By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Staff Writer

Council unanimously agreed to place a moratorium on stormwater projects located on private property until it completes a study of its stormwater policy.

Stormwater projects became a hot-button issue recently when Bethel Baptist Church requested the city move a 30-inch pipe to make way for an expansion project.

The controversy ended last week when city attorney Fulton Ross concurred with the State Ethics Commission opinion that it would be a conflict of interest for councilman Tom Reid to vote on the matter since he serves as a church deacon.

Without Reid, council didn’t have the votes to relocate the drain pipe.

On Monday, Gaffney Administrator James Taylor sought council’s input on establishing guidelines for future stormwater projects. He told council that in years past the city installed and repaired pipes bought by property owners.

“We need a better policy as it relates to stormwater drain systems,” Taylor told council.

Councilman Wayne Ramsey, who sought the State Ethics Commission’s opinion to block the Bethel Baptist Church project, made a motion to stop the city from performing all work on private property.

Reid responded by saying he wanted it made public the city recently performed work on private property.

“After all the controversy and just this past week it was done again,” he said.

Taylor explained he approved the project on Briarwood Drive, where crews repaired a pipe that had split.

“I authorized it because it was repairing where a pipe separated in a drainage area,” he said.

Councilman Billy Love, who opposed the Bethel Baptist church project, said he had no knowledge the stormwater project was being done in his district.