City proceeds with drain study

Mandret WIlkins points out the storm water drainage pipe that Bethel Baptist Church officials claim is dumping water onto their property.

Ledger Staff Writer

An engineering firm should begin performing an independent study on the city’s controversial Bethel Baptist Church project some time this week.

Gaffney Administrator James Taylor said Tuesday he’s considering two engineering firms for the study.

At its most recent meeting, Gaffney City Council voted to curtail plans to relocate a stormwater drain that’s on church property until an independent study was conducted.

The study will determine if the city is responsible for the flow of water onto church property.

By a 4-3 vote in January, council members approved Bethel Baptist Church’s request for the city to move one of its stormwater drain’s about 300 feet. Church officials said they need the line moved to accommodate an expansion project. No cost estimate has been determined for the project.

At council’s Feb. 7 meeting, councilman Wayne Ramsey, who along with councilmen Dennis Ramsey and Billy Love opposed the original motion, distributed a letter from the state attorney general’s office that stated it was illegal for the city to pay for the work on private property.

According to the letter, Ramsey told the attorney general that “no city street stormwater goes into this system.”

But Mayor Henry Jolly and councilman Johnny Little disputed that assertion.

Councilman Bernard Smith then called for an amendment that authorized an independent study to settle the disagreement.