Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys says at this time he would not be supportive of painting Football City USA on the Norfolk Southern Bridge along Dave Lyle Boulevard. York County Council last week approved an ordinance for a $5,000 feasibility study, given that the City pay half of the cost of the study and project.
Gettys said in his opinion the focus should be creating jobs in Downtown Rock Hill.
“And the best way we can create jobs in Downtown Rock Hill is for the County to agree to the TIF amendment we are still waiting on. One without poison pills in it and one that creates jobs and one that allows us to fill out our construction in Downtown Rock Hill.”
County Council back in March approved an ordinance allowing the City of Rock Hill to combine the revenue of their two Downtown TIF Districts. However, the ordinance puts limits on what the City can borrow. Assistant County Manager Kevin Madden said in March he does not think the existing and future debt can be payed off with the proposed revenue stream in the document. In fact he expects the City to have to subsidize to borrow the full amount.
Gettys said if the County would agree to the TIF amendment in the way that the City and the Rock Hill School District have already agreed to, he would be open to the Football City USA peacemaking project.
“Should the County get to the point where they want to support economic development in Downtown Rock Hill then I think everything is on the table.”
He also has concerns about how the project will be financed.
“Presently in that TIF agreement the County has restrictions so we cannot use TIF funds for something like painting a bridge or an underpass. If we were to amend that agreement appropriately as to allow the City to borrow more money and the County wanted to change the allowable uses in the TIF agreement to include such a thing I would certainly entertain it, but I don’t think that the taxpayers of Rock Hill should be visiting the idea of painting an underpass if we can’t agree to create jobs in Downtown Rock Hill.”
Gettys said the City does have a card in their back pocket should the County not approve the TIF amendment.
“When it’s time we will use it. But that card in your back pocket does not mean you get things done as efficiently and as properly as you could to bring as much value to the redevelopment of Downtown Rock Hill as you can if the County gets serious about promoting economic development and creating jobs.”
Gettys noted that he is only one vote of 7 on Council, but said, “If the County can’t get serious about creating jobs in Downtown Rock Hill, I’m not going to be supportive of much anything else that we would work on with the County in the future.”