Feb 6, 2023 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
History/Creation of Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Department
The Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Department was formed in 2000.
At that time, Animal Control and Litter Control were brought together for the purpose of being good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars while also utilizing all available resources. Then, in 2006, four Property Maintenance Inspectors were moved from the Building Codes Division to our team. In 2018, the Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful Coordinator position was created, and, in 2020, a County employee Roadside Litter Crew was added.
Our department strives every day to meet and accomplish the goals and the vision set by our County Council. Our staff has always had an unpublished mission statement of “Where do you need us to go, what do you need us to do?” This department has served as a model throughout the state for other counties to emulate and adjust to their needs.
Property Maintenance Division
Our Property Maintenance Division consists of one Senior Officer and five field officers. The current major focus of this division is a joint effort to remove blighted areas—mainly structures and blighted properties, while also focusing on cleaning up our county’s gateways.
Spartanburg County’s leaders and elected officials understand that, to have growth, there must be reason for growth to happen. Areas with blight generally do not grow. Our leaders have never ignored the fact that we have blight in our county and removing that blight has always been at the forefront of their minds. In fact, removing blight has become a key part of our County’s most recent Strategic Vision Plan. In an effort to support this vision, we recently removed two large abandoned and nuisance commercial properties and are currently working to remove many other unsafe structures.
Litter Control Division
Our Litter Control Division consists of one frozen Senior Officer position and five field officers. Early on, our leaders understood the need to have resources addressing the crime of littering. These officers use many different tactics to address issues, such as field surveillance cameras, special details, community awareness programs, etc.
The newest program is a joint effort with the City of Spartanburg, United Way of the Piedmont, SC Works, Hope Ministries, PalmettoPride and various private groups. It is called our “Litter Heroes” program. This is a 90-day program which currently employs up to four individuals, who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, to work in a litter crew as employees. These individuals will earn a wage of approximately $12 an hour and will work approximately 25 hours a week with their assigned agency. While going through the program, these individuals also receive case management and life skills training. The program has graduated nine individuals, with three of those individuals becoming officially employed with Spartanburg County.
Animal Control Division
Our Animal Control Division consists of one Senior Officer, a newly created Animal Cruelty Investigator position, and six field officers. Of all of our divisions, this division receives the most calls for service, on a daily average.
Spartanburg County is currently in the process of building a Pet Resource Center. This would be the first of its kind in our County, as Spartanburg County has always contracted out the animal sheltering portion. Currently, we are partnered with Greenville County Animal Care and have been working with them for the past 11 years. The Greenville County staff has been and continues to be very helpful in this process. Greenville County helped us establish our feral cat program, in which we partner with Animal Allies, a low cost spay/neutering facility. This program is nearing 10,000 surgeries on outdoor community felines.
As part of the planned Pet Resource Center’s team, Spartanburg County recently created our first Animal Cruelty Investigator to tackle the in-depth animal cruelty cases we face. We are also looking to hire a Director of Animal Welfare Services to head our Pet Resource Center. Our next steps will be to secure a site for the Center and begin putting safety net programs into place.
Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful Division
The Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful (KOSB) Division is new to our team and consists of the Coordinator position. In 2022, we hosted 45 events and collected 14,997 pounds of litter and 14,200 pounds of recycling from Spartanburg County. In 2023, we’re looking to double our hosted events.
This year, we hope to expand our focus on educational projects and workshops. During the last week of January, we finished our Recycling into Art Mosaic Project with Woodland Heights Elementary School. KOSB and Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District will seek design concepts from Spartanburg County artists to enhance selected storm drains along the Butterfly Creek Greenway on the Northside of Spartanburg, SC. Selected artists will turn their concepts into reality in the form of small-scale, semi-permanent, outdoor murals that will adorn Spartanburg County storm drains, raising awareness, and educating the public about the effects of stormwater runoff on water quality.
Another exciting event that we will need everyone’s participation in is the Team-up to Clean-up Litter Competition. The Keep SC Beautiful affiliates in seven counties in the Upstate have organized the Team-up to Clean-up Litter Competition from April 1st – 22nd.
Feb 6, 2023 | Press releases, Staying on Top, Uncategorized
Ten at the Top (TATT) is pleased to announce the addition of Anna-Elyse Lewis Abrams to the position of Communications Coordinator.
Her role centers around TATT’s mission to increase collaborative capacity across the 10 counties
of the upstate by highlighting the efforts and initiatives of the organization, as well as those of its
partners and sponsors. Additionally, she will serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries,
coordinate outreach efforts, draft in-house publications, and devise strategic marketing campaigns that
amplify and elevate TATT’s messaging.
A graduate of USC Upstate, Anna-Elyse brings with her a background of communications and marketing
in local government and community development, having served as the Communications Specialist for
the City of Spartanburg. She is a lifelong resident of Spartanburg, and enjoys spending time with her
family and friends, and performing with local community theatres.
“We are pleased to have Anna-Elyse join the Ten at the Top team,” said TATT Executive Director Dean
Hybl. “Her background in communications and familiarity with the region will be very valuable as we
continue to build connections and the collective capacity of the Upstate.”
“Ten at the Top is doing such great work to connect and strengthen the Upstate.” said Lewis Abrams, “I
am so excited to join those efforts, and amplify the message of this organization’s inspiring mission
alongside an incredible team.”
Have a question for Anna-Elyse? Email her at aeabrams@tenatthetop.org
About Ten at the Top: Comprised of public, private, and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina
Region, Ten at the Top connects and encourages regional collaboration through data-driven research
and regular gatherings of leaders and residents to address key regional issues. TATT works with local
partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning that enhances the economic vitality and quality
of life for Upstate residents today and as the region continues to grow.
Feb 3, 2023 | Creating a Safer Upstate, Staying on Top
January 23, 2023
Another robust conversation between law enforcement and community leaders took place at this virtual Beyond the Shield. Important topics were discussed including efforts to engage the Latino and Asian population, tackling unconscious bias and how to measure success, behavioral and mental health in Upstate communities and within law enforcement, increasing school safety, efforts to decrease racial profiling, and best practices to communicate with law enforcement and request patrols.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chief Matt Hamby, Greer Police Department
Chief Jorge Campos, Clemson Police Department
Sgt. Natalie Hill, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
COMMUNITY LEADERS
Keishe Nelson, Michelin
Dorothy Russell, Sterling Community
Tiffney Davidson-Parker, Universal Therapeutic Services, LLC
YouTube link to recording
Podcast link
Feb 2, 2023 | Staying on Top, Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem
On Thursday, Jan 26, The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem met to connect and learn about Human Resource Laws and Regulations from attorneys Michael Nail and Melissa Malone of Ogletree Deakins. In addition to detailing new regulations to look out for in 2023, they also discussed human resources through the lens of immigration policies. Following the presentation and group discussion, we heard from UEE’s new facilitator Craig Scharton.
Craig comes to us from Fresno City, CA where he served as a council member, developed ecosystems of support for entrepreneurs as the Senior Director of Economic Development with One by One Leadership, served as the president of the California Main Street Alliance, held multiple positions with the City of Fresno and Downtown Fresno Partnership, and much more. We are thrilled to welcome him to our community, and look forward to the ways in which he grows UEE!
To view Michael and Melissa’s presentation, click here.
Jan 11, 2023 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Greenville County
“MLK Dream” Poetry Slam: Social Justice Poetry
Janurary 11th, 7pm-9pm
Coffee Underground
1 East Coffee Street Greenville, SC 29601
Event Website
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlk-dream-poetry-slam-social-justice-poetry-tickets-483319109467?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Poets perform and offer an OPEN MIC where members of the audience can share their ideas about issues facing our nation and world.
MLK Community Breakfast
Janurary 13th, 8am-10am
Furman University Melvin and Dollie Younts Conference Center
Event Website
https://alumni.furman.edu/MLK2023
Community Breakfast with Dr. Eddie R. Cole
MLK Jr. Celebration Luncheon
Janurary 16th, 11:30am
Greer City Hall
Event Website
https://www.cityofgreer.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=370
Community Breakfast with Dr. Eddie R. Cole
MLK Day of Service
Janurary 16th, 9am-12pm
Greer City Hall
Event Website
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, United Way is
partnering with the City of Greenville, Greenville County’s Litter Ends Here and PalmettoPride to
organize neighborhood cleanups across our community. (Volunteer)
REEMGVL’s King Day Forum on Economic Justice
Janurary 16th, 6pm
Phillis Wheatley Community Center
40 John McCarroll Way Greenville, SC 29607
Event Website
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reemgvls-king-day-forum-on-economic-justice-tickets-467685077657
Join the Greenville Racial Equity & Economic Mobility (REEM)
Commission for a special community event focusing on income and wealth.
Spartanburg County
Unity Walk and 5K Run
Janurary 18th, 9am
Spartanburg Community College’s Downtown Campus
Event Website
https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/news/
5K run celebrates and renews the community’s shared sense of belonging
Day of Service
Janurary 20th
Event Website
https://uwpiedmont.galaxydigital.com/aem/general/event/?doc_id=6376
The City and United Way of the Piedmont partner to help further Dr. King’s legacy by
celebrating Jan. 20 as it was intended — not as a day “off,” but rather a day “on,” and a day
committed to community volunteer service.
MLK Jazz Celebration
Janurary 6th, 7pm
Cleveland Park
141 North Cleveland Park Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303
Event Website
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlk-jazz-celebration-tickets-483439740277?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Come celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with this Jazz Celebration!
Press Conference
Janurary 9th, 5pm
Front steps of City Hall
145 W. Broad Street
Event Website
https://spartanburgcounty.org/
Art Reception
Janurary 13th, 6pm
Mayfair Art Studios
1885 Hayne Street
Event Website
https://spartanburgcounty.org/
Walk As One
Janurary 14th, 9am
Spartanburg County Admin Building
366 N Church Street
Event Website
https://spartanburgcounty.org/
United Way Day of Service
Janurary 16th
Event Website
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023
MLK Unity Celebration
Janurary 20th, 6:30pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Event Website
https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/news/
The celebration includes keynote speaker Dr. Adolf Brown III, music from the Sounds of
Diversity Choir & Orchestra, the MLK Awards for Humanitarian Excellence and announcement
of the poster and photo contest winners held throughout all Spartanburg County Schools.
Anderson County
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
Janurary 16th, 5pm
Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center
3027 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Anderson, SC 29625
Event Website
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
Community MLK Birthday Celebration hosted by Anderson County Ministers Organization with keynote speaker Darrin Henson.
MLK Day Chapel
Janurary 17th, 11am
Reardon Auditorium
Event Website
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Community comes together to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Using this time to renew commitment to the ongoing work of social justice and racial equity.
