County council approves plan to place EMS unit back in Joanna

The Laurens County Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting Monday night to close an emergency medical services gap in Joanna and the southern-most part of the county.

Council Vice-Chairman Jeff Carroll, who also chairs the council’s emergency services committee, made a motion to spend existing funds to hire three paramedics and purchase a quick response vehicle (QRV) that will be based in Joanna.

“We have an existing facility that we used prior, and we have an existing procurement of a QRV that can be delivered in 30-to-60 days, so we have the pieces necessary to put in a QRV response,” Carroll said. “It’s an advanced-level paramedic response in that community within in our current, existing budget with no increases.”

The three new paramedics are also budgeted, he said.

Joanna residents were left without a dedicated EMS unit over the past couple of years, so emergency services beyond the town’s active volunteer fire department have been dispatched from Clinton.

Carroll said the county previously had problems staffing EMS units in Joanna.

With the approval of the motion, administrators will be tasked with hiring three new paramedics to serve the town and surrounding areas.

The approved measure also set in motion plans to locate an ambulance station in Mountville that can serve Cross Hill, Joanna and other areas in southern Laurens County.

“We would determine the most appropriate (location) with collaboration of our EMS leadership, our administration and with our 911 call center to find out where they need to be best located,” Carroll said. “Then we would have an opportunity to have an ambulance somewhere geographically, strategically placed to be able to cover both of those areas (Joanna and Cross Hill) while they have (advanced life support) immediate response (with the QRVs), then we can have an ambulance when they actually need them.”

In other action Monday:

• Council voted 4-1-2 to approve first reading of a fireworks ordinance in response to complaints to residents in rural northern Laurens County who say their horses and other livestock has been endangered by fireworks.

The ordinance requires permission by the livestock owner to be granted before fireworks can be set off within 1,200 feet of any enclosure actively holding livestock.

Residents in the Happy Valley Road area in Fountain Inn said July 4 revelers shot fireworks near their horses, injuring at least one of the animals.

The ordinance also outlines punishments as $500 fine for first offense, $750 for second and $1,000 for third.

Councilman Luke Rankin voted against the ordinance, saying that he believed a state statute allowing for fireworks-free declarations as sufficient.

• Council approved third-and-final reading addressing the sale of county-owned property to King Asphalt for $120,000.

The 24.07-acre parcel is located near Steralite on Charlottes Road in Clinton.

King Asphalt, based in Liberty, operates 10 asphalt plants in South Carolina, including plants in Anderson, Simpsonville, McConnells, Pacolet and Rock Hill.

Council voted 6-1 for approval with District 6 council member Diane Anderson voting against, saying she wanted more information.

• Council unanimously approved third-and-final reading of an ordinance that revises the county’s former rules for mobile homes and mobile home parks.

The new ordinance more clearly defines “stick-built” and mobile homes and restricts mobile homes from being placed in subdivisions where 50% or more of the homes are stick-built homes.

Council unanimously approved third-and-final reading of an ordinance addressing improvements of Happy Valley Road in the Fountain Inn area.

The improvements are designed to increase safety and accessibility for motorists and local residents.