H*4004 Concurrent Resolution, By Owens, Bikas, Hiott and Skelton

Similar(S 761)
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE EASLEY COMBINED UTILITIES,
 AND TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZATION, UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS CENTENNIAL
 ANNIVERSARY, FOR ITS DEDICATION IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY OF
 EASLEY.

   03/31/11  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 7)
   03/31/11  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 9)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE EASLEY COMBINED UTILITIES, AND TO CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZATION, UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, FOR ITS DEDICATION IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY OF EASLEY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that the Easley Combined Utilities will celebrate the milestone of its one hundredth anniversary on April 28, 2011; and

Whereas, in 1911, the City of Easley created the Municipal Waterworks System with a twenty thousand dollar bond issue and the Municipal Electric System with a nine thousand five hundred dollar bond issue and put them both under a Commission of Public Works; the sewer system was initially operated separately under the authority of the city; and

Whereas, in 1953, the city passed an ordinance that combined the Municipal Waterworks System and the Municipal Electric System into a Combined Utility System, and in 1959, another ordinance integrated the sewer system into the Combined Utility System and authorized a bond issue for the expansion of that system; and

Whereas, in the same year, Easley became the first city in South Carolina to install oxidation lagoons for the treatment of sewage when the Combined Utility System constructed six lagoons, and they remained in operation until 1987 when three activated sludge plants were built that improved treatment levels; and

Whereas, from the earliest days, water was provided by well and springs, and in the 1920s a water plant with a three MGD capacity was constructed which was followed by a new plant on Saluda Lake in 1970 with a nine MGD capacity and plant expansions in 2005 to treat twelve MGD and in 2007 with an eighteen MGD capacity; and

Whereas, in 1980, the Easley Combined Utilities, along with nine other cities, entered into a purchase contract to buy twenty-five percent of Catawba Nuclear Station Unit #2, thereby making it possible for the plant to be constructed and provide low-cost electric service for the economic development of the Upstate; and

Whereas, the only power provider in the area at the time, the Easley Combined Utilities responded to a request to provide electric service to the Dacusville schools even though the area lies six miles north of the Easley municipal limits; and

Whereas, the Easley Combined Utilities' investment in critical utility infrastructure over the years has allowed Easley and surrounding areas to experience healthy growth that has provided an increase in quality of life for all; and

Whereas, today the sewage system serves over ten thousand customers and treats almost 900 million gallons annually; the water system serves over thirteen thousand customers and treats 2,750 million gallons of water each year; and the electric service has almost fourteen thousand customers and sells 309,000,000 kWh a year; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for one hundred years of excellence set by the Easley Combined Utilities in serving the citizens of South Carolina and for the example it has set in bringing local people together for the benefit of all. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Easley Combined Utilities, and congratulate the organization, upon the occasion of its centennial anniversary, for its dedication in providing services to the community of Easley.