All About CEPSCI & Central
Concerned About Stormwater Runoff? Me Too. Plus: Monday's Work Session Agenda, Another Boys World Series Championship for Central-Clemson, and Cutting the Ribbon at the Bee's Knees.
Diving right in, I wanted to tell you about Ordinance #08-08-2022 – Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector. Now, that might sound boring. But it’s a game-changer for our growing community.
As many of you know—and have clearly communicated—one of the biggest issues facing the Town is stormwater runoff problems. Stormwater is a problem for any municipality, of course, but it is exacerbated in towns that are experiencing growth (like ours.) That’s because large-scale developments obviously require clearing large tracts of land. Trees and shrubs are nature’s way of absorbing rain and preventing erosion; once those are gone, water from rainfall has unimpeded access to surrounding creeks and rivers. Stormwater runoff can erode hillsides and deposit mud into waterways if it is not properly managed. That’s why, earlier this year, the Town hired Steve Henderson to serve as our Certified Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector (CEPSCI).
And that brings us back to the ordinance, which passed on first reading at our regular Town Council meeting on July 11. (You can read the language of the ordinance here.)
In layman’s terms, the new ordinance provides enforcement authority to our CEPSCI inspector. Once the ordinance is fully enacted…
all contractors and/or sub-contractors will have to meet with a Town’s CEPSCI official before they can begin grading a construction site;
a Town CEPSCI official will have the authority to go onto any construction site in Town limits to inspect the work being done;
a Town CEPSCI official will have the authority to stop any work being done that violates established erosion prevention and sediment control standards; and
contractors and/or subcontractors will have to fix any problems before being allowed to resume their work. (Read the document that will be provided to all contractors and/or subcontractors before construction begins.)
Ordinance #08-08-2022 – Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector is up for passage during the Regular Town Council meeting on August 8. It represents a major step toward ensuring growth is properly managed—and that developers are held accountable for their work.
(By the way, both Mr. Henderson and Assistant Town Administrator Tom Cloer have undergone South Carolina DHEC training and are now officially CEPSCI-certified by the state.)
Council will hold its monthly work session on Monday, August 1, beginning at 7 p.m.
As a reminder, work sessions are more informal (and, frankly, more informational) than Regular Town Council meetings. Members of the public are always welcomed at both meetings. Please feel free to attend and, when appropriate, share your thoughts with Council. (To read the work session agenda, click here.)
Congratulations to the Central-Clemson Tigers on their 2022 Dixie Junior Boys World Series Championship!
Our team, representing South Carolina, had to win consecutive games against Louisiana to bring home the title.
Coming into the final series, Louisiana was undefeated, at home, ranked #1 in the country and only one win away from the Championship. But on Tuesday night, Central-Clemson won the first game of the series, 12-6, to avoid elimination. Then, in a winner-take-all game on Wednesday morning, our Tigers defeated Louisiana, 5-2 … ending the game on a double-play.
Simply amazing. Congratulations Coach McKibben, Coach Ownbey, Manager Josh Runion and the entire Central-Clemson Rec 13U team for the storybook ending to your season and for capturing your second Dixie Junior Boys World Series Championship!
Finally, mark your calendars for Saturday, August 6, at noon.
That’s when Central’s newest small business—the Bee’s Knees Toys and Books—officially opens its doors. The Town is taking part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate. Congratulations, Samantha Wood! We’re excited to have the Bee’s Knees in Central and we salute your entrepreneurial spirit!
Andrew Beckner
Mayor
Town of Central, SC
abeckner@cityofcentral.org