City Council - Regular Meeting

Sometimes 4 o'clock just won't come. There it is. Good afternoon. It's 4 o'clock on August 3rd, 2026. I welcome you to this meeting of the Conway City Council. We will begin with the invocation. It will be led by Amanda Butler.

Let us pray. God, we thank you for this day. We thank you for this opportunity to gather here today on behalf of the citizens of Conway. God, we ask that you bless those who are here to make decisions on behalf of your people. God, we ask that you lead and you guide our thoughts. God, we ask that you continue to protect us to cover us under your blood. God, we ask that you continue to lead us and guide us in all of our decision making. And we ask now that you give a special blessing on the workers and the employees for the city of Conway. God, we ask that you continue to protect them as they go about their duties. God, we ask all of this in your son Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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, Ms. Butler. We will follow the agenda as it is outlined. Is there a motion relative to the consent agenda?

Ms. Wilk. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Ms. Helms.

I'll second her motion.

We have a properly seconded motion to approve the consent agenda. All in favor, please indicate such with a showing of your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much. Item four. as beginning of our special presentations. The first is item A, a presentation of longevity awards for July, 2026. I've asked Mr. Goldfinch to help with this presentation.

Good afternoon. City Council created a program to recognize milestones of our employees' longevity with the city in increments of five years. And tonight we're very excited to be able to recognize some of those employees. First is Tim Patrick. Tim, if you'll join us. Tim joined the City of Conway staff as an Equipment Operator 1 in the Solid Waste Department in 2016, was promoted to Equipment Operator 2 in 2019, and was promoted to Construction Services Technician and transferred to the Construction Services Department in 2019.

Congratulations on 10 years in the city, Sandy.

Congratulations.

We're expecting 20 more years out of you, sir.

Next up is Sean Dawson. Sean, if you'll join us. Sean was hired in 2016 as a utility trades worker one, and in 2017 was promoted to crew leader in the public utilities department as he makes his way up here. Congratulations on 10 years with the city of Conway, Sean. Appreciate it. thank you for your service we'll see you in five years mason simpson mason will join us mason was hired in 2016 as a trades worker one in our public utilities department in 2018 he was promoted to pump mechanic congratulations on 10 years the city amazing congratulations and thank you so much for your service Glenn was hired as a community service officer in 2011, promoted to police officer in 2011, promoted to senior police officer in 2014, to senior master police officer in 2016, to police corporal in 2017, and reclassified to senior master police officer in 2025. Thank you for 15 years in the city of Conway, Glenn.

Next is Cynthia Bryant. Thank you for your service, Glenn.

Cynthia was hired as a facilities technician in 2011, promoted to facilities technician two in 2022, and promoted to facilities technician supervisor in 2024. Congratulations on 15 years of the City of Conway, Cynthia. cynthia thank you so much for your service and last but not least is greg rush greg if you'll join us greg was hired in our construction services department in 20 sorry 2006 as a building inspector and was promoted to code enforcement officer in 20 2008. greg congratulations on 20 years of the city of california

Greg, you've got to remember you're my real cousin.

I'll raise them.

Congratulations to all of our long-term employees. Item B is a presentation of a proclamation recognizing National Health Center Week. And I know we have people here from, there you go, health care partners, if you'll join me, please, on this side.

Thank you.

This population comes from the Office of the Mayor of Calgary, South Carolina, consorting National Health Center Week, whereas community health centers are the largest primary care network in the nation, serving nearly 35 million people. These centers serve rural, suburban, island, frontier, and urban populations. They integrate a broad range of added services such as dental, vision, behavioral, nutritional, pharmaceutical, patient-centered care. And whereas, beyond substantially removing barriers to health care, local economies benefit greatly by having community health centers. In America, more than 65,000 well-paying jobs and nearly $120 billion in economic activity are gained through their existence. And whereas in the city of Conway, Health Care Partners of South Carolina continually serves our own and multi-county residents with compassionate, comprehensive care in five locations, enriching lives through accessible, patient-centered services. Health Care Center Week allows us to more appreciate and honor our nation's 1,500 plus organizations and 16,000 sites. Therefore, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Conway, South Carolina, I do hereby proclaim the week of August 3rd, 2026 is National Health Center Week in the City of Conway. and encourage all of us to recognize the contributions being made here by this organization as it continues to enrich and serve us all. And with this prayer, I will set my hand and cause the seal of the City of Conway, South Carolina, to be at six this third day of August, 2026. And it is attested to by the city clerk, Ms. Alicia Shields.

Thank you so much. You should die.

Item 5 is first reading of Ordinance ZA-2026-0908F to annex approximately 62 one-hundredths of an acre of property located at 908 Buccaneers Cove. Ms. Hawkes.

Yes. If council would like, I can present this item and the next item on the agenda together, since they are companion annexation requests for the same project.

Absolutely. Let me just read also, then, item B, first reading of ordinance EA-2026-0908G, to annex approximately 55 one hundredths of an acre of property at 916 Buckingham's Cove. Thank you, Ms. Hux.

Yes. These requests are to annex approximately 0.62 acres at 908 Buccaneers Cove and 0.55 acres at 916 Buccaneers Cove, which totals approximately 1.17 acres. The properties are immediately adjacent to one another and are proposed to be incorporated into a planned development project already undergoing the annexation and rezoning process. The annexations are being requested so that the entire development site is within the city's jurisdiction. considered as a single project. There are single-family homes on each of these properties. If first reading of annexation is approved, Planning Commission will hold the required public hearing on the proposed zoning upon annexation at its August 6th meeting, after which time the request will return to Council for consideration of first reading for the proposed zoning upon annexation and staff does recommend approval.

Thank you, Ms. Hux. Mr. White. May I move that we approve first reading? Thank you. Is there a second? Ms. Hardwick. I second the motion. We've got a properly seconded motion to approve first reading of this annexation ordinance. Are there questions or comments? There being none, we'll call a vote. All in favor, please show your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Item six is for consideration of approval on the selection of a firm to provide professional services for the transportation element of the comprehensive plan update. Ms. Hudson.

Yes, ma'am. This item is for consideration of the selection of a firm to assist staff with preparation of the transportation element. of the city's comprehensive plan. Transportation is consistently one of the most significant issues raised by residents and planning partners, and because of its importance and because transportation planning requires specialized technical expertise, this element of the comprehensive plan would benefit from outside, independent assistance. The selected firm will help the city take a comprehensive, city-wide look at transportation and develop practical, prioritized recommendations that can guide future planning and investment. The specific issues, needs, and recommendations will be developed through that planning process. The city received proposals from four qualified firms, a staff review team evaluated and scored the proposals based on the criteria included in the solicitation for services, and Kimley Horm received the highest overall score. Staff, therefore, recommends selecting Kenley Horn and authorizing the administrator to negotiate a contract for services in accordance with purchasing requirements.

Thank you so much, Ms. Huggs. Mr. Goldschmidt.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to move that we approve the selection of said firm to pursue with said services.

Thank you. Mr. Jordan. I will second that motion. We have a properly seconded motion to approve the firm that has been recommended by staff. Mr. Goldfinch.

Mayor, I'm just going to add, when we're putting this out there and we're selling this to the public, I just see this as a really great, fantastic opportunity to get out in front and just remind folks that wonderful things like this were done a generation ago, 25, 30 years ago. Nobody envisioned the growth that we're experiencing now. But doing this today, what's the old saying about when's the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. was the second best time today and i think that's what this accomplishes so i congratulate staff thank you all for putting this forward this is a great way to really say that uh that we're bringing in people that know what they're doing to look this is a situation we're in people want to be here it's busy but we're doing it the right way so thank you

right and I know you did your due diligence home selecting this firm the numbers are so close 89 90 and 91 that was that's good but have we worked with this firm before or do yes yes okay

And my question is, is there any chance that our ability to convince SEDOT of the dire nature of our needs, do you think it'd be strengthened by us having this professional study in hand?

Well, I think it certainly doesn't hurt to have these experts that are providing advice and assistance, and SCDOT will be a large part of the conversation as well. Staff is constantly evaluating the situations with our roadways and the needs that the city faces, especially with the growth that we've experienced over the last five, six years especially. And I do know that they are well aware, mainly because some of us don't quit putting it in their ear. of the needs of the city, so they are aware.

Well, we hope that helps. Anyone else? All right, we'll call a vote. All in favor, please show your hand. Motion carries. You all right? Is that a yes? Yes. It carries unanimously. Thank you so much. There is no public input this evening. Item 8 is a city administrator's report. Mr. Emerson.

Good afternoon. First, I want to remind you and everyone else about our push for the Hallmark's Merriest City title. If you have not told Hallmark your story yet, please do so. and mayor if you need help with that let me know we'll work on it it is it is a chance for you to it's not it's not meant to be like you know we put up more lights than anybody else or you know we have a train and it's really about how your family and the city have created traditions and memories and that is why the city deserves it so when you think about putting your application and really think about you know what traditions are there because of what what the city does to help facilitate those so Just throwing that out there. National Night Out and Camp Blue graduation is tomorrow. The graduation from Camp Blue is at 5 o'clock. The National Night Out starts at 6 to 8 o'clock. It's at the Sports and Fitness Center and should be a great time. We had a little bit of rain since we last met. It's helped with the drought conditions. In mid-July, we saw levels drop below 6 feet. in the water in the river which is about three feet lower than normal in january we actually dropped below five feet for a little bit we're back up now to a consistent high tide crest slightly above eight feet which is still low we're still at a drought but it's much closer than we have been for for a good little bit so hopefully the summer rains keep coming for a while there we were getting humidity with no with no rain in sight it's supposed to rain today hopefully it does and keeps going for a little bit i like the water being low hurricane season but having to be too low is also a problem During the month of August, our recreation team is holding free swimming lessons at Smith Jones Pool every Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons. To take advantage of it, you have to go in person to sign up at the Sports and Fitness Center, but then we can give you free lessons for your toddlers, for your children, and for your intermediate. Larry, this might be your chance. Yeah! You didn't say adults. Are adults welcome? I didn't say adults, but I'm sure. I'm in the children category. You show up, we'll make sure you get a lesson. There you go. Swimmies.

Don't you even try it.

They rent swimmies. There you go.

Those wings are not a runner.

If he needs help getting in the pool, I can help him get in the pool like last season.

During the month of August, several months ago, a resident who lives on 10th Avenue came to see me at City Hall about a problem that they noticed on their section of 10th Avenue. 10th Avenue between Oak Street and Lakeland, it has a divided median. And what they were seeing was as there's more Uber Eats drivers and more Amazon drivers on the street, they were using the wrong side of the divided median to get to their delivery space. They looked at Google Maps, and Google Maps actually showed both sides being two-way. So I contacted Google Maps as a result, got them to change that, but they came back and said there's still people doing it the wrong way. So they're still going the wrong way. After discussing it with staff, I directed our public works crew to put down arrows on 10th Avenue. and i was i'm shocked to say that we've got a lot of complaints about the arrows being down there um enough complaints that we're going to remove the arrows and hope that the the drivers have learned that you don't go the wrong way on the street we'll continue monitoring it and if it needs to come back to council to put the arrows back down then that's what we'll do but we've had a lot of a lot of complaints saying the aesthetic value of the street outweighs the the safety concern that was raised by a resident so we're going to pull the arrows up and we'll keep watching and make sure that that things don't happen yes sir are arrows painted on the pavement yeah they're they're thermopane which is like it's like a giant sticker that adheres to the asphalt thank you yeah um this year is the 25th anniversary of september 11th as you know we memorialize this event every year with the ladder trucks on either side of the bridge and the american legion donates their time and it stands on the bridge it's one of the most powerful things that we do in the city because it's the 25th anniversary this year our police and fire department are going to do a few more things that year this year for that i just want to let you all know in advance that if you are able to make the september 11th tribute this year it's it's one of the things that makes me you know one of the many things that makes me proud to live in conway is that so put that on your calendar if you can make it we had a request from several different merchants about the parking lot behind jerry cox since we made it so nice and pretty and easy to use we're having a lot of people park in it all day long and take up spots from the businesses that need turnover the request is that we we consider making at least the front row of it two hour parking in the next agenda next meeting we're going to have a workshop on some parking downtown and i'll put that in there for us to discuss and consider going forward and we'll have a number of parking spots affected by that and everything as well so i know there's some folks in the audience that have asked for that and we'll make sure that they're invited back to be able to be here for that as well um i know this is one of the shortest agendas we've had in a while the next one will not be i also know the next meeting is scheduled to interfere with the orientation from several schools julie i think you said you were not able to make the next meeting that's correct does anybody else know they can't make the meeting next week or next two weeks Okay. If you know you're not going to make it, if you can let Alicia know. If we're having an issue with a quorum, then we can talk about what we need to do to address it. There's a lot on the next agenda. And if you're not able to make it, we can sit down with you and let you know what's going on on the agenda too and give you a heads up on it. Tonight, though, there are no workshops or executive sessions, and that concludes my report. Mr. Goldmitch.

Thank you, Mayor. The rumor at church yesterday was that a meteorite or meteor, I'm not sure what is the technically correct term, came down from outer space and landed in the parking lot of the gas station on main street that's being renovated i said no that's not true my guess is that they probably had to pull the tanks out can you do you know anything on the status of that project i mean like the pyramids a meteor or meteorite but i can't tell you the reason it got built but yeah it um

when we went for one of the inspections the condition of that parking lot was in such terrible shape we could not prep we could not pass their their approval there are a number of things wrong with that development that did not meet the plans and the cab approvals and they're working through some of those issues now the parking lot was one of those issues so they had to dig out all the broken concrete from 50 years ago and put in concrete from today

Someone that has a lot more time than I do that lives in Conway. I guess read our ordinances too and pointed out to me that the fence is illegal. The fence has to be reversed.

There's multiple things that are problems. They also cut down a lot of trees they weren't supposed to and the window openings don't match what was approved and some other things as well. Ken, four. Thank you.

Do we allow meteorites to fall in Conway?

only at halloween i'm sorry um could you we talked about the hallmark um applications yes do we have a deadline can you give us august 12th august the 12th is that right june that's right away

get it in soon because it's soon okay well i think we i think uh we need to publicize that yes we're going to put out another social media push on it again because i thought we had more time that it's not it was a short window which helps us because hopefully we put out enough yes june thinks the sixth which is even too much so i go with june yes sir to that point the young lady that spoke to us that's from conway that does movie production her name escapes me

Y'all remember who I'm talking about.

OK. Is she involved in this? Is she helping promote this? She's not, but that'd be nice for her to do. Wouldn't it be? If we could get back in touch with her? The one thing that we were kind of astonished with this one is, again, the city is not putting in an application, because that's not what they want. They don't want to hear from us. They want to hear from our residents. So it would be interesting for her to tell her story. Right. Because her story is different than everybody else's, too. And that's why I think this is a pretty cool contest, because everybody has their own story. Mine's unique from everybody else's, too. well do we have her coming maybe i have it somewhere she came here to talk to us yeah certainly she would be june has it too she was filming last year yeah okay august 10th okay all right thank you thank you mc anyone else thanks so much thank you um yeah we're now going to have council on input and i have no idea which direction to go um let's just start with miss elms

I don't have anything tonight.

All right.

Ms Butler? Nothing tonight, Madam Mayor.

Thank you.

Mr White? Two things. One is about the survey that's online. We spoke downstairs, but I wanted to make sure it was said in this opening session as well, that the survey that's online, if you don't have a device, phone, computer, et cetera, you cannot access it. So I ask that we make paper copies available so that if an individual wanted to come by the office and get one, or we can send them to the churches, or a church person, or organizations can come and get them so that those that do not have access to devices can make their application also. And secondly, we were talking about the transportation thing. I just want to make sure we do something about 701 South as you're going towards, but before that road is treacherous with a lot of buttholes in it. um and on 378 highway 378 i've noticed that this only if you're going west towards common middle school those uh building of the properties that we acquired i see a lot of staking going on out there as in i guess somebody's getting ready to build something who wouldn't know what that was about on the properties that we purchased i think we did we took the houses down anyway on the right hand side going down we'll take a look and see what's going on

we were remember we were going to put a sign a gateway sign on the one property no no no not that one okay we'll take a look and see because between 9th and 16th everything okay we'll take any gas lines or anything going through not that we've heard of all right thank you that's me

Thanks so much, Mr. Goldfitch.

Mayor, I don't think I have anything tonight. Thank you.

You're welcome. Mr. Jordan.

I have nothing from anybody.

Thank you.

Ms. Hardwick. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to talk about on Wednesday from 530 to 630, there is going to be a welcome for the new Conway High School principal, Bailey, and football coach, Jen Redd, at the Peanut Warehouse. um hope all that staff and city council can drop in just to you know say hello and and meet the new folks uh dr mckissett has now got a promotion to the district office so as we're welcoming new folks and it'd be great if you could stop in and um you know just encourage them um also yeah i apologize i had to make a choice for the 19th and as it stands right now i'm um Highly probable not going to be here due to school registration and open house and the conflicts of date. And I do apologize to city for that. But I have six other people who are very, very good. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Hardwick. I only wanted to mention that midweek there was a celebration for the retirement of Darren Alston. You know, he's an extremely unique young man and has done great things for this community. But what I wanted to mention the most is what an impact one employee can have on a community. The testimonials were, I mean, just tearjerkers. He's made an impact at an apartment complex and schools with individuals in some really special ways. Fortunately for us, Darren Alston is retiring, but he's coming back to work for the city as an SRO officer. And I don't know that there's anybody who'd be better with our students as we try to bridge the gap between our youth and all things police. I just think that he's an excellent person for that, Chief, and appreciate y'all working that out. And that's all I have. At this point, I move that we adjourn. Mr. White?

I second.

All in favor, please show your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much for coming to this long meeting.