
The former Anderson County Economic Development building at 126 North McDuffie Street.
KidVenture is also on that property, which includes the picnic shelter, pump room and restrooms.
Parks and recreation facilities including the Gracie Floyd Events Center at McFalls Landing on Broadway Lake, Green Pond Restrooms/Green Pond Tower, Cheddar Comm. Park Picnic Shelter, Double Springs Park Picnic Shelters. Ebenezer Park Picnic Shelter, Equinox Park Pavilion, Friendship Community Park Picnic Shelter, Grove Park Picnic Shelter, Haynie Park Picnic Shelters, Hurricane Springs Park Concession Stand, Hurricane Springs Park Restrooms/Equipment Shed, Mt. Bethel Comm. Park Picnic Shelter. Mt. Bethel Community Park Shed, Mt. View Park Bathrooms Lake Russell. (Closed), Muldrow Park Picnic Shelters, River Forks East Picnic Shelter, River Forks East Restroom, River Forks Gate House, River Forks Storage Building, River Forks West Picnic Shelter, River Forks West Restroom, Sandy Springs Park Picnic Shelter, Wheldon Island Picnic Shelter, Wheldon Island Restroom, Wellington Dugouts, Francis Crowder Restroom
The county is also required to provide building space for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the South Carolina Health Department (along with its two storage buildings).