By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon City Council discussed several different matters at their council meeting on Monday night.
Items discussed included:
– Mayor Todd Davis said he received calls about a strong odor in town on Thursday and Friday.  Davis was informed that there was no problem with the lines.
– Davis said the pigeons around the Chamber of Commerce are causing a major problem on MacArthur Avenue.  Having them caught is quite expensive, and even if they are taken away, they may come back.
– The old fence and poles at the tennis courts have been taken down.  No decisions have been made on what to do there, and ideas are welcomed.
– The soccer program had one of the biggest sign-ups that they have had in a long time.
– The city is going to prepare a qualifications proposal for the racquetball courts for the wellness center and sending it out.  They are asking for them to be returned by October 15th.  They are looking at the possibility of two courts.  City Manager Glen Wagner, Todd Hayes and an FBi representative looked at three racquetball facilities in Florence.
– Wagner is working with Lonnie Dye of DHEC to try to help find grants to help with the infrastructure possibly from rural development.  COG (Council of Governments) has no money at this time.
– Code Enforcement Officer Benny Genwright is working on an ordinance to address political signs.  He will send it to SCDOT to see if it meets the guidelines and then to planning and zoning.  It will likely be before council on November or December, and council will decide when it will become effective.
– No proposals were received by the city on the buildings donated to them by Dilmar.  The roof on the old Belk building is holding water, and the building was broken into at least once during the last month.  A great deal of money will have to be spent to do anything with them.
– Three city employees have retired: Jerry Richardson-Fire Department, Ernest Church- Water and Sewer Department, and Eddie McDuffie- Beautification Department.
– There is an $822,000 balance on the hot meals tax collections.
The city expects to have close to $1 million by the time the payment is due on the wellness center.
– The council approved the following ordinance readings:
* Ordinance #10-10: Prohibit and restrict inappropriate materials in the historic district.
* Ordinance #10-11: Annexation of the Dan and Alice Hamer property at 613 E. Palmetto Street.