Lake Wylie recreation tax district ballot approved

York County Council during its July 18 meeting certified the petition to put a Lake Wylie recreation tax decision to voters Nov. 8.

The ballot will ask residents if a special tax district should be formed known as the Lake Wylie Parks and Recreation District. Council would determine the tax rate, not to exceed 10 mills per year, with a tax district board setting “reasonable user service charges” to provide for operations and maintenance.

County debt on the park to be funded by the tax couldn’t exceed $7 million in construction, $400,000 for annual operations expenses.

Now, the committee behind the park plan will reach out to residents meeting with school and community groups, and plans for two large public forums.

“We have a job to do to get the correct message out to the people who are going to vote,” said committee member Kim Trainer.

One forum is tentatively set for Aug. 24. The park committee applied to hold a 7 p.m. meeting at Oakridge Middle School, and was awaiting on final approval as of press time Friday. Another is expected in the fall, within weeks of the final vote.

Council in December approved $2.45 million in hospitality tax money for the park on 50 acres at Crowders Creek, with a condition. Residents had to petition for and approve the special tax district, similar to others such as for fire service. Council received and finalized a petition for the special tax district June 20. Lake Wylie residents will decide whether to charge themselves, with resulting revenue paying for more than half of an $8 million complex on county-owned land along Crowders Creek.

According to the county voter registration and elections office, more than 16,000 registered voters will decide. A map of the voting area, the same area to be taxed if the vote passes during the general election Nov. 8, reaches south to the Allison Creek area, north to the state line, east to the lake, and west to Griggs and Lincoln roads.

Park supporters estimate the cost at $16 per year on a $100,000 home, or $24 on commercial property of the same value.

The park would feature three baseball/softball fields with 300-foot fences and lighting of synthetic turf infields and grass outfields; three lighted synthetic surface multipurpose fields at 120 yards long, used mainly for soccer, lacrosse and football; a press box and concession building; 18-hole disc golf course; playground; two concrete basketball courts; paved walking trails; a maintenance building; and 450 parking spaces.

Other actions impacted the area include:

▪ Council approved up to $26,000 for an updated master plan at Ebenezer Park in Rock Hill. The park offers public swimming and recreation on Lake Wylie, and is a common launch point for fishing tournaments. In May, Council chose ADC Engineering out of Greenville to develop the plan.

In June, the county received only one bid for a shoreline stabilization at the park despite soliciting more than 300 vendors. The bid from a Columbia group was more than $281,000, which is almost $50,000 more than the county budgeted. Council rejected that bid July 18.

The move will, according to the county staff recommendation, “allow adequate time for staff to evaluate the plans and specifications for cost-cutting measures prior to readvertising for bid.”

According to the county, the park has seen “substantial erosion” the past 28 years, due to wind, boat traffic and stormwater runoff from the parking lot. A survey found the shoreline eroded 40 feet since the early 1960s, creating shallow water along the shoreline and into the lake.

▪ Council officially added Creighton Hayes to the county hospitality tax advisory committee. Hayes will represent Dist. 5, which covers parts of the Fort Mill and Rock Hill areas. The county hospitality tax is a charge on food and drink in unincorporated areas used to fund tourism projects, with unincorporated Fort Mill and Lake Wylie contributing the most annually.

▪ Council approved the nomination of Tea Hoffmann to the Bethel Fire Tax Board. That board, similar to the one that would be created for the recreation tax district, makes funding decisions for fire service in the Lake Wylie area. It oversees the special fire tax Lake Wylie residents voted to impose on themselves for service.

▪ Council voted to allow filming for “Outcast” at county properties through the end of the year. The 2016 Cinemax drama series debut already held past filmings throughout the county. A new venue agreement doesn’t name specific sites, but allows Ficus Tree Productions to use county government properties “that may be suitable for the services needed.” The agreement does note the county registration and elections office would have limited availability during the general election season. The agreement allowed filming beginning July 18, and notes it will occur “intermittently” through the end of 2016.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Lake Wylie recreation tax district ballot approved."