Town Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I would like to welcome everyone to the town of Lexton Council meeting. This council meeting is being held at town hall on Monday evening, April 6, 2026, and is being broadcast live on the town's YouTube channel. I am Hazel Livingston, the mayor of the town of Lexon, and I would like to introduce my fellow council members. To my left is council member Ron Williams. Good evening. To his left is council member Todd Lau. Good evening. Council member Michaels is not here tonight. She is out of town. To my right is Mayor Pro Tim Todd KS. Good evening. To his right is Council Member Gavin Smith. Good evening. And to his right is Council Member Will Allen. Good evening.

Our invocation tonight will be led by Council Member Allen. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Let's pray. Oh, heavenly father, thank you so much for another spring in Lexington, South Carolina. Lord, we love this town. We want to pause right now and just thank you for all that you continue to do for our neighbors and this community. We truly are immeasurably blessed to live here and I think sometimes we lose sight of that. So we want to pause right now just to thank you so much for all that you've done, all that you're doing, and all that you're going to do. I ask you, Lord, to please give Holy Spirit discernment to everybody up here with me so that we can make the best decisions for our neighbors. Continue to uh grow us and keep us in the palm of your hand, in the center of your will, Lord. And we pray all this in Jesus holy name. Amen.

Amen. Now I'd ask Councilman Williams to do the pledge of allegiance. 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.

I will now call the council meeting to order. Are there any deletions from tonight's agenda? Hearing none, council met in executive session prior to this meeting. Matters discussed in executive session as permitted by SC code 30-4-7A. Discussion of a public defender contract. Discussion of West Colombia water litigation. Discussion of potential property acquisition for public parking. informationational update on 14 mile creek gravity trunk project. No vote was taken. Do I hear a motion to ratify this report? So moved.

Mayor Prom makes the motion. Do I hear a second? Second. Councilman Williams seconds it. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Next up's the approval of minutes. Attached are the regular council meeting minutes for February 2nd and March the 2nd of 2026 for approval. Do I hear a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Councilman Williams makes the motion. Do I hear a second? I'll second it.

Councilman Smith seconds it. Is there any discussion on the any on the minutes? Hearing none. All those in favor raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Now for our vision plan update. The vision plan advisory committee has kicked off their meetings. The committee consists of 10 community members who either live in the town or own a business within it. Their role is to gather input and provide recommendations to council to help shape Lexington's future. Public input is also a big part of this process and we'd like to hear from you. Make sure to check for updates on surveys and other events that will be happening with the vision plan on our website lexsc.gov. Next, Mayor Pro Tim KS has our traffic update.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Most of our local schools are officially out for spring break this week. As a reminder, traffic patterns may be a little different than usual. Please allow adequate time to reach your destination safely. The next traffic committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th at 8:00 a.m. at the town hall in the third floor conference room. And finally, please exercise caution when traveling in construction areas. We encourage you to follow the town of Lexon's Town of Lexon Police Department social media outlets for traffic alerts and updates. Please call 803358-7273 to report any traffic signal issues, unsafe roadway conditions, or a pothole that needs immediate repair. Thank you, Mayor Proin. We have one presentation tonight and it's a presentation of child abuse prevention month. At this time, I'd like to invite anyone here that would be accepting this to please come forward as I read this proclamation. Whereas the children of Lexon are a community's most valuable resource and will shape the future of our town and state. And whereas the child abuse and neglect are serious issues that affect every segment of our community and require the commitment and partnership of us all. And whereas childhood trauma can have lasting emotional, psychological, and physical effects and prevention remains the best way to protect our children and strengthen families. And whereas effective prevention efforts depend on collaboration among families, schools, community, and faith-based organizations, businesses, healthc care providers, law enforcement, and ch child welfare professionals. And whereas strong communities promote programs and activities that support safe, stable, and nurturing environments for all children. Now therefore, be it

proclaimed that the mayor, town council, and citizens of the town of Lexon, South Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 20 26 as child abuse prevention month and encourage all citizens to work together to protect our ch children and strengthen our families. proclaimed the sixth day of April, 2026.

She's job. Uh good evening. My name is uh Anthony Juliano. I'm the president of the Flourishing Families board of directors. Um, at Flourishing Families, our vision is to meet the needs of vulnerable children by establishing trauma-informed attachment-based culture of care in uh in South Carolina so that families can can flourish in uh in connected communities. Um, we're thankful to uh to partner with the Dixon Children's Advocacy Center as well as Children's Trust of South Carolina to raise awareness for child abuse in our town. Additionally, we encourage educators, first responders, elected officials, and all citizens of Lexington County to support our vision to be the voice of the voiceless and to empower every child through safety uh protection and support. We want to thank the town of Lexington uh for supporting this vision through this pro proclamation and becoming a part of this connected community. Thank you.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Mayor, yes, sir. Are just uh Anthony, are all you guys with flourishing families? We have representatives from the Dickerson Center here. We do have uh representative from the Dickerson Center. Yes. Okay. Yeah. All right. Flourishing families. Yes. Yeah. Would you like to say anything? I know you guys are right here in our back door. Please, please.

My name is Flavia West and I'm the executive director here here at Dickerson. And so I just really want to thank you all. Um, child abuse and neglect is one of the most horrible things that can happen to children and unfortunately our numbers are increasing as the months go by. Uh, but I'm so very thankful for the community partnerships we have built over the years. The Lexington Police Department um especially uh Chief Green has been a great um person to support what we do. So, thank you so much for allowing us to be here and uh bringing awareness and hopefully help us in prevention for child abuse and neglect. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Next up, we'll move on to new business items, beginning with Council Member Smith, annexation of Lexon County Tax Map 00430-7-162.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Stature Properties LLC owns approximately 29.31 acres on West Main Street and Highway 378 and has positioned to annex the property. A car dealership and commercial center is planned to be developed on the site. Properties in town near this one are zone general commercial, office commercial, highdensity residential, and protect protected residential. West Main Street and Highway 378 are classified as arterial roads. The property is shown on the future land use map as a regional node area. The comprehensive land use plan describes this area as a node containing medium to highintensity commercial, retail, hospitality businesses, which would be predominantly regional or national brands and offices that cater to those traveling along major corridors. All that said, at the March 18th meeting, uh March 18th, 2026 meeting, the planning commission recommend recommended zoning this property as general commercial and classifying West Main Street and Highway 378 as arterial roads. Uh the only action requested on this is first reading, Madame Mayor.

So, I will move I guess. Do I need to move for I don't need to move for first reading. This is just a first reading. You need to make a motion for first reading of annexation. Yes, we have to vote on that. Okay, so first reading approval. Yes. Okay, that's not what this says. Um, so Madame Mayor, I would move for first reading approval uh for annexation of Lexon County Tax Map. I won't read the number, but it as denoted on our uh agenda packet. Council member Smith makes the motion. Do I hear a second? Second.

Councilman Williams second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Uh the next items two, three, and four are related but need to be voted on separately. So, Mayor Proim KS will be reading each of these first with reszoning at Old Chaffen Road.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh Connelly Development has submitted a request to reszone 9.63 63 acres at 2011 Old Chapen Road from highdensity residential to highdensity residential and limited commercial with a planned unit development overlay. The purpose of the request is to support the proposed plan unit development of a 50unit town home project that will include 8 acres of limited commercial office space fronting on Old Chapen Road. Properties adjacent are zoned highdensity residential, limited commercial, and protected residential. Old Chapen Road is classified as a collector road. At its March 18th meeting, the planning commission recommended approval of the resoning request as submitted. And we doing these one by one.

Yes. So, I make a motion for first reading approval. This one's for annexation, right? No. Reszoning. Reszoning. Reszoning. Okay. Um, and Mayor Prom makes the motion. Do I hear a second? Second. Councilman Williams seconds it. Is there any discussion? Madame Mayor. Yes, sir.

I have a couple questions. Uh, I guess I'll direct them to to you, Rachel, and if you are unsure, maybe direct to who you find appropriate. Um, I I just wanted to put a few things on the record for those who are watching. I've had a chance to review the site plan and speak with Mr. Connelly uh and his team, but this parcel currently has town homes on it. Correct. That's correct. And do you know how many town homes are on the property currently? Um, I don't know. Mr. Connelly could answer that. We can invite him up to speak if Can I Can I say one thing also too? I live right there on old shapen directly across from where those apartments are.

I don't know if it's okay to speak. I'm just saying really it's not. Um but I could invite you up if you want to say something. I mean I I'm going to ask you to be very brief though if you come forward and tell us your address. No, I live at 142 Old Chapen Road. I own a home that actually has the 2 acres of land that's across from this and I I beg to differ. Those are not town homes. Those are apartments that are low class apartments that I have seen all kind of different riff wrap and stuff over there which actually affects me and I don't appreciate it. So I'm just letting you know where I currently live and what I physically see and it's not I beg to differ. It's not nice town homes. Those are lowass apartments.

Okay. I don't think that's what was said though, was it? No, that's not what was said. Um, I think what is being put out there is, and I can answer some of this, is this could be grandfathered in with 104 residential units and 16 garage structures going in and he's asking to put it put 50 in. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. Mr. Connelly, you want to come forward in case? Madame Mayor, could I continue my question? Yes. Thank you. Um, Mr. Connelly, if you'd like to come forward, I just have a couple questions for you. Sure, no problem. Uh, first, I appreciate the time that you've taken with me to answer my questions directly.

Um, but I I've had some questions from citizens, so I just want to ask them here for the record so that anyone watching can hear them for themselves. So, currently, do you know how many u town homes, apartments are on the property currently? Well, it is apartments, garden style apartments. All right. And um there I believe uh currently there's 24 um apartments on site. 24. Now there were 30 there before the building burnt in like 2019. Okay. Each building is six units on site. Okay. And one building burned. So there were 30, but there's currently 24.

Okay, great. So 24 currently apartments on the on the site. Uh a few years back there was a fire. Um before the the fire when those units burnt there were 30. Um so you are proposing 50 units. Correct. Correct. So that's a net gain of 26 units if my math is correct. Correct. Or or 20 units. 20. Yeah. Uh net gain of 20 units. Um so I guess more for Rachel now. So there was uh a few years back by the planning commission a plan approved that the current developer who owns the property or property owner um they were approved to build nearly 100 homes. Correct.

Yes. So if they wanted to today they have a vested right to come on there and build 100 units. Yes sir. All right. And Mr. Connelly you're proposing 50 correct. So, the town has an option right now to take 100 units or to have 50 units. That is our option. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, Mr. Connelly could purchase the right to build the 100 units. Mhm. But you've chosen not to do that, right? Correct. You are building 50 town homes. 50 town homes. And part of the PUD would be uh one commercial building. Okay. We're actually also acquiring the old JC hut that's also dilapidated,

right? and building a new commercial building and all of that would front utilizing one access on old Chapen Road. Okay, great. The the point that I'm trying to make, Mr. Connelly, is that you are not taking advantage of the vested right of 100 units, but instead are um really building half of what you could build. You you could build 100, but you're building 50, less than half, actually. It's 114 units that it was for,

right? So, a net gain of much less than half. So, that's the only point I'm trying to make today is that we could end up with 100 units. We're actually ending up with 50. Um, and when you take when you deduct what was actually there, it's even less. Um, so it's a small impact to that area. Um, and I've seen the products that you that you build um and I suspect that it will be um a nice facility that you're building. So that's the only point I was trying to make is that you could build 100 but you're not building 100. You are only building 50. Correct. Thank you. Anybody else have anything?

Hearing none. All those in favor raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Can I ask one other question? I didn't mean to interrupt. Are they going to tear down what's there? Yes. Can Yes. Okay. Y number three.

Sorry, Connelly Development has submitted a request to reszone 0.92 acres at 100 Snail Grove Road from limited commercial to highdensity residential with a plan unit development overlay. The purpose of the request is support is to support the proposed plan unit development of a 50unit town home project that will include 0.80 acres of limited commercial office space fronting on Old Chapen Road. Properties adjacent are zoned highdensity residential, limited commercial and protected residential. Old Chapen Road is classified as a collector road and Snailgroveve road is classified as a limited local road. At its March 18th meeting, the planning commission recommended approval of the resoning request as submitted. Madame mayor, I make a motion for first reading approval of this resoning.

Do I hear a second? Second.

We have a first and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Madame Mayor, the last item related to this PUD Connley Development is requesting site plan approval for a planned unit development consisting of 50 town homes on 9.43 acres and 0.8 acres of commercial office space located at the corner of Old Chapen Road and Snail Grove Road. Primary access to the development will occur from Old Chapen Road. Internal streets serving the town homes will be privately owned and maintained. The proposed development represents the redevelopment of two existing properties currently occupied by a 30 unit apartment complex and the former JC Hut building located at 100 Snail Grove Road which is currently vacant. The project would remove these existing structures and redevelop the site with a combination of residential town homes and limited neighborhood scale commercial office space. A previously approved development proposal for the property allowed for 104 residential units and 16 garage structures, resulting in a density of approximately 11 dwelling units per acre. That project was not constructed. The current proposal reduces the overall density to approximately 5.3 dwelling units per acre. The proposed buffers and setbacks are consistent with those previously approved by the board of zoning appeals for the earlier development. The project is requesting approval as a planned unit development due to the unique nature of the proposal and to allow modifications to traditional zoning requirements. The project differs from these requirements in the following ways. The redevelopment of an underutilized property combined with the integration of limited

neighborhood scale commercial uses makes the project appropriate for consideration under the plan unit development under the PUD development model. Front and side buffers and setbacks are reduced from traditional zoning requirements. However, the rear setback and buffer adjacent to the existing single family neighborhood will maintain the required 100 ft buffer and 150 ft setback as required by the town of Lexton zoning ordinance. Parking standards are modified to provide adequate parking without garage structures for the town homes. Front facade variation standards for town homes will be achieved through architectural facade articulation rather than continuous roof line segmentation. At its March 18th meeting, the planning commission recommended approval of this request. Madame Mayor, I make a motion for first reading approval.

Mayor Pro makes a motion. Do I hear a second? Second. Councilman L Sackets. Um, Mr. Connley, would you mind coming back up again? And I do understand that you Randy is not here with us tonight. I do understand that you will be making some traffic improvements according to what we require in the town. Correct. That's correct. We're um abiding by the same uh traffic uh revisions that were previously when the larger development was approved. Okay. We're also working in concert with some other improvements that were already underway on that corridor.

Does anybody else have any questions of him while he's up here? Yes, Madame Mayor. Um when you say like are those traffic improvements on Old Chapen are those is that site plan fully developed or is that something we are in the context of developing as far as turn in turn out like is I don't know if that I think that's a DOT road so have plans been approved for that based on your site. So, as I said previously, the there was a plan uh for widening Old Chapen to add a center turn lane

uh to assist in people not having to stop every time somebody made a turn off of that road. Um the the JC hut as it currently sits, if it was to be redeveloped standalone, it would access Snow Grove Road, but it was problematic because any anybody that tried to redevelop that property and utilize that was going to have to make it to Snow Grove Road. Uh and you had several turnins, turnouts at that location. Our proposal, that's the purpose of the pud is to put all of that together so that we have one access off of old chapen for the commercial and the residential and we are extending the center turn lane. Um I think there's already one development up the road that is extending a uh the center turn lane from the intersection down to in front of where my office actually is. Then we would pick up from that point and take the center turn lane all the way down to the end of our property which would incorporate this development. Got it. And just Rachel like I don't and I don't know u if we have all of that information. And I know it's just first reading just there there's going to be a lot of curiosity about how that traffic flows right there because it it doesn't flow great right now

and we do have two developments building on top of each other. So for them to be synergized and in coordination and for us to get it right this our one chance to get it right. It's really my main concern is try to get that right. And then the other thing and Kevin maybe you could just help me understand uh the parking standards. I know we have we we have uh our zoning ordinance has I can't quote it to you but but it's based on number of bedrooms of how our parking ordinance. So what is the uh what is the exception that's being allowed for this one? Seems strange since we're cutting the units in half. So is there a variance being allowed for our parking standards?

But I know we're we're we're meeting the parking for the residential and the commercial. We're meet we're meeting the parking requirements per unit per the town's code. The only um exception that we're asking for is the town's code requires garage structures to be built and we're asking for to not have to build garage structures. Okay. But we still meet the same parking requirements that are required by code. Okay. Yeah. Well, we've seen people cheat the parking deal and that never works out. I'm glad to hear that. Garage is not necessary. Parking is. And for listening public, when you do a pud, you do have the opportunity to ask for certain exceptions and they delineated them here and parking was one of them, but just the elimination of garages. That's all I have, madame mayor.

Thank you. Does anybody else have anything hearing? None. All those in favor, raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next up is approval to enter the public defender contract agreement. Council member Allen. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Staff is recommending approval of a contract and the copies attached with Deborah Moore to provide public defender services for the town of Lexington Municipal Court. This agreement ensures the town continues to meet its obligation to provide legal representation for indigent uh defendants in an efficient and consistent manner. The contract establishes a 12month term with automatic renewal with compensation structured at $200 per hour, not to exceed $400 per case, and a total annual cap of $24,000, along with provisions for reimburseable expenses such as interpreter and investigative uh services as needed. This approach provides both cost control and flexibility while maintaining continuity of service within the court system. Uh, madame mayor, I move for uh, approval to enter into this agreement.

Council member Allen makes a motion. Do I hear a second? Second. Mayor Prom seconds. Is there any discussion on this? Hearing none. All those in favor, raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. Our last item this evening is approval to enter the mutual aid agreement with US Secret Service electronic and cyber crimes. Council member Lau.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, in the March work session, we received a proposed mutual aid agreement between our Lexington Police Department and the United States Secret Service. Uh, this agreement would support the collaboration and in the investigation of a uh electronic cyber fraud related crimes. So, Madame Mayor, having reviewed this agreement, it's also included in this packet, and I would make a motion for approval to enter into this agreement. Council member Ly makes a motion. Do I hear a second? Second.

Mayor Prom seconds it. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, raise your right hand. And it is unanimous. That's it for our agenda items tonight. Are there any comments from the public regarding a specific agenda item listed tonight? If so, come up here and ask specifically about that item and give your name and your Oh, she's got it prepared.

Thank you. My name is Paula Kaufman. I live in Welssley at 2011 Ellen Brookway and I'm here to speak to um the agenda item for this evening's meeting about approving the minutes of the March meeting. Um, in the interest of transparency, I was at that meeting. I left that meeting not sure what I heard. I got a copy of the minutes Friday when it was released. And I am still not sure what really happened at that council meeting. So, I would like to suggest uh concerning a letter that the mayor was was authorized to sign and send to the county. Uh could we include a copy of that letter in the next agenda package so that we can all see what happened. I know it concerns something about policy. I don't know whether that's new policy, old policy. And I don't think this is a forum for discussion since we might all want to see what it says.

I'm going defer to our town attorney to tell us if that's okay.

Madame Mayor, Council, u normally, uh, documents like that or, um, letters or agreements or any other items are not included in the minutes. um they are um public documents and can be requested through uh FOYA. Um so that that's I mean it there's nothing preventing it from going in the minutes. However, um that's not standard practice um to include them in um minutes and and that are released at the next meeting. It's just the action recording the action of the meeting is what the minute is in the minutes and that's what was recorded. So if she sent in a foyer request to Laura, it will be very simple and she can get it easily without any work or any cost or anything like that. Okay. Can you do that? Just send Laura an email.

Well, that that will give me the information. It will not give anybody else that information who may be watching or may be present. Mayor, was was that letter part of the packet? Hello. I don't I I'm happy to respond. It was not part of the packet. Um

ma'am, when you're welcome to send Laura an email and she can process it. We use an online FOYA portal and so when you submit it to her via email and she responds to you directly. She'll then upload it the request and the response to the FOYA portal. It's publicly available online. So anyone can actually go to see everything that's been foyed and the responses that we provide. So it would be then become available in the public realm if if the public knew it was there. Yes. If if they went to the foyer portal to look. So so the question is whether we take a proactive position to keep our citizens informed or we wait for them to ask for it.

Hold on if I may. I don't I don't think that was appropriate. The phrasing of the it wasn't a mutually exclusive question. I think this was a letter the county asked us to do related to that water tower off of Porsche and yeah, happy to send you a copy of that letter. I thought it was a waste of the ink it was printed on. I didn't think it was needed, but apparently the county asked us to do it so it would procedurally open the door for them to enforce that, but I thought it was a waste of time. I'm happy to send you a copy of the letter to If I can get it, I'd be happy to send you a copy of it. Okay, that will I'm back to the point of that will inform me that will not inform anybody else. How about Miss Paula? What would you like us to do?

Well, how about this, Miss Paula? How about if we work with our staff and David to find out how we can do this um include things like that? I mean, to be as forthcoming as we can be with everything. You know, sometimes there may be a letter that's sent that we can't exactly put out there because it may involve a lawsuit or something. I don't know what it would be, but how about we work with them and see how we can do this? would that be satisfactory? And well, I I probably among others want to know what it was all about. So, however you want to work together and accomplish that goal, that that would appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you. I think what Miss Paula is asking and I think she raises a good point is when there is an action in our in our council meeting to direct staff to send a letter or to sign a contract and and correct me if I'm wrong but often time is when there's an action to sign an agreement. The backup materials are then included um so that the you know general public could read that contract may not be the ratified contract but in the instance of sending a letter when we direct you to do that that letter was not included. So what Miss Paula I believe is saying is I I just want to know what's in the letter. So, I would be in favor of our posture moving forward is if we're asking for a letter to be sent um and the the the action requested is for it to be sent, then I think we should include that backup material so the citizens know what the letter sent and unless there is an instance like the mayor mentioned where it's you know a legal matter or something which I really don't requ recall many times where we

in this particular case and I I can't speak to any other precedent but in this particular case the council action was not on the agenda for the council meeting. I don't think it was discussed in executive session, but until we actually got here, we did not know I I shouldn't say we I I did not know that that would be a subject for the council's action. So, it couldn't be included as a backup item for that particular council meeting. Got it. I I think we'll work through it, Madam Mayor. I think

Yeah, I think we can, too. I think we can work together. Miss, we want to be um There's somebody's here. Her just went blank. Transparent. That's not mine. Although I'm I'm famous for grabbing pens. Paula, we want to be transparent. Good. And so we will work on this and figure out what's the best way to do it. Okay. Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Miss Paula. Thank you.

Any questions from the news media? Any questions or comments from staff? First, I would like to take a moment to welcome new employees to the town of Lexton family hired in March. We welcome Lance to the IT department, Dcoin to the police department, and Addison to the utilities department. Next, the annual Walt will be held on May the 9th, 2026 from 4 to 7 on Main Street. Tickets are currently on sale, and we encourage everyone to come out, enjoy this wonderful community event. The spring concert series at the Ice House Amphitheater is already kicked off last week. It was packed. The next concert will be held this Thursday, April the 9th, 2026, featuring Bourbon Suns. A great mix of rock and country music. It's always a fun evening, and we hope to see you there. We also have an exciting announcement regarding the Splash Pad at Virginia Hilton Park. The Splash Pad will officially open for the season on Friday, May the 1st, 2026. We invite everyone to come out, enjoy the park, and cool off as we head into the warmer months. I would also like to take a moment at this time to send condolences to Council Member Smith and his family, especially his mother and the loss of his mama. And I think that's what you called her, your mama. And um we all know losing a grandmother and a mother is very tough in our lives. So I I'm speaking for our council that we'd like to send our condolences and from the town staff.

Thank you. And if madame mayor if you wouldn't mind just a moment of personal privilege. Um bear with me for just a moment. I wanted to share something personal because so many of you have reached out. So I would just appreciate your patience for a minute or two. Um as many of you know over the last week my family has a walk through something that many families know all too well but I would say something that not many of us are prepared for. I know I certainly was not prepared for it. Um, my grandmother, um, and I didn't call her my grandmother, I called her mama, uh, mama Elaine. She suffered a massive stroke on Friday, March 27th, uh, completely unexpected. Um, would have never thought it. Um, by the grace of God, she happened to be with my parents house um, and was rushed to Lexon Medical Center or now we call it Lexington Health. Um, and I was blessed to spend a lot of time with her, sitting beside her, uh, holding her hand, talking to her, praying, just trying to be there in every moment that I could. Um, nearly every night she was surrounded by her daughters and her grandchildren, some great grandchildren. And I kind of laugh. I was telling some of our town staff that if my grandmother knew that her grandchildren, including me, were sleeping on the floor of her hospital room, she would have never had that. She would have told us to go home. Um, and I just kind of chuckle every time I think about that. Um, but we just wanted to be close to her. Uh, if you've ever been in a room like that though, you know that time feels different. It slows down and you start to think about what really matters. And I felt all of that. Um, last Friday on Good Friday, my mama passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters and her grand uh

grandchildren and she transitioned to eternal glory on uh on Good Friday. What a powerful and meaningful blessing that has really stuck with me. Uh but earlier today, just before we came to council, I say all of this because my family gathered for a private family visitation. Um and we held each other close and we shared stories and we laughed and shed a lot of tears and even a few laughs. Um and I'll be honest, there were a few moments today that I thought, I don't think I'm going to make it to to the council meeting tonight. Um I'm not one to say things like this. I think the mayor would attest, but uh I'm hurting. I'm absolutely hurting. I missed my mama and I did not expect it. I wasn't ready. But then I sat sat there today and I thought about it and who my mama was and she always showed up. Not just when it was easy, but certainly uh and she certainly had her moments of trial in her life, but she always showed up no matter what. For the big moments, for games, proms, graduations, the small moments. um phone calls, lunch at Cribs. She loved Cribs here in the town. And I remember as a child her taking me to Virginia Hilton Park to play. Um and even most recently, you all met my grandmother when she sat right there uh at my swearing in ceremony in December, and she smiled ear to ear. Um she was so proud, and she was so excited that she got to meet the mayor. I remember her telling me, "I can't believe that I got to meet the mayor." Um, but my mama never missed what mattered most. And when I was sitting there today, it kind of felt like she reminded me that I needed to be here tonight because somewhere along the way, she taught me that showing up matters. It matters in our family and in our communities. And

it's like she whispered to me today to show up no matter how much I'm hurting. Um, so here I am. I'm doing exactly that. Um, my mama didn't ask for anything. She would probably hate that I'm recognizing her right now. Uh, but she always gave her time and her energy. Um, and it shapes how I see people and how I treat people and I just want to close with this. Um, when any of you reach out to me, any of you here, any of you on counsel, any of you watching, um, when you call me, you text me, you stop me somewhere in town, I want you to know that you're getting a little piece of my mama, too, because she taught me to show grace, to always show up, uh, to fight for what I believed in. Um, and I've seen a lot of that in y'all over the last week, too. many of you on council, our staff, and so many of you in the town through calls and messages, emails, you've sent me flowers. Um, some of you showed up to visit her in the hospital and pray for her. Um, and I've just seen I've seen that and it meant so much to me in the way that this community shows up for one another. So, I want you to know just like my mama meant the world to me and just like pieces of her will live on in me forever, it means the world to me how you all have supported me and my family during this time. So, lastly, I do want to say thank you specifically to Lexington Health um and all of her nurses. I wish I could remember all their names, but we are so blessed to have Lexington here um in our community where my mom is proudly a nurse. Um, so to all the nurses, the doctors, the caregivers, um, the team at Kaufman Harmon who's taken care of her um, arrangements, I just want to say thank you. Your kindness and your compassion has meant more to me than I can put into words, and I know they would mean a lot to her, too. So, thank you, and thank you for

bearing with me for a couple minutes as I paid a little bit of tribute to her. So, with that, I'll yield back to you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. So that concludes our business for this evening. Thank you for watching. We are adjourned.