The City of Lyman’s Tyger River Fire Department showed off a new fire truck unit at Monday night’s council meeting.

The unit, a 2025 Pierce Ascendant model, is coming in to replace the 1997 model previously used by the department. Residents were invited to come see the truck after the Town Council meeting.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Harter, the station has been in the process of getting the new unit for four years. The unit comes with technology upgrades, more storage space and a greater ladder reach.

“The truck we have currently does the job, but it's kind of a bare bones truck,” Harter said, “This is gonna let these guys do their job more efficiently.”

Also at Monday night’s meeting, the Town Council motioned to approve their one item of new business — updates to the language of a lease agreement between the city and the tenant located at 65 Groce Rd. The Council’s other action item, a resolution approving amendments to the Town’s Freedom of Information Act Policy and Fee Schedule, was tabled.

Mayor Glenn Greer also read a proclamation declaring Sept. 17 Constitution Day, with Sept. 17-23 being declared Constitution Week. The proclamation reads that the town “encourages the citizens to study the Constitution and reflect on the privileges of being an American, with all the rights and responsibilities that privilege involves.”

Three residents came before the Council to speak in public forum. Marie Karas spoke to Council regarding the needs of Lyman’s Central Business District, and argued that emphasis on revitalization efforts must be placed in this area first. The Central Business District refers to the downtown area.

Andrew Karas was the second speaker, telling Council about concerns regarding the sewer and water lines in the Mill Village. According to Karas, the older water lines are leading to mineral buildup in residents’ water. 

The final speaker was Dillon Lindsay, who gave a presentation regarding the historic use of the alleyways on Upland Street. This was a large point of contention in last month’s meeting, and Town Administrator Noel Blackwell remarked on the situation in her updates to Council.

Blackwell says that, according to the town’s attorney, the town of Lyman has no right to repair or maintain these alleyways, as they are private property. Blackwell noted that the town conducted a hearing regarding the alleyways in 2020, and later approved a resolution acknowledging that it was not a legal owner of the alleyways and could not maintain or use them.

The public hearing Blackwell is referencing occurred on Dec. 3, 2020. The full minutes of that hearing can be read here. The resolution was passed later that month at a regular council meeting on Dec. 14, 2020. The resolution was passed 4-1, with only Rebecca Martin voting in opposition.

At the time of the resolution passing, the Mayor of Lyman was still Larry Chappell. Council members included Larry Chappell, Alton Free, Glenn Greer, Rebecca Martin, Greg Wood, Hoyt Dottry and Rick Hellams. However, Dottry and Hellams were absent for the meeting in which the resolution was adopted. The full minutes of that meeting can be read here.

Despite the passage of this resolution, several Lyman residents still voice their concerns at the monthly council meetings. Some remarked that they had been coming for over a year regarding the alleys and stormwater issue. The city says that the alleyways being private property makes it so they are unable to assist with the issues affecting them. The residents say they want the town to push harder to find resolutions that would ease these issues.

For more information on the Lyman Town Council or to view minutes from the meeting, visit the Council’s website.

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