County Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the July 14th, 2026 County Council meeting to order and welcome. I would like to inform everyone that we are being broadcast live on Lexington County Spectrum Channel 1302 and Lexington County website. The council meeting will be available for viewing anytime on demand on our county website.

Thank you, sir. Counsel, report. Anything anyone would like to report? I don't see anybody's eyeballs coming this way, so administrative report.

Thank you, sir. Approval of resolution recognizing Chapin High School girls soccer state championship.

I have a motion by Ms. Wessinger. Second. Second by Mr. Brigham. Any questions? Of course, we'll read all their accomplishments when we present their presentation. Madam Clerk, if you don't mind, call for the vote.

Yes. Second, the approval of resolution recognizing Chapin High School Baseball State Championship.

I move to approve the resolution recognizing high school baseball state championship as well.

Second. I have a motion by Ms. Wessinger, a second by Mr. Brigham. Any questions? Madam Clerk?

Yes. Approval of resolution R2603, a resolution identifying a project in order to satisfy the requirement of South Carolina Code 124440. so as to allow investment expenditures incurred by Project Ribbon to qualify for expenditures eligible for fee in lieu of tax arrangement with Lexington County, South Carolina, and other matters related thereto.

Thank you, Mr. Cullum. We have a motion by Mr. Cullum. Second by Ms. Kerrig. Any questions? Madam Court?

Yes. Approval of Resolution R-2604, ordering a public hearing to be held for the purpose of determining whether it be in the interest of Lexington County Recreation District for the County Council of Lexington County to authorize the Lexington County Rural Recreation District to issue general obligation bonds in the amount not exceeding $74 million, providing for the notice of public hearing and other matters related thereto.

We have a motion by Mr. Cullum. And who was the second? The second by Mr. Brigham on approval of Resolution R2604. Madam Clerk.

We have appointments. Any appointments that anyone has out here?

Yeah, Mr. Chairman, if I may, Brian Scott appointed for the Planning Commission. I previously had him on zoning, and at that time he requested if something ever came open in planning that he would prefer that one even more. So I'm asking to nominate Timothy Brian Scott to the Planning Commission, and then next month I'll have a vacancy in zoning.

Very good, sir. That's my motion. So Mr. Bishop has made a motion to... Move Mr. Scott from where he's at to planning. Is that correct? Yeah, going from zoning to planning. Zoning to planning. Do we have a second? Have a second by Mr. Fisher. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Yes. Any others tonight? Do we have any on there that can be reappointed? I haven't looked, so. Looking for a motion for the approval of the minutes of June 23rd, 2026. No to approve. We have a motion by Ms. Kerrig. Second. Second by Mr. Cockrell on the minutes of June 23rd, 2026. Madam Clerk.

The approval of Ordinance 2604, an ordinance approving the conveyance of real estate from the County of Lexington to Brighton Capital Parks, LLC, second reading. Do we have any questions?

As you all know, I have significant concerns about this proposed sale of Brighton Industrial Park to a residential developer. A vote to approve this sale could expose Lexington County and its citizens to significant legal and potential litigation. And that's to convert the property acquired for economic development into a residential subdivision. Citizens of Chapin entrusted their council to protect their homes, their neighborhoods, and their commitments previously made to their community. Approving this contract places financial interest in the residential developer ahead of the commitments t

Thank you, Charlie, and there's no doubt that you have fought very hard. With that said, I am seeking a motion.

I have a motion by Mr. Cullum on Ordinance 2604. Second. I have a second by Mr. Fisher on Ordinance 2604. Any other questions?

Yes. Approval of Ordinance 2609, an ordinance authorizing pursuant to Chapter 44, Title 12, and Chapter 1 of Title IV, South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended, the execution of delivery of fee, a special source revenue credit between Lexington County, South Carolina, and Project Blue Ribbon, Project Ribbon, excuse me, The benefits of a multi-county industrial and business park to be made available to the project and other matters relating thereto. First reading by title.

We have a second by, I mean, a motion by Ms. Kerrig, a second by Mr. Cullum. Is any other questions? Any questions? No questions? Madam Clerk?

Yes. Number three, approval of Ordinance 2611, authorized in the Lexington County Rural Recreation and Aging Commission on behalf of Lexington County Rural Recreation District to issue general obligation bonds in the principal amount of not exceeding $74 million and other matters related thereto. First reading by title only.

I have a motion by Ms. Kerrig on approval of 2611 and a second by Mr. Brigham on 2611. Any questions? Madam Clerk?

Second. We have a motion by Mr. Conwell on the approval of the HUD Entitlement Recertification and Community Development Block Grant, and a second by Mr. Bishop. Any questions? Madam Court?

Yes. That it, Mr. Conwell? Yes. Mrs. Kerrig. Yes. Justice. Justice.

Yes, the Justice Committee convened earlier today to hear a request for approval of municipal judge agreement with the town of Batesburg-Leesville. The agreement will allow Judge Gary Morgan to serve as primary municipal judge and Judge Matthew Johnson to serve as backup municipal judge for the town of Batesburg-Leesville. After a brief discussion, the committee moved to recommend a full council approval of the municipal judge agreement for the town of Batesburg-Leesville, and I would move that we approve the agreement.

Second. Ms. Kerrig has made the motion on the Municipal Judge Agreement, and we have a second by Mr. Brigham. Any questions? Madam Clark?

Next up, the Justice Committee convened earlier today to hear a request from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for approval to accept the State School Resource Officer Grant Award for Lexington County School District 1 for the grant year July 1, 2026 to July 30, 2027 in the amount of $438,706. The Sheriff's Department has been awarded funding for the continuation of the school resource officers for Southlake Elementary School, Red Bank Elementary School, Carolina Springs Elementary School, and Beachwood Middle School. After a brief discussion, the committee moved to recommend to full c

Second. We have a motion by Ms. Kerrig to approve the State School Resource Officers Grant in District 1, and a second by Mr. Bishop. Any questions? Madam Clerk?

Yep. The Justice Committee convened earlier today to hear a request from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for approval to accept the State School Resource Officer Grant Award for Lexington County School District 4 for the grant year July 1, 2026 to July 30, 2027 in the amount of $218,052. The Sheriff's Department has been awarded funding for the continuation of the School Resource Officer's for Swansea Early Childhood Center and the Swansea Freshman Academy. After a brief discussion, the committee moved to recommend a full council approval to accept the State School Resource Officer P

Second. We have a motion by Ms. Kerrig to approve the State School Resource Officers Grant District 4 and a second by Mr. Cullen. Any questions? Madam Court?

Excellent. Excellent. Any other questions? Long road, that's all I'll say. Madam Clerk?

Yes. Committee of the Whole, it is the receipt of the distribution of South Carolina Oath for Recovery funds. We've already approved this previously, but we have to send it off to SCORF. I'll read it to you briefly. The Committee of the Whole... CONVENED EARLY TODAY TO HEAR THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH RECEIPT AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA OPIATE RECOVERY FUNDS. ON APRIL 28, 2026, THE COUNTY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED A SUBMISSION, WE HAD TO SUBMIT OF THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL PERFORMED OPIATE REMEDATION ACTIVITIES IN LEXINGTON COUNTY AND APPLY TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA OPIATE RECOVERY F

YES. WITH EXCEPT ONE ON BUDGET, BARS, GO AHEAD.

Guys, we're going to, if you'll notice, the first tab in purchases is the board transportation unit. So I'm going to make a motion, and Clifford, you cannot vote on this, make a motion that we accept the tab T, approval of contract extension, morgue transportation service. Second by Ms. Kerrig. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Yes. So I'm looking for a motion for U, B, W, X, and Y.

Move to approve bids and purchases of UVWXNY.

I have a motion by Mr. Bishop. Second. Second by Mr. Cullum. Any questions? Adam Clark.

Yes. All righty. We will recess the county council meeting for five minutes and we'll be right back at the The county council meeting is back open, and now we're going to open the public hearing portion. Guys, you need to chill out back there. Woo! Yo. Sir, ma'am.

You all. You all, folks. All righty. Thank you.

I got a gavel, but I'm not going to... at or near the Lexington County Edmond Landfill with Lucas Estates LLC and granting an easements related thereto. We have no one here in favor of, we have no one here in opposition to, and we have no electronic communication. Lee, are you here? Briefly, can you tell us what we're doing?

Thank you. Before I close this portion of the public hearing, does anybody have anything they want to say? With that said, that portion is closed. We'll now open up the next portion, which is 2610, an ordinance to provide for the insurance of sale of not exceeding $70 million aggregate principal amount of general obligation bonds for Lexington County, South Carolina, to prescribe for the purpose proceeds shall be expended to provide for the payment thereof and provide for others matter related thereto. Gary, can you give us, let me go ahead and read this real quick because there's nobody here

With that said, does anybody have anything they want to say? Thank you, Gary. We'll close that portion. Next, the ordinance, second reading, the approval of Ordinance 2610, an ordinance to provide for the insurance and sale of not exceeding $70 million, aggregate principal amount of the general obligation bonds of Lexington County, South Carolina, to prescribe the purposes for which the proceeds shall be expended to provide for the payment thereof and provide for the other matters relating thereto, second reading. Is there a motion?

We have a motion by Ms. Carey. Second. Second by Mr. Bishop. Any discussion? With that said, Madam Clerk.

Yes. And there is no other business to take care of tonight. I need a motion. Mr.

For adjournment. We have a second. We have a second, third, a fourth, and a fifth to adjourn. Raise your hand.

Y'all go home. Oh, Lord, somebody just took my pick.