County Council - Regular Meeting

at the end of Redbank Road. It's where Red Bank turns into Riverside Drive. My fiance forgot something, turned around, and within a few days received about 10 plus pages of colored copies of a license tag, his truck, the whole thing. And I'm thinking, you guys have the resources to snail mail a letter and certify letter, but we don't have resources to help with things that really are an endangerment to the citizens of Orangeburg County. So, I'd like to know what what the status is on that. And quite frankly, I own property all over this state and this is the most expensive county with the least amount of resources as far as to the citizens. I don't have trash pickup. I don't have, you know, a lot of things. So, we'd just like to know what what's being done and can these topics be added to a future agenda. Thank you.

Thank you. What's um the name again? Charlotte Green. What's your address? 167 Satawin. It's s a t a w e n road in Utahville. That's off of Red Bank. Yeah, Red Bank and turns into Riverside. The road changes names and then it goes into a dirt road. That's Young's Road. Okay. Thank you.

Hello. Hello, Mr. S. What's going on? And I have that.

You don't. Um, well, Tony Evans is going to be read tonight. Dr. Tony Evans. All of us gambled to some degree. If we define gambling is simply taking a risk. Last time you got into the car, the last time you flew flew in a plane, last time you ate at a restaurant, you gambled. Taking a risk is not wrong in and of itself. In fact, Jesus condemned an unjust servant for not wanting to take a risk because he buried money rather than investing it. The question is not whether it's okay to take a risk. The question is what kind of risk is it okay to take? Gambling becomes a stronghold when illegitimate risk replaces God's revealed approach in whatever area of life we're facing. One of the ways a gambling stronghold is manifested is the motivation of greed. To quote Jesus, "Be on your guard against every form of greed." Scripture says that get-rich schemes fall into the category uh that leads to ruin. There is no other way to describe the lottery or the casinos available in to us in today's society other than the opportunities to get rich quick. They'll pull for $1.1 billion tonight. That was me. This places um them in the category of illegitimate risk. By illegitimate, I simply mean they aren't sanctioned or provided by God.

Having money is not wrong. Seeking wealth becomes wrong when the motivation is greed and the approach to acquiring it is illeg illegitimate. Neither is prosperity wrong. God himself declares he wants us to prosper. This is me again. Thank you. We've got good news about more businesses coming to Orangeberg legitimately. It only becomes wrong when God is no longer sought after as God, but as a means to the end of becoming prosperous. Gambling is a stronghold not only when it is based on greed, but also when tied to productivity. Proverbs, poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. New Testament. If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either. Throughout the Bible, God links personal responsibility and productivity with his provision. Even when the rich were instructed to leave portions in their fields available to the poor for gleaning, the poor were required to make the effort of doing physical act of gleaning. If that effort was not made, the leftovers would have remained in the field and left there. He continues, "I was recently in South Carolina where legislation is pending regarding a lottery. Reporters wanted to interview me on this subject. My answer was simple. When a government must sponsor a lottery in order to have a tax base to produce a service for its citizenry, it is saying that we have so little faith in our community's ability to be productive that we have to give them a game to play in order that we might have enough money to keep our programs running rather than encouraged personal responsibility and productivity. Illegitimate risk-taking through get-rich quick gambling schemes promotes an atmosphere of dependency rather than an atmosphere of empowerment and productivity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. S.

And more any other hearing? None. We will close the public comment portion of the agenda and we'll go into the regular agenda. First item on the agenda is the third reading and public hearing. Uh it is an ordinance authorizing the county of Orangeberg to purchase approximately 63 acres more or less of property located at uh 1390 Springdale Drive in Orangeburg County for construction of a waste water pump station. Uh I'll yield to the administrator for those who may not have been previous to the meeting to give a summary of this.

Yes sir, Mr. Chairman. This is for the purchase of 63 acres um a property that's needed to um create a wastewater pump station wastewater project that's near the Esset Drive area and this is um also a project that's being funded through capital projects. Thank you so much now for public hearing. Does anyone have any comment from the public hearing? None. No, no comment from the public. No comment from council members. Could I get a motion and second for

second? Move by M. Cooper Smith, second by Mr. Garvin for third and final reading on accordance one. All in favor of it, please say I. I. Any opposes to it? Well, I must say that I'm glad. Thank you so much.

No opposes. The motion is passed. Thank you so much. Um item uh two and three second reading and these are item number two is for the consideration of a request from Gold Mitchell uh to reszone property at Charleston Highway Bowman South Carolina. Tax map number 0270- 000- 07-025 from Forest Agriculture District to commercial general district. Uh Mr. Mass.

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, the planning commission met on November 12, 2025 to discuss this recommendation um to reszone the property at on Charleston Highway. They're requesting to go from forest and agriculture to commercial general district for the purpose of a car dealership. site is made up of one parcel with 1.88 acres. Uh has access from Charleston Highway 17 US 178. Property owners were notified via US mayo by the plane commission. They were given opportunities to make comments electronically then emailed by phone in writing or to attend the meeting in person. And the notice was published in the T. There were zero citizens that expressed their support and two citizens expressed their opposition. Planning Commission presents this to you with unanimous 70.

Thank you so much, Mr. Administrator. Is there any question from any council? None. Could I get a motion and second for second reading on item two? So move, Mr. Chair. Second move by Mr. Garvin and second by Mr. Ravenel with the district in which it presides. All in favor of it, please say I.

Any opposes to it? Eyes have it. The motion carries. Item three is also second reading and this is for the consideration of request from HBG Land LLC to resone property at Commerce Road in Misa, South Carolina. Tax map number 0044-00-004-004 agriculture to rural community district man.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Planning Commission met on November 12th, 2025 to discuss a recommendation from HBG and LLC. They're requesting to go from forest and agriculture to rural community district for the purpose of residential subdivision and small farm lots. The site is made up of 47.65 acres and it is a portion of a 68.20 acre uh parcel. Lot has access from Komos Road and does not fall within the flood plane. Uh the adjacent property owners were notified via US mail about the upcoming planning commission meeting. They were given opportunity to submit comments by email, electronically, by phone, in writing to attend their meeting in person or notice given in the TND. There were zero citizens that expressed their support and six citizens expressed opposition and two citizens emailed the opposition. After hearing the um results, the planning commission presents this to you with a unanimous 70 approval. Thank you, Mr. Mad. Any questions from the council? Hearing none. Can I get a motion? Second for second reading. Passes of item three.

So move, Mr. Chair. Second. Moved by Mr. Garvin, second by M. McCaster that we pass item second reading on item three as explained by the administrator. All in favor say I. I. Any opposes? Eyes have it. The motion is carried. Uh the next two items uh four and five is uh first reading by Todd Lonnie. Um madame attorney, I can read both of those and vote on both together since I'm on the same project. Dr. Per, you can do joint authorization. Yes.

Thank you. Item four says an ordinance authorizing the execution of delivery of a lease agreement by and between county uh and a company known to the county as Project Pantheon. Uh whereby Orangeburg County agrees to lease certain real property to the project with an option to purchase the project project and other matters related there too. And item five is um an ordinance authorizing the execution and deliver of a fee in lie of advalor and taxes between and between county and the company and which is the same company as project pan including any related or affiliated entities and any sponsors affiliates to uh provide for payments of fee and loop taxes and certain special source revenue credits. and other related matters. Um is any this is Mr. Nure?

Yes sir. This is a part of the project that we're doing for economic development and it's for project that any question from council on this hearing none. I get a motion second pass. So moved, Mr. Chair, second moved by Miss Frasier and second by M. Walker that we pass item four and five as explained. All in favor of it, please say I. I.

Any opposes to it? I have a motion car. Next item is procurement. Uh request for approval to proceed purchase of uh eight triacal dump trucks. Uh and I'll yield to the administrator. I hope everybody have they have background information in your agenda package and explain all that pretty fully but I will at least I will need to administer for the public sake to explain that.

Yes sir, Mr. Chairman. This is to replace the existing um dump truck feed that we use every day for road construction and maintenance work throughout the um county road system. Um the eight trucks that you are seeing is part of a state contract quote. It'll be an amount of 974,352. Uh the vendor will be Worldwide Equipment Enterprise and this is to replace the existing trucks and it's under state contract and we're presenting this to you for your approach. I think this was five years ago. Next year before they have the trucks won't be completed until June.

It said they will be delivered in June, but on page 55 it says 411. 12 26 on page page 55 and that was on page seven. It's it's a it's a two-stage process. Miss Jamie with the trucks you purchase the trucks but the um body is coming from a a separate vendor and so that's probably where the two dates um come together but the trucks the finished product will be delivered in June. You said two days. That's That's a five months.

No, it says it's two stage. Two stages. Yeah. Two stages. You get the truck in one place. Any other questions? Hearing none. Could we get a motion second to ask for? So move J second. Move by Mr. Garvin and second by Mr. Ravenel that you ask for request. approval to proceed as outlined by the administrator. All in favor, please say I. I. Any opposes?

Eyes have it. The motions carried. Next item on the agenda is the vote for executive session to go into executive session for third party use of space and county to discuss third party use of space in county owned buildings. unless uh provided by foyer that we can go in and talk about this. Uh there will be no recommendation or no coming back into the regular session. At this time we just will go into regular session and after we finish that then we will um be over. So before I ask for a motion for chairman council person have any comments? I just like to say that um I noticed school was kind of spareheaded and little pick up but I was getting a request for little pick up and quite a few people in my district request bags and pick up stick. It's a good thing.

So, I'll count um I hadn't planned to say anything, but I'm going to piggy back on something. Council said next year our country will celebrate 250 50th anniversary and starting January 1st, we need to start cleaning up the county fall, July 4th. so that it will be attractive to our tourists and visitors.

Well, save the best for last. Yeah, but he made go ahead. I want to say go Bulldogs. You're talking right. And over the weekend, we had a wonderful time in Atlanta. South Carolina State University played Perry View of um Texas and we won. And there's this thing by the hair of our skinny skinny teeth. Is that the thing? Chinny.

Chinny Chin. Okay. With our chinny chin chin. We won. And that's exactly why they keep scores. Um, I want to say congratulations to the coach because Lord knows everybody was on the edge of their chairs and tables and those persons who were home. I'm quite sure you were tearing up things at home as well as we were tearing up things at the stadium. But we won and I'm so glad. And um I'm going to say this and put us on blast. Is there anything wrong with us having a parade to help South Carolina State University? Um because this thing is big time with this football team here in Andre Hal.

Yeah. Yes, it is. But I mean it's fine. What I was about to say is last time when we won the celebration bowl, South Carolina State reached out to us and we definitely did help. So I'm assuming it'll be the same on this this go around. And what help did we give? We help with the parade. Whatever they asked us for. Okay. Well, I'm going to be number one asking for a parade. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Mr. Chair, and I I agree with Miss uh Councilwoman Frasier. That was a tremendous win and and tremendous notoriety for Orangeburg County and for the city as well. So, a lot of people um sometimes don't understand the value of having the universities in the town and how much it brings notoriety to this area. So, it was glad to see and definitely will be participating in whatever they decide to do. And also wanted to give a um just give some kudos uh to public safety and the county fire district and all of the um uh law enforcement people who dealt with the fire last night on Russell Street. um had a lot of um stuff going on and seeing that the temperature drop drastically, that's a lot to deal with in freezing conditions and and having to spray water and do that and deal with the fires they dealt with. So, we just wanted to let them know that they appreciate

and Harold, I'm so sorry that um your team didn't win. Yeah, my Cowboys let me down last night, but you're still still a diehard fan. DCL for life. Well, any other comments from anyone? If not, um, I would appreciate a motion and second for a journment. Mr. Chairman, yes. You didn't vote on executive session. I did not. Thank you so much. That's why it's a team. Can I get a motion in second? Let's go to executive session to discuss the items that I talked about. So

second move by Miss Smith and second by Miss Frasier. All in favor say I. I have it and the motion is carried. Thank you so much again. Now can I get a motion? Hello. Moved by Mr. Rand second by hearing. Thank you so much for attending our meeting. We will take is