Newberry City Council Greenlights Lease-Purchase of Vacuum Truck and Allocates Funds for Vital Infrastructure Improvements

City Council Approves Lease-Purchase for New Vacuum Truck

NEWBERRY — In a meeting held last Thursday, the City Council of Newberry took significant steps to improve the city’s wastewater capabilities by approving the lease-purchase of a new vacuum truck. This decision came during the authorization of the second and final reading of the related ordinance.

According to Mayor Foster Senn, this truck is essential for the city’s wastewater operations. The council agreed that the principal amount of the lease-purchase agreement will not exceed $550,000, with financing set at an interest rate of 4.59% for a term not exceeding four years. Councilperson Lemont Glasgow proposed the motion for approval, which was supported by Councilperson Jackie Holmes.

Implementation of State Grant with Matching Funds

Alongside the lease-purchase, the City Council also addressed the transfer of funds related to essential infrastructure improvements. They approved a request to transfer up to $3,500,000 from the city’s rate stabilization fund to the gross revenue checking account. City Manager Jason Taylor explained that this maneuver was crucial for meeting the matching requirement for a recent grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, part of the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP).

Newberry was fortunate to receive $10 million, the maximum amount available through this grant. However, the city must contribute $2.5 million as a match. While the funds had been allocated in the city’s budget earlier, this transfer was necessary to keep up with the grant timelines, as noted by Taylor.

Improvements to Aging Infrastructure

The funds from the grant and the transfer will specifically be used to upgrade two critical sewer line intersections within the city limits. “These lines are older and date back to 1977, which means their lifespan has long passed,” Mayor Senn remarked.

As the city looks to address these aging lines, Taylor indicated that there had been recent failures in a section of the sewer line near Belfast Road. The city had to spend $750,000 on repairs, with another $200,000 pending to fix the issues. These costs combined underscore the immediate need for the $3,500,000 transfer approved by the council. The motion was put forward by Councilperson Carlton Kinard and seconded by Councilperson Edwin Wicker.

Next Steps for the City Council

The city has a timeline to adhere to, as Taylor mentioned that the project needs to be bid out by December this year, with an overall completion deadline set for December 31, 2026. With these upgrades, the city aims to ensure that the infrastructure can meet the demands of a growing population.

The Newberry City Council will reconvene on Tuesday, September 10, at 7 p.m. to discuss further city developments and initiatives.

As the council continues to take proactive steps to improve the city’s infrastructure, residents can remain hopeful that these investments will promote a safer and more efficient environment.