County Council - Regular Meeting

Let us pray. Eternal God, our Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the privilege to serve the citizens of Greenwood County. We thank you for being good to us. Certainly you've been better to us than we've been to ourselves, better to us than we deserve. We thank you for being with us tonight. We ask that you guide our minds, guide our thoughts, help us in our decision-making so that they are pleasing in your sight. These petitions we ask in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Please join us for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Chairman, I normally wouldn't do this in the middle of speaking, but I would like to bring up that in the proposed ordinance, the amendments that were amended before the actual amendment was brought at first reading. If you go to section 11, one F, I just want to read it for the crowd because why this ordinance was crafted, because the density of there is a density is there. So if you can build 10 houses, We can't come in and say you can't build 10 houses. You can build 10 houses. We can't say nothing. You don't even need to come to us and ask for any permission. You can build those 10 hou

And it's actually 10% less if you read on.

But I don't want to get too much in, but it was very good because it's fresh in everybody's mind. I just wanted to say that. I can show you that afterwards.

It was very pertinent because this is a very hot topic. Absolutely. Thank you for letting me speak. Yes, sir. And I appreciate your comments and all the work you guys do. I really do.

Yes, sir. Greater Greenville Sanitation District Annexation 106 Phillips Avenue. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding a resolution to enlarge the boundaries of the Greater Greenville Sanitation District to include the 106 Phillips Avenue parcel. Madam Clerk, do we have any speakers?

There being no further speakers, I declare this public hearing closed. Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Non-consent towing ordinance amendment. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to amend the non-consent towing ordinance number 4278 as amended by ordinance number 4692, in order to adjust the maximum tolling rates. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

There being no further speakers, I declare this public hearing closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anderson Greenville Multi-County Industrial Business Park 2010 Park Agreement Amendment, Adeptus USA Holdings Incorporated, formerly Project Palmetto. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to amend an agreement for the development of a joint county industrial business park, 2010 Park, of Anderson and Greenville counties, so as to enlarge the park. This property is located in Anderson County. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Lawrence Greenville Multi-County Industrial Business Park Agreement Amendment Project Hunter. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to amend an agreement for the development of a joint county industrial and business park of Lawrence and Greenville counties. so as to enlarge the park. This property is located in Lawrence County. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Special Lighting Tax Districts Millage Adjustment. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to provide for the millage or 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. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clear Springs Fire and Rescue Millage Request. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to provide for an increase to the millage rate levied by Clear Spring Fire Department and Rescue District. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Foothills Fire Service Area Millage Request. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by the Foothills Fire Service Area. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Oh, I'm sorry. It's all right. There will be no further speakers. I declare this public hearing closed. Awesome.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was exciting, though. Cane Break Fire Service Area Millage Request. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by Canebrake Fire Service Area. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

There being no further speakers, I declare this public hearing closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Boiling Springs Fire District millage request. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding a resolution to provide for a continuation of the current ad valorem property tax to be levied by the Boiling Springs Fire District. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

There being no further speakers, I declare this public hearing closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dunklin Fire District, millage request. This public hearing is being held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public regarding a resolution to provide for the continuation of the current ad valorem property tax. to be levied by the Dunklin Fire District. Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

Then I declare this public hearing closed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Greater Greenville Sanitation District Annexation, 106 Phillips Avenue. I move for adoption and resolution to enlarge the boundaries of the Greater Greenville Sanitation District to include the 106 Phillips Avenue parcel.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Boiling Springs Fire District millage request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for adoption and resolution to provide for continuation of the current ad valorem property tax to be levied by the Boiling Springs Fire District.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dunklin Fire District millage request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for adoption and resolution to provide for continuation of the current ad valorem property tax to be levied by the Dunklin Fire District.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move for adoption at third reading, an ordinance to amend Article 6, Section 6.2, Section 10, Dwelling Single-Family Attacks and Dwelling Two-Family Duplexes, Article 7, Table 7.1, Minimum Lot Area Permitted, designated for single-family residential, Article 7, Section 7.2, Open Space Residential Development, Section 7.25, Open Space Residential Development, Option 2 and Article 7, Table 7.2, Open Space Residential Development Options of the Greenville County Zoning Ordinance.

I just want to mention this, and I just want to make it clear that this zone does not apply to unzoned property. I've got a lot of questions around that. It's clear in the ordinance, but it's not listed here, so I just want to clarify, correct? It's not in the zoning to be an LDR. Right, but just to be clear.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move for adoption at third reading an ordinance to amend Article 11 of the Granville County Land Development Regulations relating to design and construction of open space residential development. And I believe it has some amendments.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. For one reason or another, the Amendment was left off part of the amendment was left off by accident the proposed amendments So I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules. The first one is Suspend rule 3b, which is the 24-hour notice required to the public That way we can go ahead and this is not anything that is actually Physically impacting the ordinance changing any zoning nothing It's basically intent and changing language changing language and intent to make it very clear what the roles and responsibilities are of both the Commission the staff and

And I'd like to suspend rule number 4B3, where there's written amendments are required to be in the Thursday prior to the meeting.

All right. And I'll get to it real quick. For Article 11, open space residential developments, I'll just read out the section. It'll take about two minutes here. This section is intended that current languages provide guidelines. It shall be changed to establish the requirements for the submittal and review of preliminary plans for subdivisions and zoned areas. And then we'll go down to the next statement there. Next, the two sentences down, the Greenville County Planning Commission, based upon takeout on, based upon the comments and recommendations of the Greenville Planning Department staff,

All right. I make a motion to amend the amendment as was read.

WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS NOW. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS AMENDED.

YES. I WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN REITERATE TO THE GENTLEMEN'S CONCERNS, MICHAEL, BILL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT. I READ EVERY E-MAIL. I WASN'T ABLE TO RESPOND TO YOU GUYS. I HAVE A REAL JOB. SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT I DID TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING YOU SAID. NOTHING IN THIS IS PERFECT. And I realize that. But I think the biggest thing here is that the density is not changing, one of the biggest things we have. And we can also, there is a provision in here to have a six-month look and also an 18-month look. So we can make changes if we have to in six months, and we can take a look at that. But I a

One other amendment to this one. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. And before we do that, then I make, can we go back and do I have to make a new amendment then? I thought that was part of the original.

Okay. I'll make a motion to amend the amendment then. I'm going to read it right now if I can.

Okay. I'll withdraw my motion to approve. I thought that was included when you said the whole thing, so I apologize. All right, so this is amendment. This is in your packets, everybody. Amend 11.3.2. We're going to strike the current language.

I thought that was approving the whole thing.

Okay. So we are good? Yeah. All right. Sorry. Make a motion to approve the ordinance as amended. All right.

Did you read that? You need me to read those? Okay, I'll read them again then. All right, Amendment 11D, to strike the current language, allowing the flexibility of lot sizes within certain zoned areas of county and add the filing language in its place. The development may utilize flexibility in lot sizes, provided that all other applicable requirements of the zoning ordinance are satisfied. 11.3.2, we're going to strike the current language, which is changes to the overall total acreage shall be reviewed and approved by planning staff if the required acreage for open space is met. We're going

We're back here doing it over again. All right, so vote to approve the amendment.

I'm going to make a motion to approve the ordinance as amended.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clear Spring Fire and Rescue Millage Request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for an adoption of a third reading and ordinance to provide for an increase to the millage rate levied by Clear Springs Fire and Rescue District.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'd just like to mention a few things.

On this particular five-mill request, I looked again at the audit. It was currently 2.875 unrestricted funds and unassigned funds of 4.4. And after looking at everything, it just looks to me like this isn't needed at this time. So 5 million increase would be another 700,000 and they were 500,000 more in budgeted income than they even thought. So those two together would be another 1.1 million. I just feel like It's not needed at this time, so I just want to mention that. I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything right, but I think when you put this on a tax district, it needs to be a need.

Roll call. We're still in discussion phase.

Thank you. Keep in mind that Ms. Seaman and Mr. Trippaminson, and this will require eight votes instead of the normal seven. So just keep that in mind when you're pushing your button.

I'd like to say, well, if we could, the chief is here. And actually, I reviewed the financials with them, and the money is allocated. It's actually for some equipment they're buying, so it's not just sitting in the bank account. And they cover my whole district, so I'm very interested. I went to them and met with them over that because of the last problem we had. But their financials, as far as I was concerned, are solid. They're not sitting on millions. Actually, it's money that's going to go to buy equipment. But we can have the chief come up and talk about it if you'd like to, too, because

Yeah, I think that would be great. Is that all right? I'd like to hear that.

Chief, if you could come up, please. I hate to put you on the spot, but if you could talk to your budget, I could. Make your case, please.

Can I ask a question, please? Yes, ma'am. Did you buy a new fire truck this year as well or last year?

So that's the last one that's been purchased? So what would you say you have set aside? I know you said you didn't know exactly. Can you guess?

I don't have, yeah, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry. While I don't have their financials in front of me, they're not sitting on five million cash, I can guarantee you.

Well, at $5 million, I'm sorry, I didn't say $5 million, but $4.4 is what they had in unassigned funds as of the date of the audit. So you're saying that's not true now?

It's allocated for equipment and refurb of the West Georgia Road Station, correct? I'm sorry, East Georgia Road Station. So all that money is allocated and being used. It's not sitting there in a bank account making money for them.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Special lighting tax district millage adjustment. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for adoption at third reading ordinance to provide for the millage of fee rate adjustment 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 adoption. A third 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.

When was the last time these were raised, Mr. Fant? 2015. That's about eight years ago? Yeah. Are we keeping up with inflation at that rate?

I'd like to do some quick math. First of all, I want to say that somebody asked me why was I doing this and did I have a towing company. I don't. And I have not invested in one. Some of the tow drivers called and basically said that this was adjusted in 2015. If they have contracts, the contracts are usually $200 to $300 when you pick up somebody. The non-contract is like $75 what it was set in 2015. So they're like, if you look at the cost of diesel at $6 a gallon, Insurance, the trucks, taxes, they can't afford to make any money off $75. So all we were trying to do was get the non-consent to

All right. I mean, I would have completely been fine if they called some of y'all, but they just happened to call me. I'm just a messenger. That's all.

I do have a few questions. I had some questions around this. There's a lot of people that have complained that when their vehicles are picked up like a Friday and they might not be open on a Saturday or Sunday then they're forced to pay those storage fees for the whole weekend even though it might not be available for them to get their car so they're forced to do that. So these storage fees are a problem. Is there anything in there that anywhere around adding something in there that they should be either allowed to pick up their car on the weekend or not charge the fee for the days that they'r

Mr. Edley, you might address that, because all we changed was we didn't change anything in the ordinance other than the fees.

Yeah, I think we could bring it back and we could do that pretty much immediately, right? Okay. As long as we can do that and address that, that has been my problem with it, not increasing the towing fees.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Foothills Fire Service Area Millage Request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for approval at second reading an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by Foothills Fire Service Area.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Canebrake Fire Service Area Millage Request. Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for approval of second reading an ordinance to provide for the millage rate to be levied by the Canebrake Fire Service Area.

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

Mr. Chairman, the motion I move for approval at second reading and ordinance to amend the agreement for the development of a joint county industrial and business park of Lawrence and Greenville counties so as to enlarge the park. This property is located in Lawrence County.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I present for first reading zoning docket CZ2026-049. All right.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the committee, I move to approve the process for the county council employee evaluation as discussed in executive session.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the Planning and Development Committee, I would like to thank Those of you who helped us on this open development ordinance for the past year, then over a year we've been working on it, Hesha and her team, the Planning Commission, Jim Moore and Debra Manning, Upstate Forever. We had an engineer, Paul Harrison, Jeff Randolph, and Mr. Coleman. Is it Coleman? Yeah. Yeah. I call him Mr. Coleman. That's what I call him. Andrew said, a lawyer for a county said, every meeting. So we went over everything. I think it's a great ordinance. I think it's going to make a differen

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd just like to inform the public that I have in front of me here, sent by the Assistant County Administrator, Houston Gamble, the preliminary, the Greenville County Transportation Sales Act preliminary project list for year one. So we're getting that out for everybody. Obviously, we won't pass this unless the penny tax passes, then we'll get the preliminary list out. But I'd just like to go through some of the things real quick. The construction projects, we're going to do intersection safety improvements. A lot of places, we get a lot of complaints for different thi

Well, Mr. Chairman, may I add something real quick? Yes, sir.

There's going to be about 20 public information meetings where this will be put out with a static map of where it's located. and everybody's welcome to come have input on that and also take a look at the list. So that will be coming out shortly, about 20-plus public meetings that the county is going to do in conjunction with some of the just groups in the area. So we simply get the facts out. I just want to reiterate the county is not promoting this. I am because I am obviously a citizen and a counselor, but the county itself would be simply just presenting facts and what the county plans to d

Yes. Just want to point out that starting tomorrow, our auditors will be here. They're actually en route tonight to be here tomorrow to start physically looking at things with our Sheriff's Department audit. So that is going to be happening this week as part of their physical being here. And then our next meeting for the Oversight Committee will be September 28th where we will be laying out our budget compliance audit parameters. So That'll be in a few weeks, so we'll start with that. All right.