County Council - Regular Meeting

Ready to go. Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Thank you for being here in attendance tonight for the April 7th meeting of the Greenwood County Council. Your Greenwood County Council has been in executive session since 400 pm. And in interest of full transparency, I'm going to ask our county manager, Mr. Chapel, to tell you why we had the need for that.

Mr. Chairman, members of county council, we entered into executive session for the following eight matters. Two legal matters pertaining to a zoning issue in the area of Highway 34 in Lebanon Church Road and ordinance number 2021-28. one personnel issue pertaining to the treasur's office and five economic development issues pertaining to projects paper trail, Helios, Apex, Patriot, and Piranha. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Council, I need we have no action to take coming out of executive session. I need a motion that we exit. I make a motion that we Motion by Miss Bishop. Second.

Second by Mr. Templeton. All in favor? That's unanimously. So ordered. Thank you, council. I trust that you've had an opportunity to well, let's let's have our let's do our invocation first and that is mine tonight. Um we will hold our invocation then we'll honor our nation with our pledge of allegiance. If you uh if you are able to stand, please do. But be before we do this, let me say this. There was some confusion a week or two ago and some folks thought that that well some folks didn't realize that they needed to sign up to speak. So see Miss uh McIntyre here if you have a need to speak tonight and you are not on my signup sheet. I have four people here speak. All right. Gracious and heavenly father, we come to you tonight with grateful hearts but with some some bit of remorse as well. We are grateful for all the many blessings as we pass the Easter weekend and celebrate everything that comes with that weekend. We also have a bit of remorse and a bit of a bit of concern tonight as we watch waring in the Middle East. We ask that you put your hand of pro protection upon all of our armed service people who served to preserve and pres prevent to preserve and defend freedom. And we would also ask that you give comfort to the families of those lost. And there will be more lost. So, please lay your guiding hand of comfort upon them. We also give you thanks here at home that every day our public safety officials, police, fire, and EMS stand in harm's way to defend us. And we give thanks for that always. Everything that we receive, every bounty, every benefit comes from our belief in Jesus Christ who died on Calvary for our sins. So for all these

many things, the many blessings that we receive that sometimes even surpass our ability to recognize, we give you the utmost thanks in the name of our precious savior Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen. 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. Thank you.

So, I have four people signed up tonight for public comment. We'll enter into that. I'm sorry. Yes. Before we do, I trust that you've had the ability to review our minutes from our last meeting. And if so, entertain a motion that those be approved. A motion to motion by the vice president, second by Mr. Temple. All in favor? Been promoted. And that is so ordered. Thank you. Demoted. Moving into public comment. I want to hear first, please, from Mr. Bobby Scott. I might have signed up accidentally. I'm here representing a different property. That's good. So, you don't want to speak to us, Bobby? Well, that's great. Have a seat. Thank you.

That was quick. Good job, Bobby. Good job, Mr. Mr. Ken. Is it is it Jer Jurgens? Jurgens. Kenneth Jurgens. Come forward, Mr. Ken. State your name and address for the record, please. Ken Jurgens. I live at 107 Port Royal Drive in 96. Um, I am just at our last meeting. We haven't had we have had no resistance to my proposal to change the zoning on our property. Um, but I just laid out a little guideline of a walk through for you guys to see the the architecture and the buildings that are around what what we are building. So essentially, if you were to walk right, if you turn right out of the property that I'm proposing this building on, this walks you down the street and walks you back up so you can clearly see what is out there that what I'm, you know, what I'm building fits in properly with what I'm trying to do.

Sure. That's it. Thank you. All right. Anyone got any questions? Anything else? Nope. We appreciate that. You want to give that to the clerk, please? She have one. She has one. And we have one as well. Yes, we got one as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Gary Pard, name and address for the record. Mr. Pard, you're speaking on item 202615. I see

Gary Pard. I reside at 536 Wilson Street, Greenwood. And regarding the subject of uh 314 Highway 221 South for the zoning change, I just wanted to bring up some pros because I can't think of a single con. Um it's for one, it's not another residential subdivision, what I'm aiming for here. For two, uh the industrial zoning would likely create new jobs that the area needs. Um, third, it will result in opaque fencing and landscaping will eliminate what I view as a tremendous isore, an auto salvage yard. Um, also setbacks from the property line will be established whereas there are none now because of the grandfather clause from 1963 or so. Um, there'll be a significant reduction in noise on the property. Um, it should create no more traffic, perhaps less than what exists currently. I believe it will create greater property tax for the county because certainly I would think that somebody would build a larger structure on the property with the with the new zoning. Um the it is the zoning that I'm requesting that auto salvage falls under and the property has been used in an industrial capacity for over 60 years. The new corrected zoning, it would uh ultimately eliminate an eyesore to the area. I mean, I know I don't want to live next to an auto salvage yard and I own one. Um, it should perpetuate and potentially enhance property values of adjacent parcels. So, I tried to think of any possible argument anybody could have how this would negatively affect the area, but I can't think of a single one. It's

all pluses to me and that's not just for self-s serving reasons. That's all I have to say on the matter. Understood. Thank you, Mr. Pard. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Next, please, Mr. Glenn Colin. Len. I live 119 Metobrook Drive and I'm here to support Gary. I also believe um that we have too many neighborhoods. I think you guys remember me from several reasonzoning fights. U

I absolutely do remember you. So, uh, my argument would be if it if it says R1 and some developer comes in, you'll have to see me again. So, this is a good way to back Gary and you won't have to see me again for another fight on that property. So, that's all I have to say. Thank you, Mr. Colin. We appreciate it. Thank you, Glenn. Uh, next, Miss Christina Cobb. Hello. How are you?

I've never been here before. My name is Christina Cobb. I live at 115 Spring Lake Drive and I'm here to talk about the special tax uh district and my I was the first resident to move out there. Um I've been there 25 years and I've seen it all. Um, I think for such a modest neighborhood to ask us to take on a special tax district to take care of a pond that hasn't been, in my opinion, took care of by just the minimum um is is not right. And I'm against that tax. And I want to say I I came to the wrong meeting before and I when I turned 18, the first thing I wanted to do was vote. I'm almost 50 and I had to approach three of you very nervously. You did great, by the way.

And y'all treated me like I could have been a business owner or was a homeless person. I felt really heard. And um like I said, this first time I've ever had to go to my elected officials and ask for anything or my opinion, but that is what I feel about the special. I This has been very stressful. This could have been dissolved last month. And um I just think there's more to it than that somebody's just trying to get out of something and put it on to someone else. Thank you for those kind words, Miss Cobb. Come see us anytime. Thank you, Miss Cobb. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Could I ask what item that is on the agenda that we're talking about?

Yeah, it's it's down. It's down at way down at the bottom, Mark. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Alison, because I Yeah, I should have asked which one. Okay, thank you. We will we'll conclude uh public comment. We have a presentation tonight uh our capital project sales tax quarterly update from Mr. Josh Skinner, our project director. Tell us about it, Josh.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Council, it's good to be here. It's been a while since I've done a a proper uh CPST update. So, I put together a pretty thorough um comprehensive um overview of the 2016 capital project sales tax. Tried to break it down a little differently this time. You know, we started with 27 projects on the 2016 ballot. A lot of some of those projects have uh multiple parts to them. Like the parks and trails have seven different parks and trails. Um the fire service master plan has four different parts. So if you add all those together, we're really looking at 42 projects on the 2016 capital project sales tax. I think you could probably break that down even more. I mean, I know James will tell you that phase two of the North Kirkwood Industrial Park is is more than one project. Um, Grey Street Parks, couple phases, but 42 is all I could fit on one slide. So, we're going to stay there. And of those 42 projects, 25 are complete. Uh, 16 are in progress. And the three I highlighted there in yellow are very close to being complete. So we can slide them over. I think in the next couple months. Um I know the art center is doing their punch list tomorrow. And we have one that has not started. That's the water lines in the area of Highway 25 South. And we've talked to CPW about this one and they want to wait till Harris Landing is finished before they start doing another project. So reasonable.

So, only one not started out of the 2016. I think that's pretty good. Uh, pretty good there. I'll go through these real quick because y'all seen these before, but these are our completed projects. Of course, the Pumat Tech Manufacturing Center, Hodes Park, Wisteria Park, Magnolia Park, and y'all stop me gave me questions. I mainly put these in there for other presentations, but uh Foundry Park, 96 Town Park, Grey Street Park, our uh countywide public safety radio system, Benjamin Maze, historic site, fire master plan. Phase one is the 16 new uh fire vehicles, different types, two lighter trucks, five engines, five brush trucks, and four tankers. Phase two of the fire master plans to six new fire stations. One in Troy, uh, Carter Road in 96, Highway 221 near Promised Land, Med 30, um, off of Highway 25 South, uh, Miller Road, and Morgan Road by Hajes. So, those six are, uh, fully functional. Phase three of the fire master plan were the driveway repairs. Uh Corna Fire Department, Troy Fire Department, and Northwest Fire Department, new concrete driveways. Uh 8 inches thick, I believe. So of course the uh glade groom master plan which was gateway landing the boat ramp water lines in 96 Young's park and where Scholes Boozer Park in 96 phase one of the North Industrial Park first spec building which EA swing now owns and operates the walking trail and promised land around the baseball field.

New restroom facility at Cooksbury renovations the Brewer Center which is bathroom renovations. New records management uh system for the all the uh law enforcement uh departments in the county. Watershed study that's the actual study part not the different projects that's that's in the next set of of projects. case management system for the solicitor's office. That's the one I don't have any pictures of. Um genetic center and the new fire truck uh tiller truck for the city of Greenwood. So those are the 25 we have completed. 16 that are in progress. We have the bike and pedestrian trails. We spent 300,000. We've we've resurfaced a lot of the trails uh throughout the city. new signage, new curb cuts, fencing, drainage work. We have about 110,000 remaining. Um uh I think I hope next the next meeting uh we'll have some options uh for you for that 110,000 that have to do with the safe streets for all grant whether you want to continue with that or or or go a different direction. uh the public safety training center. We're uh of course y'all approved that at I think the last meeting or two meetings ago. Uh we have the kickoff meeting on April 23rd for the design of the um the training center uh near the airport. That would include grading roads, parking lot um next to the uh what we call the annex. Now, the shooting range is not going to be at the end of the runway uh as originally planned. We're looking at a site

a good idea

um at the landfill. So, you see that little box up there? That's kind of a rough a rough drawing of where we think it might go once the trees are cleared. And uh but that'll be in this set of of CPST funds. sewer line replacement is is close to getting started. Uh they've signed a contract. Uh John Blake said they have signed a notice to proceed. I think it they start May 7th is what he said. Um so that's been a long time coming. A lot of these sewer lines will go underground. Some of them some of them will just be relined. Uh but they'll be much much more safer. Um so that project will be going throughout the summer. the wreck complex. We spent everything but $5,000. Uh and that includes the security cameras and signage contracts which uh should be uh installed this summer. That should do it for the wreck complex industrial part phase two. James could tell you a lot more about this, but but the spec buildings coming along nicely

and uh and all the grading and and roads. It looks great out there. Uh the storm water drainage system, 96 Mil Village. So, all the old pipes were pulled out. This is between uh 96 Town Park and uh Greenwood Avenue on down to um it's Kate Fowler Creek. I can't remember the street name, but old pipe was pulled out, new pipe was put in, and uh over the past couple months, they've been doing some surface drains improvements to try to um dry up some of the mud that's right there at the park. So, that should use up their remaining 72,000. Um and we'll we'll finish that project out. watershed study. Uh we're looking at contracts for the weather stations in Chapen and Gatewood, emergency access roads. Y'all approve the uh looking at the different options behind MIGs off dry branch court. And uh also at our next meeting, we have some um we have three different uh proposals for emergency access roads off of Top Pines Drive and um Glenn Ridge Court to Tranquil Road. Um and that's to help people escape if if a flood washes away certain parts of the road. And of course, we have the uh buyout grants, FEMA, and SCORE grants that uh we've applied for, we should know about uh later this summer. Um we have the matching funds if needed. So, if we get all of them, that'd be great. 246, uh they're close to the 70% design. Um and they're hoping for the 90% design early next year, which will include the rideway plans. Um, and they're still

saying October 2027 for a start date for construction. Greenwood County Detention Center. Uh, Kathy Tucker and Melissa Bowman are doing a great job picking out projects, sending me quotes. Uh, all the flooring has been replaced. All the showers have been replaced with this textured epoxy, this, you know, non-slip. uh new hot water heaters, new sinks, benches. Uh so much needed repairs at the detention center. Carolina Avenue Connector. I know the city's working with uh Davidson Floyd. They've done some preliminary designs. They're also talking to South Main Baptist Church about possibly doing the road um through their parking lot instead of on uh where the Heritage Trail is. They think it uh they think it might be easier due to um uh property access and and grading issues. So, of course, the art center looks great. They're doing a uh walkth through tomorrow for punch list. Seor has done a great job. Flat roof looks really just as good as the slate roof. Um it's uh it's really an impressive project. Of course, we got $200,000 grant from the Department of Archives and History to help with that. The uh train museum, the railroad historical center, uh you see the rendering there. Uh Karen and Nikki and and her uh staff and and board put together a great groundbreaking on uh last week. Um and they start actually did break ground on Monday. So

they've started moving dirt there now. Uh 10 months. Uh so hopefully they'll be uh done right after Christmas in time for for next spring. and Harris Landings uh started uh this was this was yesterday. They've laid about half a mile of 8 inch ductile pipe um on Old Lawrence Road uh and they have and they have the layown area there. So they're they're moving forward this summer. Of course, the one project that started is uh the water lines, Highway 25 South. Uh that's Highway um Highway 25 South, 178, and Red Bud Red Bud Lane there. So, that'll be after the Harris Landing job is finished. If you look at all our collections for the 2016, um we ended up with 89,71,000 $16.3. Uh if you look at our uh ordinance, 87.9 was the max total. So we had a little bit of surplus there. Um which is a good thing. And uh you see some of the current expenditures. Some of the projects we were able to finish way below budget. So we used that savings for the Harris landing water lines. Um but overall we came in under the max amount we could collect. So we have a little bit of surplus there as well. And uh looking looking at the 2024 sales tax collection, uh we've we've gone through three quarters now. That June quarter was just one month uh since we stopped on April 30th. So that's just May to June of 2025. Uh but since then, once we get the quarterly payments in

3.4, 3.6, the April payment should be in soon. And uh we will most likely fully fund the Pont Tech Career Center and move into funding for fire master plan phase one. And uh that is all I have. Any questions?

I have a comment and I know you're scared to death I'm going to start talking about the value of CPSD, but I'm not. But what I am going to talk about is 42 projects and all of our county staff works hard. The manager, the attorney, Miss McIntyre, but I believe that your job and everything you manage, the great magnitude of that, Josh, I don't know how you keep up with it. You do a phenomenal job. Thank you. We all appreciate what you do. The only other guy is maybe James Baitman who's we don't know what he's doing because it's all behind the scenes until we make another announcement of more jobs and more investment in our county. But thank you so much council. Any questions or comments for Mr. Skinner?

Just wanted to say I appreciate the hard work you do, Josh. And if y'all didn't know it, he's kind of a big deal. Very, very big deal. That's what's on his That's what's on his desk. It says I'm kind of a big deal. Thank you, Josh. Thank you, Josh. We'll move now into our segment of old business. Ordinance 202602 removing parcels from the Ferncliff Special Tax District. Miss Dorne, our county treasurer.

Thank you, chairman and councel. If you recall, we started this process um about two months ago. I think we received a letter from the homeowners association wanting to remove four parcels and then I requested that we pull it um after we got through two readings over some concern over um how those parcels could be developed in the future. And we were able to take one of the parcels and combine it with an existing parcel. Um I communicated with the property owner. She actually thought that it was going to be combined when they bought it. told her it didn't work that way. It's a different process. Um, so anyway, the assessor's office is working on combining that parcel with their existing. And so we were left with three parcels. There was one other that's owned by um a property owner, has their house on one property and has this one, but they're across the street and so we cannot combine those two, so it remains on here. Um and then the the other two that we weren't looking at combining um are owned by the homeowners association. And so this uh the difference in this ordinance in the first two readings is that this parcel 6868 667833 has been removed from the list because it's being combined and it will no longer exist once that combination is complete. And so we would ask that you consider um approving this so that we can remove these other three parcels from the tax district.

Miss Dorne, I need to ask a question. The two owned by the HOA, are those the unbuildable lots that we spoke of? I think the word that um you're maybe I'm using the wrong term. Your in charge of planning department asked me to use is undevelopable. Undevelopable. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Council, this is third and final reading. What's your pleasure? Motion to approve. I second.

Motion by Mr. Allison, second by Miss Bishop. All in favor of approval. That's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. Item B, ordinance 202612 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that one parcel of land totaling approximately 1.38 acres at 1703 Calhoun Road in Greenwood County. changes from R1 single family residential to C2 general commercial. Mr. Russian,

I appreciate council's time. This is third reading uh for this ordinance. Uh this is uh Calhoun Road. You can see the parcel there. It is next to the old music masters which is currently occupied by Holly Electric. Um but uh again this is a request to reszone from R1 to C2. Uh there you can see the parcel um with the surrounding uh current zoning I2 across the road uh to the southeast commercial and to the northeast and to the west. Um R1 uh Calvin Road is a DOT maintained road and we do have sewer, water and gas at the parcel. A couple views um looking at the parcel itself. You can see there uh partially cleared a view across the road to some of the industry across the road. Then looking north on Calhoun Road and looking southeast on Calhoun Road. Again, you can see the southeast picture there looking at Music Masters currently uh Holly Electric. As far as future land use, uh it's a little small there, but you can see the majority of this parcel under the future land use map um is uh looked at to be uh commercial. So, this would fall in line with that um with that use. I apologize. I just want to get back to my notes here and put my glasses on again. 1.38 acres currently zone R1 which is single family residential. Current use is vacant although there's some clearing on the property. Uh the applicant expressed interest in commercial development. Cleared the property requesting reszone to C2 general commercial. Uh again, the future land uses commercial planning commission voted 110 in favor of the resoning and staff recommends approval based upon the

future land use map. Mr. Chairman, I offer you a motion to have a motion and a second before we vote. Any discussion or questions of Mr. Russian? If not, motion is to approve. All in favor? Unanimously so ordered. Thank you. Item C, ordinance 202613 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that one parcel of land totaling approximately 1.28 acres at 2910 Highway 702 Greenwood County changes from RDD Rural Development to C2 general commercial. Mr. Rush,

uh, again, third reading on this one as well. I failed to mention on this the first third reading and the one you just approved that we did make some slight text changes to the ordinance itself on all three of these for third reading. Our county attorney wanted to clean up some of that language. It doesn't affect the overall ordinance, but just wanted to make those ordinances a little clear. So, the language is just slightly different from second reading. Uh, ordinance 2613. This is highway 702. Uh, speaker at the beginning of the um council meeting here, this is the one that he was speaking about. Um this is currently zoned RDD and the request is to reszone it to general commercial. Um you can see everything around uh the part the parcel is RDD and then as far as use goes you have some undeveloped residential. Uh and then immediately to the uh west and there to the left on that picture is the I think it's Harbor Light grocery store there. um currently a commercial use. Um the the commercial use is allowed in RDD, but you have to have 2 acres for commercial use. So when they split this property up, the resulting uh parcel uh was only 1.28 acres. Therefore, the need to reszone to uh commercial to fit the commercial um use for the uh property that he is wanting to do there. uh utilities um water and gas at the location uh highway 702 maintained by DOT. You can see on the left there you have a partial clearing and the start of the foundation of a building. You look across the road, you're looking to uh forest and pasture land. Uh looking west down the road, you can see Harbor Light grocery store. I believe that's the

name. and then looking south um looking to some more trees and some more residential development in that area. Uh as far as future land use, uh this whole area um is uh looked at for low density residential. Uh but there is some commercial use just down the road uh at the four corners area. Um again, um there's the four corners area that shows the commercial use just down the road. Uh and again here's uh the two parcels that were split. Again, this used to be one parcel commercial use over the two acres. If you did not split the parcel into two, the commercial would have been allowed on the site as is. They did split the property and again, hence the need for the resoning. Uh make sure I didn't miss anything here. Um again, the applicant wants to locate business on site. talked about the necessary two acres for the commercial uh let's see future land use again low density residential comm planning commission voted 110 in favor of the resoning and staff did recommend approval

I'll offer you a motion to approve Mr. Chairman motion by vice chairman second by Miss Bishop Mr. Russia, you're very thorough on that. Thank you. Vote to approve. All in favor?

That's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. Item D, 202614 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that portions of three parcels of land totaling approximately 11.74 acres at 20, 2056, 2070, and 2110 Monagu Avenue Extension in Greenwood County. changes from C2 general commercial to MPR master planned residential. Mr. Rob Russian, the deputy county manager for operations. Let me start with these three parcels came before council in 2022. Uh they had requested R5 multifamily residential at the time that was denied by council. They have since come back with a different plan. The current plan um is to to reszone from C2 commercial to MPR master plan residential. Uh these three parcels, they're actually split zone. The back half of them are uh zoned as R1. They are not uh wanting to change the R1 designation. They're only looking to change the C2 designation on the front part of the parcels. So again, um the 11.7 acres only refers to the front part of the parcels. The 4.2 acres at the back currently zoned R1 will stay as is. And their plan meets those guidelines for the R1 designation on the back. Some pictures that is looking north on Highway 25. That is looking across the street at some residential and commercial development. The parcel itself is wooded. Uh again uh looking north and then looking south uh from the partial you can see some of the commercial uh on the left hand side there. Um looking south uh utilities in the area there is sewer, water and gas uh available to uh the

project and of course uh Monu Avenue extension or um highway 25 in that area is uh DOT maintained road. Uh as far as future land use, uh the future land use does have this as low density uh residential which is the uh back um part of the property. Uh here is the uh plan for the property. Um uh the layout again you can see the parcels in the back they are a little bit bigger uh to match the R1 zoning requirement. The parcels in the front are smaller um again under the MPR. NPR is its own zoning district. Uh 39 lots in the C current in the portion that's currently zoned C2. Um and then we have some specifications here as far as what's in the MPR. The maximum density is four units per acre. Minimum lot area is 7,000 square foot. Minimum lot width at 52. However, most of those lots are over 60 foot wide. And then you have the set setbacks there, the 20, the five, and the 30 for the front side and rear setbacks. Uh some justification there for reszoning. Um let's see. Um planning commission also recommended this approval. Uh 110 and the staff alco also recommends approval.

Thank you, Mr. Russian. Ordinance 202614, third and final reading. Council, what's your pleasure? Well, let me ask a question first, Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind. Rob, if you would just repeat what we said at the last meeting about the fact that if it stayed C2, they could do something with a lot more density than they currently are offering up. That is correct. I think um can't remember the exact numbers, but it's about a third of what they currently could do under the C2 designation by doing the MPR under the guidelines that they are setting. It's about a third of what they can do. So again, the staff recommended approval of this because it it is a lower density than what is current under the current C2 model.

And this question you may not know the answer to, but somebody might. When they develop this um there's sidewalk that runs to the end of the food line property and then there's just like a little dirt path that runs across these three lots. When they develop that, they're going to sidewalk the front of that combined with their entrances. Do you know? Yeah. If you see the if you see the plan there um right here you see that sidewalk extending on the plan up to the entrance um to the entrance. Correct. 100%. Okay. I'm not going to make any promises on the sidewalk. Well, I was told to ask, so I'm asking. Well, that I'd have to get clarification on that.

That's fine. I'm good, Mr. Chairman. So, we need a motion and second. We do. Mr. Chairman, I offer you a motion to approve. Motion to approve by Mr. Allison. I second. Second by Miss Bishop. If there are no further discussion or comments, all in favor is presented. That's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. Thank you, Rob. Thank you. We'll move now to new business. Mr. Templeton out of district 6 has a proclamation that he would like to present. Mr. Templeton, I'm gonna let you tell the public about that.

Sure, Mr. Chairman. We will not be presenting a proclamation tonight as uh the Greenwood Christians uh school boys basketball team could not be here, but I do want to read it into the record and then we'll I will present it at their awards dinner, which I think is Saturday.

Excellent. Um, but anyway, proclamation says, "Whereas the Greenwood Christian School boys basketball team completed a remarkable season with a 17-10 overall record and a perfect 4-0 playoff run, coming away with the 2026 South Carolina Independent School Association 3A state championship title on February 28th. And whereas under the leadership of head coach Jonathan Davis and assistant coach Matt Alli, the team persevered through injuries, illness, and adversity throughout the season. And whereas the players Leilen Reed, Ty Kennedy, Reese Harper, Eli Vajin, Amari Stadum, Noah Vajin, Isaiah Scott Pelatios, Nate Wilson, Holden Pool, Tate Jackson, Bryson Dixon, Dorian Lee, Leighton Davis, and John Powell demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and deter uh determination. And whereas entering the playoffs as underdogs, the team won four games in eight days, overcoming halftime deficits in every contest, earning them the nickname the Heart Attack Hawks throughout multiple one possession and overtime victories. Whereas Isaiah Scott Pelatio's inspiring return from injury and standout performances along with key contributions from teammates including Tai Kennedy helped lead the team to victory. And whereas the team achieved the first boys basketball state championship appearance and victory in school history. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the Greenwood County Council does hereby extend their congratulatory accolades to the Greenwood Christian School boys basketball team and hereby honors them for their historic championship season, their perseverance in the face of adversity, and their lasting impact on their school and community. County Council wishes these youth players and coaches and family members who committed their love and support along the way continued success through their performances and educational journeys. Presented this day, 7th day of April, 2026. I'm offering that in a form of a motion to approve. Mr. Chairman,

second motion by Mr. Timson, second by vice chairman. All in favor? And that is so ordered. Any other comments or discussion? Thank you, council. Congratulations. Yes. Congratulations, Greenwood Christian. Consideration item B, consideration of the partial termination of an option agreement buying between LBMS Jr. and Margaret W. Adams and Greenwood County for a portion of GPIN6895-643-129 at 4720-96 highway or economic development director Mr. Baitman J.

Good evening chairman and members of council. This partial option termination is for a portion of the Adams property known as the 96 business park. And by terminating this option, it would allow an economic development project to proceed on one of the lots in the 96 business park. We would ask for your vote tonight to approve the form of partial option termination that is in your packets and authorize the manager to execute that partial option termination in conjunction with a closing on the property. I'll offer you a motion to approve, Mr.

Have a motion by vice chairman, second by Miss Bishop. Any discussion or questions of Mr. Mr. Baitman before we vote. This is a partial termination of the agreement. All in favor is presented and as unanimous and so ordered. Thank you, James. Item C, consideration of the approval of results from the RFQ for professional engineering services and environmental due diligence for the Puckets Ferry Rail site. Mr. Russian's back.

I am back. Uh these uh professional services uh were bid through a formal RFQ. We had eight qualified submitts. um from different firms. Submittals were rated by a threeperson evaluation committee and Alliance Consultant was the highest rated firm based upon that those qualifications. Uh the project is funded 75% through a locate SC grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Um, valuation committee recommends the approval of Alliance Consulting as the highest ranked firm and the committee also rem recommends authority be granted to the county manager and attorney to negotiate and execute all required documents to employ Alliance Consulting for the services stated in the RFQ. You have the rankings of those um eight firms uh in your packet. I can take any questions you might have.

Need a motion to approve as presented. I'll offer you a motion to approve. Have a motion by Miss Griffin. Second. Second by Mr. Templeton. Any comments or questions before we vote? All in favor to approve as presented? As unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. Item D, consideration of the approval of the request for proposal for the repair of the Watson. Should have just stayed there, Rob. of the of the approval of the request for proposal for the repair of the Watson Hill Road bridge due to Hurricane Helen damage. Rob,

trying to get to my the correct notes in my uh I apparently got my notes out of order. Okay, here we go. All right. Uh we did put out um Watson Hill Road Bridge was damaged during Hurricane Helen. We went through a lot of um different scenarios and how we were going to get this bridge uh repaired, including several meetings with FEMA on the issue. Uh in the end, we ended up bidding it out to have the work done by a consultant. Uh the repair work, again, formally bid through the county's RFP process. Low bid was received from Community First Developers in the amount of $74,300. We have worked twice previously with community first developers on two other bridge projects. Um we have been um pleased with their work. Um the county is expected to be reimbured for this project through FEMA and the state. Uh we are currently working on those applications as well. Staff recommends approval of the RFP and awarded the project to community first developers. Staff also recommends that authority be granted to the county manager and attorney to negotiate, approve, and/or sign all relevant documents to accomplish the project. You have the bid tabulation in front of you. Uh, as well, I can take any questions you might have.

I make a motion to approve, Mr. Chairman. Motion by Miss Bishop to approve. Second by Mr. Templeton. Any comments or questions before we vote? All in favor of approval? That's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you. Still there, Rob. Still there, Rob. Okay. Resolution 202609 considering the approval of additional funding for debris grinding services related to Hurricane Helen.

All right. a while back. Um if council remembers, uh we originally set the um amount for all grinding services out at the landfill for debris generated from Hurricane Helen at $600,000. That was very early in the process. That was November, uh roughly six weeks after um the hurricane occurred. We had not even probably 30% of the debris on site yet. Um, a couple months ago we we did change from the original vendor uh to the vendor that was currently that currently on site. That was in November of 2026. Uh, this replacement vendor has been working to complete the grinding service since then. The original 600,000 uh has now been exhausted. A thorough evaluation of the remaining material left to grind has estimated that an additional 225,000 uh will be needed to grind uh this material. If y'all have been out to the landfill recently, the pile has gotten much much smaller, but um there still is a pile remaining. Um the additional 225,000 is being requested from the general fund balance. County is expected to be reimbursed for this project by FEMA uh and the state and has an active application uh with them. Uh I think we're really close on getting this application obligated. Uh staff recommends approval of the resolution to fund the remaining work you have resolution in front of you for that um for that additional funding.

One thing that you said and that and it's in the packet. It says November that it was approved by us November 4th, 2026, but it was actually 2025 25. That is correct. That is a misprint. And in my notes, Rob, was it 229,000 or 225? 225. 25. Thank you, sir. All of which was would be reimburseable by FEMA. We have a current application with FEMA until it's obligated. And I'm not telling you that it's going to be, but we feel

I would maybe defer to our county treasurer. She's smiling back there. I think we're close on that obligation. This has been a really tough one for us uh with FEMA. We've worked really hard on it. Lewis uh Sly has put a lot of hours and effort into this application and getting reimbursed. Mr. Chairman, I offer you a motion to approve. I have a I have a motion by Miss Bishop. Second. Second by the vice chairman. Any questions or comment before we vote? If not, all in favor is presented. Unanimous and so ordered. I don't think the treasurer would be smiling if we weren't close. Ross, can I sit?

Item F. Ordinance 202615 to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that one parcel of land totaling approximately 34.88 acres um at 314 Highway 221 South in Greenwood County changes from R1 single family residential to I2 heavy industrial. Rob, this first reading and title only. First reading in title only. this um let me get let me get it back to my notes again. I apologize. Nope.

We're going to give you some grace tonight, Rob, because you had a lot of notes. I do. And the um the way they show up on my iPad is not in the order that they're supposed to be in. comment. All right. Request

this request resone 35 acres land located uh 314 highway 221 south. Mr. Pard spoke uh during the um uh public comment period. He's the owner of the property. U again he's requesting the current zoning is R1 single family residential going to I2 industrial. views of the parcel. You can see this is Pard's uh auto salvage uh business. Again, a couple views of the parcel there. Uh current zoning again is R1. You do see some industrial in the blue across the road as well as to the south and behind it, but pretty much it the parcel itself is surrounded by uh residential as well as some red commercial you see there at the top. uh future land use does have this as uh industrial uh and again just an overview what the industrial uh district is. The property history here property has a legal non-conforming use which is the salvage yard. This auto salvage yard uh it was converted to a salvage yard from farmland plus or minus 63 years ago. Uh property has 266 foot of frontage, septic, gas, water utilities. um compatible with the future land use which is designated as industrial and uh speak a little bit about buffer yards there. Uh the current use is legal non-conforming sometimes referred to as grandfathered. I don't like to use that term because that assumes maybe sometimes that everything is allowed and it isn't necessary uh everything. Soon

if the parcel is reszoned I2 the current use would be compatible. It is allowed under I2. Um staff recommend approval based upon the future land use plan. That's all I have. Thank you Rob. That was first title only. First reading and title only. Item G ordinance 2026. Can I ask a question? When does sorry when will the public hearing be on that one? That will be the next the next meeting. 21st. April 21st will be the public hearing. Thank you. I guess all of these will be third reading at May 5th. Yep. Okay. Thank you.

Item G, ordinance 202616 to amen to amend the Greenwood County zoning map as and if amended so that two parcels land totaling approximately 15.68 acres at 151196 highway in Greenwood changes from a 2 agricultural district to light industrial. I don't have any slides for this one. Uh council has previously addressed this property under uh the economic development. This is the zoning piece for it. This is the Chandler construction. Uh the construction of their new building on 96 highway there. It's first read and title only. First reading and title only requires no action. Any comments or questions?

If not, we'll move to item H ordinance 202617 approving the request by our treasur's office to dissolve the Spring Lake special purpose the special tax district. Miss Dorne. Oh, may I before you start? Sure. I just want to make sure that he addresses you correctly. That would be the deputy county manager for finance, Stephanie Dorne. That's all right. Dr. Dorne. Dr. Dorne. That's right. Don't don't don't skimp on it. Since she took a side note, I'll just say I'm gonna talk to Rob in our weekly meeting about the value of paper. Nice.

I don't have I don't have an iPad anyway. So, um I'll recycle and we're off.

A couple of um we a couple of meetings ago, we started the process to um dissolve Spring Lake and then I think it was brought to your attention that that there was some desire to keep the district. Uh since that time when um the ordinance was stopped, our office has heard from several people who do want the tax district to be dissolved. I think that and and we heard from one of the property owners and I think you've heard a couple of you might have heard from some others as well. And so we started the process again. Um because it was denied, we have to to go back through three readings. So this is just first reading and title only. uh reads exactly the same as before and this would dissolve the Spring Lake Tax District. We did send new letters out um to the property owners notifying that we had started the process again and um this time we did encourage the property owners to be at the public hearing so that they could hear so that you all could hear from um uh the majority of the property owners rather than just uh one of the property owners. First reading and title only we don't have taking action. This will require public hearing, right Stephanie? That's correct. At our next meeting,

two weeks on the 21st. Thank you very much.

Any comments or questions, council, before we move on? Item I, resolution 202610, amending the hospitality tax budget for a parking lot at the Railroad Historical Center. As I start talking, I'm going to ask Karen Jennings to make her way up here so she can answer any questions that you might have about this project. I'm presenting it because it is a budget amendment um for us that is being requested and the U budget amendment is for your hospitality tax fund. As you know, you have restricted uses for these funds. The request is um as you all know and and Josh spoke about this a few minutes ago. Um they've just broke ground to start this um the new uh depot, but uh the project was put on the tax um on the pal on the ballot 10 years ago. And so the costs for the project have have gone way above the amount that was allotted to the project. And so there's already been changes made to the initial project to try and make it fit into the budget. But this particular request is the former Palmetto Bank building that has been used for the museum needs to be demoed and then that area turned into a parking lot. So the entire area over there, part um of the existing parking lot is actually owned by the city of Greenwood. Um so when Karen came to me and she said, "We need to repave that. We need to demo this building, build a new one." I said, "Well, I'm not going to ask county council to pay for the city's parking lot, but I will." um asked to share the cost with the city to demo the building and repave the parking lot. So that is the um specific request um is just to demo that building and build a parking lot in its place. And it's all on property that is owned by the railroad

museum. And the bid that um was received is for a total of $181,444. Sadderfield Construction is donating $10,000 of asphalt, making the cost um split uh 50% of the cost $85,722. Again, that request is out of the hospitality tax. um you have enough within this year's revenues to cover that request if you so choose. And again, I'll let Karen answer any questions about the project in particular that you might have.

Mr. Chairman, I don't have any questions other than I would like for Karen to introduce all the folks she has with her, but I'm going to offer you a motion to approve before she does that. I second. Have a motion to approve and a second by Miss Bishop. No, Karen, go ahead. But he wanted to I want y'all to introduce who you brought with you. introduce your colleagues. We have some wonderful support for our museums. Um we've got um Go through and say your name, please. Sarah, I got you. Sarah, Nikki Murphy, Sarah, member. Everybody call me everybody calls.

And uh Sarah Bunting is president of our board. She works with um uh county g. Thank you, Karen. We we do have wonderful volunteers and and a wonderful board. Great to have all of you with us tonight. Mr. Manager, I believe you have a question. I do, Mr. Chairman, before you vote. Karen, did you go to the city council meet last night? Yes, I did. Um what was their action?

Uh they did not take action that it was a working the working uh meeting and uh they will they will vote on it in two weeks time. And what I I um uh Julie recommended to them was uh that they cover the 85,000 for their for the other half of the parking part parking lot we own. And the city would she was recommending paving the other part. Would the city pay for that? My question was chairman would be if for some reason the city did not fund their cause that what I was prepared to make the motion to pro approve this conditional upon the city's vote.

I can change my motion to to say just that approval pending pending a vote on city by the city council on 420 and I'll second that. So we have a motion conditional upon the city's approval by Mr. Templan second by Miss Bishop. Any comments or questions before we vote on that motion? Hearing none. All in favor? That's unanimous and so ordered. Thank you, Karen. And thank you very much for your support. Yes, ma'am. Great to have you here. Let's hope the city. So, we have no more pending items. We'll move now into district reports. District one, Miss Griffin.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. like to say good evening to each and every one of you and thank you for um attending tonight. Um and my only other announcement will be literal pickup is um this Saturday the 11th at Crossroad Baptist Church at 8:00 a.m. Looking forward to seeing as many 8:00. So ends my report pick up this weekend. Thank you. District two, Mr. Allison. All is well in district two, Mr. all as well in district 2, District 3. Miss Bishop, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank everybody for coming tonight and I hope that everybody has a good evening. That ends my report. Mr. Chairman,

Miss Miller was absent tonight because uh her great friend uh Anne Hancock was we had services for an today. She'll be greatly missed. So, no report from district 4. Vice chairman, District 5. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. um just like to say that I met with the officials from Greenwood School District 52 and um had a good meeting with them, talked about different things going on and uh real pleased with that. I'd like to say I hope everyone had a great Easter. Uh I know I did. My uh new grandson got to come home from the NICU on Easter Sunday. Wonderful. Wonderful.

And I drove two hours at 8:00 at night just to go hold him. So that was the as you should have. This has been the highlight of my month amongst other things going on. And I want to end my uh my report with a Bible verse. Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." That ends my report, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Dane. District 6. Mr. Templeton.

Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say that um uh I was um fortunate enough to attend the groundbreaking ceremony at the Greenwood Railroad Historical Center last week and um it's going to be a a great facility and um it was a great turnout and I I I enjoyed being being able to speak at that on your behalf. Yes, sir. Thank you. I appreciate that in my absence. I do. I do. And um let's see. I think that's I think that's all I got other than I do want to throw a pitch to the third annual Greenwood Duck and Jeep Jam coming up. You want to say anything about it? I'll get I'll I'll yield like 30 seconds. Forgot about that.

So, I invite each of y'all. Um we're going to have a I think this afternoon I had 87 Jeeps signed up at this point. Um it's a little lower than last year. had over hundred last year. But um there's going to be uh Justin Gorbbit band is going to be performing a concert. We're going to have raffle prizes, uh merchandise, craft vendors. I think I have 13 food trucks uh coming. So 100% of the proceeds go to Special Olympics South Carolina. That is our 31,77 athletes in our state. So be glad to have you. And that'll be at the farmers market on on Saturday, April 11th from 3 to 8. That's correct.

Thank you very much. Thank you for that. That ends that ends my report, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Tempton. Um, District 7, I think all is well, but I I think that if uh Councilwoman uh Miller were here to tonight, I'm going to I'm going to use my time to talk for a minute about Dr. Anne Hancock because I think Kathy would if she were here. So, I don't know how well many of you knew Dr. and Hancock, but she left, I believe, just an indelible footprint on our community. Um, if you've read her obituary, um, she her career was just remarkable in that she served under I think two presidents uh in the federal u department of education. Um, list list goes on and on of Anne's activities. Um, what I will always remember about her, uh, I guess would be her passion for education, her passion for her community, and her passion for the Clemson Tigers, which I did not share with her, but um, but, uh, she was she was a great uh, representative certainly of our county and our state, and she will be uh, greatly greatly missed. Um, and uh, I I do believe that that Miss Miller, who was a great friend of Ans, would echo those sentiments. So, God bless her.

I'm sorry, Miss Bishop. Miss Bishop, I'm I'm so happy that someone other than me forgot something. No, no, it it's something good, though. It's something good. So, I thought that as we went down the road that somebody would say something. So, I sometimes I kind of reserve myself. But congratulations to the Lander University men's basketball team for going to the championship, the NCAA Division 2 men's basketball national runner up. I mean, how amazing is that? I mean, I I'm just so excited that Greenwood is just on the map for so many different things, but that is amazing. And I think that is Miss Miller's um area. So,

it would be Yeah. But I Yeah, I just had to say congratulations. And and Theo, if you don't mind, I was just going to say real quickly that that that Dr. Anne um was a proud resident of District 6. She was a huge supporter of mine and I spent a lot of time talking to her and this lady, if you can do this, she lived the equivalent of at least two lives, not one. I mean, my goodness, all her accolades and accomplishments and how many people she touched was just amazing. So, thank you for saying that about her. Great. Thank you. And one more thing, Mr. Chairman, we've got a young man back here. What's Yeah. What's your name, sir? Xavier. Xavier.

Xavier. Xavier, you're a Lander student, right? He's he's at GHS. Greenwood High. He's at Greenwood. He's he's the mayor's mayor's the mayor's Yeah. Mayor's youth council. And he is he's a proud uh Greenwood Eagle, just so you know. So, Xavier, did you did you visit with us a meeting just recently also? No, that was another come forward. That was another gentleman there. Why not? Come up to the podium. Intro introduce yourself. Hey, seriously.

I'm sorry, man. Wonderful. Introduce yourself and just tell us about yourself. Um, I'm Xavier Thally. I'm a senior at Greenwood High School and I'm a part of the mayor's youth council. Wonderful. The mayor's youth council. Wonderful. Great. Great. I'm Miranda, your mom. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And my boss. Yes, sir. Well, thank you for coming to our meeting. Thank you for being here with us, Xavier. Proud to have you. Thank you very much. Um, manager, do you have a reports with council? Madame attorney, Miss McIntyre. So, no reports. If not, we stand adjourned. Thank you all. Stand adjourned. You done it so well. All right.