City plans grand celebration for 150th anniversary

The City of Westminster is gearing up for its 150th anniversary celebration next year, with plans to enhance community festivities through additional funding and equipment purchases. During a recent council meeting, officials discussed securing a $10,000 grant from the Municipal Association, which will be used to purchase approximately 50 new banners and hanging equipment. This funding complements a recent $45,100 allocation from Oconee County aimed at supporting the anniversary programming.

In addition to the celebration preparations, the council addressed the need for new utility equipment. Due to ongoing supply chain issues, previous orders for essential vehicles were canceled, leading to a decision to utilize unspent funds from earlier lease purchase agreements. The council approved a plan to allocate approximately $260,000 from these funds to acquire necessary equipment for the utility department, including a mini excavator and a Ford truck. This strategic move aims to take advantage of lower interest rates on the existing funds, thereby reducing future budgetary pressures.

Furthermore, the council approved a maintenance and management service agreement with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, enhancing collaboration and ensuring timely responses to outages. This agreement is expected to strengthen the city's electric system and improve service reliability.

Lastly, the council awarded a bid to Davis Power Solutions for the installation of generators at key city facilities, funded through FEMA allocations. This initiative aims to ensure continued operations during power outages, with the project expected to remain under budget, allowing for additional enhancements such as fencing for noise and privacy.

These discussions reflect the city's proactive approach to community engagement and infrastructure improvement as it prepares for a significant milestone in its history.