May 11, 2026 Clarendon County Council

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

ALRIGHT, IT TAKES

[1. Introductory Remarks]

WELCOME EVERYBODY TO OUR MAY CLAN COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE'LL START OFF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

UH, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND, LET'S SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY A PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE.

HI, FATHER, WHAT IN HEAVEN? HOW BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM CALM, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE TREPAS AGAINST US.

AT LEAST NOT IN TEMPTATION TO DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR PROVIDES KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE LORD FOR HEAVEN.

OUR FLAG FOR THE UNITED STATES NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

FIRST

[4. Approval of Agenda]

I HAVE A MOTION.

COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON, SECOND.

COUNCILMAN COKER.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT WE

[5. Approval of Minutes]

I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

NEXT

[6. Public Comments (Total of five (5) available speaking spots, three (3) minutes per speaker) ]

UM, WE HAVE FIVE AVAILABLE SPOTS AND THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF, IF YOU COULD, TO TRY AND, UM, STAY ON TOPIC WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

UM, UH, TALK ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA OR IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

AND, UH, FIRST UP, WE WILL HAVE MR. GEORGE FRIERSON TALKING ABOUT HISTORY, MAKING SURE THAT MIC IS ON.

AND, UM, I, I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, ON TOPIC.

I WAS BORN IN AO, SOUTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, DECEMBER THE NINTH, 1952.

THAT WAS THE VERY DAY THAT BREAKS.

THE ELLIOT WAS AUGUST BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

THAT IS PERTINENT TO CLAN COUNTY, RIGHT? WE SEE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

UM, BUT THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH IT.

I'M GOING TO, I'M NOT GONNA SAY DESEGREGATED.

IT MAKES SOCIETY 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE A DIVIDED SOCIETY AND IT'S DIVIDED BECAUSE OF ONE PERSON.

AND I HAVE TWO BOOKS IN MY HAND, TWO BOOKS IN MY HAND.

ONE OF 'EM IS THE BIBLE, THE OTHER ONE IS BILL COSBY.

HE WROTE A BOOK CALLED I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN.

WANT A COPY OF IT.

I, I HAD IT.

SOMEONE GAVE IT TO ME TO READ AND I READ IT.

NOW, AMERICA IS A CORPORATION.

I WE ALL LIVE IN AMERICA, RIGHT? IT'S A CORPORATION THAT'S ABOUT MONEY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT LEGACY.

UM, I I, I LOOK AT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG THAT FLIES OUT THROUGHOUT THE, THE UNITED STATES.

REALLY, THE FLAG ITSELF IS A LIE.

IT'S AN OVEREXAGGERATION OF A LOST CAUSE.

PROVERB 17 AND 28 SAYS, AND I QUOTE THIS, THIS BOOK, IT SAYS, EVEN A FOOL, WE NEED HOLY PIECES COUNTED WISE.

AND HE HAD SHUT HIS LIPS AS A STEAM OF MAN OF UNDERSTANDING.

NOW, AUS THREE AND THREE SAYS, HOW CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY BE AGREED? NOW I'M DIVORCED.

'CAUSE WE COULDN'T WALK TOGETHER.

SO LEGALLY I GOT MARRIED LEGALLY I GOT DIVORCED.

NOW, ROMANS 12 AND FIVE SAYS, AGAINST THIS BOOK, LET LOVE BE WITHOUT THE SIMULATION.

I PULLED THAT WHICH IS EVIL, CLE IT AT, WHICH IS GOOD.

I FEAR SOME PEOPLE WHO GO IN GOD'S HOUSE, GO UP TO THE PULPIT AND TELL LIES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. GEORGE.

NEXT WE HAVE MR. DAVID WOODS, JR.

GOOD EVENING, PAR COUNTY COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF CLATON COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH THE REQUEST THAT WE HONOR A NATIVE OF MANNING, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO HAS EXCELLED IN HIS CAREER IN THE

[00:05:01]

HE IS A 1983 GRADUATE OF MANNING HIGH SCHOOL AND A 1988 GRADUATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE HAS AN OUTSTANDING AND STELLAR MILITARY CAREER AND HAS GONE ON TO BECOME THE 13TH PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PERSON FROM MANNING TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF A MAJOR UNIVERSITY IN ITS HISTORY.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE UNIVERSITY HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN RECORD TIME.

THE SCHOOL HAS SEEN A 32 AND 32% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT AND HAS SECURED THE LARGEST STATE APPROPRIATIONS IN HISTORY.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.

THE UNIVERSITY IS CURRENTLY PREPARED FOR THE FIRST EVER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND HAS BROKEN GROUND FOR A NEW STUDENT CENTER AND DORMITORY.

NOT TO MENTION THE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM ERECTED IN ORANGEBURG.

YES, I AM REFERRING TO RETIRED COLONEL, LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALEXANDER CON OF MANNY.

MY REQUEST IS THAT SIGNS BE MADE AND ERECTED ON THE ENTRANCES TO MANNY TO HONOR HIM AS THE 13TH PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY.

AS YOU ENTER KING STREET AND ANDREWS, WE SEE SIGNS STATING, WELCOME TO KING STREET, THE HOME OF DR. HENRY TISDALE, PRESIDENT OF CLAPTON UNIVERSITY.

AND AS YOU ENTER ANDREWS, YOU'LL SEE A SIGN STATING, WELCOME TO ANDREWS, THE HOME OF CHUBBY CHECK.

AND CHRIS, ROBERT, I'M ASKING THAT WE SHOULD HONOR ONE OF OUR OWN AS SUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. DAVID.

WE'LL, UM, I GUESS WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.

BUT THANK YOU MR. DAVIS.

THANK YOU.

[7. Requests – Hospitality Fund ]

GOOD EVENING, CLARINET COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CITIZENS OF CLARINET COUNTY.

MY NAME IS PROFESSOR JEFFREY LAMPKIN.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEFFREY AND HARRIET LAMPKIN FOUNDATION.

AND OF COURSE, YOU GUYS ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE FOUNDATION.

THE, UM, SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE, WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN ACTIVE FOR OVER 10 YEARS HERE IN CLAREDON COUNTY.

UM, AND A BIG PORTION OF THAT WAS BY OUR FORMER COUNTY COUNCILMAN PASTOR WJ FREON, WHO OF COURSE, UM, HAS SINCE GONE ON TO GLORY.

BUT HE WAS A BIG SUPPORTER AND ADVOCATE OF THE SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE.

OF COURSE, WE'RE COMING THIS YEAR AND WE'RE ASKING FOR HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS.

OF COURSE, HOSPITALITY TAX EXISTS TO BRING PEOPLE IN DOLLARS INTO THE COUNTY, WHICH THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DOING.

I THINK I SENT YOU ALL A PRESENTATION PRIOR, AND I'M NOT SURE IF EACH OF YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THAT.

I SENT THAT TO MR. ACKERMAN AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECEIVING AND CORRESPONDING BACK WITH ME.

THE SEMINARS INSTITUTE HAS BEEN, UM, IN PLACE FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IT HAS BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE INTO CLAREDON COUNTY AND ALLOW THEM TO SEE WHAT TAKES PLACE.

IT TAKES PLACE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

WE'RE ABLE TO NOT CHARGE THE STUDENTS ANYTHING TO BE A PART OF THIS.

THEY DO DANCE, THEY DO, UM, DRAMA, THEY DO STEPPING.

THEY DO ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITY THAT REALLY POUR INTO THEIR LIVES AND ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND OVER 55% OF THE, ON THURSDAY NIGHT, WE DO THIS BIG EXTRAVAGANZA AND OVER 55% OF THE ATTENDEES ARE FROM OUTSIDE OF CLARINET COUNTY.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RICHLAND COUNTY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ORANGEBURG, THE COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN AREA, PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN ON THAT THURSDAY NIGHT TO SEE WHAT THE CAMP PARTICIPANTS ARE DOING, AND ALSO THE SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ARE INVOLVED ON THAT NIGHT.

AND SO WE ARE ASKING FOR, UM, FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, TO HELP SUPPORT THAT NIGHT.

HOSPITALITY TAXES, UM, MEANT TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOVEMENT.

AND THIS EVENT FILLS HOTELS AND LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, HOTEL BEDS BEING FILLED.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANTS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO COME IN AND EAT.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOW ME, ZACKS, THESE CHICK-FIL-A AND ALL OF THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT ARE AROUND DNH, UM, BEING ABLE TO BE FILLED.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS UTILIZED OUR LOCAL, UM, CATERERS AND EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE WEEK.

BUT ON THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, WE ALSO USE OUR LOCAL PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED AND TO BE A PART.

SO I SENT YOU ALL, UM, THAT, THAT, UM, REQUEST AND WE'RE REQUESTING $10,000, WHICH OF COURSE IS GOING TO, UM, BRING HOTEL REVENUES, 60 HOTEL ROOMS THAT WILL BE BOOKED 495 VISITORS DINING LOCALLY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 825 VISITORS THAT WILL COME IN THROUGH GAS AND TRAVEL AND SPENDING, WHICH OF COURSE WILL BRING ECONOMIC IMPACT, WHICH WE'RE ESTIMATING AT $37,560.

AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANNA SAY IS THAT THE JEFFREY AND HARRIET LAMPKIN FOUNDATION WE'RE, UM, CONSTANTLY POURING INTO CLARINET COUNTY.

SO IF YOU WILL LOOK, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE DO THE FREE SUMMER ARTS CAMP.

WE DO THE GOLDEN GAME SUMMER INIT, UM, SENIOR INITIATIVE, WHICH ALLOWS SENIORS TO HAVE FREE MEALS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

THANKSGIVING FOOD GIVEAWAYS.

WE'RE DOING

[00:10:01]

AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANNA SHARE IS THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUST GIVING SOMETHING.

BUT THIS IS NOT CHARITY.

THIS IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR YOUTH ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE VIABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE, UM, THE SUPPORT AND TO SEE THAT SUPPORT COME FROM CLARENDON COUNTY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, MR. BLACK, WHAT ARE THE DATES ON THIS EVENT? THAT EVENT IS GOING TO BE JULY 6TH THROUGH THE 10TH IS THE CAMP JULY 9TH IS THE DATE OF THE SUM, THE ACTUAL EXTRAVAGANZA.

THAT EXTRAVAGANZA WILL BE HELD ON JULY 9TH.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HELD AT THE WELDON AUDITORIUM.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED BY THEN THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND ACTUALLY, WE'VE HOSTED THE CAMP BECAUSE OF THE, UM, IN KIND, AGAIN, SPONSORSHIP FROM CLARINET COUNTY COUNCIL.

WE'VE HAD IT AT THE WELDON AUDITORIUM FOR THE PAST, UM, THREE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN AT WELDON AUDITORIUM, BUT THE ACTUAL EXTRAVAGANZA WILL BE JULY 9TH.

AND THOSE EVENTS WILL BE HELD HERE IN CLATON COUNTY.

ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY MORE? ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU MR. JEFFREY.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE FUND $10,000 FOR THE JEFFREY AND HAR LAMPTON FOUNDATION? OKAY, AUGUST.

NEXT UP WE HAVE MS. LINDA JACKSON INSPIRE ME.

LET'S REID CLATON.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY REGARDING AN EVENT THAT WE BELIEVE WILL HAVE A LASTING OR HAS HAD A LASTING EVENT ON IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH, FAMILIES AND CULTURAL GROWTH IN CLARINET COUNTY.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING LET'S LARING TO REQUEST HOSPITALITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR UPCOMING EVENT ARTS IN THE PARK.

THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTH ANNUAL ARTS IN THE PARK, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT WALK GAMBLE.

PARK.

ARTS IN THE PARK IS MORE THAN JUST AN EVENT.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE INITIATIVE WAS CREATED TO EXPOSE OUR YOUTH, UM, TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY ALWAYS BE ACCESSIBLE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS DAY IS THE DAY OF FUN FOR OUR KIDS, WHERE WE BRING IN LOCAL ARTISTS, ARTISTS OUT, UH, ARTISTS THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY COMING IN, UM, WHO IS GONNA DISPLAY THEIR ARTS.

WE HAVE WALKER GAMBLE, UM, ARTS, MR. UH, THAT'S GONNA BE BRINGING IN THEIR YOUTH ARTS TO DISPLAY FOR THE YOUTH IN CLARINE COUNTY WHO HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS WITH THEIR ARTS THIS YEAR.

BUT IT MAY HAVE NOT GOTTEN DISPLAYED WHERE EVERYONE WILL GET TO SEE IT.

SO THIS GIVES ANOTHER, UM, RIM FOR THEIR ARTS TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE PARK.

SO WHEN WE ATTRACT OUR, UM, LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT COME INTO CLARINE COUNTY, RURAL NEW ZION, BECAUSE I'M BIG ON RURAL AREAS AND EXPOSURE FOR THE KIDS, THEY WILL GET TO SEE THE ARTS THAT OUR KIDS DO.

THEY WILL GET TO SEE THE TALENTS AND SKILLS THAT OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY EXHIBITS BY LIVE MUSIC FROM LOCAL ARTISTS.

ALSO BRINGING IN PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTIES TO WATCH A LOT MUSIC.

BUT THE BIG THING FOR ME IS JUST HAVING A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO INTERACT.

AND WHERE THESE KIDS MAY NOT USUALLY GET TO HAVE THIS OUTLET WITH ARTS AND TOUCHING.

WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN WITH THE MARKET TO TEACH THEM ABOUT MAKING FLOWERS, FACE PAINTING, PAINTING ITSELF, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING TO SEE PROFESSIONALS AT THIS LEVEL THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND SEE THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY COMING INTO THEM.

AND FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO HAVE A GREAT TIME IN THE PARK, SAFE ENVIRONMENT, FUN ENVIRONMENT, AND JUST MAKING OUR RURAL AREA, JUST PUTTING IT ON A MAP.

SO PEOPLE, WE ALWAYS GO OUT TO VISIT OTHER OUTSIDE OF RURAL THIS WAY WE'LL BRING IN PEOPLE INTO RURAL AREA TO SEE THAT WE HAVE TALENT AND SKILLS AND FUNDS IN OUR AREA AND SAFE COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

SO I AM SO EXCITED, UM, FOR THE EXPOSURE.

I'M PRAYING THAT WE COULD PARTNER, UM, MAKE IT A GREAT EVENT LAST YEAR.

IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, UM, FOR HOPEFULLY A LOT OF YOU GET TO COME OUT AND SEE AND ACTUALLY BE A PART OF IT AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING WHEN YOU GET TO ALSO INTRODUCE YOUR LOCAL LEADERS TO OTHER PEOPLE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP IN THIS COUNTY AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR ARTS IN THE PARK, INVITING YOU ALL TO COME.

EITHER WAY IT GOES.

PLEASE COME OUT, SEE THE FUN, FEEL, SEE AND ENJOY.

AND ALSO TO LET OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE COMING IN TO SEE HOW FRIENDLY AND, AND COMMUNITY AND UNITED WE ARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, MISS LINDA.

I'M SORRY, WHAT? UM, WHAT AMOUNT ARE YOU REQUESTING? WE DIDN'T, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

OH, I'M SORRY.

SO I GAVE THE BREAK THE BREAKDOWN HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW, DID YOU

[00:15:01]

SO, SO YOU'RE REQUESTING 10? YES, SIR.

ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LEN? IT, UH, YES.

UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, THIS BEING, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

THE EVENT IS AT NEW ZION WALKER GAMBLE PARK IN NEW ZION? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

AND, AND THAT'S, IT'S ONE DATE JUNE JUNE 6TH.

JUNE 6TH? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

UH, THIS, YOU HAD THIS EVENT LAST YEAR.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING.

I FORGOT TO EVEN SAY THAT.

, I, I, I REMEMBER, I KNOW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE CAME UP TO ATTEND THAT EVENT AND THEY, UH, THEY ALL CERTAINLY ENJOYED IT.

YES, SIR.

UM, I THINK SHE HAD LIKE 80 CHILDREN FROM WILLIAMSBURG AND FLORENCE COUNTY.

YEAH.

YES, SIR.

CERTAINLY A GOOD EVENT, UH, AT YOUR REQUEST IS 10 $10,000.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S MY REQUEST.

BUT HONESTLY, I MEAN, I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER YOU ALL DO TODAY, BUT THAT IS TO MAKE IT AN AMAZING EVENT AND TO KEEP IT GOING AND JUST TO, TO BE ABLE TO BE, UM, TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.

OKAY.

AND DID I, I'M LOOKING AT THE, THE BREAKDOWN, YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

YES, SIR.

AND THAT AMOUNT, DOES IT EQUAL $10,000? YES, SIR, IT DOES.

I, OKAY.

I DON'T, SOME OF THIS STUFF CANNOT BE USED OUTTA HOSPITALITY.

WELL, THAT'S FINE.

UM, WHATEVER HOSPITALITY CAN USE AND IT ADDS UP TO THAT AMOUNT, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR ME, SIR.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

UH, MR. ACKERMAN, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN OVER TO SEE THAT THERE ARE THIS ITEM THAT NOT QUALIFY IN HERE.

DID YOU SEE ANYTHING? THINGS LIKE, UM, MAIN STAGE? YEAH.

UM, STATE RENTALS.

YEAH.

UM, MICROPHONE, SPEAKERS.

THERE'S, UH, SOME FOOD FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THAT STUFF COULDN'T BE USED.

THE HOSPITALITY MONEY NEEDS TO FOCUS MORE ON, UM, THE ADVERTISEMENT AND THE OUTREACH PART.

THERE'S SIGN PORTION IN HERE THAT IS QUALIFYING FOR HOSPITALITY FUNDS, BUT THERE'S A FEW LITTLE MINOR THINGS THAT COULD, UH, AND YOUR JUNE THE SIXTH IS THE DATE THAT THIS EVENT BEING HELD, ISN'T IT? JUNE THE SIXTH? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

UH, TO MR. CHAIRMAN, BE ONE, DEDUCT THE ONE THAT'S NOT ALLOWED AND LET, UH, AND GRANT HER THE REST OF IT.

CAN I, CAN I MAKE A MOTION JUST TO GIVE HER 5,000 AND SHE CAN SAY, AND AND IF SHE DON'T SPEND IT IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT, SHE, SHE CAN'T GET AT SHE SHOW RECEIPTS.

YES.

YES, SIR.

SHE THE REQUEST ABOVE 10, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE, I DON'T SEE MUCH ANYTHING ON HERE AS YOU CAN USE IT FOR 45.

IT'S, IT'S PRETTY MUCH FOR ADVERTISEMENT TO BRING PEOPLE FROM INDY COUNTY.

SO, AND LAST YEAR, I THINK THE LOT AMOUNT WAS, UM, HOSPITALITY.

I CAN GO BACK AND USE THAT AND IT WOULD BE THE SAME, UM, WHAT THE HOSPITALITY COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR.

IS THAT WHAT WE GIVE YOU LAST YEAR? UM, I DON'T REMEMBER.

DO YOU REMEMBER, DID YOU USE IT ALL LAST YEAR FOR ADVERTISING? ACTUALLY, I HAD TO USE MORE, BUT I WAS GRATEFUL FOR, FOR WHAT? I GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WELL, THE, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT, YEAH, THIS, THE LARGE ITEM ON HERE.

UH, MS. ACKMAN, YOU SAID NOT QUALIFY THE 2,500? YES.

OKAY.

THAT'S NOT QUALIFIED.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE FOR A DIRECT STAGE.

OKAY.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, WE MAKE MOTION TO DO UP 5,000.

UM, AND THEN MS. JACKSON WILL WORK WITH, WITH ME AND FINANCE STAFF AFTER THE MEETING, UM, OR BEFORE HER EVENT AND DETERMINE WHAT COULD BE SPENT.

UH, WHAT ABOUT, BECAUSE I, I HEARD A LOT ABOUT HER EVENT UP THERE.

IT, IT, IT CERTAINLY WAS A GOOD EVENT LAST YEAR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE THERE.

SO WHAT ABOUT 6,000 CHAIRMAN THAT WHAT? YOU WANNA MAKE THAT MOTION? I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO REGRANT A $6,000.

I SECOND.

THANK YOU.

GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICH? SECOND.

FROM COUNCILMAN COKER.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED.

THANK YOU MS. LAND.

THANK YOU TO GOD BE THE COURT.

CALL ME.

YES, SIR.

NEXT.

YES SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS,

[8. Board Appointment ]

[00:20:01]

TO SERVE A FOUR YEAR TERM, YOU'LL HAVE A MOTION WE APPOINT MS. MARY.

SO, MOVE CHAIR.

MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARD.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN INE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIEDS.

NEXT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION

[9. Resolution ]

THAT'S FAIR.

HOUSING MONTH IN CLATON COUNTY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE APPROVE THIS.

SO, MOTION GENTLEMAN GOT A MOTION.

COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON.

SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED THE RESOLUTION PASSES.

NEXT WE HAVE OUR

[10. Opioid RV Presentation ]

UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.

UM, AS A RESULT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID LITIGATION PROCEEDINGS IN OCTOBER OF 2022, CLAREDON COUNTY RECEIVED A GUARANTEED POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SUB FUND AMOUNT OF $100,315.

THE COUNTY FORMED AN OPIOID RECOVERY FUND TEAM FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE FUNDS DUBBED AS THE PATHWAY TO FREEDOM.

THE STRATEGIES THAT WOULD BE USED INCLUDED SUPPORTING THE TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE DISORDER AND ANY CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.

EXPANSION OF THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT, REIMBURSEMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SUPPORT MOBILE INTERVENTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES.

.

IN MARCH OF 2025, A COMPETITIVE GRANT WAS SUBMITTED TO SCOR F IN THE AMOUNT OF $297,000.

AND WE WERE AWARDED THAT AMOUNT ON MARCH 27TH, 2025.

THE FUNDING FOR THE OPIOID RECOVERY PROJECT INCLUDED, UH, NALOXONE LEAVE BEHIND KITS TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY EMS AND TEAM PROFESSIONALS.

THESE ARE KITS THAT CONTAIN NALOXONE AND, UH, FENTANYL TEST STRIPS THAT EMS AND COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS CAN GIVE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, HAVE EITHER EXPERIENCED AN OPIOID, UM, OVERDOSE OR HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A, OR A NEIGHBOR, THEY HAVE THE KITS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE USE.

A FULL-TIME INTERVENTIONIST DEDICATED TO THE CLAREN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, TREATMENT FOR THE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES AT PEER RECOVERY CENTERS, SUCH AS THE JOHN LANDON BLACK RESOURCE CENTER HERE IN MANNY.

AND AS A FIRST FOR THE STATE OPIOID RECOVERY FUND AND A PILOT FOR THE STATE, WE GOT APPROVAL TO PURCHASE A MOBILE RECOVERY TEAM VEHICLE.

AND WHILE WE WEREN'T THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO GET IT ON THE ROAD, , WE WERE FIRST IN THE STATE TO DO THIS PILOT PROJECT.

SO ON SITE TONIGHT WE HAVE THE RECOVERY VEHICLE, WHICH WILL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BE WRAPPED.

UH, WE HOPE TO HAVE IT WRAPPED TONIGHT, BUT THAT WAS PUT ON THE BACK BURNER BY THE SERVICES THAT ARE GONNA DO THAT.

UM, BUT IT WILL BE WRAPPED, UM, I THINK THE BEGINNING OF JUNE NOW.

SO I'VE GIVEN YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

NOW IN THE STATE, WE'LL HAVE THIS RECOVERY VEHICLE AND RESPONSE VEHICLE THAT WILL GO TO ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY ON A SCHEDULE.

AND, UH, INDIVIDUALS AND IN THE COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO GET ON BOARD AND ACCESS TREATMENT AND, AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES.

UM, MS. NATALIE SCOTT, THE CEO OF CLARINE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS TO YOU, BUT WE INVITE YOU TO GO IN A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.

IT'S BEEN UPFITTED INSIDE FOR, UH, TO ASSESSMENT AREAS, UH, A SPOT FOR PEOPLE TO VIEW, UM, VIDEOS ON TV.

AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS GOING.

THANK YOU.

HI THERE.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, VICKI, WITH THIS.

AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET THIS PROJECT ON THE GROUND, OFF THE GROUND.

UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WRITE IN OUR COUNTY PLAN EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE IS HOW RURAL OUR AREA IS AND HOW THE OUTREACH THAT WE NEED TO DO, UM, IS DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE DON'T HAVE A BIG UBER OR ANY TYPE OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION FOR A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS.

WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDING THAT CAN HELP CLIENTS WITH GAS THAT COME IN FOR SERVICES, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH IF YOU DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE OR YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN GET YOU TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS RV AND WE GOT IT UPFITTED.

AND WE HAVE TWO AREAS WHERE WE CAN DO ASSESSMENTS

[00:25:01]

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS OUT NOT ONLY TO THE RURAL AREAS THAT PEOPLE, UM, ARE LIVING IN, BUT ALSO TO ANY COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WE HAVE.

WE CAN DISTRIBUTE OUR, UM, NALOXONE, WE CAN DO VIVITROL, NOT VIVITROL, EXCUSE ME, ANY TYPE OF, UM, PREVENTION OR TREATMENT STUFF WE COULD DO INSIDE THIS VEHICLE.

WE HAVE WIFI AVAILABLE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT STAFFED BY A CLINICIAN IN OUR AGENCY AND ALSO A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST WHO IS IN RECOVERY THEMSELVES.

SO THIS WE FEEL LIKE IS GONNA BE A REALLY BIG ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES OR NEED SOME TYPE OF TREATMENT.

UM, WE INVITE YOU TO COME OUT AT SOME POINT THIS EVENING AND GO THROUGH IT AND LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE.

WE'RE REAL PROUD OF IT.

WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT WRAPPED BEFORE NOW, BUT WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WRAP IT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PREP WORK THAT YOU DO BEFORE YOU GET SOMETHING WRAPPED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T LEAK.

SO, UM, WE HAVE, YOU HAVE THOSE PICTURES OF WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE AND THEN WE HAVE THE, THE FREE STANDING, UH, THING UP HERE.

BUT WE'VE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME LOOK AT IT WHENEVER WE'RE DONE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE

[11. Presentation – Youlanda Gibbs, Executive Director, The Palmetto Palace ]

MS. YOLANDA GIBBS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALMETTO PLACE.

UH, MS. JIM, I'M SORRY, MS. CHAIRMAN.

UM, MS. GIBBS EMAILED ME SHORTLY BEFORE THE MEETING AND SAID SHE HAD AN EMERGENCY COME UP.

UM, SHE WAS GONNA COME AND DO A PRESENTATION.

I WILL PROBABLY HAVE HER AT ANOTHER MEETING.

UM, SHE IS OVER A ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE DENTAL CARE FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

UM, AND SHE WAS WANTING TO COME AND TALK AND GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT A BIG EVENT THAT THEY'RE HAVING OVER IN ORANGEBURG.

I THINK IT'S IN JULY.

UM, SO WE'VE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND MAYBE WE CAN GET HER ON TO JUNE MEETING TO COME BACK AND, AND TALK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.

BUT IT'S FANTASTIC.

UM, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO'S LISTENING, IF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE DENTAL COVERAGE, UM, IT'S A GOOD THING.

LOOK OUT FOR IT AND GO GET, TAKE CARE OF YOUR, OF YOUR HEALTH.

UM, YOUR DENTAL HEALTH, ORAL HEALTH IS HEART HEALTH.

UM, SO WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE OUR BUDGET

[12. Budget Presentations – Nelson Gibbons, Finance Director ]

MR. NELSON GIBBONS.

SEE, I GOT A BAG OF GOODIES RIGHT HERE FOR YOU, RIGHT? WHAT? YOU GOT THREE MINUTES? YOU GOT THREE MINUTES, MEL.

THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

YOU SAID I GOT THREE MINUTES RIGHT? .

ALRIGHT, SO, UH, BUDGET'S GOING WELL.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CHANGES.

UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA HIT ON, UH, PRIMARILY TONIGHT SINCE OUR, WHAT WE HAD AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP.

OKAY, SO WE'LL START WITH THE GENERAL FUND.

WHENEVER WE LEFT OFF AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE WERE SITTING AT THAT TIME AT A DEFICIT OF $405,890.

AND UH, TODAY WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

WE ARE FUNDING IT CURRENTLY WITH $414,000 OF FUND BALANCE.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS SINCE WE LEFT OFF AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, OUR DEFICIT ACTUALLY GREW JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THE TOTAL NET CHANGE WAS $8,530.

WE'VE GOT SOME UPDATED INFORMATION ON REVENUES.

SO THE REVENUES DID ADJUST A LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF, WELL, ONE MORE CAPITAL EXPENSE ITEM THAT WE NEEDED TO ADD TO THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.

SO CAPITAL EXPENSE ITEMS INCREASED BY $10,000 ALONE.

AND, UH, ON TOP OF THAT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FUNDING THIS YEAR AS WELL.

SO ULTIMATELY WE WALK IN TODAY FOR THE GENERAL FUND WITH CHANGES FROM THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, THEY NET AN INCREASE OF $8,530.

SO INCLUDED IN THAT ARE, UH, CAPITAL EXPENSE ITEMS. I'VE GOT THESE, UH, IN THESE BINDERS.

I WANT Y'ALL TO TAKE THESE AND YOU CAN KEEP 'EM.

BUT YOUR SECOND PAGE, OR EXCUSE ME, YOUR THIRD TAB IN THE BACK THAT'S GOT OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE GENERAL FUND, IT SHOWS $478,000

[00:30:02]

WHENEVER WE WERE AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, IT WAS 468,000.

TODAY IT'S 478,000.

SO THAT RIGHT THERE ALONE $10,000 INCREASE IS WHAT KIND OF WORKED AGAINST OUR, OUR DEFICIT.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE PROUD TO KNOW THAT WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING WITH FUND BALANCE OF $414,000, WE'RE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT $478,000 OF OUR EXPENSES ARE ONE TIME CAPITAL ITEM MUST HAVE PURCHASES.

OKAY? SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES WE'VE HAD TO THE GENERAL FUND SINCE WE HAD OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR THE LIBRARY FUND.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY BALANCED AND IT IS STILL BALANCED.

WE HAVE HAD SOME CHANGES TO THE LIBRARY FUND.

THE MAIN CHANGE FOR LIBRARY IS THE TURVILLE LIBRARY THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.

IT IS GONNA BE FINISHED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

ALONG WITH THAT, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO SUPPLY BOOKS INTO THE TURVILLE LIBRARY.

OKAY? SO WE HAD SOME TWEAKS TO THE REVENUES, BUT WE ALSO DID TWEAK THE EXPENSES TO ACCOUNT FOR PURCHASING THE BOOKS TO GO IN THE TURVILLE LIBRARY.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE FUND BALANCE THAT IS BEING USED TO BUDGET, THE LIBRARY FUND IS $68,990.

THE GENERAL FUND AND THE LIBRARY FUND NO MILL INCREASE.

OKAY? SO THE BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY FUND, LIKE I SAID, IT'S GONE UP IN TOTAL.

RIGHT NOW IT'S $944,620 FOR FIRE RESCUE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CHANGES SINCE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

IT WAS BALANCED.

IT IS STILL BALANCED.

THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR FIRE RESCUE RIGHT NOW IS $9,899,620.

AND IF I DIDN'T SAY WHAT THE GENERAL FUND WAS, THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW IS $31,888,850.

SO ONLY A FEW MINOR CHANGES SINCE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE GOT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES WERE EXACTLY ALL THE WAY DOWN.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE GONNA BE REVIEWING UPDATED REVENUES THROUGH APRIL.

APRIL, AND THEN WE WILL PROJECT FOR MAY AND JUNE JUST TO TIE IN THE REVENUES FOR THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

UH, BUT BESIDES THOSE FEW CHANGES, THERE HASN'T BEEN, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MORE MAJOR SWING IN THE ACTIVITY.

OKAY? BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO KEEP THOSE, KEEP THOSE BINDERS.

UH, WHAT WE'LL DO IS AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE.

I'LL JUST, WE'LL WE CAN, YOU CAN BRING THOSE BACK.

WE'LL GET THE PAGES OUT OF 'EM.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE UPDATED PAGES AND THAT WAY YOU'LL HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU TO BE ABLE TO FLIP ALONG WITH ME AT THE, UH, AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

OKAY? YEP.

MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, OUR CFO JUST MENTIONED THE BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK.

UM, WE HAD ONE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED DUE TO A LAST MINUTE CONFLICT THAT JUST POPPED UP.

UM, WE WOULD ASK TO RESCHEDULE THAT FROM THE 18TH TO, UM, TUESDAY THE 26TH, WHICH WILL BE THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, UM, TO ALLOW FOR US TO GET A FEW THINGS IRONED OUT, IF THAT'S OKAY? YES SIR.

THANK YOU.

AFTERNOON? YES.

TUESDAY THE 26TH.

ALRIGHT, SO NO BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK, BUT TUESDAY THE 26TH.

UH, WE'LL GO INTO THE, THE DETAILS ON THOSE CHANGES.

I'LL GIVE YOU UPDATED PAGES AND WE'LL GO THROUGH, UH, LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON HOW THOSE SWUNG UP AND DOWN.

PLUS WE'LL TALK ABOUT REVENUES THAT CAME IN THROUGH APRIL AND WHAT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR NEXT YEAR.

OKAY? ALRIGHT.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU NELSON.

APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC

[13. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-04 ]

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING IF ANYONE LIKE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LINDA PRINGLE.

I'M CLARINE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, NOW I'M 65 YEARS OLD NOW.

IS CLAREDON COUNTY CONSIDERING EVER GIVEN AN EXEMPTION FOR ROAD FEES LIKE SUMTER COUNTY DOES FOR THEIR SENIORS OVER 65? WHAT ALL DOES ROAD FEES COVER? WHAT, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? THE QUESTION IS, IS CLARINE

[00:35:01]

AND WHAT DOES THESE ROAD FEES COVER? WELL, THE, THE ROAD FEES, I KNOW THAT THEY COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE ON, ON YOUR DIRT ROADS.

THEY HELPED WITH THE EXPENSE OF THAT.

UH, BUT THE EXEMPTION PART, I, I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP FOR A DISCUSSION.

NO, NO MA'AM.

WE, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT YET.

I KNOW SUNBURY COUNTY DID, UH, A WHILE BACK.

THEY, THEY PUT THAT OUT THERE.

BUT, UM, MAJORITY OF ROADS IN CLA COUNTY ARE STATE MAINTAINED ROADS.

UM, ONLY THING THAT ROAD FEES ARE ON WOULD BE OUR, OUR COUNTY ROADS AND OUR DIRT ROADS.

AND, UM, WE, WE HADN'T EVER DISCUSSED THAT ISSUE.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT, BUT IT, IT HADN'T, HADN'T EVER BEEN BROUGHT UP TO US YET.

OKAY.

I'M BRINGING IT UP.

ALRIGHT, .

IS THAT OKAY? WELL, WE, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL DISCUSS IT AND, AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO TONIGHT, BUT WE'LL DISCUSS IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? MS. PATRICIA? THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

PATRICIA PRINGLE, CLARIN COUNTY AUDITOR AND THANK YOU CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS.

UM, THE FIRST QUESTION IS THAT IN THE PAST, SINCE I'VE BEEN AUDITOR FOR 23 YEARS, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE SOLICITOR AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND OTHERS WERE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR BUDGET BEFORE COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE NOT, AND THAT ALWAYS GAVE US A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR OFFICE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING OUR BUDGETS BEFORE YOU LIKE WE USED TO DO IN THE PAST.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I CAN HELP WITH THAT.

OKAY.

UM, WELL, NEWER ELECTED OFFICIAL LABOR ASKED ABOUT, TALKED TO ME ABOUT BRINGING THEIR BUDGET TOWARD BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL.

BUT, UM, UNDERSTATE LAW, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PREPARE ALL OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGETS AND TO PRESENT THEM TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

I TOOK THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY.

UM, SO THAT'S WHY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PRESENTING THE BUDGET.

IF YOU HAD ONE OR TWO SPECIFICALLY COME, YOU COULD HAVE, I MEAN I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU NEEDED THAT.

WELL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE DOING EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

WELL, I MEAN, BUT I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SINCE NOVEMBER, SO.

RIGHT.

UM, THIS, THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET PROCESS.

OKAY.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.

UM, OKAY.

THE OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, IN LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT, UM, THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES THAT WAS ON FACEBOOK ONLINE, UM, I'M NOT SEEING THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT BUDGET AND I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT AMOUNT WAS IN THAT BUDGET.

AND ARE THERE ANY INCREASES OR DECREASES TO THAT? UH, WE HAVEN'T GOT THAT SEPARATED OUT YET, BUT IT IS A PART, PART OF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THE BUDGET FOR THE TRANSFER FROM THE EMS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT THAT IS INCORPORATED IN THAT BUDGET.

IT'S A DIRECT TRANSFER.

OKAY.

AND THIS IS A SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT? IT'S A SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT THAT, THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED BY THIRD READING.

OKAY.

THE AMOUNTS ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY THE DETAIL.

'CAUSE IT'S SIMPLY A, A ONE LINE, IT'S A BASICALLY A TWO LINE BUDGET.

THIS IS THE AMOUNT FROM REVENUES AND THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT TRANSFER TO THE FIRE SERVICE.

SO WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR OWN MILLAGE THAT WE LEVY FOR, THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.

YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN THE OTHER LAST QUESTION IS, UM, THE INCREASE OF THE $858,780 IN AVALOR TAXES, UM, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE YOU EXPECTING IN REAL ESTATE AND VEHICLES? UM, SINCE THE BOAT AND MOTOR TAXES ARE GONNA BE DECREASED BY THE 42.75% AND THE REDUCTION OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITH, YOU KNOW, NET GAIN UNDER $10,000 IS ALREADY, UM, AS A PART OF YOUR BUDGET.

I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS WHERE THAT NUMBER IS COMING FROM.

HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET TO THE $858,780 YEAH.

WAS JUST OVER PERCENT.

YEAH.

UM, SO A LOT OF THAT'S COMING FROM, FROM GROWTH.

UM, THIS IS PROBABLY A MUCH MORE TECHNICAL

[00:40:01]

UM, BUT WE CAN KIND OF SHOW YOU THE MATH HOW WE GOT THERE.

BUT, UM, IT'S A VERY, ACTUALLY, IT'S A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US OPPORTUNITY.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WELL BACK ONE, TWO, UM, PIGGYBACK ON WHAT, UM, THE AUDITOR JUST ASKED ABOUT WHETHER THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR BUDGET AT A PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, THAT QUESTION CAME UP DURING A MEETING THAT I HAD WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR AND I ASKED A QUESTION, WILL WE BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT? AND THE ANSWER I GOT, 'CAUSE I TOOK NOTES, WAS I HAVEN'T MADE UP MY MIND YET.

AND THEN HE ALSO SAID THAT, UM, THE SAME THING HE SAID ABOUT THE LAW THAT HE HAD TO PRESENT, DIDN'T SAY THAT HE HAD TO MAKE, HE SAID HE HAD TO PRESENT.

THAT'S WHAT THE LAW STATE, I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF IT WITH ME, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION THAT NIGHT.

I MEAN, THAT DAY THAT WE HAD THE MEETING, UM, THE, THE REASON I ASKED IS AT THE NEXT BUDGET HEARING WORKSHOP, ARE WE GONNA BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO LINE BY LINE AS THE ITEM THAT WAS DECREASED FROM OUR BUDGET? BECAUSE I SAW ONLINE THAT THE CORONER'S OFFICE BUDGET HAD BEEN CUT 142, JUST OVER $142,000.

AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN CUT SO I CAN PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR HOW TO RUN THE OFFICE.

SO WILL I BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE NEXT BUDGET HEARING, UM, WORKSHOP TO GO THROUGH EACH LINE ITEM OR BE TOLD, NOT JUST MY DEPARTMENT, BUT FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL, UM, TO KNOW WHAT'S BEING CUT AND WHAT'S BEING INCREASED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT PUBLICLY.

UM, W WE KIND OF HAD, UH, I KNOW MY WALDEN AND MYSELF HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

UM, TECHNICALLY IT IS, IT'S HIS AND NELSON'S JOB TO PREPARE THE BUDGET.

UM, I KNOW IN THE PAST THAT EVERYONE'S HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND, AND SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT IF YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH YOUR BUDGET, YOU TECHNICALLY NEED TO GO SCHEDULE SOME MEETING WITH WALTON NELSON AND GO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THEM.

BECAUSE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE AND PEOPLE COME HERE AND STAND UP AND, AND TALK, IT'S JUST TAKING UP A, A LOT OF TIME THAT IT'S ALL GOTTA GO BACK TO THEM.

I MEAN, WE APPROVE IT, BUT WE DON'T PREPARE IT.

THEY PREPARE IT.

SO, UM, I I THINK YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE A MEET WITH THEM AND SIT DOWN AND, AND GET IT PREPARED AND, AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT IT NOW.

OKAY.

SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS, IF WE TURN IN A PROPOSED BUDGET WITH DECREASES IN CERTAIN AREAS AND IT STILL IS NOT SATISFACTORY, UM, FOR A 142,000 BUDGET CUT, DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE DESERVE TO KNOW IN WHAT AREAS THOSE CUTS ARE COMING FROM? YES, MA'AM.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S THEIR DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE AMPLE TIME OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

AND IF YOU'LL GET WITH TERRY AND SET UP A TIME, I'LL BE GLAD TO GO THROUGH LINE BY LINE EXACTLY WHAT WE DID WITH YOUR BUDGET.

OKAY.

AND THAT'S WONDER ANYTHING'S CUT, THEY PRESENT IT TO US.

MM-HMM .

THEY EXPLAIN WHY THEY RIGHT.

SO YOU DO HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

SO WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HIM OR NOT, WHETHER THOSE TS ARE OR NOT.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

WE HAVE TO APPROVE OR, OR NOT APPROVE THE BUDGET, RIGHT? YEAH.

THE COUNCIL HAS.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAVE THE FINAL SAY SO YES, MA'AM.

ON WHAT OUR BUDGET WOULD BE.

YEAH, WE DO.

YES MA'AM.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE PRESENT, WHAT AND WHETHER YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WE ACTUALLY PRESENTED TO HIM.

YES MA'AM.

WOULD THAT HAPPEN? BUT BASICALLY ALL, ALL WE WERE DOING WAS TRYING TO MAKE THOSE LONG CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN HERE.

Y'ALL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH ADMINISTRATOR AND THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND, AND THE ROOM AROUND THE CORNER AND GET ALL THAT STUFF IRONED OUT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT UP HERE FOR LIKE TWO HOURS AT NIGHT AND HAVE THAT, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

OKAY.

AND I AGREE WITH THAT.

HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT'S

[00:45:01]

WELL, I MEAN, THE PUBLIC'S GONNA KNOW BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE EXPLAINED.

WELL, YES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAID, IF TWO PEOPLE HAVE ART AND THEY DON'T DISAGREE, THEN THEY BRING IN A MEDIATOR.

SO COUNTY COUNCIL IS OUR MEDIATOR AND SO WE ARE, WE YOU DO NOT, ONLY THING YOU WILL BE GETTING IS WHAT HE PRESENT TO YOU, NOT WHAT WE PRESENT TO HIM.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO SEE WHAT WE PRESENT AS WELL.

YES MA'AM.

I UNDERSTAND.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, IF, UH, SELECT MS. BLACKWELL, UH, IF, IF MR. ACKERMAN AND MR. NELSON CAN'T GET WITH HER, AND IF THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION, THEN BRING IT TO US AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT IS THE ISSUE THAT CAN'T GET DISSOLVED.

OKAY.

MR. BLACKWELL DID, DID YOU HEAR THAT? YES, I DID.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO

[14. Ordinance 2026-04 ]

CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH FOUR.

AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR A LEVY OF TAXES FOR COUNTY PURPOSES OF CLATON COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026, AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE APPROVE.

SO MOVE WITH JIM.

GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILOR RICHARDSON.

MR. CHAIRMAN, NOW WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO SECOND.

YEP.

THIS IS A LITTLE ODD.

THE CALLS WE DID FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY.

NOW WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO INCORPORATE THE TEXT OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE ALONG WITH THE TITLE, THEN A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT.

THEN A VOTE TO INCORPORATE THE TEXT AND THEN A VOTE TO MAKE THE APPROVE.