'Safety imperative': Council OKs Goff closure

The new Claflin student center is located at Magnolia and Goff.

Orangeburg City Council has given its final OK to the closure of a portion of Goff Avenue near Claflin University.

Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack said the road is not being closed to block anyone from campus, but to improve safety.

The university has “375 residents living on Goff Avenue with addresses there between High Rise and Goff, between Clark Street and Magnolia Street," Warmack said.

“It is imperative that we protect those citizens like no other. It is imperative that we keep these babies safe,” he said.

Orangeburg City Council delayed the third and final vote on the closure twice before to ensure all neighbors’ concerns could be heard on the matter. Council also wanted to make sure the ordinance legally guarantees property owners directly impacted by the road's closure perpetual access to their properties.

The body voted 4-2 on April 16 to approve the road's closure.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler, Councilwoman Liz Zimmerman Keitt, Councilman Richard Stroman and Councilman Dr. Kalu Kalu voted in support of the closure. Councilwoman Sandra Knott and Councilman Jerry Hannah voted in opposition.

Councilwoman Annette Dees Grevious was absent but has abstained from all discussions and votes on the issue because of a conflict of interest. She is a professor at the university.

The vote received a round of applause from the Claflin students in attendance in a standing-room-only council chambers.

The ordinance allows the city to accept ownership of Goff Avenue from the state. The city would take control of the area from Clark Street to Magnolia Street.

The city could then close that portion of the road and turn it over to Claflin, which would allow the university to control the area along its campus.

Claflin safety officials said there is a plan to have a gate at Clark and Magnolia streets. Goff Avenue would primarily be closed at night.

Emergency, fire and law enforcement services will have unimpeded access to the road, as will property owners, Claflin officials say.

Property owner Norma Murdaugh has consistently been opposed to the road's closure, saying it would impede her ability to rent out her property.

The other property directly impacted by the road's closure is uninhabited.

Prior to Tuesday’s vote, Murdaugh asked council if a proposal to fence off Goff Avenue has been submitted in writing so that the citizens can review it.

“It is imperative that citizens that are going to be impacted by the proposal be given the same courtesy as the board and a chance to study and review the written copy,” Murdaugh said.

She asked that Claflin administrators set up a meeting with concerned citizens to address their concerns.

The ordinance contains language that grants, “legal access rights to any real property owners ... whose property abuts Goff Avenue.” It also says that, “Claflin University is required to simultaneously convey individual perpetual access and utilities easements to, and for the benefit of, any real property owners whose property abuts Goff Avenue, which easements shall be in recordable form.”

Claflin University Director of Auxiliary and Facility Services Bill Kropff discussed the planned gate system.

Signs will indicate when the road is closed and direct people to either Clark or the open portion of Goff.

There will be two lift-arm gates that will be triggered by pressure plates, Kropff said. A call button will allow people to contact public safety to enter if they cannot enter electronically, Kropff said.

There will be an area for people to turn around if they are not admitted.

Where Magnolia and Goff intersect, there will be a double solid gate that will be opened and closed by public safety and there will speed bumps on Goff Avenue to slow traffic, Kropff said.

Councilwoman Liz Zimmerman Keitt expressed her appreciation at the presentation and the proposed gate.

“It is professional and it looks really great and I think that anyone with a prayerful mind would appreciate what you are doing,” Keitt said. “I am hoping the residents will realize that once the gate and all of this is done that they are going to find out that it is going to be much quieter for them.

“They won't have the traffic. A gated area makes sure only certain people come and go and this is what we need on Goff Avenue."