After the resignation of Former Mayor Bryan Chapman, the Mount Pleasant City Commission discussed the vacant commissioner seat and their recommendations. John Zang was appointed as a city commissioner at the commission's meeting on Feb. 24.

Mayor Boomer Wingard thanked all the applicants and said those he had told about the turnout were surprised by the number of applicants.

The applicants included: Brooke Bradley, Christopher McGlamery, Glen P Irwin II, Hunter Burlett, John Zang, Nathan Gaca, Rachel Putnam-Farley, Ryon Skalitzky and Seth T Blackey.

Commissioner Mary Alsager said when looking at applicants, they looked for volunteerism, evidence of good thinking, references and public service.

“Out of 10 candidates, there were two of them that ran across and straight across and got all the marks. So we really were deciding between two candidates,” Alsager said.

The appointments committee did not want to pick someone that they knew was going to then run for office in August, according to Alsager. The appointment committee recommended offering the opening to Zang, and the commissioners confirmed his appointment as a commissioner.

Downtown development

Multiple public community members made comments about the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) in downtown Mount Pleasant.

In a 2024 work session, the City Commission authorized staff to discontinue the Industrial Park North TIF and to continue the Mission Street DDA TIF. The City Commission wanted to wait until later to determine the future of the Central Business District (CBD) TIF.

TIF is a funding mechanism that allows municipal governments to designate an area for investment and redevelopment. When it establishes a district, the government has the authority to levy a set tax rate. As the district is redeveloped and improved, the theory goes, the value of its properties increases, and the taxes captured by that set rate will follow.

By taking the increased property tax revenue generated in TIF districts, the local government can fund public improvements within that district.

Four business owners and two county commisoners spoke during public input that in previous years Mount Pleasant has used the funding to create grants for business improvement.

Kenneth Strom, business owner of TYJORMAC MOUNT PLEASANT, LLC expressed his disappointment and anxiousness waiting to hear about the CBD TIF. Strom started renovating his building in 2023 following a conversation with the city downtown development director without properly completing required paperwork.

He said he is close to nearly $500,000 in investment to the building, which he said was in very bad condition when he bought it. His concern is that the city does not fund projects that are already completed, and his building could no longer be eligible by the time the Commission makes a final decision.

“If we wait much longer for the allocation to come out from the city, my building will be completely done. I don't consider that to be fair,” Strom said. “I mean, because I started early.

“Are you telling me, maybe that what I should do is just stop, leave it, just let it sit until after you guys have allocated that money and then I can finish my project? (I) can't do that. (I) have to finish.”

Strom urged the commission to consider TIF for both the business owners and the future of downtown.

“If you offer that to us, as business owners, as building owners, I guarantee you people are going to take money out of their pocket as long as you're helping us out,” Strom said.

Downtown business owner Elizabeth Brockman spoke in favor of TIF grants. She recently purchased an investment property on South University Drive in downtown Mount Pleasant.

“I was very interested to learn that the City Commission was considering offering grants ... for external renovation in downtown Mount Pleasant, and now I'm not sure they are planning to do that ... or if that even is an option,” Brockman said. “Downtown Mount Pleasant is an important part of the community.

"The historic downtown is especially important, and so I ... think that it would be a great investment in the future if the city commission did offer those grants.”

Commission came to a decision to continue TIF in DDA and did not come to a final decision regarding grants for business.

The next City Commission meeting will take place at 7 P.M., on Monday, March. 10 at Mount Pleasant City Hall.