The Severy City Council meets monthly on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The following report was generated from the approved minutes of the Dec. 1 meeting minutes, which were approved at a recent meeting.
The Dec. 1 Severy City Council meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Donna Wiss, with council members Marc Warren, Lyle Riggs, Ron Robert and Rodger Kraft present. Also present were Clerk Tessa Riggs, Treasurer Madelyn McClendon via Zoom, City Attorney William McClendon and Water Superintendent Paul Schmidt. Council member Kevin Klepper was absent. Guests included Ed Cornett and Jerrid Baumgartel.
The Pledge of Allegiance was cited and roll called.
The council approved the November 2025 meeting minutes, bills and treasurer’s report, as presented.
Water Superintendent Schmidt reported that all the hydrant flushing is complete for now. Schmidt also noted the chlorine reader is not installed yet, the park animals are getting torn up and Schmidt needs to get his vacation time used up before the end of the year.
Clerk T. Riggs mentioned that in November’s meeting the council passed to increase the sewer rate from $16 to $25 per month and then increase it yearly by 3%. City Attorney W. Mc-Clendon drafted a resolution that will need to be voted on. The council approved Resolution 2025-05.
With the water plant project being complete and all invoices for the water plant being received, the council approved to close out the water plant checking account.
The council approved to remove Klepper from the bank accounts and add Bryan Hampton to the Home Bank & Trust Co. bank accounts.
Clerk T. Riggs reported that earlier in the month it was brought to her attention by a county commissioner, the well in the center of 10th and Main Streets was an issue. It was reported that people are tired of driving around the concrete blocks. It was also referenced that the city had not done anything with the well in several years. Clerk T. Riggs stated she did have the water well tested in December and the results did come back good, but the water is not considered potable.
After much discussion, the concrete blocks are for safety and the city does have a plan to build a concrete curb and do something appealing in the future, but it is not going to happen overnight. Discussion was had to maybe run a pipe underground over by the fire department and hopefully the fire department could utilize the water.
With the US Penny no longer being produced, the council decided to have customers either pay exact cash, check, money order or credit/debit card.
Clerk T. Riggs stated that the Greenwood County Sheriff’s tax sale will be on Dec. 17, 2025.
The council approved to give full-time employees $100 and part-time employees $50 for a Christmas bonus.
The council also approved to give full-time employees a $2/hour and part-time employees $1/hour for a yearly raise.
The council held a five-minute executive session for legal matters with Attorney W. McClendon and Clerk T. Riggs. No action was taken.
The council then held a 25-minute executive session for personnel matters, for employee performance and include Clerk T. Riggs. No action was taken.
Clerk T. Riggs noted that the original part of the city building was going to start having issues with water damage and mold if the screws do not get replaced soon. T. Riggs had a quote from Jason Nusz for labor and materials in the amount of $400. The council approved to have Nusz replace all the screws and check out the other parts of the building for $400.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
