Council not pursuing consolidation

Anderson's five-member City Council unanimously agreed Jan. 20 with a consultant's recommendation not to pursue consolidation of services with the Anderson Fire Protection District at this time, but did leave the door slightly ajar to future consideration of that question, if and when conditions warrant.

Fire Chief Joe Piccinini's voice was the only one heard during a public hearing on the topic, and he agreed with the findings of consultant Robert Olson to continue operating the fire protection district as an independent entity.

However, Piccinini did take exception to one finding that would make it a matter of policy by the city not to make direct general fund contributions to the fire district for basic services including a critical need for additional firefighters.

"I was reluctant to step forward tonight during this public hearing, but I did not want my silence to be misconstrued as agreement with finding regarding general fund contributions," Piccinin said. "However, in recognition of the city's current budget situation, I agree with the recommendation at this time. But I want it to be clearly understood that we do have a critical need for additional firefighters."

Following closure of the public hearing, but during the council's general discussion of seven specific findings including the one the fire chief addressed, council member Keith Webster took exception to the consultant's finding that an ordinance be enacted that would require all new construction projects, commercial and residential, include automatic fire sprinkler systems.

"I would be much more comfortable with an exception for any new construction under 2,000 square feet, and I would recommend that there be no sprinklers required for residential construction," Webster stated emphatically.

"I don't want to price us out of the residential market," Webster added, noting that automatic sprinkler systems would bring the typical cost of residential construction to more than $160 per square foot, a significant jump from the estimated $100 per square foot that most builders quote.

At his turn, Mayor Butch Schaefer redirected the discussion back to Piccinini's comment, noting, "I wish there was something more we could do to get some additional firefighters hired on."

This prompted Webster to rejoin, saying, "I think there are ways we can help the fire protection district save some additional funds without making general fund contributions."

However, Webster did not elaborate, nor did he give any specific examples prior to voting on the recommendations and seven findings.

Mixed Use District

In other business at the Anderson City Council's Jan. 20 regular meeting, the five-member council unanimously agreed to introduce an ordinance that would allow the mixing of residential and commercial uses in a Mixed Use District that would be boundered by Interstate 5, North Street, Douglas and South Street/Balls Ferry Road.

An item to enact the ordinance will be included on the council's Feb. 3 agenda.

City officials, including City Manager Scott Morgan and Planning Director John Stokes, are convinced that enabling mixed use in the city's traditional downtown core area would stimulate development within the district and result in increased property taxes as well as increased sales tax revenues as property owners convert houses into commercial businesses and add residential units onto existing commercial structures.

One exception to the Mixed Use concept would be the area between Ventura Street and Interstate 5. This area, while within the Mixed Use District, was deemed unsuitable for residential use because of its close proximity to the freeway and the associated roadway noises. It will retain its Commercial 1 zoning.

Shovel-ready Plans

In anticipation of a flurry of state and federally induced economic stimulus funding, Anderson city officials are moving ahead to have engineering studies completed on nine projects even though there is no money yet to actually complete any of them at this time.

Authorized by the council on Nov. 18, City Manager Scott Morgan mailed requests for proposals to 12 local engineering firms. By Dec. 5, the deadline for returning the completed proposals, 10 firms had responded.

City staff directors met with Morgan on Jan. 6 and found nine projects worthy of recommendation for advancement.

Morgan hopes to have all environmental and right-of-way issues resolved well in advance of either the state or federal government soliciting proposals for grants.

The projects range from a $225,185 planning contract with CH2MHill to design a water main project for the Alexander-Bellevue area to a $3,500 contract with K.R. Butler Engineering, Inc., to design and provide project support for the construction of a new restroom facility at Anderson River Park.