Feb 09, 2026 Clarendon County Council

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

[5. Approval of Minutes]

NEXT WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM LAST MARCH'S MEETING.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE APPROVE.

SO MOVE WITH CHAIRMAN MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

[6. Service Awards Recognition – Leonard Lowery, HR Director ]

NEXT UP, WE HAVE SERVICE AWARDS WITH MR. LOWRY, OUR HR DIRECTOR.

I DON'T THINK SO, SIR.

UH, MR. CHAIR, COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF CLARA COUNTY.

TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE RECEIVING SERVICE AWARDS FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.

THE FIRST CASEY CONNORS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, AND THE SECOND EMPLOYEE IS WILLIAM, UH, MCCOY, FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.

SRO OFFICER.

LET'S GIVE THESE TWO EMPLOYEES ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

UM, MR. DOCTOR, YOU GOT THAT SHEET SIGN UP SHEET.

NEXT UP IS, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.

[7. Public Comments (Total of five (5) available speaking spots, three (3) minutes per speaker) Must sign in with the Clerk before the meeting starts.]

THERE'S FIVE AVAILABLE SPOTS, THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, AND TONIGHT WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP, MR. GEORGE REON.

THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

BEFORE I START MY TIME, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING.

I'VE BEEN SPEAKING IN THIS MICROPHONE AT MEETINGS AND HOWEVER, WHEN YOU RECORD IT, YOU CAN'T HEAR MY VOICE.

I SPEAK VERY CLEAR.

SO I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT BEFORE I START WHAT I'M SAYING.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION.

AND, UH, HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT IF I WAS GOING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I HAD TO RELEGATED AND RESTRICTED TO VOTER REGISTRATION MATTERS.

NOW, I ASKED HIM, I SAID, SHOW ME THAT POLICY.

HE SAID, WELL, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A POLICY.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICY, YOU CAN'T ENFORCE THE POLICY.

JUST THAT SIMPLE.

NOW I'M SAYING THAT I WANNA SAY THAT, UM, THERE'S AN EMPTY CHAIR UP THERE, BISHOP WALKER, OCCUPIED BY MY COUSIN, THE REVEREND WJ FREON, HIS WIDOW, MS. DELANEY KREON IS WITH US.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ELECTION, HOWEVER, THAT COME OUT IN DISTRICT TWO.

AND WE ARE HOPING WHOEVER THE BEST CANDIDATE PREVAILS, I CANNOT VOTE IN THAT ELECTION.

SO WE ARE NOT ENDORSING ANYONE.

BUT, UM, KAY WAS MY COUSIN'S WIDOW, BUT SHE IS MY COUSIN'S WIDOW.

AND, UM, WELL, I GUESS I DON'T

[00:05:01]

HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT.

NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.

NOW I SAW WHERE A GUY FROM ENGLAND, A FORMER GUY THAT WAS ACTUALLY ANOINTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER, BRINGING THE PRIME MINISTER DOWN.

AND I SAID, WOW, I AIN'T, I AIN'T GOING DOWN WITH NOBODY NOW I'M NOT GOING DOWN WITH ANYONE.

BUT AGAIN, CLARINE COUNTY, WE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING IN.

AND I ASKED THE QUESTION, I SAID, NOW I KNOW ABOUT EVERYBODY WHO IS POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN THE COUNTY.

THERE WAS SOMEONE AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.

I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE.

I DON'T SAY I KNOW EVERYBODY, BUT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT TINY HOUSES.

UH, I NOTICED THAT DOWN ON ROAD 400 COMING OVER ST.

T MCMA RATHER, THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.

SO, UM, THERE'S A PUBLIC CHARGE LAW THAT WAS SIGNED BY DONOR JOHN TRUMP ON THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY OF 2020.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT LAW SAYS.

NOW, THIS IS KNOWN AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE HAD THREE YOUNG MEN THAT WAS GUNNED DOWN AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE.

I BRING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UP BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE IS A CLAN AND KIND OF NATIVE, UM, COLONEL ALEXANDER CONGRESS.

SO NOW THESE THINGS ARE IMPACTING US STATEWIDE.

I LISTEN AT THE GOVERNOR STATE OF THE STATE LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND HE TRIED TO COURT HISTORY.

SO SOMEBODY TELL HIM HE IS NOT A VERY GOOD GOVERNOR ZONE, SO DON'T TRY TO BE A HISTORIAN.

WE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE.

[8. Board Appointment ]

UP WE HAVE A BOARD APPOINTMENT, UM, AUTHORIZATION TO APPOINT SONO COOPER COGO TO HARVARD CLAREDON LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE, WE REAPPOINTMENT.

SO MOVE CHAIRMAN, I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COKER.

OUR OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO APPOINT THOSE FOLKS.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION.

CARRIE, NEXT UP WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO REVISE EXPIRATION DATES FOR TERMS PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED TO BOARD MEMBERS TO COMPLY WITH ACT 79, WHICH REQUIRES STAGGERING TERMS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CLAREDON COUNTY AERONAUTICS COMMISSION.

UM, WALT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT? YES, SIR.

THAT'S A LOT LOUDER THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE.

I'M SORRY.

UH, THIS CAME TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, IN 24 COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINTED FIVE NEW MEMBERS.

I THINK THE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION HAD SORT OF BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE OR HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT KIND OF NEEDED TO BE REAPPOINTED AND WE JUST HAD SORT OF FAILED TO APPOINT THOSE MEMBERS.

AND SO ALL AT ONE FAILED SWOOP.

WE APPOINTED FIVE NEW MEMBERS WITH FIVE YEAR TERMS, WHICH WAS THE STANDARD AT THE TIME.

EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROPERLY.

WELL, SUBSEQUENTLY, A STATE LAW CHANGED AND ACT 79 WAS ENACTED, WHICH REQUIRED STAGGERED TERMS. UM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY SPELLED OUT IN THE LAW, UM, THE MEMBERS HAVE TO BE APPOINTED FOR 5, 4, 3, 2, AND ONE YEAR STAGGERED TERMS. UM, SO AT REAPPOINTMENT THEY WOULD BE APPOINTED FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS IF WE WERE TO REAPPOINT THAT SEAT.

SO WE'RE CORRECTING THAT NOW TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATE LAW.

UH, WHAT IT ACTUALLY ENDS UP MEANING IS ONE OF THE, THE MEMBERS IS ALREADY OUT OF APPOINTMENT AND NOW THAT APPOINTMENT ACTUALLY FALLS TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ACCORDING TO THE NEW ACT 79.

SO, UM, UPON COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE WILL CONTACT THE PERSON WHO IS ROLLING OFF, UM, TOMORROW AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION.

AND THEN THAT ACTUALLY PUTS ANOTHER PERSON, UM, TO ROLL OFF IN THE END OF MARCH.

UM, SO WE'LL LET THEM KNOW AS WELL.

UM, I SEE IT LIKE DISTRICT ONE HAS ONLY ONE REPRESENTATIVE IS, AND THE OTHER TWO HAS TWO REPRESENTATIVES.

IS IS DISTRICT ONE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWO OFFICER? WELL, THERE ARE SEVEN TOTAL, BUT ONLY FIVE WERE APPOINTED.

SO THERE ARE TWO VACANT SEATS.

UM, AND I THINK WE WERE DOING IT KIND OF THE WAY WE DID IT IN THE PAST WHERE DISTRICT DISTRICT ONE HAD SO MANY, DISTRICT TWO HAD SO MANY, DISTRICT THREE HAD SO MANY, AND THEN THERE WAS AN AT LARGE, UM, MEMBER APPOINTED.

UM, AND THEN I THINK, BUT NOW IT'S KIND OF OUT OF COUNTY COUNCIL'S HANDS.

THAT'S UP TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO, TO APPOINT THOSE FOLKS, UM,

[00:10:01]

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHER.

ALRIGHT.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS.

GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN COKER.

FROM THE HOSPITALITY FUND.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT WE HAVE A REQUEST

[9. Request – Hospitality Fund ]

UM, TOBY BILL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PING SWAMP FESTIVAL COMMITTEE IS REQUESTING $10,000 TO AID IN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE PUDDING SWAMP FESTIVAL.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT.

AND THE PUTIN SWAMP FESTIVAL IS GROWING EVERY YEAR I GO OUT THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, IT'S MORE AND MORE PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THE 10,000 THIS YEAR, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR 7,000, WHICH IS $1,000 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.

I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN COLER.

A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

[10. Clarendon County Transportation Committee (CTC) – Administrator Ackerman ]

IN CLA COUNTY, UM, THE COUNTY COUNCIL ALSO SERVES AS THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

UM, WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND, UH, TO DO THAT WE WILL HAVE TO, I'LL HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.

WE GO INTO THE CLAN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

SO MOVE CHAIRMAN GOT A MOTION.

COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

I SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN ROADIN.

I'M, I'M GONNA RECUSE MYSELF.

WE ARE NOW IN CLARINE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

UM, IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION A LITTLE BIT TODAY THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR KNOW HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS WHENEVER YOU START TALKING ABOUT C FUNDS AND, AND HOW THEY'RE APPROPRIATED AND HOW, WHICH ROADS ARE DETERMINED TO BE PAVED AND WHATNOT.

SO I'M, I'M GONNA JUST TAKE A SECOND HERE AND LET ADMINISTRATOR ACKERMAN EXPLAIN THAT, WHERE IT WAS CLEAR SOME THINGS UP FOR SOME PEOPLE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, THE, THE ISSUE WITH C FUNDS, I THINK THAT IS CONFUSING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IS C FUNDS OR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FUNDS ARE FUNDS THAT COME DOWN FROM THE STATE WITH THE DIRECTIVES THAT THEY BE USED ON REPAIRING OR MAINTAINING ROADS OF SOME SORT.

A PORTION OF THAT MONEY, 28% IS ACTUALLY HAS TO BE DEDICATED TO STATE MAINTAINED ROADS.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION IS DEDICATED TO COUNTY ROADS.

NOW, IF IT'S A COUNTY MAINTAINED, ROAD OWNED AND MAINTAINED ROAD, THE COUNTY HAS A PROCESS THAT WE GO BY TO RATE THE ROADS IN WHICH ONE IS IN THE HIGHEST NEED OF REPAIR.

WE HAVE A EXTENSIVE LIST OF CRITERIA.

UM, COUNTY STAFF EVALUATED, AND I'M GONNA READ YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, 648 DIFFERENT ROADS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT ARE COUNTY ROADS.

UM, AND THEY PUT THINGS DOWN SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF HOUSES PER MILE.

UM, DOES THE ROAD SERVE AS A MALE ROUTE? DOES THE ROAD SERVE AS A SCHOOL BUS ROUTE? IS THERE A PUBLIC FACILITY SUCH AS A SCHOOL OR A CHURCH LOCATED ON THE ROAD? UM, ARE THERE PARTICULAR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, WITH THAT ROAD THAT COULD BE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED? UM, DOES THE ROAD SERVE AS A MAIN CONNECTOR BETWEEN TWO STATE ROADS AND ANY OTHER SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT THAT MAY COME INTO PLAY? AND THEY'VE MADE A BIG SPREADSHEET AND A GRID AND THEY HAVE A GRADING CRITERIA THAT RANKS ALL OF THESE ROADS.

THE ROAD IN QUESTION TONIGHT, WHICH IS SEA LOCK ROAD, IS A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD.

THE COUNTY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EVALUATION CRITERIA ON THIS ROAD.

WE DIDN'T GO OUT AND REQUEST THAT IT BE DONE.

THIS CAME FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND WE CAN ONLY SPEND STATE C FUND ROADS ON STATE ROADS AS DIRECTED BY THE STATE.

UM, SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED IS A NEW SCHOOL WAS BUILT DOWN ON THAT ROAD AND THIS DOT CAME IN AS PART OF THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

AND THEY REPAIRED A SMALL PORTION OF SEA LOCK ROAD AND THEN AN ADJACENT ROAD THAT, SO THE SCHOOL SITS ON THE CORNER AND THEY'VE GOT THIS CORNER FIXED UP.

WELL, SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME, THEY'VE CLOSED THE BRIDGE DOWN ON ANOTHER ROAD, WHICH I THINK HAS PUT MORE PRESSURE ON SEA LOCK ROAD DOWN ON THE BOTTOM END OF IT.

AND THEY NEED US TO GO IN AND REPAIR THAT SECTION OF ROAD BECAUSE IT'S IN SUCH BAD SHAPE.

[00:15:01]

AND NOW IT CAN'T HANDLE ALL THE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC THAT'S BEING GENERATED BY THE SCHOOL BUSES AND THE PARENTS AND EVERYBODY COMING BACK AND FORTH TO THE SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO THE REQUEST IS TO SPEND STATE MONEY ON A STATE ROAD THAT WE ARE OBLIGATED BY LAW TO SPEND AND THIS IS THEIR PROJECT, NOT OURS.

WE DIDN'T COME UP WITH IT.

THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, HERE YOU GO.

UM, I WILL SAY THIS, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE GOT SOME MORE INFORMATION TODAY.

UM, IF WE COULD AMEND THAT, THE MOTION TONIGHT TO ALLOW TO SPEND UP TO $1,610,000.

JUST PUT THAT UP TO IN THERE.

UM, DOT CONTACT OUR ENGINEERING STAFF TODAY AND SAY, WE ACTUALLY MIGHT NEED TO BACK OFF ON ONE PIECE OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH MAY REDUCE THE COST SOME.

UM, SO WE'RE NOT SURE YET AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THE FULL PROJECT AS THEY SUBMIT IT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS ON THAT, ON THAT REDUCTION YET.

ALRIGHT.

IS THAT CLEAR AS MUD MAY, MAYBE THAT'LL CLEAR UP SOME QUESTIONS.

UM, JUST, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE PEOPLE DID KNOW THIS WAS A STATE ROAD AND, AND I THINK ACTUALLY THE STATE HAS INTENTIONS OF PAVING THAT ROAD, BUT I THINK IT WAS LIKE FIVE YEARS OUT.

SO THEY ASKED US TO STEP IN AND GO AHEAD AND USE CP MONEY TO PAY.

YES, SIR.

TYPICALLY UNDER THE STATE PROCESS, IF THEY WANTED TO START ON ONE TODAY, IT TAKES THEM THREE TO FOUR YEARS TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BACKLOG.

AND SO IF THEY WANT ONE THAT THEY WANNA DO QUICKLY, THAT'S WHEN THEY TURN IT OVER TO WHICHEVER COUNTY IT HAPPENS TO BE IN AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU USE THAT STATE MONEY TO RAPIDLY TURN THIS PROJECT AROUND? OKAY.

ALL, UM, WHAT? YES, SIR.

NEXT, UM, LET ME READ THIS RIGHT.

SO, UH, THIS MOTION IS TO AUTHORIZE SPENDING UP TO 1.6 $1,610,000 FOR THE WIDENING AND RESURFACING OF SEA LOCK ROAD NEAR THE NEW WALKER GAMBLE SCHOOL.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

CHAIRMAN, I'LL SECOND.

I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WE HAVE ORDINANCE

[11. Ordinance 2025-16 With Maps ]

2025 DASH 16.

OH YEAH, I GOTTA COME OUTTA C YEAH, WE ONLY DONE CTC LIKE TWICE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, SO I CAN GET A LITTLE .

NOW I I NEED A MOTION.

WE COME OUTTA CTC AND GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION.

I'LL MOTION THAT.

HAVE MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? WE ARE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.

NEXT WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 16, UM, CONSIDERATION OF THE THIRD AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 16 AND AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF CLAREDON COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA TO AMEND THE CLAIN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP DESIGNATED FOR TAX MAP PARCEL ONE 40 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH FOUR DASH ZERO TWO DASH ZERO ZERO AGRICULTURE TWO TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOTION THAT.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH ONE.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT, UH, WE HAVE A PUBLIC

[12. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-01 ]

ALL COMMENTS ON THIS MUST BE, UH, PERTAINING TO THIS ORDINANCE, AN ORDINANCE OF CLATON COUNTY COUNCIL OF CLATON COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA TO AMEND THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP DESIGNATION FOR TAX MAP PARCEL THREE SEVEN, I MEAN 3 4 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO TWO DASH 0 1 0 FROM AGRICULTURAL ONE TO RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

DOES ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT? I HAVE A QUESTION.

HOW DO WE TELL THE STATE RULE RULE YOU WANT ME TO ASK? SOMETIMES THAT'S TOUGH TO DO.

SOMETIMES THAT IS TOUGH TO DO.

UM, SOMETIMES THE STATE RULE WILL JUST SORT OF RUN INTO AND THEN THEY INTO MAINTENANCE AND THEN THAT'S THE COUNTY ROAD.

UM, DOT HAS SOME MAPS UP TO BE LOOKED AT.

AND THEN OUR COUNTY ENGINEERING STAFF HAS A, A PRETTY GOOD ARRAY OF MAPS.

UM, AND THEY HAVE A LIST OF ALL OF THE ROADS AND IT MIGHT BE A PORTION OF THE ROADS, SO THEY KIND OF GOT IT LAID OUT AND DELINEATED.

[00:20:01]

YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE X, Y, Z ROOM FROM THIS POINT TO THAT POINT IS A COUNTER ROOM.

UM, THIS LIST, THERE'S A, THERE'S A WEBSITE.

YES.

COM.

I HAVE ALL OF THEIR ROAD LISTED.

AND IT'S COLOR COORDINATED BY WHO? THE ROADS, IF IT'S STATE OWNED STATE IS IT COUNTY OWNED? PRIVATE CITY.

YOU GOT IT.

I DON'T HAVE TO READ THE BOOK RIGHT, .

ALRIGHT, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING, UM, DO I HAVE A, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MM-HMM .

ALRIGHT.

I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM COUNCILMAN RICHON.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

ALL IN FAVOR.

A A ALL OPPOSED, IT IS NOW CLOSED.

NEXT UP, ORDINANCE 2026

[13. Ordinance 2026-01 ]

DASH OH ONE CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 20 26 0 1 AND ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF PLANNING COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA TO AMEND THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP DESIGNATION FOR TAX MAP PARCEL 3 4 7 DASH 0 0 2 DASH 0 1 1 DASH ZERO ZERO FROM AGRICULTURAL ONE TO RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION RC AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? ALL MOTION.

COUNCILMAN RODIN SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

I GOT A MOTION.

HAVE AN ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH TWO CONSIDERATION OF THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH TWO.

ALL OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES.

SECOND READING HAS PASSED.

NEXT UP, UH, WE

[14. Ordinance 2026-02 ]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE REINSTATING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHED A 1% LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX ON THE SALES AND PREPARED MEATS AND BEVERAGES SOLD IN CLATON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO, UM, WELL YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THAT FOR US? YES, SIR.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT AUTHORIZES THE, THE, OR MANDATES THE COLLECTION OF A 1% LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX ON PREPARED MEALS AND BEVERAGES.

UM, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE BEHIND THIS, I WANNA, I WANNA THANK THE TEAM.

UM, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, OUR, UM, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND OUR CHIEF MAGISTRATE HAS ALL HELPED IN THIS REGARD.

UM, WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS THERE IS A TWOFOLD PROBLEM IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.

UM, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE, THE MONEY THAT IS SUBMITTED FOR THE COLLECTION.

UH, WHAT MOST JURISDICTIONS DO, I THINK ALL OF THEM POSSIBLY EXCEPT FOR US, THEY REQUIRE THE BUSINESS TO SUBMIT A COPY OF THEIR STATE SALES TAX RETURN THAT IS PREPARED ALREADY EACH MONTH WHEN THEY SUBMIT THE SALES TAX TO THE STATE.

UM, THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SAYS IF YOU COLLECT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THERE, SOME DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THERE THAT YOU STILL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, UM, REPORT EACH MONTH.

YOU ONLY HAVE TO REPORT ONCE A QUARTER, WHICH IS WHAT THE CURRENT ORDINANCE SAYS.

SO BUSINESSES NOW ARE PREPARING THEIR MONTHLY SALES TAX RETURN AND SUBMITTING THEIR MONEY TO THE STATE, BUT NOT SUBMITTING THE HOSPITALITY PORTION.

THEY'RE HOLDING ONTO IT FOR THREE MONTHS.

IT JUST MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME.

GET IN THE HABIT TO DO IT IN EACH MONTH.

AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE'VE KIND OF FIGURED OUT IS WE MAY HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY TURNING THAT MONEY IN.

THEY MAY BE COLLECTING THAT SALES TAX MONEY, BUT THEY'RE NOT REMITTING IT TO THE COUNTY LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

SO WE WORK WITH THE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE ON REALLY DEFINING THE PENALTY SIDE, UM, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

AND THE MAGISTRATE IS BEHIND US NOW.

SO IF WE DO NEED TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON ENFORCEMENT OF THAT ORDINANCE, BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S NOT REMITTING THE PAYMENT, THE MATTRESS OFFICE HAS, HAS DIRECTED US AS TO HOW, HOW THAT ENFORCEMENT PIECE NEEDS TO GO.

AND SO WE'RE ALL ON, ON ONE COURT.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP SPUR PEOPLE, UM, TO REMIT MORE OFTEN AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN REMITTING TO BEGIN REMITTING, BECAUSE WE WILL BE LOOKING 1%.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE, WE, WE A MOTION.

I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN ODEAN.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COKER.

NEXT WE HAVE ORDINANCE

[15. Ordinance 2026-03 ]

2026 DASH OH THREE, CONSIDERATION OF THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH

[00:25:01]

OH THREE, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLA COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO AUTHORIZE AND IMPLEMENT A FLEXIBLE DESIGN DISTRICT ZONING DESIGNATION.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? JUST HAVE A, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER OF, UM, COUNCIL? UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO PRESENT A RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS THAT'S IN OUR, UM, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, UM, THAT CREATE WHAT WE CALL A FLEXIBLE DESIGN DISTRICT.

UM, THIS AMENDMENT GIVES THE COUNTY A NEW TOOL, UM, TO ALLOW BETTER DESIGN DEVELOPMENTS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE FULL COUNTY OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL.

UM, RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS, UM, THEY HEAVILY RIDE RELY ON FIXED STANDARD DEVELOPMENTS LIKE LOT SIZES AND SETBACKS.

UM, WHILE THAT APPROACH WORKS FOR SMALLER DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR LARGER AND MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS TO DESIGN EFFICIENTLY AND ATTRACT HIGHER QUALITY INVESTMENT.

SO, UM, AND ALSO IN TODAY'S MARKET, UM, WHAT WE OFTEN SEE IS COOKIE COLOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO, UM, AND THOSE DESIGNS, UM, ALWAYS DON'T MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE PROPERTY, BUT, UM, WHENEVER A DEVELOPMENT WANTS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE, THEY USUALLY END UP, UM, NEEDING MULTIPLE VARIANCES OR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, WHICH SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS FOR BOTH THE STAFF AND THE APPLICANT.

SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THIS ORDINANCE, UM, THIS FLEXIBLE DESIGN DISTRICT, IT ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT, UH, PARTICULARLY FOR LARGER PROJECTS AND IT WORKS, UM, TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY FOR A MORE FORMAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, SITE PLAN, REVIEW PROCESS, AND TO DESIGN A PROJECT THAT WILL FIT THE LAND BETTER WHILE MEETING ALL OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT'S OUTLINED IN OUR CURRENT SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.

UM, SO THIS TOOL, WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY DO, UM, IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR LIKE MASTER PLAN NEIGHBORHOODS, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS, HOTEL, COMMERCIAL CAMPUSES, OR OTHER LARGE SCALE PROJECTS.

AND ALSO THE, THE, UM, THE, THE PROJECTS WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET OUR CURRENT SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS AS FAR AS IT STILL WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SITE PLAN, REVIEW PROCESS, STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STORM WATER REGULATIONS, THE ROAD STANDARDS, UTILITY REQUIREMENTS, LANDSCAPING AND BUFFERING, AND ALL OF THE OTHER BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.

SO, UM, WE, THE COUNTY STILL WILL, UM, RETAIN THE FULL AUTHORITY, UM, THROUGH THIS FLEXIBLE DESIGN DISTRICT PROCESS TO CONTINUE ON IMPLEMENTING THE CURRENT SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.

AND THIS AMENDMENT ALSO, IT MODERNIZES THE CODE, WHICH GIVES US MORE FLEXIBILITY TO GUIDE GROWTH IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS CLATON COUNTY RATHER THAN FORCING DEVELOPMENTS INTO A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH.

SO, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS PROPOSAL AND THEY RECOMMENDED IT FOR APPROVAL BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE BETTER SITE DESIGN, IT REDUCES THE NEED FOR VARIANCES, AND IT MAINTAINS THE COUNTY CONTROL WHILE OFFERING FLEXIBLE REASONABLE FLEXIBILITY.

UM, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION WE HEAR FIRST? WE PASS.

FIRST READ MAKE A MOTION.

SECOND MOTION FOR COUNCILMAN COKER.

COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

WE HAVE OUR FINANCE REPORT WITH MS. TAMMY ROSKI, OUR CFO.

ALL OPPOSED FIRST READING PASSES.

[16. Finance Report – Tammy Rodvansky, CFO ]

GOOD EVENING.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FINANCE REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE BUDGET PACKAGES HAVE ALL BEEN SENT OUT PER THE BUDGET SCHEDULE AS OF FRIDAY AND THE MONTH OF MARCH.

WE WILL BE HAVING THE BUDGET MEETINGS.

AND AS FAR AS OUR FINANCIAL REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO NELSON GIBBONS AND HE'S GONNA DO THE REPORT TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU MS. TAMMY.

AND, UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATION AND, UH, ALL OUR CITIZENS OF, UH, CLARENDON COUNTY.

I'VE GOT A FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT I'VE EVER, UH, DELIVERED TO YOU.

BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO, UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING REAL QUICK AND JUST GIVE A LITTLE CREDIT, UH, WHERE IT'S DUE.

[00:30:01]

SO I MAY NOT BE TOTALLY AWARE, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS NOW AND, UH, I'VE BEEN TRAINING UNDER MS. TAMMY AS SHE PREPARES FOR HER WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE, AND MOST NOTABLY OVER 19 YEARS OF SERVICE, UH, FOR CLARET COUNTY.

AND, UH, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE KNOW THAT IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY BEING IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT, UH, OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FLY UNDER THE RADAR, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, UH, MY EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND WITH THIS LADY RIGHT HERE IS, UM, PROVEN TO ME THAT, UH, HER RETIREMENT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FOR OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME JUST TO CONGRATULATE HER AND THANK HER AND IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IN THE CENTER.

YEAH, SHE, UH, SHE'S BEEN ON ME ALL WEEK NOT TO GET UP HERE AND BE WORDY AND SO, UH, I HAVE TO, I HAD TO JUST GET THAT OUT REAL QUICK.

ALRIGHT, SO, UH, THESE REPORTS TONIGHT, UH, THEY ARE AS OF, UH, JANUARY THE 31ST, 2026, THAT'S GONNA BE OUR PERIOD SEVEN, UH, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 58% OF THE WAY THROUGH OUR FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY? SO AT THIS TIME, OUR MONTHLY APPORTIONMENTS, UH, FROM OUR TAX COLLECTIONS, UH, THEY'RE TYPICALLY DISTRIBUTED AND CALCULATED AROUND THE 10TH OF THE MONTH.

SO JUST DUE TO THE TIMING OF TONIGHT'S MEETING, UH, WE'RE ONLY GONNA REPORT ON THE EXPENDITURES.

UH, BUT STARTING WITH OUR GENERAL FUNDS, OUR YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES ARE $20,327,570.

AND THAT IS 63% OF OUR APPROVED BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

UH, BUT OF THAT OUR GRANT EXPENDITURES, UH, ARE $2,876,252.

SO WITHOUT OUR GRANT EXPENDITURES, UH, OUR TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE $17,451,318.

AND THAT IS A FAVORABLE 55% OF OUR APPROVED BUDGET.

UH, 55% THROUGH 58% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

UH, NEXT ON OUR FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT, UH, THEIR YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES ARE $5,070,673.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS ANOTHER FAVORABLE 53% OF THEIR APPROVED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

UH, OUR WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, UH, WE HAVE GOT YEAR TO DATE TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE.

IT'S $940,597.

THE TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES YEAR TO DATE ARE $519,871 FOR A NET OPERATING REVENUE OF $420,726.

NOW OUR NON-OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES, IT'S GONNA BE DEPRECIATION, BOND INTEREST, UH, INTEREST INCOME, AND NON-OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

UH, THEY HAVE A NET ADDITIONAL DEDUCTIONS TOTAL OF $418,999.

SO THAT GIVES OUR TOTAL UTILITY NET INCOME $1,727.

AND FINALLY, OUR C FUNDS, WHICH WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TONIGHT, UH, OUR FUNDS AVAILABLE IN JANUARY.

THEY WERE A TOTAL OF $8,940,121.

OUR EXPENDITURES IN JANUARY TOTALED $135,000.

SO THAT LEAVES US A CURRENT CASH BALANCE OF $8,805,121.

SO OF THAT, OUR CURRENT COMMITMENTS ARE $4,274,734, LEAVING AN UNCOMMITTED BALANCE OF $4,530,387.

AND OF THAT WE MUST SPEND BY JUNE 30TH ON STATE ROADWAYS, $880,153.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR TONIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU MR. GIBBONS.

YOU READ MS. TAMMY'S WRITING VERY WELL, .

THAT WAS MY RIGHT.

NEXT UP

[17. Administrator’s Report –Walt Ackerman, County Administrator ]

WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR REPORT, MR. WAL ACKMAN.

WELL, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW THE ENTHUSIASM OF, UH, YOU KNOW, MR. GIBBONS, BUT, UM, I'M GONNA TRY.

SO WE'VE HAD A REALLY WEIRD MONTH FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

UM, I'VE BEEN HERE,

[00:35:01]

UH, MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I WON'T TELL YOU HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN, BUT IT'S OVER HALF A CENTURY AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I REMEMBER BACK TO BACK, UM, ICE AND SNOWSTORMS, UM, IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

WE HAD ONE OCCASIONALLY, UH, BUT NOT THIS OFTEN.

SO WE STARTED ONE WEEKEND WITH A ICE STORM THAT WE REALLY DODGED A BULLET.

UM, ICE, THE ICE PART WORRIED ME A LOT MORE THAN THE SNOW DID.

UM, THAT'S WHEN YOU LOSE POWER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, LIMBS COME DOWN, TREES COME DOWN, POWER LINES FAIL.

SO WE, WE, WE STAYED JUST SOUTH OF, OF THE LINE WHERE THEY GOT A LOT OF, OF ICE ACCUMULATION AND HAD PROBLEMS. SO SOMEBODY WAS LOOKING OUT FOR US, UM, DURING THAT EVENT AND THEN HAD THE SNOWSTORM, YOU KNOW, THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND LEADING UP TO THAT, I, I JUST WANNA GIVE A LOT OF THANKS TO OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES FOLKS.

UM, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR 9 1 1, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PEOPLE, UM, ALL THE STAFF, UM, THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE WERE, WE WERE PREPARED AS PREPARED COULD POSSIBLY BE FOR THE EVENT.

UM, ONE TOPIC WE TALKED ABOUT IN PREPARATION FOR THE EVENT WAS ONE I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, WAS FROSTBITE PREPAREDNESS.

UM, IT WAS SO COLD WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT OUR FOLKS THAT WERE OUTSIDE DURING THIS EVENT AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY GETTING FROSTBITE.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, DOT WAS VERY, VERY PROACTIVE IN THIS EVENT.

UM, THEY GOT OUT AND TREATED THE ROADS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY 95 AND SOME OF THE MAIN THOROUGH AFFAIRS, WHICH GREATLY REDUCED THE IMPACT ON OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES.

WE ONLY ACTUALLY HAD SEVEN WRECKS DURING THE WORST HEART OF, OF THE EVENT THAT WE HAD TO RESPOND TO.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR HUNDREDS, UM, LIKE WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

UM, WE EVEN WENT SO FAR.

WE GOT SOME HELP FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE HAD A SCHOOL BUS ON LOAN THAT WE COULD USE TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE OFF OF 95, SHOULD WE NEED IT LIKE WE DID THE LAST TIME.

UM, SO WE, WE CAME OUT UNSCATHED AND I AM, I AM JUST TICKLE TO DEATH AS, AS HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

UM, WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS THIS MONTH.

UM, CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN'S OFFICE CAME THROUGH WITH AN APPROPRIATION REQUEST OF A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO SOME RENOVATIONS ON JC BRITTON PARK.

UM, THE STAFF PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL HAD SORT OF DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR THE PARK AND SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION.

UM, AND IT WAS ABOUT ALMOST 1.8 MILLION IN TOTAL WAS WHAT IT WAS GONNA TAKE TO DO EVERYTHING THEY WANTED TO DO.

SO WE DIDN'T GET 1.8, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SCALE THAT PROJECT DOWN.

UM, AS THAT'S DONE, WE'LL COME BACK TO, TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND PRESENT THAT, THAT REVISED PROJECT SCOPE.

UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER COUNTY PARKS AS WELL, UM, TRYING TO, TRYING TO BRING PARKS UP ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR, FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE CITIZENS.

UM, I WANNA WELCOME OUR, OUR NEW FIRE CHIEF, MR. JASON DENNIS.

UM, I LEFT IT UP TO HIM WHETHER HE WAS GONNA BE HERE TONIGHT OR NOT.

I DON'T SEE HIM, BUT, UH, WELCOME.

IS HE? YES, I GOT A POLL SITTING RIGHT HERE AND I'M, I'M, I SEE EVERYBODY BUT JASON DENNIS.

SO, UM, JASON, YOU CAN WAVE YOUR HAND.

UM, HE'LL BE, HE STARTED FEBRUARY 3RD, SO HE'S GOT, UH, FIVE FULL WORKING DAYS UP UNDER HIS BELT.

UM, SO IF Y'ALL BE PATIENT WITH HIM AND DON'T START BEATING ON HIM JUST YET, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE ON HIS HEAD ABOUT BUDGET STUFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT OVER THE COMING DAYS.

SO, UM, AND THEN ATTACHED TO THE BUDGET PACKET AND PERUSE THIS AT YOUR LEISURE IS AN UPDATE ON ALL OF THE MULTITUDE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS GOING ON.

IT IS QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL LIST.

UM, PEOPLE THAT AREN'T INVOLVED IN THIS ON A DAILY BASIS, I THINK REALLY UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH CLARENDON COUNTY IS DOING FOR A COUNTY ITS SIZE.

UM, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF, OF THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE WORKING ON THIS STUFF.

UM, SO IF YOU GET A, A CHANCE COLLAPSING, FOLKS ON THE BACK, UM, IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS CREW, UM, IN OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT, THEY, THEY'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL MAY HAVE.