County Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting of Lanster County Council to order. I ask that the clerk note for the record that a quorum of council is present. That public notice of the meeting, including the meeting agenda, has been posted the required length of time in the lobby of the county administration building and on the county website and that the news media was notified of the meeting time and place. I welcome you to your county council meeting. I would ask that you take a moment to turn off or place on vibrate any cell phones. Thank you for not wearing any hats or caps in the council chambers. And please be considerate of others in the room by refraining from conversations during the meeting. Ask that you please stand and join council for the pledge of allegiance followed by the invitation given this evening by council member Jose Louise. I pledge algiance 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.

Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community. You have entrusted us with responsibility and we ask for wisdom to carry it well. Grant us clarity in our decisions, humility in our discussions and unity in our purpose. Help us to listen with open hearts, to speak with respect, and to act with integrity. When challenges arise, guide us towards solutions that serve the greater good and reflect fairness, compassion, and truth. Lord, remind us that leadership is service. Keep us grounded, focused, and mindful of the people we represent. Seeking not our on our own, seeking not our own interest, but what is best for our community. Bless this meeting, our work, and all those we serve. May everything we do tonight honor you. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Amen. We have a motion to approve the agenda or we do have one item that we need to make a change on. Mr. Willis. Uh Mr. [clears throat] Chairman, I would request that council consider postponing item 8A until the second meeting in May. Uh we did have a last minute change on the easement come in from natural gas authority. It's not much. 32 feet longer, one foot wider, but it is enough. It changed the legal description and Okay. Do we Miss Murk Deont, do we make a motion and then make a substitution or we make it as part of the motion?

Well, when technically when the matter comes up on the agenda, somebody can move to postpone it at that point. Okay. All right. Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Harper. Motion to approve.

Have a motion from Mr. Harper and a second from Miss McGriff. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed is unanimous. Okay, we're going to move on to item five, our citizens comments. We now come to citizens comments. Please bear in mind that this is not a period of dialogue with council or a question and answer period. This is your opportunity to address council with your concerns. I ask that you address your remarks to council as a body and not to any individual council member. Please speak into the microphone. State your name and address for the record and you will have up to three minutes to address council. Your time will not start until you have provided your name and address. Uh Mr. curtain. I don't know if it's appropriate at this point in time to go ahead, but um I will. I am Yokima Curitan. I reside at 1413 Somerset Drive in Lancaster, South Carolina. and I'm here to speak specifically about the um the item 8C. Um good evening. I want to speak in support of continuing the monthly workshop meetings for planning and zoning. These workshops are not just extra meetings. They are part of a responsible process. Planning and zoning discussions shape growth, infrastructure, neighborhoods,

roads, schools, utilities, public safety, and long-term character of our community. These aren't decisions that should be rush rushed, guess, or handled with half the information on the table. A monthly workshop gives council, staff, and applicants as well as the public better opportunity to stay on track. It allows applicants to question to ask questions and get clearer answers before they are standing in front of the council looking for a final decision. It allows staff to complete due diligence, gather the right information, and present the facts in a way that the council and the public can actually understand. But the key is this. The workshop only works if the staff does the homework. That means council should have the necessary background maps, timelines, infrastructure information, staff analysis, and any relevant legal or procedural guidance ahead of time. Applicants should not be left guessing. Neither should the planning uh committee. Residents should not be left wondering. And council should not be asked to make serious land use decisions without the information needed to be well informed. Continuing these workshops helps protect the integrity of the process. It helps reduce confusion. It gives everyone a fair opportunity to understand what's being requested, what rules apply, what impacts may follow, and what questions still need to be answered. This is not about slowing progress down for the sake of delay. It's about making sure progress is handled responsibly. If we're going to make decisions that affect the future of this county, then we need a process that gives those decisions the time, the preparation, and the public clarity they deserve. For those reasons, I support continuing the monthly planning and zoning workshop meetings. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Libby Sweat Lambert. Evening all. My name is Libby Sweat Lambert here for my twice a month visit with you. Um, for almost six months now, I've been asking for a letter from this council explaining to me how the moratorum decisions were made. going back and looking at um a lot of um information that's public, I now understand that you were given advice that the both sides of 521 should be in the moratorum so that it would be fair and you chose not to do that. I'm waiting on a letter. It's been almost six months and I want to know what your policy is in responding when people stand up here and ask you for a written response. This is the first council that I have ever worked with where that courtesy was not put forth. It is a courtesy. We are the citizens and we are asking questions. Also, one of the things that I'm starting to figure out is if I want any information, I'm going to have to present foyer after foyer after foyer to receive that. That puts an extra burden on your legal staff here to complete all of those. Wouldn't it be easier just to send a letter? Would it not be easier? Um, transparency. Few meetings ago, you did this wonderful display where all of these metrics were put up and transparency

was one of the things you talked about and it was said, "Oh, we put things up on the website." Well, transparency is also when you answer people's questions. So, I'm finding that that metric you you bombed it. It's it's not being met. And I'm going to go back one more time to we don't have infrastructure. I think it is extremely sad that those of you sitting up here who can make decisions about keeping our people safe, ensuring that people can have their emergencies met when the emergencies occur. you were just adding more to the problem and I am so disappointed in those of you who just want to keep adding to the problem.

Thank you. Thank you Miss Lambert. Sweet Lambert, Miss Jane Alford. [clears throat]

Good evening council members and thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm Jane Alford with the Lancaster County Council of the Arts, 2011 West Gay Street, Lancaster. But tonight, I'm here to speak not just on behalf of the Arts Council, but also on behalf of the many nonprofit organizations working in Lancaster County communities to fulfill a wide range of needs from feeding the hungry and addressing health care needs to enriching lives through public art as we do. Tonight's discussion about the $100,000 set aside for nonprofit grants represents an important step for Lancaster County. This is the first time those funds are being distributed outside of the accommodations or hospitality tax grants or ARPA allocations and it signals a growing recognition of the role nonprofits play in serving our community. The nonprofit grant review committee of seven county me employees evaluated 22 applications and recommended full or partial funding for 16 organizations. These recommendations reflect a range of community needs from direct services to broader quality of life initiatives. While only two organizations were recommended for full funding, many others received partial support, suggesting an effort to balance limited resources across multiple priorities. Several of the largest recommended awards did focus on essential services. For example, funding for food distribution and access to fresh produce addresses basic needs in areas of the county facing economic challenges. At the same time, other grants support organizations that contribute to long-term community well-being through services, outreach, and programming. It's also worth noting that the funding amounts ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 are relatively small in the context of other county needs such as infrastructure. However, for nonprofit organizations used to stretching their

dollars, these amounts can represent meaningful support, often leveraged alongside other funding sources and volunteer efforts. At your last meeting, council members raised important questions about priorities, geographic distribution, and alignment with community needs. I'm sure your review of the full applications as requested provide a valuable additional context for making an informed decision. Ultimately, this process highlights the challenge and opportunity of allocating limited public funds in a way that reflects community values, addresses immediate needs, and supports long-term impact. I hope that you will choose to support local nonprofits working for the greater good of our communities. Thank you for your time and for your consideration of all these applications. Thank you,

Miss Alford. Okay, we'll move on to item six, special presentations. Uh, first item is 6A, recognition from the EMS state awards competition for the paramedic team and the EMT of the year award presented by Mr. Clay T Kato, EMS director. Mr. Kato. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, excuse me, [clears throat] of council. Tonight, we're going to recognize some of our local heroes. Um, this past weekend, we all sat around and we watched some heroes in Washington do some extraordinary things that they get paid to do. Every day you've got those heroes right here in Lancaster County, whether they're EMS, law enforcement, 911, or our sheriff's or our city fire department. But tonight, we're here to recognize a few of the EMS employees. Back the end of March, we had our n our state EMS comp our state EMS conference uh where Lanster County was well represented. We began the conference with our honor guard presenting the colors. We ended the the um conference with our honor guard retiring colors and led the first ever state EMS uh memorial service which was spearheaded by Lancaster County EMS. During the award ceremony um Sydney, we have a lot of multi-talented people at EMS. Um Miss Sydney Dwey um she gra she graduated from Appalachin State. um she came to work for us and she thought she wanted to go back to Appalachin State to do some work. She likes to climb mountains, do some repelling, you know, some of the things that young people like to do. Well, her

heart was in EMS and she decided to come back. Not only does she do this, but she is part of a nonprofit where she helps special needs children's. Uh, I'll let her tell a little bit about that. But this year, uh, Sydney Dwey was presented as the South Carolina EMT of the year in March on March the 27th, 2026 in Myrtle Beach. Sing [applause] [applause] [applause] know I was speaking up here. [laughter] Um well a little bit about the nonprofit. It's called the Friends Foundation of the Carolinas and we serve North and South Carolina um 13 counties for uh people with neuromuscular diseases and we organize events uh throughout the year for everybody to get together and create a community and um just a support system for everybody that needs it, which everybody needs it. So, um, we do a Victory Junction camp for the families, uh, every October at Victory Junction in Randleman, North Carolina. And, um, we also do wheelchair van grant giveaways. And we did how many? 21 so far wheelchair grant giveaways. Um, so yeah, it's great. [applause] Also, every year, uh, the state of South Carolina puts on an EMS competition. There are four regions in South Carolina, and each region has a competition, um, to see [clears throat] who the best is in that region. Our region consists of Chester, Kershaw, Lancaster, Richland, Lexington, Saluda,

Aken, Fairfield, and I think that's it. I might have left out one, but this year um we are proud to say that Lancaster County MS finished first in our region and we went on to the competition in Myrtle Beach where we were one of uh four teams plus the uh defending champions. We did not win, but Lancaster County EMS represented really well. Um so Jeremy and Tinsley, if you'll come forward. So Jeremy is a longtime paramedic. Um, I worked with his dad many years on the street and in the past few weeks we've been talking about return on investment. So, Tinsley is a product of our of our Lancaster County High School vocational pro program. Uh, she got her uh [laughter] Oops. She got her uh EMT through the uh vocational and she was hired as a full-time employee of Lancaster GMS and her and Jeremy here have teamed up to be a winning team for Lancaster County. Represented you guys very well at the beach. Um, however, the situation was a um that they did was they responded to Williams Bryce Stadium after a Carolina Clemson game. There was a stampede on the field and there was massive amounts of patients that they had to treat. So, these two people had had 15 minutes they went in and started triaging patients. Um, if you've ever been to one of these things, it's pretty overwhelming to know that you're the only two people and there's massive people laying everywhere and you're graded on how well you treat treat them and they did awesome. So, I'd like to thank them and present them with this trophy. [applause] So, want to thank the members of county council. I want to also thank our command staff. These guys are sitting behind me. There's two names on this trophy, but to me, it very well should have every one of ours on there. Um, we

want to thank the good Lord and everybody just for standing behind us and walking with us through this process. Um, it's the most terrorizing fun that you will ever have. [laughter] And uh, those 15 minutes seem like a blink of an eye and they seem like a lifetime all in one time. But there's another gentleman that thinks he's going to get out of here without getting recognized tonight. um probably one of the most humble men that I've ever met. Uh one I've known for very many years uh both personally and professionally. There was another award that was received by a member of our staff at the EMS symposium this year. So ladies and gentlemen of the council, it is a privilege for me to introduce to you the 2025 South Carolina EMS Association Director of the Year, Mr. Clay Kato. [applause]

[applause] [applause]

And tonight's not not about me. It's about the guys and gals on the street. I purposely didn't well my name didn't, but I think he's got he's a hard hit. He's like his daddy. So, [laughter] thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we're going to go on to item 6B, recognition of art contest winners and essay contest winner from the Langster County School District for Lanster County Government Month, presented by Miss Jenna Woods, communications and marketing director.

Good evening everyone. Um, [clears throat] as many of you may know, April is a National County Government Month, and this is a special time that we get to recognize the vital role counties play in our everyday lives and also celebrate the communities that we serve. Each year, Langster County government is proud to partner with Langster County School District to host an art and essay contest. This year felt very special. Um, and it was especially meaningful as we look ahead to celebrating America's 250th birthday. To mark this historic milestone, we wanted to challenge students to stretch their imaginations and step back in time. They were asked to either draw what they think Langster County looked like in 1776 or write about what they believe our community may have been like during that time. While Lancaster County was not officially established until 1785, that didn't stop these students from bringing history to life in creative and thoughtful ways. I really want to begin by telling you guys how truly impressed that we were. I mean, every single entry was wonderful. It was unique, creative, and I mean, even though I consider myself to be artistic, these kids really blew me out of the water. Every piece of artwork and essay that was submitted was unique, [clears throat] heartfelt, and incredibly well done. It's clear that a great deal of time, effort, and imagination went into each entry, and we are proud of these students and all who participated. I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to the teachers and school staff who helped my staff coordinate this and encourage and support the young artists and writers. Your guidance makes opportunities like this possible. I really want to thank all of our students who are here tonight and their parents. Thank you guys so much for being involved and bringing them to be recognized. Um, but we thank you students for your creativity, your imagination and helping us see Langster County story through your eyes. Why I wanted to give I wanted to say that all

of them were winners because they truly were amazing. Um, my staff and a few other folks took a look at all of the artwork and essays that were submitted. Again, they were all wonderful. It's like picking your favorite child. You can't you can't do it. But we did want to select each a winner from each um school that submitted something. So, I'm going to call their names and when we're done, I'd love for them all to come up here um and be recognized uh with a photo. But we have Winnie Hopper from Andrew Jackson High School and you can see her artwork up here. Um it's absolutely amazing. Um we have a Muel from Buford High School. We have Jaylen Robertson from Heath Springs Elementary School. We have Natalie Sha, hopefully I'm pronouncing this right, Shaver from Bar Street School. And then Kairen Jones from Indian Land Intermediate School. And Kairen wrote an essay um and it was very unique. And I we we loved all the ones that were submitted, but this one stood out because Kairen took the time to tell us about what they believe that daily life for a kid was like during this time. So, it was interesting to see their perspective on that. Um, again, thank you to all of our students and the staff that made it possible for us to partner with you guys. And so, I'll ask those students who are here tonight to come up so we can get your picture and you guys can be recognized for your amazing work.

[applause]

Thank you all so much for participating. Uh this is always a treat every year to have [clears throat] you come in and and show off your art and your u your writing. Uh would also like to say this past week we had a mock council with high school students and I see a few of those sitting out here tonight. So welcome back and thank you for your participation in the mock council meeting. They did a great job. Okay, we're going to move to item seven, our consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? Mr. Chair, I move to approve consent agenda items 7 A, 7B, and 7 C.

Have a motion from Mr. Meller. Is there a second? Second from Mr. McGriff. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. It's unanimous. Okay, we're going to go now to item uh to our non-consent agendum. First item is item 8A. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion to defer this uh item 8A until the second meeting in May. I second.

We have a motion from Mr. Harper and a second from Mr. Louise. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it's unanimous. Okay, we'll move to item 8B, second reading of ordinance number 2026-2029. Ordinance title, an ordinance to amend ordinance number 2025-1971 relating to the appropriation of funds in the approval of a detailed budget for Langster County for the [clears throat] fiscal year beginning July the 1st, 2025 and ending June the 30th, 2026. Our fiscal year 2025 2026. to further provide for revenues and expenditures during the fiscal year and to provide for matters related there too. We this passed seven to zero at the April 13, 2026 county council meeting. Is there a motion to approve?

So moved. Have a motion from Mr. Neil, the second from Miss McGriff. Mr. Perusnac.

Thank you Mr. KS and good evening everyone. this particular budget ordinance. You have the ordinance attached in your agenda pack agenda packet and you also have the Department of Juvenile Justice uh their um South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice contract as well. Um just for the record to reread, the South Carolina state constitution mandates that youth who are detained must be in a separate facility from incarcerated adults. Lancaster counter county. We neither own nor operate an a um facility for youth offenders. Thus the county we have to contract with the state to incarcerate youth offenders who commit crimes here in this county. Per Lancaster County's agreement, uh, we are required to comply with the state code, which mandates that local governments utilizing the state's facility pay a pdeium rate to house the juvenile and then a capital expenditure charge of 125 per day. So, it's difficult to predict how many youth and the number of days a youth will be detained in a state facility. In late March, the sheriff's office contact Mr. Willis with outstanding invoices to the state for detaining youth offenders in the state's facility. It was determined that $78,375 will enable the sheriff's office to satisfy the outstanding invoices and to cover any anticipated monthly costs for the remainder of the fiscal year. Uh the request action is to transfer the amount of 78,375 from the administrator's special projects account line to the detention c center's department budget dys service contract line.

As you know this amount 78,375 exceeds Mr. Willis's authority to transfer. No more than 20,000 he can transfer. And that is why we are here. Funding is available in the administrator special projects account line because we are not doing the redesign of this building this year. Staff recommends this interdep departmental transfer to pay both the outstanding invoices and to adjust the budget accordingly for the remaining monthly payments for the remainder of the fiscal year. This would be no increase to the general fund budget. The ask is to approve a one-time interdep departmental transfer within the general fund. This is reallocating transferring $78,375 from the administrator's department's special projects account line to the sheriff's office department's detention center DY service contract account line to fund the detention of youth offenders who are committing crimes here locally. And we would ask that you um approve the transfer, amend the current adopted budget ordinance accordingly, and adopt the ordinance as amended.

Any questions? Any questions? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed is unanimous. Thank you. Thank you. Going to [clears throat] move on to item 8 C, first reading of ordinance number 2026-2030, an ordinance to amend the Langster County Code related to the meeting requirements of the Langster County Planning Commission as it relates to workshop meetings. We have a motion to approve. So move. Have a motion from Miss McGriff. Do we have a second? Second. Second from Mr. Neil, Mr. Willis.

Mr. Chairman, members of council, um this ordinance would change the workshops that the planning commission has from mandatory to permissory. Um the exact change reads that instead of having they have to meet once a month for the purpose of conducting a work session. They may conduct work sessions at which no action is taken on an as needed basis is determined by the chairperson in consultation with the staff for the purpose of reviewing discussing or receiving information on planning related matters. Simply think this would make it more efficient. If we don't have anything really earthshattering then the chairperson can say we're not having a work session. We'll just cover it at the regular meeting which is still mandated once per month.

Okay. Is there any discussion? I have a discussion. Go ahead, Miss McGriff.

You know, I have a problem with um postponing training that may be required. You know, we always want to be ready for whatever comes up and I think the training is very necessary. As with us in our training, in our workshops, the planning commission has a has a great responsibility when they're trying to decide on this reszoning issue. They need whatever we can give them as a training once a month. I don't believe in scheduling as you need it simply because you may miss something. You may schedule it and it's a training you need it. So I think we should stay on the schedule we're on.

Any other discussion? Uh I I agree with Miss McGriff because I mean it's the it's the same thing we do. We have we just call ours committee a whole and uh and uh I mean we have discussions about what's coming up at our next meetings and uh I I I [clears throat] agree with Miss McGre and sometimes it's not enough discussion and training because you come to a issue where you need additional training. So we need to stay on top of that. That's all.

Go ahead, Mr. Louise. I was I was going to echo um some of that and I'm not sure that we need to have the monthly meetings as a requirement because we still have that the chair can call those meetings as requested. So the chair if they feel like they need additional training can still call for those meetings and make them a monthly basis if they choose to do so. The bigger concern from what I've heard and I was personally disappointed with a lot of what's going on with planning staff as well. And I think there needs to be a lot of training on our planning staff as well. What to communicate, what you can't communicate, when you go out on TV, when you don't go on TV, when you speak to the media, all of those things. We need to be extremely careful. We need to be very alert and planning staff needs to be well-versed in what our requirements are and what they are not. And I will just leave it at that. Any other discussion? I I think one bless you. One issue that has brought this up is that we've had occasions where there were items discussed that you had one side of issue there and one side the issue that was not discussed and there were some detailed discussions. If we're going to continue having these um these sessions, then if there's going to be detailed discussions, then there needs to be um communications to both sides of the issue presented to so that they both have the opportunity to be there at the meeting.

And and I think that's part of the problem. I think the workshops are intended to be similar to what our committees as a whole are. More general discussions on things that are happening, process, procedures, overall outlooks of where the county is going, where the desires are, where we're hearing from constituents about concerns, things like that that are general discussions. I don't think that these workshops are meant to be discussions about topics that may be coming up or anything that's specific. Um, so well, you need to change the way the the workshops are held. I mean, it's not that we don't need the workshops. It's that what material we're covering at the workshops

because we need that information. We just need to make sure what's on that agenda is necessary for the planning commission. You know, I've watched these meetings and I'm going tell you the planning commission, they have a duty and they have a job to do. And you know, as I said, we do, but I think we need to continue with this training just in case we miss something because the first thing that happened, they're going to say, "I was not trained on that." Uh, we didn't have a training. We don't need that excuse. Well, I I would correct you. Workshops are not training. We have called training time, but workshops are not training.

Well, call it what it is, but we need the workshops. It may not be called a training, but workshops help with whatever the planning commission needs to deal with. If we can put guard rails on this workshop and make sure that everything is being done the way it's supposed to be done, then I don't have issue with that. But if we cannot develop the guard rails that we need, we need to cut these workshops out. I agree. I agree. And I think that's where if we can cut these out for now, unless the chair deems it appropriate that they need to have this.

Wait, wait. Clarification on that. According to the the motion on the floor, uh, are we going to continue the workshops monthly? Well, the the ordinance says that on the floor of the chair, I I'm not agreeing with the motion on the floor. I'm agreeing with keeping the workshops at monthly and you need to make a substitute motion. Well, that's what the ordinance currently is. Monthly with the with the correct information being presented. Hold on. Hold on. Time [laughter] out. The ordinance that's on the floor is to remove the requirement from having them be monthly workshops.

They could still occur under this new ordinance at the call of the chair. If this ordinance does not pass, then it would fall back to that monthly requirement. So, we don't need to have a second amendment to change it. Already there. It's already there. Just let me be clear. I want the workshops. Okay, you can call them whatever you want to call them, but I think they need to meet. If we need to present workshop information, we need to do that. I don't want to go to as the chair calls a meeting. What if the chair doesn't think it's necessary and some of the members do?

I was fixing to address that. Yeah. I can I make a motion uh in if uh article section one you get down to the bottom the planning commission shall shall meet at the call of the chair and at such times the chair or commission can I would like to add are the majority or four members of the commission request that a meeting so that you either have the chair Or if the chair refuses if there are four members

if the chair refused to call a necessary mean four majority members can do it. Well, four will be the majority. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I I can live with agree with that. I'm not going to live with the fact that the chairman makes that call. I'd like to make that amendment. So Steve is the amendment that you're making is to add an additional add an additional layer where the members if four members uh we need to to specify who they have to it's uh who they have to notify. Your amendment would basically allow for a workshop to be called by either the chair alone or a majority of the commission

members. Okay. Okay. They have and I second that amendment. I I would request the attorney look at this. But if you look further down, that's already in the ordinance that exists today. What's the problem? It says the planning commission shall meet at the call of the chair and at such times as the chair or commission may determine if the problem y'all if that's the case and it's not being done. Yeah. But I will let's have the attorney

if I may. I think council member Luis just clarified we're asking for in the amended language to say the chairperson or the majority in consultation with staff for the purpose of reviewing discussing or receiving information on planning related matters. The next line is talking about other meetings that can be called by the chairperson or the commission. I believe the amendment on the floor is to add or the majority to the workshop call. Correct.

So, okay, let's get this clear now before we vote. And so everybody in the audience can understand that uh we will have our monthly planning commission meeting but any workshops that's held will be at the discretion of the chair or four members of the commission. That is correct. That is correct. And when they with the four members who do they go to say we want a meeting do they go through the chair or do they go through council? Mr. They go through the chairperson. Mr. Chair, go ahead, Mr. Graham.

I mean, unless I'm missing something, I I think the the idea is that you are going to have workshop meetings and that is going to be the norm. Not that you're not going to have workshop meetings and you have these special meetings. I think is if you don't have any thing to discuss, then that's when you would basically cancel the meeting. But what I would personally like to see is that you have a standing workshop meeting that's on the whatever the first whatever it is of the month right now and then if you don't have anything to to to move forward then then you would cancel that meeting. That's it. You hit it right on the head.

I think that's what we're doing now. Well, I just want to make clear because it's the it's the opposite. No, because it's it's like you're gonna wait till things pile up to have a meeting or are you gonna have a meeting with something that's going to that's going on the dinner that you need to understand?

So, so if I may, I I think that what this is intended to do is to have the workshop at the first of the month to discuss not the specific cases that we'll be following within the next two weeks, but to discuss general principles related to those cases. So, for example, a conditional use, a special exception, a reasonzoning matter, a DA, things like that. Not specifically the case, but matters that are related to that. To your point, sort of training, sort of a aformational session, but not related to the specific case. In two weeks, the planning commission will meet in its regular monthly meeting and hold public hearings or take up the matters specific that are on that agenda. That's what the intention of this

is for. So it would be workshop first then the actual planning commission meeting and the amendment on the floor. We have one amendment to say that the majority or the chairperson may call [clears throat] that workshop and then of course behind that is this amendment here which is the amendment to this ordinance at this moment. Yeah. What I don't want to happen is uh members of that planning commission uh and the workshop workshops are not being held. They feel like it's things that they're not being uh things that are not covered concerning uh general matter commission general meeting. I'm going to ask my person to talk to me about it. If they feel left out, talk to me,

you know. So do we have the clarification because that's the intent is not to talk about not to get into detailed discussions about the cases that are upcoming but the principles around it. Okay. That is correct. That that is the intention of this amendment. Yes. Okay. It is correct me if I'm wrong. It is very similar to the committees of the whole meeting. Absolutely. That is the [clears throat] intention and that's what is the parallel. Yes. Our meetings are never cancelled. We also don't veer off. [laughter] We always have something. Our agenda is never ending. Yeah, I tell you never ever have the one.

Okay. Do we have any other discussion? [clears throat] So the motion on the dis right now is the amended motion to add the majority or the chairperson may call the workshop. Yeah. And I believe you have a f Mr. Harper made the motion and I second it. We have the motion in the second. So you're if you're done with discussion, we're at the vote. All right, we have a motion or uh all those in favor of the substitute or the motion, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, that passes unanimously. We move back to the original motion. All those in favor of the original motion as amended as amended.

Please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it passes unanimously. talk to me. So, we'll go on to item 8 D, first reading of ordinance number 2026-2031, an ordinance to disestablish and dissolve the recreation advisory board and remove the duties and responsibilities of those persons and organizations associated therewith. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved. Have a motion from Miss McGriff. Do we have a second? Second. Have a second for Mr. Graham. Mr. Willis.

Uh Mr. Chairman, members of council, uh Deputy Administrator Snowden's going to cover this. Chris had a family uh medical situation arise. Could not be here tonight. If you have any, you know, questions for him specifically, of course, we covered it at second reading, but Deputy Administrator Stoen familiar with this.

Good evening, chairman and members of council. um this um advisory body has had um issues with meeting a quorum and so in speaking with uh director Clouden um he has worked with um our county attorney and spoken with the clerk about uh bringing this forward. So essentially what he would like to do is to actually they think that it would be better served to have an ambassador program of which um the uh board members could or the commission could um participate in. And um at their during their April 14th meeting and I was in attendance of that um they actually voted to actually um accept the disestablishment of the recreation advisory board. And so what um Mr. Cloud intends to do is to create an ambassador program where we would have u members of the board or even citizens who want to volunteer to welcome visitors at parks and sporting events, volunteer at tournaments and special events, promote recreation opportunities, um support volunteer outreach, um and um encourage park cleanliness and stewardship. So, I know that he will be coming back with the actual um mechanism and a plan, but um he did speak with all of the board members about this and they were in agreement.

Any further questions?

Any any questions for Mr. Not? Any discussion? I at this time I I I won't support this until I see what they want to replace it with because I've had longtime members of these boards and they kind of I get calls every once in a while when something isn't going right and uh the the the wreck department is has more involvement than any other department with our citizens, especially our young families, and with all the teams we got. So, I you you know, this group here might not like it, but the the the next one that comes in uh that may want to keep this. And so at this time, I'm I I'm not going to vote to dissolve it until I see what's uh there to replace it and how they're going to actually be involved because I have concerns about uh what will be presented and uh whether anybody would actually want to participate in what we're will be presented. Part of what Chris was talking about was having more community involvement instead of just having that board. They're having a problem getting a quorum. So, he's trying to get the more community people involved, which I told him I wanted to the person that I have on there to be in still involved in that group. So, they're not eliminating your person that you have on there. they can be involved in that group, but they'll uh I think he's done some kind of survey across different places that is doing this now and it's working out so much better. I don't know.

Got it down. They they've they're not officially ambassador. You don't have a program. And I I I hear I hear what you're saying and I I tend to agree with that. We don't have a replacement program to put in place when we disestablish this. And it would be nice to be able to tell our volunteers, this is what we're doing. We're disestablishing this board, but we're putting in place this program. And I, you know, we've heard a little bit about it, but I really haven't heard the details. What's going to be involved? What are the expectations for these volunteers? Things like that. I'd like to see them parallel.

The problem is having a quorum. You can't do business if you don't have a quorum. So we actually have a board in place that's not doing anything. You just sit there, wait on that quorum to come in, and if the quorum doesn't come for 6 months, you can't do business for 6 months. So we've got to have something in place that's going to deal with the business of our rec department, which is growing by leaps and bounds. I think ambassadors will do great. And guess what? If it don't work out, Whiz Council could change. But right now, we need to step outside the box. We got a great recreation department coming and see how the ambassadors work because, you know, my person was one of the wait, my representative was one of the ones that would come more than some. And he was happy to hear about it. He said, "I love the idea because sometimes I can't make it." So, I'm in favor of the ambassador.

I'm in favor of it, too. But if we don't have a program, uh, I don't know when we'll get one. I think it needs to run parallel uh, with this ordinance. We don't have a program because we don't have any meetings. What's the difference? M M Mr. Chair, go ahead, Mr. Graham. Uh, Miss Snowden, you there was a meeting on April. There was a meeting on April the 14th and there was a quorum.

Uh, there was a quorum at that time, but I think last two or three there has not been quorums. Maybe even four. I usually attend them and it usually is um requires staff to plan do everything and then they're not there. But I do understand what I know that um u Mr. Clouden has been actually attending conferences and I think he's looking at modeling that. So um I do agree that um we need do need to present something more solid to you all. just the basic framework is that they would be more engaged and um involved in our events and and and and still have the they know that they need to have the input because I know that from many of you all's districts when they do speak with them they're actually telling them issues that they may be having. So they recognize the fact that we do need to actually have some community um input or they need the community input. So

yeah. So, I guess my thought is that I I I I'll support this first reading, but I think by the time we get to the third reading, I'd really want to see Yeah. something just nail pretty nailed down. You can live with that, Steve, if that's okay. [clears throat] I'll I'll support the first. I won't support the second. Well, maybe Chris will be here by then. By then? Yeah. That I I think that's all Mr. Harper's asking for. It's just we need clarity to know what's going to take its place. Okay. It it makes sense. I mean, I think and I think we all agree on that, but I think we just want to see it.

I think I think the the big picture idea is that you is to get more and people involved than just seven members from the council districts. It's to get more people involved to be able to spread the good news that the that what the recreation department's doing. Um, which I think is a good thing because the more people you get talking about something, the more people talk about it. So, um, I think it is a good idea. So, uh, do we have any more discussion? If not, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed is unanimous. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, we'll go on to item 8E, resolution 1323-R2026, a resolution to approve the recommendation of the Langster County Nonprofit Grant Review Committee for the distribution of funds from the fiscal year 2026 budget. At the April 13, 2026 county council meeting, council postponed the reading of the resolution until the April 27th county council meeting, Miss Snowden. And do we have a motion to approve? So moved. Have a motion for Mr. Neil. Second. [clears throat] Second from Mr. Graham.

Good evening again, council. Um during um the April 13th or the April 20 um 13th meeting, you all postponed. You wanted additional information. Um I did email out um all of the applications and additional information that you wanted. Um, and also I provided the applications in a easy format. So I'm here to answer any questions. As you all know, there was a seven member staff um body that actually looked at the 22 applications. They recommended the funding for 16. And I believe that council just wanted more time to actually look at um the information that was submitted and then perhaps making some either amendments to the resolution or going in a different direction. So we're here to serve whatever it is that you want. And again, just a reminder that this was um basically a recommending um body.

There any discussion?

Mr. chair. Uh, go ahead. [clears throat] This one's down. Sorry. Uh, as I told y'all last time, they there's some stuff on here that really I don't support using advelure taxes to do. Uh, when we got ARPA funds a couple years ago, we done something for nonprofits and and that's different. That was federal money was give to us that we just passed along. But now we're talking about advelour taxes that that people pay into the county for us to use wisely. And some of this on here I can't support. I'm I'm I'm going to tell you what I do support. Uh the u greater New Hope Soup Kitchen $5,000. Now the ones that I'm mentioning is about food. This is helping our people uh that in our county. Uh the next one is Christian services. They're asking for uh money for different things, but if we got food in there, but I but I recommend $5,000 for food only. The next one I recommend is Hope and Langster. They ask him for $10,000. I would do food only. They've asking for some kind of lift or something like that. I'm not supporting that. I'm supporting if they want to use the money for food only. And the uh the next one is Care of Kershaw, which is basically the same thing as Hope. They're asking 10,000 $10,000 to them for food, which they're they are asking for food. So that's great. Uh and next one is Finding Serenity, which is a great program. It's bringing food and supplies back into our county to our nonprofits and stuff. Uh

that is a total of $40,000. Uh and I recommend 60,000 not be used at this time. That's my take. We have um recommendation from Mr. Meler. Any other discussion? Do you make that as a is that an amendment? Motion or that's his amendment? Other discussion? Yeah, there could be some other discussion. Okay, Mr. Meeller has made a substitute motion. Is there a second? I think he was talking about re are you talking about recommendations or do you want to wait for everyone else? That's up to the chair. Whatever he wants to do.

Go ahead [clears throat] and have the discussion and then we'll we'll see. I mean, I'd like to hear other recommendations. Yeah, I

Yeah, I mean I think we seem to be going down the same similar path and I'm I'm kind of going down that same path and and I I wrote down I kind of basically funding of organizations that are meeting critical needs. We kind of said that on the last meeting too and that's that's kind of where I went down. Um, so I hope does I mean there all these organizations do great work and I appreciate staff and and and we we were the ones that approved this in the budget to to for $100,000 to to go towards nonprofit. So um and they've and the non and the and the and the communities responded and and put a lot of effort and coming up with ideas of what to do with that. So I want to honor that that piece of it. But kind of going down the critical needs part, I I was looking at Hope and that they do great work and I I would support full funding of 15,000 for hope greater hope uh soup kitchen at 10, Christian services at 10, care at 15, uh children's uh legacy children's home does a great job in critical needs of of 10. the spade and neuter program. I I've seen that have in action personally and there is a certainly a huge need for that within this county going down that path and I think for $5,500 to further support that program makes a lot of sense for me and certainly we've seen the the fruits of finding serenity I mean I would be okay with full funding of that. So those programs with full funding for what they requested would be 90,500. So

it would be how much? 90,500. [clears throat] I I have a question. So Miss Murk Dupont, would it be possible for the allocations to happen by district so that we can determine kind of proportionally each one of us a certain amount? My understanding is this was simply a approval through the budget and there were no parameters set on the use of these funds by county council. So yes, I mean you can you can change the parameters of how they're utilized. Yes, I would like to see us do that. I think that way everybody can get a little piece of the pie and um everybody's got critical needs in their area or we can decide not to utilize any of it.

Yeah, that's true. because care out of Kershaw they do uh they do tremendous work and they I see them on a daily basis the way they help people and I definitely want to take care of that group and when would be an appropriate time to do that like how would we do that [snorts] is that something we'd need to do now or is that something that we could establish some param if we postpone this we could establish some parameters and then have it that would be the best way to do it yes I [clears throat] mean you have the funding available now for this fiscal year and you also have your budget process that you're starting now where I assume this will be a line item again so the parameters could be set up there but I don't know how this that'd be a finance question how this would roll over what

and we could set it up for the next budget year doing the same thing and that way the parameters are already set up absolutely

I I think most of us are basically on the same page and uh we did allocate $100,000 and uh I I have no issues uh with Mr. Graham's recommendations because these are great. You know, they they they help the really needy of our community and uh I think we're all familiar with these organizations and and what they do in our county. they they help a wide variety, just not three or four people uh like some of these nonprofits might do with scholarship. So, I would I I support Mr. Graham's funding. My concern is just how are we going to follow through, ensure that the funds are being utilized. To Mr. Meller's point, these are tax dollars that we're utilizing. like I I want to be very careful how we're how we're utilizing, how we're following up on it. This isn't ARPA funds that are just being granted through the federal government. That is just a pass through organization for us to then hand out somewhere else. Like I I just have concerns along those lines.

Uh Council Member Louise, um we're not just a pass through. We have to report quarterly. No, no, no. saying for the ARPA funds when we were doing it when we were doing that as the nonprofit they had to actually provide reports and we might distribute if it was 15,000 we may distribute five but we had subreient agreements so there would it would be um you know with you all's parameters um but with regard to that funding even though it was federal funding we haven't just passed it through there was subreient oh you know because you're in the nonprofit world okay I'm not saying that it is just we're handing it out and we're not paying attention. What I'm saying is it wasn't coming from our taxpayers directly. It was coming from the federal government.

So whatever parameters you all decide, we will work through. But among the things when the nonprofits actually applied, they knew that they would have to give uh depending on the size of the award, they would have to give mid reports. There's all kinds of receipts,

all kinds of things. So it isn't just um handing out the funding. And then also my understanding and I know that um you had very many line items in the budget but um what I had understood was that there was an intention as to why the parameters were not tight because a lot of times with federal funding and state funding there's a lot of things that cannot be funded and so among the reasons and I probably should have come back and just said hey what parameters would you like but my understanding was to keep them a little bit less restrictive so that we could see what has come in. But certainly you all can certainly make the criteria critical funding um in the area of food, health care, however. And then that way the nonprofits understand that because we did actually have a workshop and send things out to the media. But um we will definitely fulfill whatever criteria you all would like. part part of what was presented to us with the postawward reporting was a awardees must submit a mid-year progress report a final report detailing outcomes expenditure and community impact um and future funding eligibility is contingent on full compliance with reporting compliance so that's what I was and I think we are all familiar with those organizations that that I that that that I proposed and they have a longstanding reputation of delivering within within Lancaster County, which is kind of why I was I was push, you know, asking for those.

Mr. Graham, could you please give us those again? Yeah. So, Hope 15,000, Greater Hope Soup 10,000, Christian Services 10,000, Care 15,000, Lancaster Children's Home 10,000, Lancaster SPCA 5,500, Finding Serenity 25,000, which the total would be 90,500. So you're you're basically just putting in the full request that they're requested for those organizations.

The only caveat I would say is with funding serenity is it that was it looked like that was specifically an ongoing cost not like project related. So I would just say that with a caveat that not not necessarily that might not get fund that that's at the discretion of council that might not get funded every year. So that that was the one that was clearest to me that was an ongoing personnel cost with that not a special project like hope with a forklift to be able to move around their food and and do their operation more efficiently. [clears throat and cough] Is there any other discussion? Would you like to make that as a substitute motion, Mr. Graham?

I'll make that [clears throat] as a motion. I'll second it. Substitute motion for Mr. Graham. A second for Mr. Harper. Is there any other discussion? Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir.

Y'all don't mind if I could pose a question for Sabrina? Um, it may have changed in the four years I've been out, but I know when we used to give public money to any private entity, Veronica had a form that they had to fill out recognizing that, you know, like for example, care, not that their whole organization became subject to FOIA, but those $15,000 are now subject to FOYA. So, I don't know if we still do that or not. Um, I don't know that we have a form that's specific to FOYA, but we it it is a process that we could very easily integrate into the way we do like the ATA tax funding to be able to have that mid and final reporting. Um, as long as well as a um application process, which I believe we have an application process already, it's just not integrated into the way that we do the others. But it's easy to pull it into that and to be able to have a routine update for council as well to be able to review it like we do the budget process or like we do the a tax process to be able to approve it in that same way

and being subject to FOIA is state law so that'll happen automatically. Yeah. Okay. All right. Is there any others discussion? So the only thing that I would say is for the budget meetings that we're having, we I'd really like to see much more specifics and guidelines around how this is being done and I would love to see an allocation by district. All right, any other discussion? I'll call for the the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed. It passes unanimously with one.

Oh, you got one.

Sorry. Passes five to one with one abstension. Do we go back to the go back to the main motion as amended? All those in favor of the main motion is amended. Please raise your right hands. Okay. All those opposed again it's five to one and one abstension. [clears throat] All right, we're going to move on now to items item nine, discussion and action items. The first item is item 9A, proposal to transfer the foster wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Willis,

Mr. Chairman, members of council, back in 2021, I had engaged with council and the Lanster County Water and Sewer District about potentially transferring our operating permit there to the water and sewer district. Um, those you may not know at the Foster plant that was actually created back prior to home rule when the senators ran the county, which is kind of inherited. Um, that plant, it's a package plant, has a lagoon. Um, if you ever been down down there, if you go out to the outfall of the pipe, I couldn't tell you the last time water actually came through. There's cobwebs throughout the pipe last time I looked, which admittedly was about four and a half years ago. Um, but the lagoon basically functions as evaporation. It serves basically the folks in the Foster Industrial Plant, doesn't serve anybody else. The problem is like that that was built back in the early 60s and one of the um things I talked to council about at the time the plant was really in need of an upgrade and we had talked about um you know funding some of the immediate upgrades and then four years of some continual funding to assist the county water and sewer district and bringing it up. But basically after that it's theirs. everything else is on their dime. Um, one of the things that, um, I asked, you know, get an update. We're spending more than we used to on that plant. Uh, so far this year, fiscal year, we've spent $74,189. Over the last four fiscal years, it's varied from 75,513 up to 91,689. And that's just operating the plant. We still haven't addressed the collection system and that's the 800 pound gorilla in the room because there's a lot of collection pipe up there. It's the old um

um pipe

terracotta. That's it. That to replace it, we're going to have to do cured in place pipe because otherwise basically you just got a hole in the ground that you know the waste is running through. And back in 2021, we were looking at about $440,000 for cured in place pipe. I have no idea what it would cost now, but the water and sewer district is interested in it because that permit has value to them. Has no value to us whatsoever. And we're having to contract this out because we don't have certified wastewater treatment plant operators on our staff. Water sewer district has a bunch of them. Um basically at this point want to make sure you know the current council is okay with reentering um talks with water and sewer district about potentially transferring it. Obviously any transfer has to come back to council for approval their board for approval. Just make sure council's okay with at least starting the talks.

Any discussion? Yeah, that's Steve. I agree with you. We need to get rid of that thing uh because it's going to end up costing us a lot of money in the long run. uh we need to get if if they'll take it, you know, uh let them worry about replacing pipes and stuff like that. So 100% on that, Mr. Chair, we don't need a motion on that just to move forward with the proposal. We don't need this is discussion action, Adam. So whatever we talk about tonight, okay, we'll come back in the form of a motion at some point in time.

If if I don't hear any objection, I'll go ahead and start talking to Brad, bring some parameters back to council. Well, he's got to take it to his board and that's I think you know that's going to require an ordinance. I believe Jenny going to require an ordinance on our part. Well, my thoughts is is we don't need to be in the business of something that we're not experienced in. We should have never gotten into that business. We we've got it. We need to get rid of it. Thank you, sir. And hearing no other discussions, I think you got your marching orders.

Okay, we're going to move on to item nine B. Receive information and take desired action regarding removal from a board and commission. Miss Sherry Simpson.

Mr. Chairman and council members. Um Nikesha Pro serves on two different boards and commissions for district one health and wellness and the board of assessment appeals. um she has missed both different boards more absences than your ordinance requires. So you just need to decide if you want to remove her for absences. I will say that her terms expired on 6:30 2025. She didn't reapply, but maybe she thinks her term is up. I I don't know, but the the staff liaison are having trouble getting in touch with her. Um and that's really problematic for um the boards because they are not able to meet quorums.

Okay. Any discussion? I just got a question. Um so you can serve on two boards at the same time. You can. It depends on the boards. Good to know. So I make a motion to remove her. [snorts] Second. Second. [clears throat and cough] I have a motion and a second. A motion from Mr. Lee, a second from Mr. Meller. Is there any other discussion? Can Can I just be clear? A motion to remove from both boards. From both boards. Thank you. Second. There's a second on both as well. Yes. Yeah, we had a second.

Okay. Is there any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll take a vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it's unanimous. Okay. We'll move to item 89C. Receive information and take desired action regarding regarding appointments and or reappointments to various boards and commissions. Miss Simpson. Okay. There are three applications for the planning commission for district 1 representative. If appointed, that person would be serving an unexpired term that would end on 6:30 2029. The applicants are William Caspar, Marie D. Martino, and Richard Kandle.

I make a motion to appoint Richard Crannle to District One Planning Commission. Representative, we have a motion from Mr. Graham. Second. Second from Mr. Louise. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it's unanimous. Okay, the next one is um now that you have removed Miss Pro from the health and wellness board is we have an application from Carol Nuke um she's applied for the health and wellness commission as District 1 representative. If appointed, she'd be serving a four-year term that would end on 6:30 2020 2030.

Make a motion to appoint Carol to the Health and Wellness Commission. Second. Have a motion from Mr. Mr. Graham, a second for Mr. Louise. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, I call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed is unanimous. Um Yvet Presley has applied for the um community outreach and engagement commission for the district 4 as the district 4 representative. Um but she does reside in district 7. Residency is not required. I'm going to postpone this one until the next meeting.

I believe we have another application that has come in. Yes, sir. That just came in today. All right. We need a second. Need a motion to postpone. I second. Have a motion from Mr. Louise, a second from Mr. Graham. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed is unanimous. Um the next one is postponed indefinitely and number five is just vacancies for current boards and commissions for your information. And number six is um expirations of upcoming board and commission members. And that also is just for your information.

All right. On item 10A, there's no action there. Uh we do not have executive session tonight. So I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Motion from Mr. Louise. We stand a journal.