Recognizing the importance of discarded oyster shells is one of the reasons Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) established its oyster shell recycling program in 2017. By building community support and key partnerships with restaurants, ReWa has contributed about 430,000 pounds to the state Department of Natural Resources oyster shell recycling and planting program.

Building a virtuous cycle

As a water resources utility, partnering with SCDNR’s South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement program was a natural fit for ReWa, according to Haley Denison, the ReWa watershed and natural resources specialist who coordinates the utility’s oyster shell recycling program.

In a very real sense, oysters perform a similar function to ReWa in filtering water and improving water quality. The animals inside oyster shells pull the nutrients they need to survive from the water surrounding them. At the individual level, the effect is tiny but multiplied by the hundreds and thousands of oysters that make up an oyster reef and the impact on water quality and the health of the surrounding ecosystem is profound.

“There are a lot of parallels,” Denison said. “(Oysters are) improving water quality, filtering up to 50 gallons a day from a single adult oyster once they’re mature.”

To many people, they’re also delicious.

Capitalizing on that fact was one of the reasons the Table 301 restaurant group opened The Jones Oyster Co. in late 2022. According to Steve Seitz, Table 301 vice president and chief operating officer, the restaurant and staff were committed from the start to recycling the thousands of discarded shells the restaurant generates every week.

But that would have been extremely hard, if not impossible, without ReWa’s shell recycling collection site near the intersection of Mauldin and Wenwood roads.

“I drive my pickup truck to the drop station up to three times a week on average,” Seitz said. “If it wasn’t available, I don’t know how we’d do it.”

Those three trips each week represent on average about 10,000-12,000 shells. The volume was so significant that ReWa had to significantly expand its drop-off site as soon as The Jones Oyster Co. started adding its shells to the program.

From the mountains to the sea

Even though Greenville is more than 200 miles from the coast, ReWa’s oyster recycling program represents a significant percentage of shells recycled through the SCORE program, according to Holly Sommers, SCDNR’s coordinator for the program.

Part of her job is educating the public about the critical importance of oyster shell recycling. Oysters need oyster shell to replenish themselves, Sommers said, and a healthy oyster reef is typically home to more than 120 species of fish and other marine animals.

Despite having one of the best shell recycling programs in the country, SCDNR has to purchase shells from shucking houses each year to accomplish its task of maintaining and replenishing oyster reefs all along South Carolina’s coast, Sommers said.

That’s expensive.

“(That’s why) it’s so important that we work with whoever we can throughout the state to recycle as much shell as possible,” she said.

But beyond collecting recycled oyster shells, ReWa staff and volunteers transport the shells to the coast and participate in reef builds. According to Denison, seeing how the shells are returned to the sea to sustain and bolster marine ecosystems underscores the interconnectedness of the entire water cycle.

“Just from working in the water industry, you learn pretty quickly how connected all of your actions and your network really can be,” she said.

She added that every reef build has been rewarding and that each time she and the other volunteers learn something new. They also enjoy meeting other volunteers from all over the Palmetto State.

“People are always fascinated to learn where the shells are coming from, that even up in Greenville we’re still recycling the shells,” Denison said. “They love to hear about the efforts we’re doing, so it’s a good community-building experience.”

Good to know:

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ oyster shell recycling and reef building program is funded through sale of saltwater recreational fishing licenses.

ReWa shell recycling, by the numbers

• Since it began in 2017, the program has recycled more than 429,495 pounds of oyster shells.
• ReWa volunteers used 13,125 pounds of shells collected this year for a reef build April 30 along Old Towne Creek in Charleston.

Why oyster recycling matters

According to SCDNR, the closure of most oyster canneries and shucking houses along the coast in recent decades has greatly reduced the amount of shells available to cultivate and restore the state’s oyster beds. Also, the increasing popularity of backyard oyster roasts and sale of by-the-bushel oysters have further reduced shell availability, as most of those shells tend to end up in a landfill.

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This will be the 39th annual celebration of cancer survivors and will bring together more than 25 local cancer support organizations in an event that is free and open to the public.

The day will feature refreshments and activities designed to celebrate survivors and share resources. Among the activities and features will be reiki, yoga, fly fishing lessons, therapy dogs, survivorship ribbons  and children’s princess visits.

For more information, visit cancersurvivorspark.org.

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Upstate soccer fans will probably never know all the effort, collaboration and sheer tenacity it took to propel a new soccer stadium from an idea to the actual structure taking shape at Mauldin’s BridgeWay Station, but they will get the chance to help define the impact of that space and guide its continuing evolution.

Placemaking

The vision for a home stadium for Greenville Pro Soccer’s clubs was, from the outset, bigger than creating just a soccer facility. That vision pulled in the interest and financial support of state and local governments to partner with the soccer clubs and private enterprise to make the facility a reality.

For Hughes Investments Inc. founder and CEO Phil Hughes, GE Vernova Park is in many ways a fulfillment of the vision behind BridgeWay Station.

“From our first conversations with the City of Mauldin and Greenville Pro Soccer to now, we have been setting the stage for this milestone moment: the first home match at GE Vernova Park,” Hughes said. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside these incredible partners and building memories at BridgeWay Station for many seasons to come.”

Although fraught with challenges and unexpected hurdles, the years-long process of bringing the stadium to life has been hugely rewarding, said Ryan Peiffer, VP of development at Hughes Investments.

Even more rewarding is the prospect that fans and other visitors to the stadium and BridgeWay Station will shape the character of both and build community that will extend far beyond game days, Peiffer said.

“GE Vernova Park will change the way people experience BridgeWay Station, and it will provide a true gathering place for the community – a place where families create memories, friends come together, and the energy of the Upstate can be experienced year-round,” Peiffer said.

Believing in that broader vision and impact is one of the reasons GE Vernova became a partner in the stadium and secured naming rights. Investing in the community GE Vernova’s employees call home and where they spend so much of their time and energy was important to the company and its people, said Jason Reagan, GE Vernova Greenville Plant Leader.

“We’re proud that GE Vernova Park will carry that same energy by bringing people together, creating lasting memories and celebrating the pride we all share in this community and the people who make it special,” Reagan said.

The stadium also represents a significant investment for the City of Mauldin and is an emblem of the city’s commitment to improve the quality of life of its citizens, said Taft Matney, the city’s mayor pro tempore and chairman of city council’s economic planning and development committee.

“GE Vernova Park is a tremendous example of what can happen when public and private sectors come together around a shared vision,” Matney said. “This multi-use stadium gives the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty a permanent home, creates a new destination for residents and visitors, and strengthens Mauldin’s position as a hub for sports, entertainment and economic development.”

Soccer’s promise

Soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty teams have built a devoted and enthusiastic fan base over the years.

Ensuring those fans have the best possible experience at GE Vernova Park is among the teams’ highest priorities, according to Zach Prince, club general manager and sporting director.

While the stadium will not be completely finished on opening day, it will give fans a satisfying taste of what it will become and how important it is to the future of local soccer, Prince said. “Soccer is a vehicle to drive community and positivity in the community.”

Prince said part of his vision for both soccer and the stadium will create an environment where it’s common for people to “high-five a stranger.” He added this is the type of energy and atmosphere the Triumph and Liberty teams want to create for their home stadium.

A great deal of thought and effort has gone into the various elements that will shape fan experience during games, from the caliber of the seating and the type of food on offer to what’s being displayed on the scoreboard and how long people have to stand in line, said Prince.

“While the space is still very much under construction, I want people to understand we’re not using that as a crutch and saying…it’s going to be great,” Prince said. “We want to make it great right now.”

For more information or tickets to upcoming games, visit greenvilletriumph.com.

GE Vernova Park fast facts

Besides being the home to the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty soccer teams, the multi-use stadium will also host concerts, festivals and other community gatherings. The stadium:

• Is owned by the City of Mauldin, which contributed about $4.5 million toward its cost
• Features 4,006 seats but will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 visitors for non-sports events through on-field activation
• Will be operated by Hat Trick Properties LLC, a company created by Greenville Pro Soccer

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Initial approval: $91.5M budget

On a 5-2 vote, council approved first reading of an ordinance establishing a $91.5 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, which includes $61.1 million for the general fund through which most of the city’s operations are funded.

The proposed budget maintains the city’s current property tax millage at 111.0 mills. The budget represents a 4.4% increase in expenses over the current fiscal year budget, while the value of a mill has increased 9.9%, generating an estimated $334,605 in property tax revenue per mill.

The proposed budget includes $1.55 million for 22 new staff positions across 10 departments, as well as funding for a 2.8% cost-of-living increase in staff pay.

During a lengthy discussion, several council members expressed a desire to amend the budget to include a millage decrease. Council member Wryley Bettis proposed an amendment to reduce the millage by 2 mills, which would total about $668,000. That amendment was defeated. Council member Charles Lander subsequently offered an amendment to lower the millage by one mill, but that measure was also voted down.

Council member Jay Arrowood proposed an amendment that would freeze technology funding pending a council discussion on how data the city collects is used and protected. He cited specific concerns about cameras and the use of facial recognition software. That amendment was also voted down.

On a motion to approve the budget as presented, council members Bettis and Lander voted against approval. Council members Arrowood, Karuiam Booker, Mark Hopper and Paul Lamb joined Mayor Rick Danner in voting to approve.

Council is expected to consider second and final reading of the budget ordinance during its June 9 meeting. A budget must be approved before the current fiscal year ends June 30.

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The successful effort to assemble several parcels along the Saluda River in the historic and rapidly growing Piedmont community was announced May 26 in a ceremony at the site.

According to the trust, the project represents its smallest but most complex conservation effort to date, which took the past two years to achieve.

The project involved assembling 12 acres across numerous parcels in the heart of Piedmont’s historic mill village along the Saluda River in southern Greenville County.

The parcels include:

• Two former FEMA flood buyout parcels located within the floodway
• A donated easement provided by the former textile mill property owners
• The acquisition of approximately 6 acres from a private family

Financing for the six-acre acquisition was made possible through a grant from GCHNRT, matching funds from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, private support from the Community Foundation of Greenville and additional support from the New Leaf Fund, which was established by Greenville native and longtime New York City parks planner Lea Rohrbaugh.

About four acres of the total are owned by Greenville County, which is in the process of transferring ownership to the Piedmont Public Service District as part of its efforts to develop recreational opportunities in Piedmont.

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Introduced: $473.9M budget

Council introduced for first reading an ordinance establishing a $473.9 total budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which includes $286.6 million for the general fund.

The proposed budget is slightly lower than the current fiscal year total of $477.2 million but higher for the current general fund budget of $275.1 million.

Council will have to approve three readings for the budget to take effect before the end of the fiscal year June 30. Council is also likely to hold a number of budget workshops with the first scheduled for May 21.

Among the proposals included in the budget are an average 2.5% pay increase for all county employees with an additional 2.5% for public safety workers. The proposal also includes about $27 million for road maintenance.

The budget ordinance was approved by the Committee of the Whole without discussion during a meeting prior to the main council session.

Discussed: Penny tax for roads

Council appears to be ready to revisit a local option sales tax for roads following council member Curt McGahhey (District 21) advising council at a meeting earlier this spring that he intended to bring the matter back before council this year.

The council’s roads, infrastructure and public works committee took the first step on that path Tuesday afternoon following a discussion of the necessity of finding more money for the county’s deteriorating roads.

McGahhey, who chairs the committee, said the matter required urgent action following the General Assembly’s passage of a bill that would extend the ability to impose a local option sales tax for capital projects to the state’s municipalities. The governor signed the bill — S.866 — into law May 19.

McGahhey told his fellow committee members he felt extremely confident the City of Greenville would take advantage of the law and that if it passed such a tax the chances of the county being able to pass its own local option tax for roads would be effectively zero. He said this year would likely be the county’s last chance for a penny road tax.

The committee directed county staff to prepare a draft ordinance for a local option transportation tax before its next meeting in June.

Such a measure would face an extremely tight timeline as it would have to be passed before August in order for it to appear as a referendum question for county voters on November’s ballot.

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Approved: Funding for pavement preservation program

Council approved spending a total of $440,598 this year as part of a pavement preservation program begun in 2022.

The funding will cover treatment with two separate products designed to prolong the life of asphalt on city streets. About 7.6 miles of streets will be treated with a product called Reclamite by Westlake, Ohio-based Pavement Technology Inc., the only company licensed in South Carolina to apply the product. The cost for this will be $125,218.

The second product is a pavement sealer called HA5 and will be applied to streets in the Country Club Crossing, Heather Hills, Highland Parc, Creekside Landing, Orchard Crest, Woodgrove and Maplewood subdivisions, and one street in Hampton Ridge subdivision. The work will be done by Floraida-based Holbrook Asphalt and cost $315,380.

In describing the work and the logic behind using the specific products, Assistant City Engineer Nathan Jackson said the treatments can extend the life of pavement by between four and seven years by replenishing the oils in the asphalt and sealing the pavement so those oils are retained longer. The process is significantly cheaper than repaving a street, he said.

“Our dollars are going a lot farther with this process,” Jackson said.

Approved: Utility revenue bonds for CPW

Council voted 4-3 to approve second and final reading of an ordinance authorizing the Commission of Public Works to issue up to $33 million in utility revenue bonds for maintenance and capacity upgrades to CPW’s water and wastewater systems. 

Due to the nature of CPW’s creation, council’s approval is required for such measures although the city and its taxpayers will not be legally or financially responsible for the debt. City Administrator Andy Merriman explained this to council prior to first reading and reiterated the point prior to the final vote.

Council members Jay Arrowood, Karuiam Booker and Wryley Bettis again voted against the measure and expressed disgruntlement at the necessity of council taking action on a process they had no involvement in or control over.

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He is survived by his wife, Anita; three daughters and a granddaughter.

A Charlotte, North Carolina, native and 1979 graduate of Appalachian State University, Humphries began his broadcasting career that same year at WSOC, the ABC affiliate in Charlotte, where he worked for 18 years in a variety of roles.

From 1997 to 2012 he worked in several sales roles for WSPA in Spartanburg, WBTV in Charlotte and Greenville’s WYFF. From 2012 to 2016, he served as president and general manager at WGAL, the Hearst Television NBC affiliate in Lancaster, PA.

In 2016, Humphries returned to Greenville to become WYFF’s president and general manager, a role he held until his retirement in December 2024.

Humphries served in a number of leadership roles with professional associations, including stints as president of the board of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and the SCBA Educational Foundation. He also served on the boards of United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of the Upstate and South Carolina Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In a news release announcing Humphries’ death, WYFF 4 President and General Manager Blake Bridges said words were inadequate to express the shock and loss the WYFF family was experiencing.

“(John) was so much more than a boss, a mentor, and leader to us,” Bridges said. “John was our friend, our cheerleader, our biggest fan. He led by example, with courage, empathy, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence. He was truly one of a kind. We are grateful for the privilege and blessing to have known and loved him. Rest in peace, John.”

Bill Ellis, a classmate of Humphries at ASU and who forms half of the Ellis and Bradley Morning Show on WSSL 100.5, said his and Humphries’ paths crossed numerous times over the past 50 years.

“He once told me, ‘I always wanted to be you. I just wasn’t good enough.’ Truthfully, it was he who set the high standard at everything he did,” Ellis said. “John was kind, thoughtful and a true gentleman. I’ve never known a better person.”

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Introduced: Measure to donate land for recreation

Council introduced for first reading an ordinance that would donate county-owned land to the Piedmont Public Service District for the purpose of creating recreation opportunities in the rapidly growing Piedmont community.

The parcel being considered is 3.7 acres located in the area of Ridge Row and Langston streets near the Saluda River in Piedmont.

During a brief discussion on the matter, Chairman Benton Blount (District 19) explained the measure was similar to action the council took last fall donating land to the public service district to build a new headquarters fire station.

Council will have to approve two further readings of the ordinance before the property transfer could take place.

Discussed: Paris Mountain residents urge burning, fireworks ban

Several residents of Paris Mountain urged council to consider options to mitigate wildfire risks in their community. The residents spoke during the public comment portion at the end of the meeting, which is not restricted to items on the agenda.

Specifically, they asked council to consider enacting bans on open burning and on fireworks within the environmentally sensitive Paris Mountain community, which contains about 500 residents and Paris Mountain State Park.

They said the matter was urgent considering the ongoing drought across much of South Carolina.

In the following requests and motions portion of the meeting, council member Liz Seman (District 24) suggested the matter should be put on an upcoming public safety committee agenda.

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The awards recognize outstanding performance across a range of areas, including facility and collection system operations, regulatory compliance, operator certifications, geographic information system mapping and asset management, among others.

ReWa has earned Facility Excellence awards consistently since their creation in 2007. SCDES presents the awards in partnership with the Water Environment Association of South Carolina. 

ReWa water resource recovery facilities recognized with the award include: Durbin Creek. Georges Creek, Gilder Creek, Lower Reedy, Marietta, Mauldin Road, North Greenville University, Pelham and Piedmont Regional.

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Approved: Greer City Hall renovations bid

Council approved a $128,000 bid for an interior renovation project in City Hall that involves converting a storage room and small conference room into office space to accommodate the city’s growing staff. The project is funded through the current fiscal year’s general fund budget. For that reason, the project work is required to be completed before the fiscal year ends June 30.

In explaining the project to council, procurement and grants supervisor Rosalyn Carcamo said the tight turnaround time rendered two of the three responsive bidders ineligible since their bids involved the work extending beyond the end of the fiscal year deadline.

The winning bid from Fountain Inn-based P + F Construction LLC was for $127,999 and was about $12,000 more than the next lowest bid and nearly double the lowest bid. Council questioned the wisdom of requiring projects to be completed by the end of the fiscal year if the impact of a tight schedule was to drive up the cost of a project.

During the discussion, Deputy City Administrator Mike Sell said staff was looking at changing budget and accounting policy to accommodate capital projects that may be budgeted in one fiscal year but completed and paid for in a succeeding fiscal year.

First reading: CPW revenue bond ordinance

Council voted 4-3 to approve first reading of an ordinance authorizing the Commission of Public Works to issue up to $33 million in utility revenue bonds for maintenance and capacity upgrades to CPW’s water and wastewater systems.

In explaining to council the nature of the work, CPW General Manager Marc Regier said the projects being funded were expected to cost about $22 million and were being undertaken before the need was critical and before the cost of the work inevitably increased.

During a lengthy discussion, council members questioned the necessity of their involvement since the projects and debt were approved by CPW without council’s involvement and without apparently obligating city taxpayers to repay the debt in the event of default. 

City Administrator Andy Merriman explained the ordinance before council was an administrative requirement left over from the language in the state legislation that governs how CPW operates, specifically related to debt.

Council members Jay Arrowood, Karuiam Booker and Wryley Bettis voted against the measure. A second and final reading, expected in May, must be approved before the ordinance can take effect.

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The vast majority of cases, 940, were centered in Spartanburg County, but cases were also confirmed in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, Lancaster, Cherokee and Sumter counties.

The outbreak began in October last year, and the last confirmed case related to it was reported on March 15. State public health officials cited decreasing measles/mumps rubella (MMR) vaccination rates in recent years as a major driver of the outbreak.

Measles outbreak impacts

That fact is underscored by DPH data on the vaccination status of those who contracted measles during the outbreak which showed of the 997 cases, 932 occurred in people who were unvaccinated.

Other outbreak data points include:

• 264 cases occurred in children aged 5 and under
• 639 occurred in people aged 5-17
• 87 occurred in people 18 or older
• 33 schools in 7 school districts impacted by measles exposures with 874 students asked to quarantine
• More than 1,670 calls made by investigators
• $2.1 million estimated outbreak cost to the state (direct costs for DPH response)

According to DPH, 42 days were required to elapse with no new measles cases reported before the outbreak could be declared ended. That period of time is double the incubation period for measles and provides a clear indication the virus transmission chain has been broken.

Positive signs

One positive development in the face of the outbreak has been a noticeable uptick in vaccination rates during the six months of the outbreak, both locally and across the state, according to DPH.

In Spartanburg County where the outbreak originated and was largely focused, 3,788 more MMR vaccines were administered than the prior year — a 93.6% increase. Across the Upstate, 14,745 more vaccines were administered (82.4% increase), and statewide 81,096 more doses were given (31.3% increase).

The state was also fortunate that despite the magnitude of the outbreak, cases remained largely confined to one county, according to Brannon Traxler, DPH deputy director of health promotion and services and chief medical officer.

Traxler spoke about lessons learned during the final DPH media briefing on the outbreak held April 27.

She said DPH believes the outbreak ended as soon as it did for three main reasons:

• Those infected developed natural immunity
• The vast majority of people infected followed public health directives to isolate and quarantine
• There was a significant increase in the number of people vaccinated during the outbreak, with January and February 2026 seeing record numbers of vaccinations

“The outbreak is over, but our work to understand and prevent measles and future outbreaks is not,” Traxler said. “We believe our outbreak response team did a tremendous job under really unprecedented conditions, but there are always things that we can learn from and improve on … with future responses.”

Traxler said there remain pockets all over South Carolina where populations remain vulnerable to future outbreaks due to low rates of protection from vaccination or natural immunity, and DPH will continue close monitoring for signs of a new outbreak.

Measles cases by county

• Spartanburg — 940
• Greenville — 36
• Anderson — 8
• Pickens — 6
• Lancaster — 4
• Cherokee — 2
• Sumter — 1

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Proposed: $473.5M budget for fiscal year 2027

Council got its initial look at the 2027 fiscal year budget proposal of $473.5 million at its Committee of the Whole meeting prior to the main council meeting.

County Administrator Joe Kernell provided a high-level overview of the budget proposal to the council and highlighted several elements of the $286.6 million general fund budget, including:

• An average 2.5% salary increase for all employees with an additional 2.5% increase for public safety positions
• $27.5 million for the county’s road program
• $21.94 million for capital projects
• $1 million for affordable housing
• $1.5 million for the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust
• $3.1 million for economic development programs

Since this was the council’s first look at the administration’s spending proposal, no action was taken. During a brief discussion, council expressed the desire to ensure the budget document included language reflecting council’s recent statement of strategic priorities.

Chairman Benton Blount (District 19) said in the coming days he would schedule budget work sessions where council members would be able to offer input on the spending plan.

Council must approve the three required readings for a budget ordinance before the fiscal year ends June 30.

Approved: Resolution opposing SCDOT restructuring

Council unanimously approved a resolution expressing Greenville County Council’s opposition to a bill moving through the South Carolina House of Representatives that, among other things, could transfer state roads to counties and municipalities.

The resolution opposes House Bill 5071, specifically language amending Section 12, Chapter 5, Title 57 of the state code of laws proposing the transfer of “non-essential” state roads to local jurisdictions.

Although the bill’s current language suggests the transfer would have to be agreed to by both parties, council’s concern is counties like Greenville would be saddled with thousands of miles of road maintenance needs without the funding to pay for it.

Instead, the resolution contends, the bill would give counties and municipalities “permission” to raise property taxes to pay for roads, thus transferring the political cost of such a move from the state to local elected leaders.

While the resolution is not binding, it is intended to convey to state lawmakers Greenville County Council’s formal opposition to H.5071.

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DPH’s laboratory confirmed on April 15 that a brown and black German shepherd found near La Paz Street and Los Cabos Lane in Pendleton tested positive for rabies.

The four people exposed have been referred to their health care providers. The exposed dog has been put in quarantine as required by state law.

Anyone who suspects they may have come into contact with the rabid dog should contact DPH’s Anderson County office at 864-372-3270 during normal business hours.

Rabies is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. South Carolina sees on average about 150 cases of rabies each year. So far in 2026, DPH has confirmed 24 cases with five of those occurring in Anderson County.

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Approved: Accommodations tax grants

Council approved allocating about $322,000 in accommodations tax grant funding to various organizations for events, festivals and other activities that draw visitors to Greer.

In briefing council on the grant requests, city finance director Christopher Kline explained that state law mandates accommodations tax revenue, which is derived from a tax on hotel and lodging accommodations, must be spent on tourism-related activities and must be spent within two years of collection.

The grant recommendations were approved by the city’s Accommodations Tax Committee for advertising and programming, which are two uses specified under state law.

Council approved 11 advertising grants totaling $121,630 for promoting a number of events, including Greer Farmers Market, Jubilee food, wine and culture festival, the city’s Dia de los Muertos festival, and the Greer Arts & Eats festival.

Council also approved 11 programming grants totaling $200,316 for a number of events, including:

• $40,000 to the Greer Chamber of Commerce for the Greer Arts & Eats festival
• $20,437 to Greer Parks, Recreation and Tourism for Freedom Blast
• $25,000 to South Carolina Charities Inc. for the BMW Charity ProAm ParTee on Trade
• $25,026 to Any  Given Supper in partnership with White Wine Butter for Jubilee: a food, wine and culture festival

Approved: Subdivision streets added to city inventory

Council approved a trio of resolutions accepting streets in the Vines Creek, Donahue Hills and Chartwell Estates subdivisions into the city road inventory.

The roads in Vines Creek are Bowfin Street, Vines Creek Drive, Hickory Shad Court and Redear and Redfin roads. The roads in Donahue Hills are Nadine Way, Cyndis Lane and Donhill, Algeddis and Alvin Pond drives. In Chartwell Estates, Chartwell Drive was added to the city road system.

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