By Al Dozier
At the June 18 meeting the Irmo Town Council approved an expenditure of up to $232,000 to replace safety matting in the Irmo Community Park.
Council members acknowledged it was an expensive project, but necessary to assure safe grounds in a park where so many children are playing. The new turf material will provide a barrier across the park which will assure a soft landing if someone falls on the park grounds.
“The cost is high but should be for this material,” a town official said of the project.
The contract with Barrs Recreation received unanimous approval.
In other action the council gave second and final reading to adopt the operating and capital budgets for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. The budget total is $10.2 million. a 9.3 percent increase over the previous year. The budget includes a 4 percent cost of living raise for employees.
New costs for Irmo will come with the hiring of a new code inspector, expansion of the housing subsidy program to aid in recruitment and retention, continuing partnerships with Keep the Midlands Beautiful and the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce; four new police vehicles, and increases in the sanitation fee.
Residents do not have to worry about tax increases. The town does not levy property taxes.
The council also approved an $18,829 grant that will provide body armor equipment for the police department. The grant, which is fully funded by the S.C. Department of Public Safety, will provide protective vests for 15 officers.
The council gave final reading approval to an ordinance that increases the number of voting members on the newly-established Events Committee from five to seven. New members selected for the committee were Chelsea Christiansen and Melissa Clements.
The council also gave final reading approval to an ordinance that updates the Municipal Code with the widely used International Property Maintenance Code The ordinance also clarifies what constitutes a “nuisance” on local properties. An important change in the new ordinance provides for town staff to enforce property restriction laws rather than law enforcement.
The council received an update from Richland County on the Broad River Widening Project, which is now in the first phase of a three-year plan. The proposed widening would begin at Royal Tower Drive and end near Dutch Fork Road, which is where the road splits near Tractor Supply.
The section of roadway would be expanded from two lanes to five lanes (four travel lanes and a center turn lane). Drainage and intersection improvements are part of the project throughout the corridor. New traffic signal lights may have to be added.
Roy’s Grille on Woodrow Street, which opened in 2014, was recognized as the June 2024 Small Business of the Month.
These new in-town businesses were recognized: The Face of Scoliosis, 306 Cressfell Road; Bins & Bargains, 7500 Woodrow St.; The Midlands Break Room, LLC., 10708 Broad River Road.
Councilwoman Barb Waldman announced these upcoming events during the Community Connections agenda: Irmo Juneteenth Celebration Jun 19; Lake Murry Country’s July 4 Celebration Jun 29; Town of Irmo Laser Show July 4; National Night Out, Aug. 6, Irmo Community Park; Lexington-Richland District 5 summer feeding programs; Lexington-Richland District 5 summer reading programs; Toucan Tuesdays at Riverbanks Zoo; Free Summer at Columbia Museum of Art.
