County proceeding with purchase of 'Big Mill' site

Cherokee County Council approved payment of $2,825 for Florence and Hutchinson of Greenville to do an environmental survey of the old Gaffney Manufacturing site it hopes to purchase from Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, assistant county administrator Holland Belue said. The county will pay $1,200 for a boundary survey of the 17.4-acre property by Lavender, Smith and Associates.

The survey work is part of the county's efforts to determine whether the property is a suitable location for a proposed Cherokee County administration building. The county will pay for the surveys from a special revenue account created five years ago and earmarked for this specific type of project.

The Milliken property purchase was one of several issues tackled by county council

at Monday's meeting. Council also approved first reading of a new inducement agreement for The Timken Company in Gaffney.

The agreement would grant tax breaks for the plant that manufactures tapered roller bearings and would continue a 10-year fee-in-lieu tax agreement that is about to expire.

Council is considering a resolution for Timken to pay a 6 percent fee-in-lieu. Without the tax agreement, Timken would be taxed at a 10.5 percent assessment rate. The company has approximately 1,100 employees.

The fee agreement requires the company to pay certain fees instead of property taxes. The agreement requires three readings before it can be finalized.

"Timken's investment has substantially increased over the past 10 years," said Robert Galloway, legal counsel for Timken. "Our company is committed to Gaffney. This fee-in-lieu agreement will give the company incentive to continue our investment in Cherokee County."

County council agreed to assist DSE Inc. in the small ammunition manufacturer's efforts to acquire additional road access off Highway 329.

The Florida company is seeking access up to 931 feet of state-owned road as part of site plans for developing the former National Textile property into a manufacturing facility for small grenades, Belue said. The company plans to open later this fall and will employ as many as 215 people.