Ken Boggs worried for Westminster

Ken Boggs lives at the edge of the Westminster city limit, but close enough to care for the city.  Boggs told the city council last night he can remember a time when Westminster supported two car dealerships and parking was so tight downtown that the police had to mark tires on parked cars.  Now, Boggs says, he looks around and sees empty buildings.  He fears the atmosphere is counter-productive to healthy commerce, but is confident that the mayor, the city council and the city administrator can bring Westminster back to life.  City Council voted unanimously last night to start a study to improve the city’s environment for business development.  Administrator Jeff Lord recommended the council award a $50,500 dollar contract to a firm of engineers and consultants to make an electric power rate study.  The elected leaders are looking to “UTEC”—Utility Technical Engineering-Consultants of the Carolinas—-for recommendations to lower the cost of the city’s electric power purchased wholesale.  Westminster is locked into a long-term wholesale contract with PMPA—Piedmont Municipal Power Agency of Greer.  Critics claim the cost for the electric power at the retail level is too high and places a burden on commercial customers.