Environmental tests reveal no 'red flags' for county's plan to buy 'Big Mill' site

The latest round of environmental tests apparently turned up no red flags to cause the county to re-think its plans to acquire the 17.4- acre "Big Mill" site from Milliken.

Cherokee County Assistant Administrator Holland Belue said the test results have been sent to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for a final review.

"There was nothing in the report that appeared negative to me," Belue said.

The tests were conducted to determine the existence of contaminants on the site. The assessment also exempts the county from liability if contaminants are discovered in the future.

Milliken is funding the latest phase of the environmental testing.

Belue said he hopes to have DHEC's final environmental report in time for the Cherokee County Council meeting scheduled for mid-January.

Belue has said that, if things go according to plan, demolition of the existing structures on the site could begin early this year.

The county plans to build a new administration center on the 17.4-acre site.

The county will fund the project partly with an estimated $3.5 million in tax revenue it has set aside. The remaining cost will be financed with bonds, Belue said.

The county plans to spend $435,000 to purchase the site and recoup up to $100,000 of that amount by selling three acres of the property to the City of Gaffney for use as a park.