City splits on church’s request

Gaffney City Council’s political divisions came to the surface again during a vote Monday to relocate a stormwater drain.

By a 4-3 vote, council members approved Bethel Baptist Church’s request for the city to move one of its stormwater drains about 300 feet.

Councilman Tom Reid said the drain is causing stormwater to be dumped onto church property. The drain is also located on the site of the church’s proposed addition.

“It’s a problem created by the city and state,” Reid said.

But councilman Wayne Ramsey, who along with councilmen Dennis Ramsey and Billy Love opposed the motion, said he was concerned the city would be in violation of state law by working on private property.

Ramsey made a motion to table the project until the city received an opinion from the attorney general’s office. The motion failed by a 4-3 vote.

Love and Dennis Ramsey said they questioned moving forward since there was no estimate on the cost of the project.

Council’s action could also raise an ethics concern since Reid, who serves on the Bethel Baptist Church’s Building Committee, voted in favor of the project.

State Ethics Commission Director Herb Hayden was unavailable for comment due to illness.