City of Anderson
Retreat Issues and Major Projects
Quarterly Report – April-June 2016
Retreat Issues
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Economic Development
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Entrepreneurial Programs
 Marketing of the 7/30/16 Cyber Saturday
 Marketing of the e-Spark boot camp which begins 9/12/16
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Business Recruitment
 Business Assistance Program Awards:
• AAA Supply
• Foster’s Main Event
• Skin’s Hot Dogs
• Anderson School of Dance
 20 Business licenses issued
 Launched new Economic Development website
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Business Retention
 Clemson Area SBDC Lunch & Learn events:
• Digital Marketing for your Business on 4/11/16
• Twitter & Your Small Business on 5/16/16
• Facebook for your Business on 6/20/16
 Continued to partner with Clemson Area SBDC to offer free and confidential consulting to
businesses citywide
 Marketed e-Spark to existing businesses
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Development Projects
 Under construction
• Church Street Heritage Project
• Windsor Place Shopping Center Improvements
• The Bleckley Inn Event Center
• Anderson School of Dance
• College Parke Townhomes
• AnMed Health Hybrid OR
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Events
 Continued to facilitate special events in Carolina Wren Park and Downtown:
• The Block Party
• Anderson University’s Spring Fling
• Private wedding
• Art on the Town
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Sounds in the Park
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Neighborhoods and Housing
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Downtown
 Launched a free interactive app – Explore Anderson
Continued gathering, assessing and reviewing data to enhance a comprehensive approach to
neighborhood revitalization (to supplement the adopted 2009 Neighborhood Revitalization
Implementation Plan)
Recreation
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Master Plan Update
 Continued updating recreation master plan with The LandPlan Group South. The projected
timetable for completion is early September.
Major Projects
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Courts
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Study Court System and develop modification plans as needed
 Continued to adjust and update policies and procedures to improve court services for public and
officers
 Continued ongoing cross-training of staff
 Updated court schedules to accommodate changes needed by police officers and/or code & fire
departments
 Revamped preliminary hearing and trial procedures
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Continued to maintain excellent fire rating of Class 2 which is of great benefit to City’s citizens
 Reviewing and assessing potential of lowering (improving) to Class Rating of 1
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Established Apparatus Replacement Review process
 Assessing options and funding (including demo equipment) for replacement for engine and
ladder truck as per Capital Equipment Plan
Fire
Planning and Development
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Re-evaluated state and non-state street conditions in order to develop paving priority lists
 Staff utilized a ranking criteria to determine roads in most need of resurfacing
 Submitted draft list to Council for their review and input
 Resolution approved by Council on September 14th
 Submitted to the Anderson County Transportation Committee (ACTC) for their review on
September 15th
 ACTC funding for resurfacing several state secondary roads approved on October 26th
 Resurfacing began in June 2016
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Comprehensive Plan Update
 Staff finalizing draft language for the standard elements of the plan
 Entering into an agreement with the Appalachian Council of Governments to facilitate public
input sessions and delivery of a final plan for consideration by Council.
 Public input sessions beginning in August 2016 and final product to be completed by the end of
2016.
Neighborhoods and Housing
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Implementing Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP) - a grant of $ $424,504 for the acquisition and
demolition of an estimated thirteen (13) substandard, vacant houses; working in coronation with
Nehemiah Corporation and ACDC
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Held closings for the Anderson Community Development Corporation’s (ACDC) acquisition of
415 Southwood Street, 501 Southwood Street, and 316 W. River Street.
Held closings for Nehemiah Community Revitalization Corporation’s acquisition of 1408 Newell
Street and 215 Cleveland Avenue
Received approval from SC State Housing to schedule closings for ACDC on July 11, 2016 for 414
Johnson Street, 801 S. Towers Street, and 502 Carver Street on July 11, 2016
Worked with Building and Codes Department staff to complete cost estimates for asbestos
abatement and demolition costs for ten (10) units: 1407 Watson Street, 50 North Street, 119
Marion Street, 220 Wardlaw Street, 225 Caughlin Avenue, 710 Beechwood Avenue, 908 E.
Whitner, 1002 E. Whitner, 1206 White Street, and 1508 Mitchell Street
Received approval of explanation of costs letter from State Housing for properties that he
Building and Codes staff estimate are outside of the State’s estimated cost range.
Transit Department
 Received three (3) new Transit buses that are now in operation. Two (2) of the buses are CNG
buses, 32’ & 35’ and one (1) is Diesel 35’.
 Worked on ordering a new bus this fall to replace the 2001 Trolley. This bus will be another CNG
bus.
 Worked on planning dedication for the new buses scheduled for July 11th City Council Meeting
at 5:30 pm.
Public Works
○ Stormwater Project
 Old North Anderson Sewer and Stormwater Improvements (joint project working in conjunction
with Parks and Recreation and Stormwater)
• Received construction bids in August 2015
• Approved September 2015 contract with low bidder, Moorhead Construction, in the
amount of $1,561,402
• Installed 100% of sewer line
• Walk-thru with contactor and civil consultant and developed punch list of site
corrections performed for sewer and stormwater in work area
• Council approved change order for approximately $325,000 for roadway improvements
and $35,000 for engineer to update design drawings
• Road improvements and work for punch list corrections anticipated July/August 2016
• Anticipated completion by September 2016
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Recreation
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Recreation Projects
 AU Spring Fling dance at Carolina Wren Park
 Movie Night in Carolina Wren Park - had over 1000 people for “Star Wars”
 William Renninger Associates assisting with tree replacement at Carolina Wren Park
 Shelter dedication at Watson Park
 Upgrading security cameras at Recreation Center - almost complete
Utilities
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EPA CMOM Program – Consent Agreement with goal of eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows (ongoing
since July 2014)
 Submitted 5th Quarter progress report to EPA in April 2016
 Continued implementation of 7 approved programs
• Mapping, Overflow Response, Emergency Response, Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG),
Gravity Line, Pump Station, Training
 Sent out Fats, Oils, and Grease Questionnaires to 280 FSE’s in June 2016
 Submitted development of 2 programs to EPA in April 2016
• Sewer Assessment & Capacity Assurance
 Continued development of Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program
 Continued Mall Road and Wedgewood Drive Pump Station Replacement Project
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Old North Anderson Sewer and Stormwater Improvements (joint project working in conjunction with
Parks and Recreation and Stormwater)
 Received construction bids in August 2015
 Approved September 2015 contract with low bidder, Moorhead Construction, in the amount of
$1,561,402
 Installed 100% of sewer line
 Walk-thru with contactor and civil consultant and developed punch list of site corrections
performed for sewer and stormwater in work area
 Council approved change order for approximately $325,000 for roadway improvements and
$35,000 for engineer to update design drawings
 Road improvements and work for punch list corrections anticipated July/August 2016
 Anticipated completion by September 2016
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West Franklin Street Waterline Improvements – Replacing 80-90 year old water lines subject to frequent
breaks and quality complaints
 Engineering design by Hulsey, McCormick, and Wallace in progress
 Gained Council approval of negotiated project in April 2016
 Held pre-construction conference and began construction in May 2016
 Complete construction in November 2016
Police
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K-9 team Officers Barrow and Officer Saxon have received National Accreditation as Certified K-9
Handlers and are out on patrol.
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Approval of third year of the grant from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety for (2) Traffic
Safety Officers (personnel only with training). South Carolina Department of Public Safety grants for
Body Armor and Tasers denied approval. Awaiting approval and financial award amount from the South
Carolina Department of Public Safety for purchase and implementation of new body camera system.
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Received approval for JAG grant for FY17.
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Implementing a mobile Evidence Management System to assist in the logging, control, and destruction
of property and evidence within Forensics and Narcotics.
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Purchased (1) Ford Interceptor for Forensics and (5) Dodge Chargers from the Capital Replacement Plan
for the Patrol Division. (1) 2014 Dodge Charger was purchased utilizing insurance funding for a salvage
vehicle from a not at fault accident and Drug Enforcement Administration e-share funding. Purchase of
(4) Watch Guard dash camera video systems for new patrol vehicles from DEA e-share funding. (1)
Watch Guard video system provided as an incentive award for completion of requirements in the South
Carolina Law Enforcement Network.
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Continuation and partnership with the Law Enforcement & Community Task Force; goal is enhanced
community partnerships and information/education within the law enforcement community, faith
community, and community at-large. 2016 Upstate Diversity Leadership Award and Municipal
Association of South Carolina Public Safety Award for this program.
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Implemented audio/video recording system in the Criminal Investigative Division for 2 interview rooms.
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Received donation as a beta tester to the police department of (20) Mobile View body camera systems
and a 4 TB storage system. Estimated value $30,000.
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Continued partnership with Anderson University with (2) employees (Barrett Ryan and Nicole Zickler)
enrolled in the Command College – Anderson University Master Criminal Justice program. Justin Stone
graduated in May 2016 from this program.
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Preparation for continued contract renewal services with the United States Marshall Service in the
housing of federal prisoners.
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RFP in progress for upgrade of current record management system for incident reporting system and jail
management system. Upgrades for mobile hand held reporting systems in progress. Compliance with
all CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Systems) requirements.
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Partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation holding a Supervisory Leadership class in May and
an Executive Leadership Class in July in the council chambers.
IT
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Continued implementing long range hardware replacement plan for all pc’s, servers, and network
equipment (This is an ongoing project)
 Received new shipment of desktop computers - 100% complete with installation
Continued working with provider for service of video cameras located in parks, downtown and
recreation areas
 Continued working with AT&T and other vendors, developing plans, processes, etc. to ultimately
bring all camera maintenance in house.
 Continued to standardize our equipment with AT&T wireless, Cradlepoint SIM routers, and
Vicon cameras
 This will be a long term project whose completion will coordinate with available funding and
new installations
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Started using a new work order ticketing system for IT. Zendesk allows users to submit work orders via
email instead of logging in to a software interface. This new software also allows us to build a
knowledgebase of solutions for frequent issues.
Continued security awareness training for all City employees. Section 1 has been completed and we are
in the process of completing section 2. This training will consist of interactive online videos and
simulated phishing attacks
Finance
o Audit2016-2017 Budget Completed
 Budget Ordinance 16-10 approved June 27, 2016
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City Credit Rating – June
 Moody’s upgraded to Aa3 from A1 the rating on the City’s general obligation debt
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2016 Water and Sewer Bond Refunding - May
 City saved over $5,000,000 by refunding $40,000,000 of Water and Sewer Bonds
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Audit
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SCDOT Transit Audit
General – Communications Program
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Law Enforcement and Community Task Force
 Planned and facilitated monthly meeting series with 15-20 regular members including pastors,
APD and City officials
 Coordinated onsite video production for MASC Achievement Award for Public Safety to be
shown at award presentation in July
 Received Riley Diversity Institute Leadership Award: Upstate Non-Profit of the Year in May
 Initiated summer event tie-ins (Ice Cream with a Cop, teen events)
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Church Street Heritage
 Received and announced National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant for $75,000. The
only project in South Carolina to be awarded this grant for 2016.
 Post award requirements from tangent Federal Government agencies
 Began process to communicate art installation process with grant partners and stakeholders
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Economic Development/ Downtown events assisted with promotions:
 Art on the Town
 SculpTour
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Council Retreat/Strategic Planning
 Participated in Anderson University roundtable
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Community Outreach
 South Carolina Academy of Authors state meeting: planned and conducted Anderson Literary
Tour for visitors
 Presentation to Networking Group
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Presentation to Anderson Historical Society
Anderson Heritage
Sister Cities Board
Other
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Information on FOG ordinance
Information on sanitation cart policy
Mosquito control information prepared and distributed
AFFA market promo video
Watson Park dedication video production