County Council - Regular Meeting

All right. It's six o'clock. So let's go ahead and call this meeting to order. The Edgefield County Council on July the 7th, 2026. Appreciate everybody coming out tonight. We're going to begin, Council, with the invocation and the pledge. If everyone will please stand. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us here safely tonight, got us home tonight, please, Lord, safely as well. Lord, we pray for the work that we'll undertake tonight. I ask you to provide us grace and understanding and everything that we should exhibit toward one another, Lord. And please bless this work and all of us who are involved in it, both citizens, staff, and council. Give us all peace and strength and wisdom that can only come from you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Please join us for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. All right, next, counsel, is the approval of the agenda. I will just note for everyone that in about the middle of the meeting, there will be a short executive session. Counsel, I don't have any recommended changes. Does anyone have any recommended changes to the agenda? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented? So moved. Mr. Talbot makes a motion. Is there a second? Dr. Kenyon seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand.

All opposed? The motion passes unanimously.

Next, the approval of the June 2, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Any questions or comments from counsel on those minutes? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the minutes as presented? So moved. Mr. Moody makes the motion. Is there a second? Second. And Mr. Talbert seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Next, counsel, we'll hear the first public comment period. I'll ask the clerk, did anyone sign up for the first public comment period?

No, sir.

Okay. Counsel, since no one signed up for the first public comment period, I will close that and move on to reports. Any questions or comments on the reports? Hearing none, move to the public hearing. This is a public hearing on Ordinance 2526011, an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of of general obligation bonds series 2026 or such other appropriate series designation of Edgefield County, South Carolina in the principal amount of not exceeding $6,250,000, fixing the form and detail of the bonds, authorizing the county administrator to prescribe certain details relating to the bonds, providing for the payment of the bonds and the disposition of the proceeds thereof and other matters related thereto. Is there anyone here to speak in this public hearing on ordinance number 25-26-011? Okay, council, hearing no one, I will close the public hearing and move to the first item of old business, which happens to be the same title I just read, so it is the same ordinance, 25-26-011. I will ask the administrator if he has some details we might need to hear.

Mr. Chairman, I have no further details, but I would ask that if Council approve it tonight, second reading, that they would consider holding a special called meeting next Tuesday night at 6 so we could have third reading on this issue. Thank you.

All right. So we'll take this matter up first. So, Council, are there any comments or questions on the second reading of Ordinance Number 2526011? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve that ordinance as presented?

So moved.

Ms. Ireland makes the motion. Is there a second? Second. Dr. Kenyon seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. I'll take them, since we're on this item and what we just heard from the administrator, counsel, because the chair can call a call meeting. I don't need a vote. So if counsel is available, we'll do it next Tuesday night, 6 o'clock, right here. So I make sure everybody hears this. Next Tuesday, 6 p.m., right here, we'll have third reading of the ordinance we just had second reading of, 25-26-011, the bonds. So that will be the only thing on the agenda. So it'll be a very quick meeting. All right, Council, we'll move to number two on old business, consideration of approval of third reading of Ordinance 25-26-009, an ordinance of Edgefield County, South Carolina, meaning Chapter 24 of the Edgefield County Code of Ordinances to establish conditional use regulations for data centers, data center campuses, and crypto mining centers in the Edgefield County Industrial Park and for other purposes. I'll ask the administrator if there's anything new or different we need to know before third reading.

Thank you. I have no new information except to say that during second reading, council amended this ordinance to restrict data centers to the industrial park located on Highway 25 South Generac Way, and those necessary edits were made to the ordinance. Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Okay.

Hearing none, is there a motion to give third reading to ordinance number 2526009? Second. All right. Ms. Ireland makes a motion and Mr. Talbert seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Next on the agenda, as everybody can see, is our executive session for a legal matter. Again, I think this will be a very brief executive session, and then we'll return and take up the rest of the agenda. So is there a motion from counsel to go into executive session to discuss a legal matter? So moved. Mr. Talbot makes motions. Is there a second? Second. And Mr. Moody seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. We'll return in a moment.

Oh, it's the break.

Where did Doc go?

Where did Doc go? Do we need Doc?

He'll show up. All right. Council, we have returned to public session. No decisions were made in executive session. So is there a motion from council that we return to our regular meeting schedule here? So moved. Mr. Moody makes the motion. Is there a second?

Second.

And Dr. Kenyon seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Now we're back to new business number one, consideration of approval of resolution 26270001, a resolution authorizing the purchase of industrial park parcels 174000008000, approximately nine acres, for $463,500.00. 174-0000-77000, approximately six acres, for $8,500 per acre. And 174-0000-03000, approximately 100 acres, for $8,500 per acre. I'll ask the administrator if he'd walk us through this, please. Thank you. So this resolution is to authorize the purchase of approximately 115 acres in the Edgefield County Industrial Park

The property in question is located in front of and on the Trenton side of Generac, along Generac Way. The property is currently in three parcels. One parcel costing the flat sum of $463,500 will be purchased using funds from the Industrial Development Special Revenue Fund. The remaining property will be purchased with funds from the GO bond sale. at a rate of $8,500 per acre. Based on the final survey, that 100 acres could fluctuate a little bit. That's our best guess at this time. We did obtain an appraisal which gave a cumulative value of all three parcels higher than what we are paying. That's all.

OK. So say that last part again to make sure everybody hears that.

When the county purchases property, sells property, gives away property, accepts property, we're required to have an appraisal done. We did have an appraisal done based on our ordinances. The results of the appraisal came in higher than the amount that we're paying for the property and You don't have them in your packets because this is the appraisal. It's very large. It's here for anyone to look at. But we did get that done, and it's a matter of record.

So the county is going to be paying less than the appraised value because it is less than the appraised value. So that's good.

That's correct. That's correct. And I can go through the numbers if you would like them.

I just want everybody to understand. All right. And I'll ask the administrator, too. This resolution will also cover the county owning the land now completely. I mean, other than one parcel, I think, that will still be owned by the current landowners that's not part of the industrial park.

That is correct. There is one parcel that would be separated from the actual industrial park. The current owner would retain that parcel, and this would allow us to enter into an agreement to purchase the three parcels that we've had an interest in.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but for the first time in the county's history, we will actually have control over all the industrial park property as a county.

We will have control over all of it except for the piece in the rear that is under Western Carolina, our economic development entity. So essentially, yes.

All right, counsel, questions or comments?

I think the people need to understand why we're buying this. This is where our new EMS headquarters is going to go, which we've been waiting on for this litigation to end. So finally, it's ending. So now we can go ahead. We've got plans drawn up. So now we can go forward with that once we close on it. And also I think Piedmont Tech is interested in coming down and putting one of their colleges or technical schools on that piece of property also. So we've already got two plans for it to benefit the whole county. So I know a lot of people probably have forgotten back when what we've been doing with this property. We aren't just going to buy it and sit on it. We've got people And things are getting ready to go on it to benefit the county. Good point. Thank you. Other questions or comments from council?

Okay. Excuse me. All right. Then hearing none, is there a motion to approve resolution 26270001? So moved. Mr. Talbert makes a motion. Is there a second?

Second.

Dr. Kenyon seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Next, council is number two, under new business, consideration of approval of first reading of Ordinance 2627001, an ordinance authorizing the Recreation Department to set park hours and regulations and authorize the Sheriff's Department to enforce them. Again, I'll call on the administrator to give us some details on this one, please.

Thank you. So this ordinance is very straightforward. You essentially described it by reading the ordinance. But this would allow our recreation department to set appropriate hours for our parks based on where the parks are and what features are available at the parks. And it also authorizes the sheriff's office to enforce those regulations, those park hours. And There are instances where parks are near residences, and we need to keep the noise down after a certain time, or there could be activities that you don't want going on late at night, and this just allows us to regulate that better. That's all.

All right. And this ordinance doesn't apply to the towns, just the county, or does it apply to all?

It applies to the county parks.

Questions or comments from counsel? I just appreciate the sheriff finally, I'm not going to say finally, getting something done because I know his deputies come down and play pickleball at Sweetwater. And the residents over there, we've got the lights set off to go off at 10 o'clock. Well, we've had some vandalism down there. And as it's written right now, you know, they can actually park their cars outside after 10 o'clock and play pickleball, and the sheriff's department couldn't do that, so they can leave. Now they can write a ticket, enforce it, same way at Bettis Park when things get wild out there sometimes. So it puts more teeth in their job and what they're able to do, and it's a long time coming. I appreciate it. Questions or comments from counsel?

Hearing none, is there a motion to give the first reading to Ordinance 26-27-001? So moved. Mr. Moody makes the motion. Is there a second? Second. Ms. Ireland seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Next is number three under new business. Consider approval of Resolution 26-27-0002, a resolution accepting the Itchville County Impact Fee Study dated June 25th, 2026. I'm going to, as usual, call on the administrator to explain, but I will point out that the next three items are all related to the impact fee. So just keep that in mind as we walk through these. So I'll call on the administrator.

So the first one is very simple. It just asks council to approve this version signified by the dated copy of the impact fee study. This impact fee study sets the basis for the next two ordinances council will consider. Clark, our assistant administrator, put a lot of work into developing this study. It's a very sound study, and it sets the reasoning and the basis for the fee that we will charge for County Line Fire District, Merriweather Fire District, and we hope the Edgefield County portion of the city limits of North Augusta, within city limits of North Augusta, of course their council has to approve an ordinance to collect the fee in their area, which they're working on now. But that's all.

My only question I have is, assuming we pass this, can we put this on the website if we haven't already for people to see? Yes. This is the study itself, and so I'd like for people to have access to the study. Yes, we'll do that. All right, thank you.

Questions or comments from counsel?

Hearing none, is there a motion to approve resolution 26270002? So moved. Mr. Talbert makes the motion. Is there a second? Second. And Ms. Ireland seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Number four under new business, consideration of approval of first reading, of Ordinance 2627002, an ordinance adopting procedures for the imposition, calculation, collection, expenditure, and administration of impact fees to be imposed on new development, providing a purpose and intent, providing definitions, providing general provisions, and acclability, providing for the establishment of impact fee accounts, providing for the appropriation of impact fee funds, providing for refunds, providing for appeals, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. So I'll ask the administrator to talk about this and, of course, why we have two ordinances instead of one like we did last time.

Thank you. So this ordinance establishes the procedures for imposing the impact fee. An impact fee, again, is a fee that is charged on new construction within an approved area. These areas will be County Line Fire District, Merriweather Fire District, and if approved by North Augusta, the North Augusta portion of Edgefield County within city limits of North Augusta. But this ordinance sets the procedure for collecting that fee. And council did vote first reading of an ordinance like this at the last meeting. But under advice from the county attorney, he felt that we should split this ordinance into two parts, the procedural part and then the actual fee part, which is the next ordinance we'll get to. So that's why we're doing this reading again. But that's all I have on this.

So this ordinance and the next one will be essentially what we approved last time. That's correct.

Questions or comments from council?

Hearing none, is there a motion to give first reading to ordinance number 2627002? So moved. Mr. Moody makes the motion. Is there a second? Second. Ms. Ireland seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Number five, under new business, consideration of approval of first reading of Ordinance 2627003, an ordinance establishing impact fee charges. So one more time, Mr. Administrator.

So this ordinance simply sets the amount of $1,600 for new construction. That would be new commercial buildings, new residential buildings. It would exempt ag and utility-type buildings. But it simply sets this fee.

And again, to make sure people aren't confused, this impact fee is married to what's above it. That is correct. In this case, it's the Meriwether area. So it's $3,000. places we've been talking about.

That is correct, and I can't repeat it often enough. This is not something that is imposed on a resident of this area yearly. This is during the initial construction at the time of obtaining a building permit. So this is a one-time fee for new construction.

Questions or comments from council? Doc, can you just briefly explain, because I know I've had people call me and ask me How come we didn't have a higher price, but there's certain parameters that you have to stay within? Reason 16, also a percentage versus a flat fee.

Well, so I switched from percentages to a flat fee because the South Carolina Association of Counties recommended it. Apparently... No one else has done it by percentage, so they wanted to make sure that we didn't run into any legal troubles, so they asked us to change it, so that's why I changed it to a flat fee. As for $1,600, yes, there are reasons for it. You have to set projects. You have to tie those projects to the need of the area you're charging the fee, and you have to set your fee to collect the right amount of money to pay for the project. So if you only have a couple of projects in your list, you have to set your fee according to the projects that you have. So you can't just say I'm going to charge $25,000 and we're going to collect that and we'll figure out what to spend it on later. You can't do that. You have to have a dedicated project And it has to already be on your books to do. It has to be in your long-term planning for the county, such as your economic development plan, stuff like that. And if you can't tie those all together, then the fee becomes illegal. So that's why we set it the way we set it. It's exactly the amount we need to cover the project within the timeline that we need to get the project done. Thank you. And if, you know, three years from now, we've collected money, and you will reassess the fee and reassess the projects and change them.

Other questions or comments from counsel?

Yes, you may not know this, but I'm just curious if you know, I know you said no other county has used it, but do we know if any other county has attempted, like, have they considered using the percentage and just been warned off, like, hey, it's not been done, it's not precedent?

So, I'll say when I say no other counties, there's no other county in South Carolina that has used a percentage fee. It's not uncommon in the United States as a whole.

So, why are we?

But the Association of Counties doesn't recommend it, they're used to a flat fee. Maybe that's what they have always considered to be a fair impact fee. That was the terminology they used. Personally, fair and percentage, in my mind, are more closely matched, because then you would pay according to the cost of your project. But they disagreed, and they were afraid of a possible legal challenge, so So we changed it.

I understand we don't want to be, we don't want to end up in litigation over this, but somebody's got to be first.

That's true, but the Association of Counties asked it not to be us.

I would like to add this, and I'm the one who posed the question to the Association of County Engineers, lawyers, and We depend on them to help defend us against litigation on these issues. And I can't tell you how strongly they recommended that we not go the percentage route. They thought that that would subject this to substantial vulnerabilities for a challenge. And it's all about the well-established flat fee amount being

So I get all of that, and I'm not saying I'm not going to support this because of that, but I want my concerns to just be aired out there. Somebody's got to be first. I know we depend on the Association of Counties. I also think that this is a growing tool, maybe is the right word, And we've got to reassess this in five years, and if there is somebody else that's used a percentage by that time, I think it would be wise for us to go back and consider that.

I think we both agree that the percentages.

Yeah, and not only is it possible, but the state is also making changes to impact fee laws right now as well. So, you know, that could also change some of the. ways that we do things. They are trying to make it a simpler process all the way around. So, we'll see how that goes.

So, we'll be watching that. Okay. So, we'll be watching that. Maybe somebody there will say, why aren't they using percentage fees?

Well, and correct me if I'm wrong, state law, and I don't remember the exact terminology, but they base their decision, they being the attorneys, that state law is written in such a way that there's a specific word or words that... Proportional. They use the word yet.

Proportional benefit, their feeling is that if a four-person family in this home that's worth this amount of money probably wouldn't require services any more than a four-person family in this more expensive home in a more expensive area, in a more expensive neighborhood. And our project, our first project is an EMS substation. So you can... really get that argument that there wouldn't be a large difference. So why would the fee be largely different between two homeowners? Now, I get a very small home with a smaller number of people. And I was going to say, but

a two-person house that costs half of what the four-person house costs. I mean, that is a different impact. But anyway, we don't need to do it.

I agree. I think let's see the percentage, but I just know I think the state law has got to change.

It is that word, though, that proportional word in the law.

I understand if our lawyers are like, no, we're not going to defend or we can't defend that, you know, then we need to go with what they're saying that they are comfortable with. But at the end of the day, if this changes our state law, and I know y'all will be watching it. I know it's rankled you as much as it rankled me. So I appreciate that. So if anything changes, I appreciate that this can be revisited too. Thank you. Just wanted to know if you, thank you.

I'm sure Doc has the older version on his computer. We can just pull that sucker back out.

Other questions or comments from council?

Hearing none, is there a motion to give first reading to ordinance number 2627003? So moved.

I believe Mr. Talbert made the motion, and I guess Mr. Moody seconds.

Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? The motion passes unanimously. Next is the second public comment period. So I'll ask the clerk, did anyone sign up for the second public comment period?

No.

Okay. No? That's the final answer. Okay.

No, wait a minute. Correction. Someone wrote their name, but they didn't fill it completely out.

Okay. Oh, okay. She answered all the questions I needed to ask.

All right. We didn't have that every time.

She was very, very thorough on us.

All right, council.

There's no one speaking during the public comment period. We'll close that one and move on to reports from county council members. Any county council member have a report tonight?

Yes, I do. Okay. I will be speaking from the county transportation committee. I am the liaison on that committee. As of now, we have $1.46 million available after all committed balances are factored in. The 2024 County Roads project has been beaded out to Satterfield, while Hunter Run Bridges has gone to Gaston, with the modular bridge already ordered and expected to arrive in October. Long Cane Bridge has undergone some design changes by Cranston, but the goal is to have it ordered and out for bid in July. with hopes that both bridges will be completed by the end of the year. The committee has approved the 2026 County Road project, which will include the paving Indian Ridge Road and replacing it covered at a budget of $1,149,400. SCDOT provided updates that WA Real Drive and Sawyer Avenue are scheduled for completion by July 31, 2026. Highway 121 is expected to be finished by Thanksgiving and Star Road and Parker Road will be resurfaced jointly by CTC and South Carolina DOT with completion set for November 30. Lanham bridge is also scheduled to be done by year end. In July, the indefinite engineer bid will go out with the chairman appointing a committee to review applicants and report on the selected firm at the September meeting. Lastly, Mr. Jimmy, budget WAS ADDRESSED AND AFTER PRESENTED A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON RAISING MATERIAL COSTS, THE COMMITTEE APPROVED INCREASING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FROM 200,000 TO 300,000. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A REPORT?

Just like to say we are knee-deep in our camps. We are in soccer camp this week. We are out there in the heat, but we are having a good time. We've got us a mist in tent, and we've got, what is it, Reetha, almost 40 children? out there yeah so um we're having a good time so we've had great participation in all our camps just want to thank the rec department for everything they've been doing thank you garrett for sending people out there share for learning us people as well and it's just been our um our guys have been great out there um all staff has just been it's been a great experience i think for the children have had a great time so thank y'all they're doing a great job

Thank you. Appreciate that and appreciate the volunteers. Anybody else have a report tonight? All right, hearing none, I'll go to the administrator for his report.

Thank you. Every five years, the county undergoes property tax reassessment, and that is this year. So the residents of this county will see property tax reassessment notices arriving this week or next week in your mailbox. And it's just an appraisal reassessment of the value of your property, of course, tax increases are capped at a 15% level for the five-year period. So there may be someone who has a $100,000 appraised home, and we all know how high real estate is now and how values have gone up. Well, that reassessment notice may show that the value is now double. That doesn't mean your taxes will be double. There is a cap in South Carolina as how high your taxes could go up. So it's good information for you, and it's good information if you ever want to do a real estate transaction. But just if you have any questions, you can call my office, call the tax office, and ask questions about those notices. But you should see them arriving at least by middle of next week. And on camps, I just want to add, Councilwoman Ireland talked about soccer camp. That is our last camp. of the season, and Tiffany and Phil Ireland dedicate a lot of time, a lot of preparation to the soccer camp, and I just really appreciate that. That's awesome. Again, Aretha making sure the kids are fed, EMS. staff, the sheriff allowing one of the law enforcement officers still to be running this camp this week. We just appreciate it. Camps have been a wild success this year, and I know a lot of you have heard about it, and we're going to keep it going. The walking trail that council approved a while back, this little connector trail between Jeter and Penn Streets, it is complete and open with a compacted stone base. People are already walking it for exercise and cutting through. It is not done-done until it's paved, but it is safe and open to the public, and we'll ask Roads and Bridges to allow everything to settle and then recompact and pave it in the fall. But it is available for use now, and people are using it, and that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Questions or comments from counsel for the administrator? Hearing none, thank you. Then we'll end with my comments. First, I hope everyone had a great July 4th, and I hope everybody gave special attention and prayer about our country's 250th birthday. On the square in Edgefield is a new monument put in place last year to recognize Edgefield County's participation in the Revolutionary War and the 250th anniversary. So if you haven't seen it, I encourage you to do so. Council, I'll let you know that last month, I went out with our economic developers, Will Williams and Kel Anderson, to visit with several existing industries in Edgefield County. And while the headlines go to new industries when they open, it is actually the growth over time of existing industries that is generally larger and more impactful than just one industry opening. And I want to report that the industries we talked to are growing. And some have more employees now than they've ever had. And they are appreciative of the manner in which we handle our steady economic growth and how we keep our taxes and our spending down. So they were very complimentary of all those things and had no negative comments. I just want to remind you one more time that the call meetings will be one week from tonight at 6 p.m. That's next Tuesday, the 14th, right here in the chambers. There's one item on the agenda that will be third reading of the bond bill that we took up earlier tonight, so third reading of that. It'll be a very short meeting, so if you're late, you'll miss it.

I promise you.

And with that, counsel, there's nothing else on the agenda. I would entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Dr. Kenyon makes motions. Is there a second? Ms. Ireland seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you all for coming.