County Council - Regular Meeting

Item 6A, Wireless Communication Facilities Ordinance. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to provide regulations of wireless communications facilities, including cell towers, in the unincorporated areas of Greenville County. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Madam Clerk, are there any other speakers? Thank you. I was testing you past. There being no further speakers, I declare this public hearing closed.

Okay, item 8A, Greater Greenville Sanitation District Annexation, 106 Phillips Avenue, request for public hearing. I move for adoption of resolution to hold a public hearing to consider enlarging the Greater Greenville Sanitation District to include the 106 Phillips Avenue parcel. Discussion?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Equipment master lease vehicle replacement. Mr. Chairman, the motion I have is for a move to adopt, for an adoption of a resolution authorizing a master lease agreement in the principal amount of not exceeding $7 million relating to the financing of equipment for public purposes authorizing the execution of DELIVERY OF VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE, TOO.

ONE QUESTION, MAYBE FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR. I LOOKED THROUGH THE LIST AND THERE WERE TWO VEHICLES ON THERE THAT WERE TAHOS VERSUS EVERYBODY ELSE GETTING AN EXPLORER. WHAT MAKES THAT DIFFERENCE THAT SOMEONE GETS A TAHO VERSUS AN EXPLORER? ARE THEY CARRYING MORE EQUIPMENT? Is it a stature or what delineates that?

Yeah, it was for EMS. That's why I'm wondering what that's for. If you could get back to me on that, I'd appreciate that. I mean, I'll pass it. I'll be voting for it, but I would, you know, eventually, but I would like to know why those, why we're replacing these large, you know, to try and save money, why we're replacing with Tahoe's. They're significantly more expensive than vehicles like a Ford Explorer.

I'm looking, I mean, they're, $10,000 more each. So I just would like to know why.

It has been. It's been a long week today. YOU KNOW, THE VEHICLE LEASE PRICES BUMPED UP ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT COSTS OF RAISING OF THE VEHICLES AND MOST OF THOSE MAJORITY BUT THIS VEHICLE LEASE REPLACEMENT IS FOR THE COUNTY WIDE FACILITIES. SO AND THE MAJORITY IS LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH YOU DON'T WANT A DEPUTY RUNNING 90 MILES OR 100 MILES AN HOUR IN A VEHICLE 200,000 miles on so but I researched this back to when it was changed and it was You know at that point about four years ago, so and again, we're almost breaking even because it's a Constant lease for different vehicl

Thank you. I move for adoption of a resolution authorizing and directing an independent forensic audit of the financial operations and budgetary functions of Granville County, including the general fund for the six consecutive fiscal years commencing July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2025, establishing in the scope procurement method, and oversight structure, and providing for other matters related thereto.

I was just confused. I was talking to my colleague, Councillor Collins here. So this is, in addition, this is his forensic audit suggestion. Yes. And that's in addition to the forensic audit that you got passed a year or so ago?

No, the previous audit was not a forensic audit. It was an operational audit. This audit, because it is a quote-unquote financial audit, and we're going to want to dig a little deeper, actually the one that I'm looking at suggesting is going to be the budget compliance audit, but it is a type of audit. forensic audits done by a forensic auditor, and basically it details how an entity is using their firm's money, and the forensic auditor would typically perform the following. It would establish a baseline. It's important for our new county administrator to be able to review budgets and know fro

So two questions follow up to that. One, the General Assembly requires us to have an independent audit every year. Does that independent audit not answer these questions?

Absolutely not. It's just a financial snapshot of where the county started, what money and assets they had, and it tells you how they ended and did the audit meet federal guidelines. It is a true snapshot. It doesn't tell you the how. It doesn't tell you any details. It's like a financial statement.

We will have to get RFPs and get bids out. I will tell you that currently the audit that we're doing as an operational audit is going to be around $320,000. So we would have $180,000 left over in our current budget. So we will have to look at the cost and see the feasibility and look at that. Thank you. You're welcome.

I'm going to refer to Gary because Gary brought this audit, and Gary has done a lot of study and in-depth study, so I'm going to refer that to Gary.

Councilman Long, thank you. Mr. Chairman, thank you. The whole idea is there's no punitive implication here, but to get the in-depth requirement other than from the comprehensive audit that the county performs annually and is certified, this basically you're looking at with the comprehensive audit, just government audit standards, standards known by AN ENTITY WITH A YELLOW BUG. BASICALLY A BLUEPRINT TO SAY YOU GOT ALLOCATIONS, EXPENDITURES, BALANCES IN A NUTSHELL. THIS IS LAMENT'S TERM. THEY MATCH. THE ONLY REASON I HAD TO PUT FORENSIC ON THERE, NOTHING PUNITIVE, WAS BECAUSE OF THE SECOND PARA

And I was leading to that, but thank you. So what that does, so I left it open because as we came through oversight committee, we were going to try to make changes and amendments, but we were advised to get it to full council. And if they want to amend it, they could amend it there and then send it back to oversight. And I didn't even put a price on it. Working in military contract, anytime you put a standard price up there, whoever gets the bid, they try to meet that. So once we hone this down, shape it to what this body selects, and at a minimum, I'm looking at two separate years in the budg

Depending on what the body recommends amended and if they even recommend amendments. But I would say that's why I didn't put a dollar sign on it, because once we structure that, send it back to committee, then we can establish an RFP. And then we can see what they come in as, and then we can adjust that cost accordingly.

Can I ask one follow-up? I mean, do you have a sense, have you talked to anybody that does these financial audits? And, you know, how long does a year take? And is doing six years of it 6X that time? I mean, you kind of keep hinting around the fact that you're okay with us narrowing the scope of it. Do you have any concept of what time it would take for one year versus six years?

I've talked to three different companies outside of the state because I just wanted to be neutral. And most of them said, once you define it, and I explained to him the perfect scenario, and he says, then we can, once we get the particulars, then we can narrow it down. But he says, from what I explained to him, which was the two just the general fund of two years, because we were a biennium budget in those prior years. And he says most of it's AI. And he says it could be as little as $50,000 to $60,000, depending on what you're looking for, or it could be probably around $150,000, $200,000.

And that was average of the three. And what are the two fiscal years that you're concerned about? Anything within the past six years. Okay.

And again, that's just to say I'm taking a sample, which will establish a baseline that says, okay, and I'm not saying anything's going to be found, but the information needs to be provided because it just seems to me that 10 years of the general fund with no expenditures on it, but every other department has one. And I understand COVID, lack of personnel. I get it. but it still needs to be presented on the public website.

Mr. Chairman, I would just make a... that we call it a budget compliance audit because that's what it is. It's very simple. And basically what it does is it shows what we're budgeting and doing with our budget money. Does it adhere? Does it line up? And that takes personality out of it. But we still are doing an audit that is a forensic type audit. But we're changing the name to tell exactly what the purpose is and not calling it a forensic audit.

Yeah, this is a resolution. So when we bring it back, it would be an ordinance. It would be because this is a resolution. So, yeah. What do you think, Gary?

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair, whoever it is. Thank you. And that's why we set it up this way, to get the most out of the resolution. So I think it's appropriate to do that. And the only reason I had, again, to put forensic audit, because the second part of that definition is the scope of what we're trying to accomplish. And so I'm all for that. And again, I think if it goes back to oversight, we turn it into an ordinance, make action on it, then we put it back into Cal or send it back to the full council.

If I may, I would have had an exit 200 for that fire study. But no, I agree with you. But yeah, if we had to, that would work. But I think as we talk to the attorney, can we amend this here, Mr. Attorney? Or do we have to send it back to the committee?

Correct. Thank you. I'm fine with that, as long as council votes appropriately. Yeah, I'm fine with that. I don't think it hurts anything we're doing.

So are we calling a vote? Are we making an amendment to Ms. Seaman's amendment?

Any discussion of this motion? Mr. Chairman, I do. Again, just to state, I had to put that definition there because of the intent and the scope that I was looking for. Yes. You're fighting a change. No. I just explained that publicly.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to remind my colleagues real quickly that what Mr. Blunt said at the very beginning is of utmost importance. We are in the search for a new administrator. How that person perceives our county they might disqualify themselves simply and say, I don't want to go there because of what these people are doing. I'm not saying we need to be fearful of an audit. I'm going to support the audit. What I'm saying is how words matter and how we present this in the public eye is important. And we're at a very critical apex for Greenville County and searching for a new administrator

Yeah, I have absolutely zero problem with having an audit. I don't have a problem having a 20-year audit. But I think perfection can be the enemy of the good here. If one of the stated purposes of this is to give the new administrator a baseline, we can do that in a two-year budget cycle. Now, what we do one time, we can do again. If we study two years and we see there's malfeasance or you know, stupidity in budgeting, we can go back six years. We can go back ten years. I just, I mean, if we're going to give the new administrator a baseline, let's grab something, run with it, do a good job, an

So that was more direction for the committee when you send an ordinance back. Okay, perfect.

So do we have Chairman Bitten's amendment and then Ms. Seaman's friendly amendment? I'm happy to.

So we're ready for a vote, correct? On the amendment. On the amendment to the resolution. All in favor of the amendment, say aye.

Approve the resolution as amended. You hear the motion on the floor? Roll call.

This resolution passes, and I will give the chair back to Captain.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Property located at 3316 and 3314 Whitehampton Boulevard requesting rezoning from C2 to S1. I move for adoption of this ordinance at third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Property located at 15 Renfrew Avenue requesting rezoning from C1 to I1. I move adoption of this ordinance at third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Property located at Grove Reserve Parkway and Interstate I85, 185, sorry. requesting rezoning from C3 to I1. I move adoption of this ordinance at third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Property located at Grove Reserve Parkway in Interstate 185, requesting rezoning from I1 to C2. I move adoption of this ordinance at third reading.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Property located at Grove Reserve Parkway and Interstate 185, requesting rezoning from C3 to C2. I move adoption. This will witness a third reading.

I move for adoption of Third Reading, an ordinance to amend Article 8, Special Purpose and Review District Regulations of the Greenville County Zoning Ordinance to add Section 813, MCC, Mountain Creek Community District. Mr. Chairman, I have another motion for this. State motions. Mr. Chairman, I've been recently made aware of the standard ordinance language that needs to be added to this document. Therefore, I make a motion to hold this item until the next meeting order that I may give proper notice of these amendments.

Mr. Chairman Bradley, what is the language that needs to be added?

There's some Stripner errors and some additional language that what we What we got on our package is not the correct overlay.

Just the scrivener's error and the severability?

And there was some omitted documentation. We have a copy of it if you need it. I didn't see that.

May I suggest a five-minute recess so we can review this packet quickly, please?

This may say if you want to hold it or not. This could have it on someone's vote to hold or not hold.

I guess so, but because it changed. As I said, I just don't understand.

I wanted to propose to make an amendment at third reading here based upon rule, Council Rule 4.3b, that if we vote a majority to change, to suspend the rules, then we can add. The substances, there was the severability clause and effective date clause, and then the signature lines. Those are ministerial boilerplate things in every statute or ordinance. So I wanted to ask you all to let us amend this tonight to add those things on, or suspend the rules so I can add those on.

Thank you, thank you. Okay, so the first rule was the... 3B1, suspend the rules to avoid the notice requirement to counsel. So I ask that you approve that.

I heard what you were saying, but I saw Brenda shaking her head, so that's all I care about. She said yes, so let's do what you said.

Withdraw your motion. I'll withdraw my motion and motion to hold. Or motion to send back to P&D.

Correct. Yeah, the motion on the floor now is to hold.

No, no, no, the motion is to send back to PD. You make the motion to send it back to P&D.

Oh, I thought I did. I make a motion to send this, refer this back to P&D.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move for adoption at third reading the ordinance to amend Article 6, Section 6213, Home Occupant of the Greenville County Zoning Ordinance.

I move for adoption at third reading an ordinance to amend Article 6, Section 6.2.10, Dwelling, Single Family Attachment, Taxed and Dwelling Two Family Duplexes. Article 7, Table 7.1, Minimum Lot Area Permitted, density for single-family residential article 7 section 7.2 open space residential development 7.25 open space residential development option number 2 and article 7 table 7.2 open space residential development options of the Greenville County zoning Ordinance and I have an amendment for that. Mr. Chairman I'd like to leave this on the floor. We have a couple amendments that didn't make

Mr. Chairman, just a point of order. Are there, other than outside of the ones I proposed, I believe minor for E, are there other amendments for D that I'm missing? Just to make sure we amend the right, that we're making the motion on the right part.

Okay, just making sure. That's all. We'll have to do the other also. Okay, good. Thank you.

Yes, yes. We have them, and you'll get them in your package, and then we'll have them for the next meeting.

Real quick, I would like to say what some of these amendments are. And as I sat down and read the final copy and as I had submitted some other LDR amendments that you'll see in two weeks from now, I thought to myself, this is not giving the Planning Commission, the power that we really wanted to have and the discretion we want the Planning Commission to have. Some of the legal troubles we're in now is because of the nebulous about these LDRs read. So what I proposed as I sat down and said, we have to change it, and you'll see that's what these amendments are. But what I want to stress to my co

They can't do increased density. The zoning dictates it. And then if it's whatever it's zoned, the ordinance for the open space does not change it. It reduces it. So if you got a, now I'm just doing these phone calls.

If the zoning is 90, now it would be nine less. They can build 81 under the open space ordinance. Oh, yes, sir. Well, why do they keep calling me? Don't ask me. I get the same question.

Mr. Chairman, if I may. So I think I'm looking for it here, but I don't want people to think I'm surfing the web. The ordinance reads that the underlying density table must be adhered to. So basically what that's saying is if you have a 10-acre plot and you can put 90 houses, that even with the open space, now you're down to only being able to use seven acres, you can still put 90 acres on that seven acres. You can't put 120 there. There's nothing like that in this ordinance at all. It's basically saying we had to, so that it's still attractive to be developed and keep the open spaces, that no

So the county is getting land that will never be developed, and the density is actually lower. I'm good.

And just to be sure, the amendments that I had that I brought in late because of just reading it and sitting down and thinking over it again are to strengthen the Planning Commission's authority to say yes or no. All right.

So currently we are still on D. As information, Mr. Chairman, the moratorium is over the 16th, and our council meeting is the 15th, so we still... We'll still be in a good time frame.

I move for adoption of third reading ordinance to amend Article 11 of the Greenville County Land Development Regulation relating to the design, construction, open space, residential development. And Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment.

Same as the other. I want to put this on hold. We have an additional two weeks so we can clarify the amendments, look at what Mr. McKay has brought, and if there's any other.

Item 9F, wireless communication facilities ordinance. I move for adoption of third reading and ordinance to provide regulations of wireless communication facilities, including cell towers, in the unincorporated areas of Greenville County.

MR. CHAIRMAN? WHERE DID YOU FIND IT DIFFERED? I DON'T KNOW. I'M ASKING AS A QUESTION.

Yeah, I did get that packet. I just didn't know if there were some biggies more, you know, there's little details or there were some big things that we were getting wrong or that missed.

Mr. Chairman, may I comment on this? So I've been working on it about two years, and I reached out to several municipalities and counties, and the ones that had the best ordinances with no lawsuits, no issues, and they had paid the money to have them drawn up by professional attorneys. The one that I relied on the most, there was actually two, but one was in Incentus, California, an administrator out there named Jay, and he gave me all of his notes, their ordinance, told me everything about it and I took that and I also took one from Shelbourne, Massachusetts and I looked at that one and then

Any other discussion? I just had a question for Ms. Long. Were there any municipalities or local governments in South Carolina? Just curious.

No, it's really interesting. If you look from Maine to Florida, there's only two states that even have ordinances. It's really new for whatever reason on the East Coast. They're all over the West Coast and all up north, but we just don't have them a lot in the South and on the East Coast. There's two in Tennessee. and one in Florida and that's the only other ordinances that exist. So the East Coast is wide open and fresh pickings to have these things put everywhere. No, absolutely no questions asked, just wake up and they're in your backyard. So that's why I took this to task and I've got two

any other discussion I just said for miss long are you comfortable with this amendment yes I'm comfortable yes yeah so what do we own we own chairman blunts amendments currently yes okay motion to approve the amendments proposed by councillor blunt we have a motion

TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE AMENDED BY COUNCILMAN CHAIRMAN BLUNT.

Mr. Chairman, may I get a show of hands of the councilors who are against my amendment? I know it's against my amendment.

All right, all right. So before I rescind my amendment, given that I do not have the support to pass it, I'm at least going to make my case. All right. I've seen the claim that my amendment undoes the ordinance, which I think is a bit of a stretch. Less than 2% of the parcels in Greenville County are publicly owned. Private property owners are the ones that have been abusing the system that we are now creating. What I was trying to do was create a way, a mechanism that would get money to the county that did not come from the taxpayer. The point of this was to put these cell towers and landfill

The South Greenville Area Fire District General Obligation Bond. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for adoption at third reading and ordinance, finding that South Greenville Area Fire District, South Carolina, may issue not exceeding $1 million of general obligation bonds and one or more series to authorize the Board of Fire Control of South Greenville Area Fire District, South Carolina, to issue bonds and to provide for the publication of notice of the said findings and authorization.

Point of order. I don't mind you speaking, but we're in the middle of a roll call, so I think if we're going to make comments, we need to hold after the roll call or suspend the roll call and have comments. Just a procedural thing. That's all right.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anderson-Greenville County Multi-County Industrial Business Park Agreement Amendment Signature Foods, formerly Project Bento. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for adoption of the third reading and ordinance to amend an agreement for the development of a joint county industrial and business park, 2010 Park, OF ANDERSON AND GREENVILLE COUNTIES SO AS TO ENLARGE THE PARK. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN ANDERSON COUNTY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. Clear Springs Fire and Rescue Millage Request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for approval at second reading and ordinance to provide for an increase to the millage rate levied by Clear Springs Fire Department and Rescue.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Special Lighting Tax Districts Millage Adjustment. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move forward to approve what second reading that ordinance to provide for the millage of fee rate to be levied by certain special tax districts established for street lighting purposes and to adjust the fee or millage rate in 13 such districts.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Non-consent towing ordinance amendment. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for approval at second reading an ordinance to amend the non-consent towing ordinance, ordinance number 4278, as amended by ordinance number 4692, in order to adjust the maximum towing rates.

Yes, sir. I have an amendment I move to amend the ordinance to reflect the changes outlined in the red line version provided to council agenda package.

All right, Mr. Chairman, again, I move for approval of this ordinance as amended.

Foothills Fire Service Millage Request. I present for the first reading an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by the Foothills Fire Service Area.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Cane Break Fire Service Area Millage Request. I present for the first reading an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by the Cane Break Fire Service Area.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anderson Greenville Multicounty Industrial Business Park 2010 Park. Agreement Amendment. Adeptus USA Holdings Incorporated, formerly Project Palmetto. I present for the first reading an ordinance to amend an agreement for the development of a joint county industrial and business park 2010 park of Anderson and Greenville counties so as to enlarge the park. This property is located in Anderson County.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Lawrence Greenville Multi-County Industrial Business Park Agreement Amendment Project Hunter. I present for first reading an ordinance to amend an agreement for the development of a joint county industrial business park of Lawrence and Greenville counties so as to enlarge the park. This property is located in Lawrence County.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the committee, I move to authorize the county attorney to file all motions and appeals necessary in the interest of Greenville County as they pertain to C, docket CA2025-CP-23-08251. Thank you very much. Any discussion?

On the County Council Employment Evacuation Process, no action was taken on this item.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have a meeting next week, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my Steve Shaw moments tonight.

Salvation Army. Thank you so much. Oh, and the York County engineer that spoke on the success of their 1% sales tax.

Just two things today. We had the Greenville Airport Commission from the downtown airport come in and give us a brief on airport operations and how the county and city can... kind of collaborate with the airport a little more in the future. A little disclosure, I work there a lot. I operate a business out of there. But it's very important. And the tax money and the revenues and the business that airport brings are critical to this area. So as we move along here, from my colleagues, you'll be seeing maybe something in the budget to help that out between the county, city, the state. and actually

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that. I just want to put it out. Clear Springs Fire Department, September 8th, we have a five-forks overlay meeting, and food will be provided. and September 17th at Clear Springs Fire Department Headquarters, Scuffle Town Rural Conservation District overlay meeting, and expect some changes coming through. Thank you.

Yes, just want to give you an update on our current audit, as I say, performance audit, efficiency performance audit, and audit. The company that we've hired, they are already working on the audit. They're physically going to be on site the week of September the 14th through the 18th. They're still working, getting in information and working with the public safety staff and everything's going as expected. It just takes time to do it. So we're kind of in the middle of the audit. So I'll inform you as we move along the way.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Since I was addressed. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GIVEN THAT I AM THE COUNTY COUNSELOR OF THAT DISTRICT, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THEY HAVEN'T EVEN REACHED OUT TO ME EITHER, AND I'M NOT PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF THIS, ESPECIALLY IF, YOU KNOW, THEIR VARIANCES ARE JUST REPETITIVE AND NOT CHANGING ANYTHING AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GET KNOCKED DOWN. AND AMONG THE PLENTY OF OTHER ISSUES, THE FLOODING, ET CETERA.

Do you have her number? Yes, I do. Can you stay after so I can get it from you? Not a problem. Thank you.

Could you say the address again, please? The address? The address.

All right, thanks. You just mentioned it was adjacent.

Mr. Chairman, I have a question if the Assistant Administrator can answer. You might not have the answer. In the budget this year was a new position for a communications person. Do you know where that's gone or what? Is there a new position for communications?

So we have, there's an executive level, government relations person, governmental affairs, and then there was an existing social media person, I thought? And then the council has passed an additional, is that correct? Okay, and the administration is working on developing or finding this person and hiring the position, I guess. That's correct. Okay, thank you, appreciate that.