The town of Estill identified three priorities for its Community Development Block Grant at the public meeting held March 3. Barbara Johnson from Lowcountry Council of Governments was there to facilitate the meeting.
Although she opened up the floor to the public, only the council participated in the discussion. Council identified the following project priorities: infrastructure including water, sewer and roads; housing rehabilitation, and neighborhood revitalization.
Johnson also did a public hearing on the close out of the Bull Durham Center project. She said that the project was benefiting 2,484 people of low to moderate income. She said that $295,000 has been spent on the project.
Additionally, Johnson reported on a separate grant of $125,000 to rehabilitate homes in the community.
"Everyone needed and deserved it," said Johnson of the applicants. "Money and guidelines didn't allow us to do them all."

In other matters:
- Police Chief William Garvin reported in February there were: three arrests, 97 summonses issued, four complaints, 57 calls to service and 18 incident reports. He also reported that Milton Robinson left the department to "go on to better things." Garvin also said the department was applying for a grant for an additional officer and equipment for traffic control. He said he had six applicants for the vacant position with the department, but had narrowed it down to two applicants.
- Director of Safety and Recreation William Solomon reported that he worked on inventory for the month of February. He said the only thing left to complete the inventory was the vehicles. He said he made safety improvements to the public works department. He also said that public works was trained in a confined space class. He reported that the town had two accidents and already has a total of three accidents for this year. He said it was his goal to go 30 days without an accident and then to go 90 days without an incident.
- Fire Chief Gene Rushing reported that there were 22 calls. He said four were vehicle accidents, three alarms, one brush fire, four medical calls, one death, one landing zone for a helicopter and six public service calls. He said that the department was up until 2 a.m. when the snow storm hit clearing limbs and debris from off the roads. He reported that the Estill Fire Department has 19 firemen, but he said he is trying to get 22.
- Code Enforcement Director Richard Madison reported that he was working on business license inspections. He said he has inspected 21 businesses for the town and that Carolina Soya was an excellent inspection. He said the biggest problem with businesses was the E911 addresses and storage in from of electrical panels. He also said that many of the fire extinguishers needed to be serviced. Madison said all businesses required police, building and fire inspection and some needed DHEC inspection. Madison said he wanted to have all the businesses inspected by the end of March.
- Jackie Maxwell, who takes the minutes of the council meetings, gave the administrator's report for Danny Lucas and said 56 people in Estill passed the test to be census workers. One person in Luray was hired to run an assessment center. March 20 the Census will be at Tuten's IGA. CSX is holding trainings for police, fire and emergency personnel on March 19 and 20 for the counties of Allendale, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper.
- Gary Watkins with Watkins Associates Architects did a final report on the Bull Durham Building. He said the final paperwork was almost done. He reported that Atlantic Design and Construction needed to be paid in full $22,755 under their original contract. He said this disbursement was to be made upon completion of the project and that the project was competed. Councilwoman Rozia Burison said there needed to be a final inspection before payment.
- Council passed a Carolina Soya utility adjustment. Because a sewer meter was not properly calibrated, Carolina Soya was charged three times their normal bill.