County Council - Regular Meeting

I'm going to ask Councilman Garber to give us a moment of thanks. Let us pray.

Father, thank you for this opportunity. We thank you for allowing us to be here. We ask that you would ask each neighbor under the sound of my voice. We ask that you would bless this council to do what's right for the people that they represent. In your son Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Amen. We go. Comments in two places. It's going to be in three minutes. Three more minutes.

Mr.

Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes for May the 18th, 2026.

Second. Second by Mr. Cooper-Smith. All in favor let me know by saying aye. Aye. I'm not counseling my right, but I'm going to try to act as him tonight. He always said that, let's try to be cautious to each other. And when we talk about public comments, that means we listen, we don't go into a rebuttal situation, but we take it as information and move on. First on the agenda, public comments on the agenda item. Anybody want to bring anything pertaining to the agenda item, please? Would none be a close step apart but to comment on other matters.

Good evening. Hey, I am David Farber. I just wanted to bring some things to attention to some of the people in the county here. Two sessions ago, we were talking about affordable housing. which I'm thinking maybe that term is, let's use it very loosely, because there really is no such thing as affordable housing anymore. I'm just going to give you some numbers, and I say all this to say Orangeburg County could help in a way, a small way, but in a way to attract housing with our permitting and how much it costs and how it's coordinated compared to other counties in South Carolina that these other counties are experiencing heavy growth And this might be one little piece of the iceberg, but I think it's going to be a piece. I have got a builder friend that builds in multiple counties. In Orangeburg County, he built a house valued at $149,000. It was 1,200 square foot. The permit was $1,230. The same exact house built in Lexington County, same exact property. I mean, spitting image, 900 acres. Orangeburg County also, that's just the permit for the house. Lexington and Calhoun County, you buy one permit, it covers everything. Orangeburg County, HVAC guy's gotta get a permit. Plumbing's gotta get a permit. Electrical guy's gotta get a permit. So they're almost double dipping. You see what I'm saying? That goes straight to the bottom line of the price of the house. Because obviously all that's gonna be pushed to the buyer. All of it. The builder's not gonna absorb any of that. So we're going to talk about affordable housing in this way. The average median income in Orangeburg County is $45,700. The average for the United States is $81,000. That's a huge difference. That is a big... Prices of houses aren't cheaper, though. Prices of gas isn't cheaper. Prices of groceries isn't cheaper. We have got to do something to try to attract people into this county. Let me stop. Let me go back. Orangeburg County had a negative 19 population growth last year. 19 more people died than were born. That's bad. We have got to do something to increase, not even the tax base, that's kind of morbid talking about, but not even increase the tax base for more people coming in. But that is, that's almost like, I would relate it to a dying church. You know, if you have more people dying out of your congregation than you're bringing in, that church isn't going to last long. You're going to have to find somewhere else to go, because pretty soon they're going to shut the doors. You see what I'm saying? I'm just trying to bring this back home to everybody. We have got to do something. I know the candy plant's coming, and that's going to be good. I don't know what they're going to pay people. I hope it's a lot more than these other places around here are paying. I think we really need to focus on education, especially like secondary school, like OP Tech. We need some higher-end jobs coming into this town. I've got some other numbers, too. If you'd like me to go over them, I can. If not, I'll let somebody else go.

You have somebody else with you as well?

I do. I brought my family. This is my son. And I want to kind of show this because my son, he's in college right now. He's a game cop. And honestly, I think about if he doesn't make six figures coming out, man, it's going to be hard. You see what I mean? Even rent costs. Rent costs are more than buying a house. I mean, people cannot afford this. They cannot afford $1,600 a month, especially when making $45,000 a year. You know, the average, let's go through it. I've got it. Oh, you got it.

Oh, thank you. The average utility cost in Orangeburg County is $173.

All right? The average new car payment is $767. The used car payment, $537. $537. Cell phone, $141. Car insurance, $216. That's $1,300 straight off. You see what I mean? Of your $3,000 that you're probably bringing in. You've almost cut just for the basic necessities you've cut. You're talking about groceries, gas. You haven't paid the taxes on Orangeburg County. That's a whole other speech. We'll do that next time. You know what I mean? I'm just saying it's kind of crazy. I'll say this. I was in Lexington County today. People share information with me. She had a 2010 Lexus. Very nice vehicle. Valued way more than mine. The taxes, including the $25 registration, were $67. I've got an 06 Tundra with 300,000 miles on it, and it was $267. That hurts, y'all. That hurts bad. People don't want to buy new cars because they can't afford $2,000 to pay the county. You know what I mean? And then go down the road and bust a rim. I'm just saying something's got to give here. Something's got to give. Either we need to start making more money somehow, attract some technical jobs that are paying $30 an hour, and training people. I love training. I love programs to train people. I am all for training people and giving them education. One more thing. My son's taking classes at Tech. I know you don't have anything to do with this, but if the county could help, that would be wonderful. He's taking classes at Tech so he can get ahead at USC. I was like, oh yeah, let's do that. It would be cheap. Not transit students. Not transit. $1,200. I had to fork out $2,000 cash to Tech for him to take two classes. The lottery does not apply to him. I'm like, well, hold on for taxpayers. Why does it not apply to me? They don't do that. So, Orangeburg County residents are not, some of them are not being helped by Orangeburg County businesses and things that Orangeburg County helps. That hurt my feelings a little bit. That hurt my feelings when I had to pay that. That I didn't know was gonna happen. So maybe if we could swing something to help the residents of Orangeburg County, that's what I'm really here to do. Orangeburg County residents, we need some relief. It's getting hard around here. And I don't see anything changing. And it seems like I keep forking out this cash And I don't see anything getting better. I'm not saying it's any of y'all's personal fault. But we've got to see something getting better around here. I appreciate your time. I really do. And I appreciate all y'all. All right. Y'all have a good day.

Thank you for the information. If you have some information documented and related to our ministry, I'm sure you can take it under the bus.

I'd like to get your last name. I didn't get it. Oh, Thornburg. Thornburg.

If anybody else would... public comments. That will move into our regular agenda. We have two ordinances and a third reading. An ordinance authorizing all accountants to enforce billing permits, inspection and enforcement, including being penalized within incorporated boundaries of requesting Hounds located in Osbury County by enter into county standard intergovernmental agreement. And those really matter.

Mr. Young? Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. This is an ordinance that provides the county to be able to act and enforce building permits, inspection, and court enforcement. We have 17 municipalities. in the county and they have the option of doing that for themselves or allowing the county to do it, this is a, you know, government agreement that will allow that.

Can I get a motion? So moved, Mr. Chair. Second. I'm going to properly second Mr. Frasier. And I second by casting all in favor of letting it be known by saying aye. Aye. All in favor say aye. Mr. Chairman.

I believe we're supposed to have a public hearing.

I was going to let you know that it does have a public hearing.

Before we pass it for the public, does anybody have some information they'd like to share with us? MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR OF LETTING IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED, HEADED TO SAYING RIGHT. AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY NONE TO CONSIDER APPROVED. ANY NONE TO CONSIDER APPROVED. ANY NONE TO CONSIDER APPROVED. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, AN AUDIENCE NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, AN AUDIENCE NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, AN AUDIENCE AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT TO AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT TO AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT TO ENTER TO A LEASE REGARDING A ENTER TO A LEASE REGARDING A ENTER TO A LEASE REGARDING A PROPERTY COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PROPERTY COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PRO That's 010-000. Ray and Oliver County shall be the landlord, and McKeith Construction Corporation shall be the tenant.

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. This is a lease where Monteith Construction Company will be leasing the property that the county owns at 1520 Russell Street. The amount of the lease is $1,250 per month. THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO APPROXIMATELY LEASE 1,000 SQUARE FEET WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT IS LOCATED AT 1520 RUSSELL THAT IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS WILLED TO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SHARE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THAT, IT'S FINE. NOT BEING OFFERED TO ATTEND A MOTION TO EXCEPT FOR answer about all the people that you know my say and I'm all right they are right opposes the more frustration and we want to pose thank you for that next in our gym on some first reading and his son, Flores, who is on property at 118 Burberry Lane, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 20115, tax map 0139-00-03-002-000 for a residential single family to rural community.

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, the planning commission met on May 13th, 2026 to discuss that recommendation. The request is from Augustin Neva Flores. They're returning his own property at 118 Pugaway Lane. The site is made up of one parcel that's 269 acres, has access from Pugaway Lane, and does not fall within the floodplain. The property is currently undeveloped. Jason and Park Jones were notified via U.S. mail about the Planning Commission meeting. They were given the opportunity to make comments electronically by phone in writing to the planning director or attend the meeting in person. Information that it was also submitted to the TND and they had the opportunity to be present for the meeting in person. There were zero citizens that expressed their support, zero citizens that expressed their opposition. Planning Commission presents this to you with a five to zero approval.

Mr. Administrator, will this be the only mobile home, this will be the only mobile home in the area?

No, ma'am.

It's not the only one?

No.

There are other mobile homes out there?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, I know this is particularly for agriculture, this area is, for forest and I was assuming that this was a mobile home and it was the first. Would you say it is?

Actually, this is the RS district. They're trying to change the rural community to put the mobile home here.

I know this is the Dorsey district.

Anyone else?

I just ask because in a situation like this, they sell this land for forestry. In particular, according to what I read.

This is not FAA, this is RC. This is RS changing to RC.

No, I'm talking about forest.

Adjacent, no, property across the street in the greens and stuff like that.

So moved, Mr. Chair. Second. We will properly second that we approve this. I do all in favor of letting it be known by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Ms. Cooper-Smith to read that.

State of South Carolina, County of Orangeburg. Excuse me. Resolution sponsored Danny Cooper, CF. Resolution honoring Ms. Ruth A. Botley-Brown. Prez. Ms. Ruth A. Botley-Brown was born on April 24, 1926, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to the lake. Her name was Botley-Stregna. She was raised by the late John and Susan Bartlett and educated in the public schools of Arnberg County. And whereas after graduating from Wilkinson High School in 1950, she relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and matriculated at the school of nursing where she earned a certificate in nursing. She also worked as a private nurse for many years. And whereas after retiring and moving back to Orangeburg, Ms. Brown has been involved with several groups and organizations in the community. Some of her affiliates have been the New Brooklyn Improvement League, the Nick Stilton Road Improvement Organization, a senior missionary of the Orangeburg Orthodox Baptist Association, several prayer groups, and made weekly hospital and convalescent visits. Her hobbies are gardening and sewing. And whereas Mother Brown, as she is affectionately called, was married to the late Emma Brown. She has two children, Arthur Botley and Georgia May Howell, 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. And whereas Mrs. Brown had a liberal administration of 17 presidents of the United States, 26 governors of South Carolina, Now therefore, be it resolved, the Orangeburg County Council does hereby acknowledge the longevity and many years of contribution and services to Mrs. Ruth A. Wapley Brown to the United States of America, to the state of South Carolina, and to the County of Orangeburg. It is with heartfelt honor and pride this moment of distinction be given this resolution on the first day of June, 2026. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution shall be spread across the permanent written records of Ironburg County. I attest Connie and Forty Kirk to counsel. Johnny Wright, chairman. Janie Cooper-Smith, councilwoman, district five. And Jean, you can say that she is really, she looks good for her age, doesn't she? Jean, you did a story on her. Oh, yeah. Yes, she is. Second by Ms. Walker and seconded by Ms. Frazier.

All in favor let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed by saying aye.

Excellent. Now, generally, we've got a recommendation from the Tax and Tourism Committee.

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. The Tax and Tourism Committee met on May 26th, and their recommendations are as follows. Town of Springfield for the Frog Jump Festival, $5,000. Carolina Splash Mall for the Kayak Festival, $2,500. County of Orangeburg for the Marketing, Parks, and Recreation Advertisement also for the conference center, $40,000. City of Orangeburg for promotion in Orangeburg as the tourism destination for sporting events, $40,000.

Does anybody have a question? I'm going to offer to entertain a motion. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we get a second Thank you. Move by Councilman Garvin and seconded by Mr. McHassel. All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. Thank you for that. Next on our agenda is adjournment. But before we choose to adjourn, does any council person have anything they'd like to try to?

Yes, sir, I do. I was contacted today by residents in District 7 regarding the landfill. As we know, Orangeburg County borders different counties, and sometimes your address often falls into another city. For example, Highway 601 Jameson sometimes has a St. Matthews address. And some of the residents had gone to the landfill to dump trash and were turned away because the policy is that you're supposed to go by the address on your driver's license. And there were three of them who had to take trash back home. we have to come up with some kind of way of a second verification process, teach the workers at the landfill how to operate GIS or something because we can't have taxpayers not being afforded the opportunity to use the landfill that they're also paying taxes for.

Anybody else? You want to respond to that one? I'm just making notes on it to get it fixed. Anybody else have any questions?

Yes, sir. The gentleman mentioned there's no such thing as affordable housing. Maybe there isn't. I hear it all the time, so there must be. But I've been talking some time now about or housing are going to come into Orangeburg. There's one in Balma, there's one in Columbia, and one in Charleston. The people in Orangeburg go all the way to Balma. That's where most of the people from Orangeburg County go. And it's a long wait in this. And it's months before those people are contacted to say whether or not they have went Also, any kind of housing. So, Orangeburg, the second largest county in this state, area-wise, we have room for it. And I know that we can come up with some kind of assistance, federal assistance. I hope we can. If we track, we probably could for a housing authority in Orangeburg County. And I won't stop until somebody tells me something different.

I'd like to say good evening to everybody. I was really, really impressed, and Jean, please help me with the numbers, with the early voting turnout. If I'm not mistaken, it's almost 100,000 registered voters who have turned out to vote early in this election, which is a record for Orangeburg County, for the whole state. All I got to say is please talk to your neighbors and everybody else and tell them it is very, very important that they come out and vote. And if they can vote early, please do so. If not, you got until the 9th to do it.

We're going to go the next Friday. Yes, that's what I'm talking about.

Yeah, June the 9th, yeah, on the 9th. No, that's not early voting, but June the 9th is the final day for voting. Please talk to your neighbors and everybody else and tell them it's very, very important that all votes count. And it is very important that we all get out and exercise our right as far as voting. So please, and I say please, please, as James Brown can say, please, please, please, go out and vote.

Anybody else? I know the people about the trash issue are watching, so will they be able to return to the landfill in the morning?

Yeah, well, if they could give me the two, I mean, the smallest two in the building, probably two down to them, so I can track those folks down and get something in place that they can work from. They should be able to do that tomorrow afternoon. Okay.

Thank you. We've got a chairman on virtual. I don't know if you have anything to say on that, Mr. Chairman.

No, just good afternoon, everyone. I'm just... Just here trying to keep moving and listening to what everybody had to say. So if I agree or disagree, if there's something I think I need to disagree with or know, I'd say something. But other than that, I'd just say, hope everybody have a good night and keep me in your prayers. I've got a procedure at work to have on Wednesday. But I'm going to go as able and he'll work it out.

Good to see you, lady.

Our attorney is up.

I'm attorney.

I'm attorney. Yes, I'm here.

No, the only thing I have to say is, Johnny, God heals.

That's it. That's it. I get it. That's it. So keep all the P's in patient. Patient, prayer, positive, and all that. So that's what we're doing. Thank you so much.

I asked you for closing. I talked to the Planning and Zoning Commission about affordable housing. And he alluded to me that one of the ways to get affordable housing, I know people say apartment is not housing per se, but you have apartment complexes, complex. That's one way of getting people to have residence. But the only thing about it is you've got to make sure you've got a water and sewer support. So that's going to be another option at some point in time. It's just going to be another option. If we don't have anything else, we're going to ask for... What people want to own a home.

That's part of the American dream,

I got one thing on that if you want to hear it.

If you want to hear it, I got one thing. We're going. We're going. Okay.

Thank you. We're going to ask for adjournment.

A motion for adjournment.

Second. Move by. It's read before adjournment. Second by McMaster. Or the chair, whatever you want to call it.

Thank you.