County Council - Regular Meeting

Finally, we'd like to call this Harber County Council meeting of May the 4th, 2026 to order. I'm going to ask Councilman Joseph Garvin to give us a moment of thanks before we proceed. Let's all bow our heads. Thank you for this day. Thank you for blessing each and everybody to come. Ask that you get them safe travel back home. Ask that you bless this administration that we're getting ready to do for the people of Orangeburg County. ask that you bless us to do the right thing. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Thank you so very much. Again, we welcome you to our meeting. Um and those of you who first let me get the approval of the minutes of the last two meetings and I will go into that. Did I get a motion and second for the approval of the April 20th and 22nd meeting? So move, Mr. Chairman. Second move by Mr. cast and second by Miss Frasier that we approve the minutes of the April 20th and 22nd as written. All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposers? Eyes have it. The motion is carried. Again, thank you for attending our meeting. And for those of you who may not have attend any of our meetings before, we have public comments at the beginning of our meetings in two areas. We have public comments of agenda items and public comments of other matters. Public comments of agenda items. You may approach the podium and uh list the item that you are making comment on. Unless that item have a public hearing and if the item have a public hearing, you will wait until we get to that item before you comment on it. Other than that, you may approach support and tell us what you have to say about that. And after we close that, you will go into other matters where you can approach support and tell us about anything you want to tell us about. Remember one thing, we listen and you comment. That's why we call it public comments. Unless there something need to be clarified and if if that we will ask staff to clarify it. So at this time it's open for public comments of agenda items. Agenda items on Mr. Sid. Come on down.

Hello. How are you today? Good to see everybody here. Yes, I just uh wanted to comment on uh there have been some items in the past where I have not heard the uh uh amount of the lease and sometimes I know it's a nominal thing but uh it's never printed on the agenda items what it is. There's room for it on all of them that are mentioned item six and 12. I just like to know what the amount of the lease is going to be when it's discussed before it goes for the second time around.

Thank you. I think we will when we get to that and we ask for the administrator or the attorney's explanation, they usually will tell you what it is the whole thing and they summarize it. Okay. Any other we close that and we open it for other matters. Any other matters you debate it all? No, no, no, no. It's just that we've talked about it before and every time the um casino had come up, people would post, "Well, we've already got a lottery, so what's the big deal?" I told you that a house had been broken into over my stepdaughter owned first Monday in November. $120 worth of lottery tickets were found by the guy sitting on the floor. This is the trash I had to pick up down the road to walk on. They tear up tickets. And uh I had reported that on March 16th, I turned in a bag of trash that someone had put beside the road uh near where I live. And uh opening that bag, it was enough water tickets that they could have paid for trash pickup. They didn't need to throw it out just because the convenience site was closed on President's Day.

Um began in South Carolina in 1993. The Abil Abil County School District sued the state. they weren't providing money to the uh elementary education and uh have a bill being poor county that led to 2001 let's solve this with a lottery that led the decision for South Carolina to get a lottery in place um and it was a political issue 24 years later that lawsuit was settled but Abbyville County still didn't win out the court backed out um because the lottery monies weren't being spent to help the K through 12 part of the school system. Yes, a lot a lot of money is spent in upper education and that's how the uh political issue was won over that we'll use this to pay for your upper education. But it doesn't help the people who need the education because the bottom line is that uh even though it was told by the political that it wasn't a regressive tax but it was a a self-imposed tax so to speak. This is quoting from the South Carolina Law Review Study of 2017 2018 I think issue 73 of volume four. I've got it written down on a piece of paper. Lotteryies have long been regarded as a regressive tax on lower income citizens because they are more likely to spend a larger portion of their income on lottery tickets than higher income citizens in South Carolina because lower income citizens are less likely to see significant return on their spending due to failing to meet the merit scholarship requirements. These citizens are favorably subsidized scholarships for the children of higher income citizens. North Carolina on the other hand does it a little differently. The the sad thing is this. Greenville

County spend around $220 something dollars per capita. I don't know how they divide that out. Orangeburg County per capita over $800. Same thing, same study. They've got barcodes on those so it's easy for them to check out. I don't know how much. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Thank you for the information for those who want to listen and hear to it. That's their rights. My sweetheart. Well, hello, Miss Jefferson. I haven't seen you in quite a while. Lord, let me get out tonight.

I want to thank the council for being here and the citizens of Orangeburg County. It's so great to see all of you. Uh, I belong to the Orangeburg County Historical Society and we have a problem and they know I'm talking to you tonight cuz I let them know. Something happened and we had to close and it's near and dear to my heart that society and I'll explain why later. But the Terracotti shell broke. We had to shut down. It was going to cost 15,000 to do it. And what we need now is about $1,160 as of two days ago. I'm coming to the council to see if some way you may help in a way possible to make this happen to reopen. I'm asking for a donation from the county and here's why. Many years ago, 100 years paying for the fair. The fair asked the count the quilters to do something. We did. They most of them did little wall hangings. I saidm that's not good enough. I did a hundred years in a blanket. It was pictures from the historical society that they didn't charge me hardly any money to do them, but it did cost me to take them to SMS to put them on material. It because of them I was able to do the hundredyear quotes. So, it's near and dear to my heart that they stay open. But that's just not for that. They hold your history.

They hold what is near and dear from the past. And the Sally's help start that. It's a wonderful history to go into. You can get anybody's name and look them up and see who's the family and maybe you might be related. uh we have many outings, we have many in in togetherness. So on behalf of the historical society, I'm asking the county to step up to the plate and help in any way possible. I thank you for your time. Now I I'm almost out of time. I know. Well, no. I wanted to ask you,

but I wanted you said you said they needed $1,160 $1,160 and some sense as of two days ago. Okay. I have it here. I just wanted to make sure I got the fig. And go ahead. Finish. What you want to say? Can I say a shout out to two ladies that work for you people? Yes, ma'am. Please.

Yes, sir. I want to say it was a pleasure working with two ladies at the traffic where you get your taxes done. Na Stephanie and Natalie, they were fant. You got two great ladies there. Give them a pat on their back because they honestly make things easy for you and they're great. Thank you. You got good people working for you. Thank you, Miss Jeffers. We appreciate it. Good to see you. Anyone else?

Good afternoon, honorable members of Orangeburg County Council. Chairman Wright, Mr. Young, and citizens of Orangeburg. Good afternoon, Mr. W.

As director of the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, I come today with an update on our nearly 36 month journey and effort to move the nonprofit museum to the new facility at 111 Boulevard. Recently, it was reported the museum will hold a June 19th salt opening. We did not author, approve, or originate that announcement. It is not going to happen. The reason is simple. We do not have the estimated $450,000 in annual operating support required to operate a 10,000 square foot. More than a year ago, I requested operational support from the city of the county. The request was not approved and I never even received the courtesy ever of a reply. Towards that goal, I believe better coordination between the city and county is needed. I applaud Mr. Young's comment from Mr. Everin that in support of the museum, the city, it's time for them to step up to the plate and I'll be making this same announcement to the city. I'll tried to make it for tomorrow, but I can't get on the agenda till 19. We understand that state funds have requested but not yet approved. The amount unknown and even if approved, one-time money will not sustain the museum year after year. We cannot operate this museum. Southern chicken guns. Our private fundraising contacting local businesses and more than a 100 prospects did not produce support needed to sustain an occupancy to be host to expected thousands of people who would visit Orangeburg. There are also other serious unresolved issues. After 6 months of request, we still have no agreement defining rights, proprietorship and responsibilities. nothing from the county in writing or to say last morning in a face-to-face

meeting I asked city and county administrators to provide even an estimated date to begin work inside the museum and told no date was given not May not June not July not December the building lacks critical museum necessities besides what I've just mentioned proposed train noise protection was not installed no storage or outer space No loading dock and the largest opening the museum we could get something through is 70 in and water double work 220 volt power to preserve the legacy of the college so shop per minute meaning at best we might be able to sell potato chips and candy bars. Add to this no poverty space 24 months out and to this challenge challenge high voltage wires dangling overhead 15 ft from the building and DPU refuses to address the danger of the $72,000 in USDA funds approximately $300,000 has been directed towards infrastructure. I'll conclude now by saying that with support from the museum or the orange whatever you call it we can become orange strongest cultural and economic engine generating an estimated 20 to $35 million annually. Again I respectfully ask Orangeburg County to reconsider our request for a line item operational support. Without this support, we cannot move and occupy the empty building at 111 Boulevard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Williams. I'm sure all of us have heard what you said. You know, try to govern ourselves accordingly the best way we can. That's about all I can say on that. Okay, good. Anyone else? Anyone else?

Hearing none, we will close the public comment portion of our agenda. Go to our regular agenda. We have three population at the beginning of our agenda. One on national nurse week, one for correctional officers week, one for 2026 economic development week in county. you're not the presentation is not going to be done today.

They're not here.

So if you're looking at your agenda, you know why? What reason I skip over that? Uh that was going to be done another time. Okay. So again, we got three proclamation. The first one is National Nurse Week. Uh it reads proclamation county council honoring national nurses week 2026. Whereas nurses constitute the largest segment of health care workforce and essential to the delivery of safe, highquality and compassionate care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, schools, correctional institution, and throughout the community. Where nurses are on the front lines of patient care, providing critical services that promote health, prevent illness, alleviate suffering, and advocate for individual families and communities across county. We have the nursing profession exemplifies a commitment to excellence through clinical expertise, ethical practice, along lifelong learning and leadership in advancing public health and patient outcomes. We have nurses play a vital role in emergency preparedness and response. Working collaboratively with first responders, public safety agencies and health care system to protect the well-being of residents in times of crisis. You have the dedication, resilience, and compassion that demonstrated by nurses sufficiently enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Riseburg County. We have national nurse week is observed annually on May the 6th through May the

12th accumulating on the birthday of Florence Nightingale the founder of modern nur modern nursing to recognize the invaluable contribution of nursing worldwide. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the Orange County Council hereby recognize May 6th to 12th as National Nurse Week and recognize the power of nurses in Orangeburg County. And we further proclaim that the Orange County Council encourages all resident to acknowledge and collaborate in the dedication of professionalism, compassionate care provided by nurses and to express gratitude for the unwavering services to the community. In witness thereof, Ironberg County Council has there upon set his hand and cause seal of county to be a fixed day of May, 2026. Johnny R senior is council chair young, county administrator, and county 14 clerk to uh county council. Madam Chair, can I read them all and then move them all together?

Mr. In fact, you don't actually have to read. Don't have to. No.

Okay. Well, then I'll uh we'll just for this reason so I don't have to read them. So, I guess everybody don't have to listen to all my voice. A proclamation. We pass the state of South Carolina County of Orangeburg National Correction Officers Week. So, I'm just going to read the last sentence. National Correctional Officer Week in Orangeburg County. We urge all the residents to join in honoring the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of these correctional officers who serve in our county facility throughout the nation. And uh in witness there, we have set our hands and sealed to the county for this fourth day of May 2026. Uh general senior chair, county court,

Mr. I'm just going to say something all those one more and then I then I'll do that. Okay.

Uh the last one is proclivation of I think this one is a little different because I think this is a lot more significance when it comes to economic development week in county. I think I want to know a lot of people don't know a lot about sometime economic development and the ways more than 100,000 Economic development and related professional worldwide are committed to creating, retaining, and expanding top tier opportunities that force a long-term equitable community growth. For generation, the economic development profession has cultivated thriving neighborhoods, champion sustainability and resiliency, strengthen economic prosperity, enhance quality of life, and built robust tax bases. And also whereas the economic development profession of operate across diverse environments including rural, suburban, urban, state, local, provincial and national government, public private partnership, chamber of commerce, institution of high education and civil organization. Um and also the economic development professionals serve as stewards of progress connecting residents, business leaders, elected officials, industry executives and education institution to advance job creation, community investment, infrastructure improvements and long-term opportunities. developers contribute to the cont continued strength and vitality of Orangeburg County within the state of South Carolina building on vast achievements while shaping a resilient and prosperous future. We have the Orangeburg County Development Commission established in 1955 by Orangeburg County has played a pivotal role in advancing local economic growth, supporting businesses,

recruitment and expansion and fostering long-term investment in the community. and since 1926 the international econom economic development council and its preceding organization have advanced the profession globally marking 100 years of leadership dedication to fostering growth innovation inclusion sustainability and resilience in communities of all size and so it now be resolved that the county runners hereby recognize economic development we can celebrate 100 years of impact reflecting on the progress achieved honoring the professionals who strengthen our community today and inspire next century u of economic opportunity and growth claim before deal 2014 uh clerk to council rights chair before we want to say something

yes I I do maybe will be put on that at me but I can take them I taken um nurses week. These men and women risk their lives. They are not to save lives. Correctional offices officers risk their lives. They are not to save lives. And the economic de development bring jobs to Orangeburg County for those citizens who live here. And I don't think it would have three or six minutes to read all three of them would have taken much of county council time or the people sitting here and these people have done so much for this county themselves. That's just

thank you so very much and I read both of them and read part of the other one. So no special I hope everybody will understand that and I will from now on keep continue to read them as I did before M coolmith. No problem. My take I don't know what well they have no problem. I got you and I have enough I I I hear what you said and I will adhere to that. Thank you so much. Any other comments before we ask for a motion and a second to approve these three proclamations?

Yes sir. There's one more comment, sir. Yes, sir. I um want to um expand the correction officers. I was a correction officer myself and I realize these folks here keep everybody safe. They keep everybody out of your house. They keep everybody they have to massage these folk before they go be incarcerated. And they have a a real job. You go home at night, something happened, they bring it to them. So I want y'all to understand that a correction officer job is he wear many many hats. She wear many many hats. She had to be a doctor sometime to be a nurse sometime have to be a counselor sometime have to be a friend and be fair system they do. So I just want everybody to know that these folks are very important. I just want them to stand up before we even do anything. Please let them snap. Let y'all see Thank you.

Anyone else? Yes, sir. Mr. Mhm.

I just wanted to say uh thank you to the corrections officers and just as echo what Councilman Garvin said, they they have a tremendous job and uh you know when officers go and arrest somebody on on your worst day, they have to deal with them from days in days out. You know, whether it's uh sun, shining, hurricane, or what have you. A lot of citizens don't realize when we have hurricanes of inclement and whatever, they have to stay locked in inside the facility and not even leave and they have to deal with that day in and day out. also want to recognize Miss Doia as one of the few female correction officers in the state of South Carolina and we appreciate her and she's been here for for a good little while and director director I'm sorry director I'm sorry but um that that being the case we just we just appreciate all of them so much and wanted them to know that this proclamation and some other things we have coming for them later on in the week and just to know that we do that and then from the standpoint of nurses I myself had to deal with a stent a couple years ago and I know how important nurses are. They they do a lot and can't go without saying that. So I hope all the nurses out to hear the fact that that uh council is recognizing them. And last but not least, economic development. All I have to say is we are a candy company and you'll know they've been working hard because we brought that one home for the citizens of Orangeburg County. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Administrator. And anyone else? I would like just like to add to that anytime we have proclamation given to citizens of Arbury County for whatever role that they play in the county, it's great just to recognize them, let them know that their job are important and they're doing a a good diligent just for the citizens of ours county and our surrounding area. So we applaud everybody for what they do on all of these proclamation anytime they give a proclamation. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else, Mr. Chairman? Yes, ma'am. The economic development team is here. Is it okay if they stand to be recognized?

Yes, ma'am. We recognize all the economic development team and we recognize all if any nurses in here, we recognize them to stand and as well as she already had the corrections officer. Economic development team, would you all mind stand? so very much. Um, I'm not gonna say no more. I think enough comment has been made on it. Uh, I think everyone is important in their in their roles. Um, I like to always look at life and and just like a family or

a job, a county, a city, it's all all of my families and it's a team effort. So no matter what you do, you are important. You might not have the same significance in the public's eye, but everybody is important in their positions. So thank you all for what you do. Thank you for all the comments that have been made on this on these proclamations. That's it. We're going to make a motion that we approve these proclamation. Second Garvin is second by Miss Cooper Smith that we approve the proclamation that have been read and discussed. All in favor of it, please say I. I.

Any opposes? Eyes have it. The motion is carried. Thank you so much. Next item on agenda is number we have is third reading and public hearing. Um item number four, five Item number four reads, "It's an ordinance authorizing Orangeburg County to enter into a lease uh regarding a property commonly referred to as 2422 Barana Avenue in Santi tax number 03 10-00-01-002 Vber County shall be the tenants and dance for farm property shall be the landlord. Um, Mr. Administrator, would you want to make a summary for those who may not have been the previous two readings and then we'll open this for public hearing?

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I'll just let you know what the three are for and I'll turn it over to the attorney for specifics. The first one, uh, the Barner Avenue lease is for a cell tower for the radio system for the county first responders. The second lease, down with town leases with a lease for the management office. And the third lease in Holly Hill is for Orangeburg Technical College to be able to provide classes in the east county administration building attorney for additional. As to item number four, uh the rent per month is $700 a month. That is of course an outdoor lot. Uh so it's not by the square foot. Uh number five is by the square foot and that is $200 a month for the Masters uh space. Uh and as to number six, Fornsburg County Technical College. This is the first lease where we've gone through what the county council was interested in, which is trying to make a a uniform lease uh for groups who are offering things that are for the county. Uh and generally they're nonprofit things. Sometimes they're for profit, but mostly not. Uh and in that case we have to have two sets of findings and they're in the ordinance as well as in the lease uh for Orangeburg County Technical College. One is is this lease of public property county's property for public purpose? Uh and the answer is clearly yes and that's because it's going to be used for educational purposes literally for classroom instruction. Uh and then the second one is a determination of how much rent should be charged. Uh and that

is a balancing act and what you start out with is the market value for that type of square footage in that area which is something you need an expert opinion on. uh and uh our riskmanagement head guy uh found an expert who gave us uh what he believed was the the market value for the rental. Uh and um oh, excuse me. I'm getting that mixed up with another one that's down here. Somebody got this. Uh oh, actually it was uh Angel How uh and uh Calhoun Orange County Technical College agreed with what the market value was. Uh but you do a balancing and uh the balancing has to do with how much they're putting in the tenant, which I think in this case is at least a million dollars worth of stuff uh that they're doing. also that the county has asked them to have services at this far location so that people who are in the Holly Hill area don't have to come in to Orangeburg, you know, an hour drive each way. U and the fact that it is educating people in those areas so that they can get good paying jobs and live in our community and uh be a productive citizen. Uh and after those uh items were balanced, we came to the conclusion of not charging any rent because the inind services that the county is getting from OCE versus the market value in kind services were more than the market value.

Um any questions from council on the explanation by the attorney and administrator on the two items? Um before I open for public hearing with that. So now the floor is open for public hearing. That means that anybody from the public if you have any comments on anything you would like to say on on these three police items. If you may approach the say at this time. We're in the start. You can pick it up at the door when you have four. First, a little bit of history for me. I want to thank Cancer Farms. Their contribution to the community, 90 acres plus was purchased for Lake Marian High from them. It was for $281,000, $3,122 per acre. When you do all that math, I can and the school opened in 2004. Part of that in 2002 apparently a permit was issued to build the tower. 2003 the tower was put into service. There have been different class transmitters there. Uh one in John Smith's name who retired. One in the sheriff's department's name. Um different call number but the same megahertz for broadcasting. One in the South Carolina Forestry Commission for an antenna. and um I think two with different frequencies with Billy Staley over the years. Uh from the number I have been privy to, $72,000 has been spent on that approximately 6 acres of land. That's $12,000 an acre, a far cry from the $3,122 for that good farmland. This isn't even good farmland. Only a corner of the 27 acres is farm. Rest of it is wooded

because it's not ariable. Now there's also uh who are the users? What's it cost to maintain the tower? These guy wires need to be checked every few years if that's not hadn't been divulged or anything far as the cost. Um the county maintains the grass. I suppose we were in a in a meeting a while back about the different zones and areas the number of areas that the county has to pay to maintain. Is there insurance on the tower? There's not a a a clear fall zone if it falls. of a, you know, it's going to fall onto trees or if a tree falls on the cable, the tower is gone. So all of this money for this good purpose of providing 911 is out the window. You've got to do something. So is it insured as a cost? What's the liability of the county? I recommend you table it to figure it out. I was on the phone with 21st after the last county council meeting with El Paso, Texas uh checking out what um Elon Mus does uh they used after Hurricane Helen uh here in South Carolina, North Carolina to try to uh bridge the gap when natural disaster took out towers and uh why have the other services that were listed on here, the sheriff's department and the forestry commission no longer need it, but we still need it for 911. That's technical stuff above my pay grade. But I suggest you you revisit that and figure out what you're going to do because if you Google it, the life of a tower is only 20 30 to 50 years. So we're already 20 years into something that could be 2/3 over you could end up paying a lot more at that $700 per month and uh you just had people requesting money from the county. You got other authority and other power in your hands to use. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Sid. Um um a lot of questions and information that you've given. Mr. Chairman, yes, we do have the uh person who's head of the department that is recommending this here, Mr. Billy Staley. He is. Okay.

No, he's not. I thought he was sitting in the room. Okay. Uh, one of the things that I can tell you is, um, yes, it's definitely assured. U, there's no two ways about that. Um, but Billy Sely did check with Mr. Dancler after Mr. Sid asked the question, why are we and so did Mr. Ravidel as a question, why are we um renting this for such a long period of time? I don't know that that was envisioned at the time that it started, but once the tower goes up and the other equipment gets on there, it becomes an expensive thing to move to another uh location. That's all I have to add on it. Also, Mr. Chairman, a lot of the funds to pay for that house come from alternate means that it's not tax money. So, it's that seems like a lot, but also at the same time, it's definitely needed for public safety purposes. Um, Mr. Staley can explain that to you, and I think he reached out to you as well as um the councilman to explain that to you if I'm not mistaken. And so, it's definitely been said that tower is insured and is definitely for public safety purposes. And look at condemnation of properties. um if the owner is not willing to sell it, you know, you have to go through condemnation and that is 10 times more costly than buying and it's not something county council makes a price. So just condemning everything they have to have and so in this case we feel like it's necessary.

Okay. So we we do this every year, right?

Every four years. Um I don't know at this point whether we have any other alternative but to go ahead and move forward because we don't want to interrupt what we need to have. We can look into it over the next four years and whoever be up there looking into it and find out that's find some other alternative but at the ninth hour for we to shut down and go through a lot of litigation. Um it would be more probably costly than it would not pass it. But um just one person on console council wishes like to add something to that. Um in the United States we have disasters at at a given time

and cell towers and etc when it's needed at that time you have to have it. So it's hard to put a a dollar value on lives. So I you know so we need to evaluate real carefully. I can't see us trying to get over it. Not unless we got some other alternative, but um that's where we at. It's a valuable commodity item in the county. Need a motion, Mr. Chair. Make a motion that we go ahead and pass items four through six as presented. Moved

by Miss Walker and second by Miss Smith that we pass item four as presented. All in favor of it be known by saying I. I.

Any opposers? Eyes have it. The motion is carry. Thank you so much. Um, next item is third reading. Also, this is number seven and they say for the consideration of a request from Campbell Farms LLC to reszone property at Firefly Lane in Orangeburg. Tax map number 0143- 00-2-00003 from residential general district to forest agriculture district um

yes sir Mr. Chairman the uh Campbell Farm LLC uh at Firefly Lane is requesting to go from residential general to forest and agriculture for the purpose of a timber farm. Uh site is made up of one parcel calculated at 10.2 24 acres. Uh it has access from Firefly Laneing, does not fall within the flood zone. Uh the adjacent property owners were notified via US mail at a planning commission meeting. They were given opportunity to submit comments electronically via email, by phone, in writing to the planning director or in person. Uh notice was published in the TND. There are five citizens that uh expressed their support during this meeting but and one citizen that expressed opposition plan commission after review recommends it to you with a unanimous request of six to zero.

Thank you so much council. You have any question before I get a motion and second for item seven. So move Mr. Second move by M. McCaster and second by Miss Frasier that has item seven as explained by the administrator for third reading. All in favor please say I. I.

Any opposed? Eyes have it. The motion is carried. Uh item 8 9 10 11 second reading items one at a time. Uh item eight is an ordinance authorizing county kind to enforce billing permitting inspection and enforcement including fees and penalties within the incorporated boundaries of requested towns located in Artburg County by entry into the county standard intergovernmental agreement and other related matters. Madam attorney, that's your

It is uh the county is starting to uh redo these uh municipal agreements for the various municipalities that want to have uh the county handle those items, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Uh this came up because Holly Hill had been asked to return to having the county involved there. What this ordinance does is gives to the county uh before county council a standard agreement that the only thing you would change is the name of the town but how much is charged and who gets what percentage all of that would remain the same and it is uh based on what we were previously doing but again the idea is to get all of the municipalities to sign new agreements going forward. Okay. Any questions from council? Everybody understands. Okay. Could I get a motion and a second then for chair?

Second. Moved by Mr. Garin and second by Miss Frasier that we do second reading by item eight as explained by the attorney. All in favor? I. I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. Motion is carried. Item nine, the consideration of a request from Rox Pawn Road Associate LLC to resone property at Rock Porn Road in Utahville tax map number 0372-00-01-00006 of Forest Agriculture District to remove community district.

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, the planning commission met on April 8th, 2026 to discuss that recommendation uh from the Rocks Pond Association LLC group. Uh they're requesting to go from forest and agriculture to rural community for the purpose of subdividing for large lot development and commercial development near old number six highway. Uh the site is made up of one parcel calculated 57.3 acres. Applicant is proposing to reszone only a 100 acre portion of the land from the overall track. The lot has multiple access points from Rock Pond Road and number six highway, Broton Lane, Fredcon Road, and Camp Brown Road. A portion of the property that is being resoneed is will be accessed solely from Rock Pond Road on number six highway. Uh the adjacent property owners were notified by US mail about the planning commission meeting. They were given the opportunity to submit comments electronically, email, by phone, and writing to the planning director or in person at the meeting. Notice was published in the TND. There were zero citizens to express support. Two citizens to express opposition. Planning commission possesses to move with a five to zero approval.

Thank you, Mr. Administrative Council. Any questions? Hearing none. Could I get a motion to second the second reading on item nine? Make a motion that we pass um item number 10 for second. Nine. Excuse me. Nine. By Miss Walker, second by Mr. Ravenel that we pass item nine for second reading as explained by the administrator. I all in favor I I.

Any oppos? Eyes have motion. Item 10 is for the consideration of a request from Austin Nugent to resone property at Graveyard Rock Roading Sant Tax M 0323-07-02-00002 for agriculture to commercial general district.

Yes, sir. Mr. chairman of the planning commission met on April 8, 2020 uh 26 to um to discuss that recommendation from home son win to resone graveyard rock road uh in Santi South Carolina. He wants to go from forest and agriculture to commercial general. This is for the purpose of a mini storage building site is made up of one parcel 19.5 acres. portion of land and reszoning is 10.91 acres and is on the southern side of graveyard graveyard rocks road. Uh the adjacent property owners were notified by mail by planning commission. They were given the opportunity to submit um comments electronically by email, by phone and writing to the planning director or attending person was published in the TD. Zero citizens express support. Zero citizens express opposition planning commission position to you with a five to zero approval. Thank you, Mr. Min Council. Any questions?

Comment comment. Um, I'll comment to this. I'm very familiar with uh Grand Yard Rock Road. Uh, in the Fanty area is one of the roads that actually goes down to the lake and a lot of people uh go down there and fish off the bank. Whenever this development come, I hope they don't want to put up a sign say you cannot um use the road anymore because of the fact that they got a development there and I like for they to put in some kind of footnote so that we have something to stand on.

Thank you, Mr. U Mr. Ravenel. Any other comments? I get a motion and second move second. moved by Mr. Ravenel and second by

Mr. Fra that we pass this second reading. All in favor say I. I. Any opposes? I have it. Item 11 for the consideration of a request from VR HH former LLC to resone property at 30295 Chop Road in Nburg map number 021600-05-026 for agriculture to commercial general Mr.

Yes sir Mr. chair and the planning commission met on April 8th to discuss this recommendation. Uh G grherformance LLC, they want to resone that property at 30295 chop from forest and agriculture to commercial general to put up a digital sign um to meet the digital signage requirements. The uh site is made up to one parcel of 12.87 acres as access from Rockmore Drive and Five Chop Road. The adjacent property owners were notified about the uh planning commission. They were given out to submit comments electronically by mail, by phone and writing to the planning director or in person. And the notice was published in the TN. Zero citizens expressed their support. Zero citizens express opposition. Planning commission presents this to you with five to zero approval.

Thank you, Mr. Administrator. Questions, comment. I have questions, sir. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Administrator. Yes, ma'am. Will all other property that's going to be reszoned have these digital signs? It's it's up to the property you own in what district they're in. There's a sign part of the ordinance for zoning that you have to adhere to and that's why they're having to do that. Any other motion second? Make a motion that we accept item 11 as we're presented. Second

second move by Miss Walker and second by Miss Frasier that we accept item seven as recommend granted by the plan commission for second reading I mean item 11 I'm sorry all in favor please say I

I opposes the motion car thank you next item is number 12 and it's first read and this is an ordinance authorizing attorney to enter into a lease regarding a property commonly referred to as 1520 Russell Creek um tax map number 0173- 014-12 010 where in Orangeburg County shall be the landlord and the Mith construction uh cooperation shall be the tenant. Mr. Minister is your or the attorney. I will pass that to the attorney.

Okay. Thank you. Um, this is the second time that the county is uh entering into a lease with someone of county property. So, when you lease county property, you have to make certain findings. Uh, in this particular case, Monteth, you know, this is all what has been uh told to me when I wrote the ordinance. Uh, I cannot verify any information, but Todd Williams can. Um, Monteth is involved in the construction of the new courthouse. Uh, and they asked uh if they could use as space during construction a building that's empty that's on one of the parcels that the county owns. The county bought the property to get rid of the building and use it for parking for the courthouse. And we have no need for the building at this time. uh so it's not a problem to make it available uh because there is no other use that the county has to make of it. Uh so the the first question was of finding a public purpose and we did not find there was a public purpose because this is a for-profit business that is charging the county a lot of money to build the courthouse. Uh so again this time uh Mr. Williams got a market value on square footage that they wanted to use in this otherwise abandoned building that we wouldn't be getting any money on. Uh and uh that's what the rent is. And the rent is $1,250 a month, about $15,000 a year. Um and the length of the lease is until the they don't need it anymore for the courthouse construction. Okay.

Thank you, madam attorney. Questions from council. I have a question. I would hate to see that building be used for the parking lot and that's my opinion. Any other comments? Did I get a motion in a second for first reading? So move, Mr. Chair. Second move by Mr. Garvin and second by Mr. McCle for first reading on item 12. All in favor? I I oppose.

I got that mad. Next item is an official action. uh 13 intergovernmental agreement between Orangeburg County Fire District and Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. Um is that

Yes, sir. Mr. Minister, I mean, Mr. Chairman, I can give you the gist of it. This is an intergovernmental agreement between the fire services and the sheriff's department. Sometimes um there are times when the sheriff's department has to um seek help for certain things as far as uh fire suppression and operation of drones and and uh assistance as far as with SWAT calls with um emergency apparatuses as well as first aid. This is an intergovernment agreement that will allow the um the fire district to help with the sheriff's department when they have those things and vice versa whenever the fire district needs the sheriff's department. So, and I will yield to the fire director if he has any additional comments he must add.

I have none, but that's exactly what it is. Okay. So, just uh you watch my back and I watch yours. Okay. Kind of like that. Okay. Any other comments? Go. Okay. Got a motion in a second. Make a motion that we accept the agreement as written between the Sheriff's Office and the Orangeburg County Fire District. Second. by Mr. Walker, second by Mr. Garvern that we accept the agreement as explained by administrator. All in favor say I. I oppos it.

Motion is carried. Uh next item is an appointment uh to boards and commission and we have one appointment. It's county board of assessment and appeals for district 7. I yield to Miss. Yes, I will be appointing Mr. Ronald Brown um to the board of assessment and appeals for district 7. Motion. Yes. I get a second. Second.

Move by M. Walker district designate that we appoint Mr. Ronald Brown to the board of assessment appeal. It was second by Mr. Hassler. So all in favor of it, let's say I. Any opposes to it? Eyes have it. Motion car. Um before we journ council comments you

no sir. No, I'm fine. I know last meeting we passed an ordinance that that um concerning trash and whatever got to be covered and um as a reminder let the citizen know that um if that's something that's going to be lost and it's going to be for you cover your trash vehicle um trash don't blow out all over the place for a ticket fine. Yes.

In conjunction to what council has said, the council has been doing a good job now of um enforcing the code of enforcement of good control. A good job. I've got several people who have received citations. several and again I I have a question I have to ask this folks. Where where are the people going to park when does the state

Oh, excuse me. Where are the people going to park when the state museum is completed? There's parking um that's attached with the museum as a results to the whole boulevard project. So the museum is just building with that whole project and that will all all the parking will come along with that. And there's a parking lot behind the building as well, but right now because of the construction next door to the museum, it's uh it's you won't be able to access it right now to be able to get that done. That's my understanding. But I just want the public to

Yes, ma'am. It's it's a work in progress. We still have the contractor is finishing up the punch list items right now. So, we don't have a full complete um uh certificate of occupancy. We only have a temporary one. The accessibility aspects of that building is tied into the sidewalk that's being put in place right now by the campus uh facility that is uh being done as well. So, that's a lot of different moving parts to that construction. Now that the construction part is almost complete, they'll do access control and uh and camera systems in there. Those are the final phases with that. Then we can work towards um putting the uh the exhibits type stuff in the museum after those things are complete. But we got to complete those things first. And that should be um should be done pretty soon in a month. I think I gave you guys an email and an update of when that was going to happen. And I think I sent that to Mr. Williams as well.

Thank you, sir. All right. Mr. You always say best for last. Okay, I'm last. Well, you you have to come back one minute. Okay, go. Go right ahead. Mr. Harold, what is the projected time for the courthouse being complete? You getting started? Well,

it's it's close, but it's uh it's a few technical items that we're working on and we've done the bid. We working out there. Uh we're doing some value engineering with the contracting to make sure we can get the price down because the citizens will respect the fact that something that that size and that amount we're doing the best we can to bring the price down. Um we've just finished the value engineering. We're in talks with them and then they're waiting on some information that we have to provide to our financial advisors to finalize the deal and then we'll be ready to go. Open in a month or so. You'll be seeing some movement on that contract is ready to go. part of the thing that you approved tonight as a part of that process them getting ready to stage uh equipment and have a um office present in the art and they're ready for that as well. And so as soon as we get the final hurdles that we have to jump through on the paperwork side to finalize the process of the bonds for the um for the project then we'll be ready to move forward and I think that should happen within the next month. I'm last. Um, if you all wanted to know why I voted against 1520, for those persons who do not know where that building is, that is the building right next to the durium. That's the only structure in Orangeburg which has its own unique identity. And I like that building and I would hate to see it tow down within majority rules.

That's why they count scores. Now, I'd like to say something in the audience. We have a special person here, and I'd like to call him out. Dr. Jim Sally. Please stand, Jim. You got it all for

Jim is the CEO of Africa University, which is in Zimbabwe. by way of Disto Drive. That's where he was born and raised. So, I had to say something about that. Welcome home, Jim. Thank you so much. Now, today I was listening to the telephone and I received a message about a very dear friend of mine, Miss Shirley Hui, who has been at Claplin University, I want to say about 50 years. Would Pat, would 50 years be sufficient? She slept Claflin univers college. She slept

Claflin College and then she slept Claflin University. That was her life 24/7. Claflin College and then Claflin University. So, you know, my our condolences go out to her family. And the other person is a very dear friend of mine. Um I call him Mr. Wrong, but you all call him Mr. Wright. Calvin Wright is the CEO of OKAB who took care of many indigent people here in Orangeburg County for many, many years. And at this time, I'd like for us to um bow our heads for two seconds.

Amen. Um, Calvin passed away one day last week and his film will be on Wednesday at New Mount Zion at 11. Huh? Oh, it's Thursday now. Okay. At Thursday at 11 or

at 1:00. Thank you. I'm sorry. My news was 11:00 Wednesday. So, now it's Thursday at 1:00. Okay. Um, so those persons who'd like to come, please show up. Um, Calvin has been around here forever. He was born and raised here in Orangeburg. And I'd like to also say he's he was my classmate in high school, class of 1965. And then he was my classmate um in graduation from South Carolina State University, class of 1978. and he was also my campaign manager. He used to be the financial person. He hand what was

tax assessor. Tax assessor. Right. Um he was a person I would always come in and complain to about my taxes and stuff. Um welcome back home again. Right. There's another person here. Jimmy, stand up. Jimmy, he's retired now from South Carolina State University. Um Jimmy, what department you were? math department up mathematician up at South Carolina State University and a member of Greater Faith Baptist Church and Jamie Cooper's neighbor and he's also on on the go right ahead the hospital board oh I did not know that was okay

and there's one other person whose father is very very much well known street is being mapped today yes please stand you don't stop is Sultan. He knows who I'm I'm looking at looking at the whole time. And I was in this is Mr. Sultan's son. I can remember being a little girl in Orangeburg and having to go down Rustler Street and purchase gas and he would be out there and um it's been years and years and years and years, but welcome. And I think this is my first time seeing you in here since I've been on the board. Uhhuh. Please come again. I certainly will. His father was one of my campaign people.

I'll never forget Lamar Dawkins. Lamar Dawkins, Jim Sultan and But and but Oscar Button and also if you know if you would have studied history in Marsburg, his family were one of the first on what's right in the southeast of the United States. You first saw me assault saw you. Exactly. I tried to get your attention. You ignore my No, not by telephone. She was She was calling you earlier before we started.

I Well, let me explain. Don't want to take up too much time, but I was looking for Mr. Williams cuz Ce Williams was here and I just want to take a moment to say that you had a comment by a living legend there. And Cecil Williams is founder and CEO of the South Carolina Civil Rights Museum as he spoke to it. And I'm telling you something, when that move happens, it's going to be state, local, and national news. Be very well. So, I'm honored to be a member of of the board there, and I want to secound what Mr. Williams had to say and I hope that the city will be able to step up and help them out and I thank the county for everything you're doing on the railroad court

because we're going to recognize that and all those men you mentioned used to chase me around that corner as a little boy around there trying to thank you and I'm quite sure Middleton was in that group trying to chase you around too right Kenny it appears tonight that it seems like everybody knew is that he is somebody who I've dealt with or been around and I hadn't omitted my funeral home man in the back back here either. Thank you for your business. I'm finished. No, Dolores, you're going to need to get a picket group up to save that building.

Listen, I know how to do it. Someone told me said that I am a professional agitator. Is that what you said, Jim? Organizer? Which was it? Both organizer and agitatory. Okay. I just wish that we could say that building because that's the only structure in Orangeburg that's different. And it's been here for many, many, many years. And so, and I like it. I really, really do. My oldest daughter had a a beauty salon there. Yes. Was it too late, Mr. have a foot up my pick in time.

It It's too late. Mr. Lor must be home. And for the citizens that know that was part of the Dario compromise. So that's how we were able to save the Dario. So we had to sacrifice something and that building will be sacrificed so you can still eat your credit. Everything have a balance in that. So you got to remember that everything has a balance in that. We have to always work together. You have a give and take. And also everything has an ending. So we got to keep that in mind.

I like to say I think I know everybody's ready to go. But just in in relation to Mr. Selton, I see Miss Barbara's here and I think Cece left. Just know that Orangeburg County is committed to the civil rights museum. We've gotten it this far. We believe in the vision of Mr. Cecil. We're working towards that. We understand what it takes to deal with the museum and we're moving it in that right direction. Now has it taken a little bit longer? Yes. But because of the efforts of county council, you see what's out there today. If they did not believe in the vision of what Mr. Cecil brought here, Orangeburg County Council would not have committed for us to get that building built. And it's almost there. And I know it can be a little frustrating when you have a vision uh such as him and you you deal with photography every day. Having to jump in the realm of of government is frustrating. And and it doesn't work that simple for a lot of stuff. But I promise you, we are still in support of that vision. We're going to move it forward. We've been working with him. We just met with him last week and might not have read his email, but we sent him one this afternoon to let him know that we're in that direction. And I just want to commend County Council for making it a priority because we have seven buildings under construction right now uh between the east and the western end of Orangeburg County. And I and I applaud uh Tim Craves, the building department, uh all of the ladies that deal with capital projects and administration working hard to get these buildings and stuff done in each of your council districts. But um that is something that's going to be um in tune with Orangeburg County, but it's a part of a bigger development of the boulevard development. So there are several things that have to be done to make that core exist, but we're working in that direction. And I promise you, Miss Barbara, your husband legacy is not anything we take for granted. We appreciate all the pictures he's taken over the years that that impacted history. And myself as a as as a as a young person who grew up born and raised in Orangeburg County, I know what it meant. And to see how far we've come is a testament to the fight that he put up over the years. So, we appreciate it for

that. We're going to keep moving it forward. We'll get it done. And as our good friend used to say, the best is yet to come. So, it's coming. Thank you. All right, Mr. Mer. All right. So, I'm going to just say this and we going to we're going to call for the amen something. Hold on. Well, Miss Mel attorney, I have something to say. Go for it. You know, I don't do this every meeting, but I'm going to do it here. Okay.

Dr. Sally came to my church a year or so ago, gave a sermon. He asked us if we'd try to pull together a scholarship for somebody uh at at Africa University. And we did. I think it's only $7,500 to sponsor somebody for a whole year. We raised $9,000 without asking any questions because his sermon was so good. uh and his program that he puts on that tells you about Africa University. It it's impressive and and we even found out who it was that we were given a scholarship to. And it was somebody who had good medical training that needed to get additional medical training uh to go back and serve a very underserved area. So, you know, um the government pays for some stuff, but you guys with churches,

get up there and and help. Thank you very much for coming to our church and letting us know about the program, which is Can you imagine if we could get any of our kids through school for $7,500 a year? It doesn't happen. Thank you. Amen.

Thank you so much, Madam Attorney. Anybody else? I want to add this to it. Um about three years ago, was it Jim? I was one of the persons who it was 85 of us that Jim took to Zimbabwe, Bosswana, Zambia, South Africa. Um and we were gone for 18 days and all of us went first class. I called Jim and I said, "Jim, I need to go first class." But he said, "I'm not going." He said, "Lois, everybody will be going first class." And we flew over there in All right. Well, listen, we have heard a whole lot, a lot of the sermon, a lot of everything. When you get despondent about things getting done, just just keep praying.