County Council - Special Meeting

Good evening. It is now 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026. I'd like to call our Richland County special call meeting to order. Madam Clerk, can you take the roll, please?

Branham? Before I turn it over to my colleague for the invocation,

I'd like to take a moment this evening to have a moment of silence for the recent passing of our Senator Lindsey Graham. Thank you. A few brief words on behalf of council. Richland County Council would like to take this moment to acknowledge the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. As elected public servants, this council clearly understands his service to the state and his decades of dedication to the citizens of South Carolina. There were times our commitments aligned for the good of South Carolina from infrastructure to economic development. And so we thank you for your service, Senator Graham. Our heartfelt prayers go out to your family and staff. Councilman Weaver, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's my honor tonight to introduce for our opening prayer Monsignor Richard Harris, who is with us tonight. He is a native of Aiken, South Carolina and also a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He has served in the priestly ministry for more than three decades. And since 2006, he has served as pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church on our beautiful Divine Street in District 6. And we are very pleased to have him here tonight. So, Monsignor Harris.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight thanking you for this County Council. We ask for your guidance, wisdom, and the gift of sound judgment as we begin this meeting. Help those present to engage in meaningful and beneficial discussion. Allow the members to grow closer as a council as they nurture their unified support of their communities. Fill them with your grace as they make decisions that might affect the public good of those they represent, and continue to remind them that all they do here tonight and all that they accomplish are for your greater glory and for the service of their constituents. May they act with love for the common good, and may all they say and do begin with you, work through you, and be happily completed by you. We ask these things in your sacred name. Amen.

Thank you. And now if y'all will join me in our Pledge of Allegiance.

of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

I also would like to take a moment to recognize a few special guests we have in the audience this evening. I did see former County Council Member Bernice Scott. Raise your hand, the light's bright. How you doing? And then I think I saw Judge Simon, but I lost him. There he is, okay. And then I saw Mayor Bob Coble. Thank you. Thank y'all for coming out this evening. Uh, next is item for approval of minutes for my regular session, July 7th, 2026 council meeting. Oh, to approve motion and second for approval. Any discussion? Madam clerk.

Yes. You. Yes. Little. Yes. Livingston. Yes. Horatio. Yes. Weaver.

Yes.

Cooper. Yes. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Yes. Newton. Yes. Motion approved.

Next is item five, adoption of the agenda. Administrator Brown.

No recommended changes, Madam Chair.

Attorney Wright.

No recommended changes.

I entertain a motion.

Move to approve.

Second. Motion is second for approval. Any discussion? Madam Clark.

Branham. Yes. Pugh. Yes. Little. Yes. Livingston. Yes. Horatio. Yes. Weaver. Yes. Cooper. Yes. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Yes. Newton. Yes. Motion approved.

Next is item six, presentation of resolutions. A resolution honoring and commending Sandra Haynes upon her retirement from Richland County government after 36 years of distinguished public service. I entertain a motion. Vote to approve. Second. Motion and second for approval. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham?

Yes.

Pugh?

Yes.

Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

It is my honor to read this resolution this evening. A resolution honoring the service and retirement of Sandra Haynes. whereas Sandra Haynes faithfully served the citizens of Richland County for 36 years, dedicating her career to the protection of public health, animal welfare, and the advancement of county services. Sandra Haynes began her career with Richland County on February 19, 1990, and has served Richland County for 36 years, four months, and four days before retiring on June 29, 2026. Ms. Haynes began her career with Richland County as a clerk typist, and through hard work, dedication, and exemplary performance, she advanced through positions of increasing responsibility to become Director of Animal Services, serving as an inspiration to others through her commitment to professional growth and public service. During her distinguished career, she served in various leadership capacities, including assistant director of animal care, animal care director, and ultimately director of animal services, where she provided visionary leadership and strategic direction for both animal care and vector control operations. Under her leadership richland county animal services enhance his commitment to public safety animal welfare responsible pet ownership disease prevention and Community engagement, while fostering partnerships that benefited residents throughout the county. Sandra Haynes successfully guided the department through organizational changes, program enhancements, and evolving community needs, always maintaining the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and service excellence. Ms. Haynes concluded an exemplary 36 plus year career with Richland County government, leaving a legacy of professionalism, compassion, integrity, and dedication to the citizens of Richland County, Now therefore be it resolved that Richland County Council Members Jason Branham, Derek Pugh, Tyra Little, Paul Livingston, Allison Terraccio, Don Weaver, Gretchen Cooper, Tish Dozier-Aline, Jessica Mackey, Cheryl English, and Shaquise Newton hereby honor and commend Sandra Haynes on her 36 years of distinguished service to Richland County Government and express their sincere gratitude for her many contributions to the county and its residents. Director Haynes, where are you? Oh, there you are, okay. The lights are so bright. Please come say a few words.

first of all thank you council members for allowing me to serve the county for 36 years thank you for recognizing me this is humbling humbling and deeply meaningful serving the county has been a pleasure it's been a great privilege over the years I've had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated employees elected officials community partners volunteers and advocates who all share the same goal, which is to make our community a safer and more compassionate place to live. I'm especially grateful for the staff that I've worked with, present and past. Their commitment to professionalism and compassion have inspired me every day. Any success achieved was because of the incredible team that's always standing beside me. To council, thank you for your support and your trust and your belief in the important work that we do. Your leadership has helped us to grow and better serve the citizens of Richland County. Thank you, Administrator Brown and ACA Jensen. Thank you for your support and your guidance. As I retire, I leave with a heart full of gratitude, wonderful memories, and confidence that animal services will continue to strive. Thank you to my family and friends that are here with me tonight. Again, council, thank you for allowing me to serve 36 years with Richland County.

Well, I'm going to say a few words. You know, I haven't been here that long, but in the time, it's true, but in the time that I have been here, you know, Director Haynes, I always appreciate your help and guidance. I think many people don't realize when you become elected official, the animal service part is the one that you really, you don't know a lot about. I mean, you know that we have animals in the community and we gotta solve problems, but you really don't know the ins and outs. And so when I came on the County Council, I thank you for sharing the ins and outs, giving advice, helping resolve constituent issues, because we get a lot of calls about animals and you were always willing to respond and resolve and so I thank you for that and just thank you for your service to Richland County we truly will be missed thank you yes okay y'all want to take a picture yes okay

Okay, we can't.

Yeah, I think that's good right there, y'all. Look right here.

Thanks for having served many of those 36 years with you. I can appreciate what you've done for this great kind of hour. Think about all those committee meetings, orders and rules related to animal services in our community. And most importantly, those many, many, many dogs and cat fights. Cause I don't think anyone could appreciate, um, you know, the change that we've made over the years with you, with your service and just want to thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

This is a, it's been a season of retirements, right? and stop anybody from leaving, but we appreciate y'all while you were here. We really do. All right. Number seven, report of the attorney for executive session items. Attorney Wright, you're recognized.

Yes, Madam Chair. We have two items for executive session. 7A, 2026 administrator, clerk of counsel, and county attorney evaluation pursuant to 30-4-70A1. and B, 120 Clemson Road, Columbia, South Carolina, pursuant to 30-4-70A2, and we do not have outside counsel for either matter.

Thank you. Per council rules, both of these items will be taken up at our second executive session on the agenda this evening. Next is item eight, citizens input for items on the agenda not requiring a public hearing. Vice Chair Pugh, do we have anyone to sign up to speak this evening?

Madam Chair, we have several people that signed up to speak this evening. When I call your name, if you could approach the nearest podium, state your name and address for the record, and you have two minutes to speak. If I butcher your name, I want to apologize in advance. First, we have Rick Cutler. Mr. Cutler, if you could approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and you have two minutes to speak, sir.

My name is Rhett Cully. I live at 11101 Garners Ferry Rd in Eastover, SC. I'm up here about the solar projects that y'all keep approving. on property on pine thicket road where y'all just approved the 500 acre project um right beside the 700 acre project that y'all approved i'm sandwiched in between those two projects i never y'all didn't put out a notice sign anywhere y'all didn't send a letter i saw it on the news about the second one um try to hurry up I don't see how Richland County is benefiting from these projects that destroy wildlife habitat that you can't replace. The Eastover Solar is from out of state. They're not from Eastover. All the contractors came from out of state. It created zero jobs in Richland County. And going by y'all's website, they paid zero property taxes. on 700 acres, I got eight acres right beside them, I pay $1,500 a year and it's in ag. I don't understand that. I tried to get the names of the people on the new project and y'all referred me to this lady and she would give the project manager my number but wouldn't give me his number and he never called me. I talked to Ms. Newton and Don Weaver, and they were very nice and all. I called Ms. English, but she didn't ever return my calls. I just don't understand. Can anybody here explain to me how this is benefiting Richland County? Nobody? Y'all approved it.

So I just wanna let you, so during public comment period, each citizen is allowed two minutes to speak, but during that time, council does not respond. So you have two minutes to speak, make sure your comments are heard. During that time, we do ask that you remain respectful, and so be mindful of how you mention council members names or staff name and accusations that you may say on the record okay to be respectful yes I understand and so I don't mean any disrespect to anybody I promise you I'm just stating facts is all I'm doing but could could I could I give y'all permission to answer my questions sir so the way it works you have two minutes to make your public comments but staff excuse me County Council will not respond during your two minutes sir okay how do I get answers I ain't gonna answer that either

Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next, we have Jill Lewis. Ms. Lewis, if you approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and you have two minutes to speak.

My name is Jill Lewis. I live at 1868 St. Matthews Church Road in Eastover. I have lived here my entire life and that's a choice I made because I love our town of Eastover and everything that it offers. My brother and I have been running Mr. Bunky's Market after the loss of our father a couple years ago and we have put a petition behind the register at our store for the community sign that we created just a short time ago. Less than two weeks ago, we created this petition and the petition is to stop the addition of any more solar farms in Eastover. As Rhett said, we currently have 1,200 acres that stand to be lost to solar development. 740 acres already exist on Van Brooklyn Road under East Everett Solar. We understand there's an additional 462 acres that stand to be developed over the next two years that was approved by County Council last year. In total, it's over 1,200 acres of land that has been destroyed. And for what? These solar companies, there's nothing green about them. They are advertised as green renewable energy. But to us, there's nothing green about logging, grading, spraying herbicides, and then fencing it in with an eight-foot fence to prevent wildlife from their natural habitat. We have created a petition that we will present to you if you want to make a copy and keep it that ask that the current codes, as they state, I'll permit these large industrial solar farms. They permit them to move on to agricultural zoned land. without a public notice. So we never had a chance to oppose the solar fields on Van Brooklyn Road. We have been given notice that RWE Solar Development has offered contracts to our neighbors to develop an additional 2,000 acres on Old East River Road, and we are here to oppose that and ask for a change in the law so that these farms cannot go up on agricultural land without public notice.

Mr. Lewis, that's your time, ma'am. Thank you. Next, we have Jason Carter. Mr. Carter, if you could approach the podium, state your name and address for the record, and you have two minutes to speak.

Hello, Council. My name is Jason Carter, 120 Mary Lane Road, Eastover. I'm co-owner of Mr. Bunke's Market with my sister Jill. I've been farming in the Eastover area for 31 years. My biggest concern about any more solar farms in Eastover would be, of course, the loss of farmland and timberland. But my biggest concern is, if we remember back to the 2015 flood, Eastover is in the Tom's Creek watershed and Tom's Creek goes from Fort Jackson into the heart of the Congaree National Park. Putting in any more solar farms, and we're talking thousands of acres, would increase the watershed in these areas and all that water will eventually end up in the Congaree National Park. Right now this farmland and timberland absorbs most of this moisture and soaks it into the ground. Building these industrial solar farms would cause more runoff. And if we all can remember back to 2015 flood, we had in 24 hours, we had 21 inches of rain. None of these solar farms or retention ponds are designed to hold this much rain. water, even half that amount. So the amount of runoff water that would come off this would also, you know, end up in the park, but it'd be greatly destroyed because you remember back in the flood of 15, all the bridges, roads, and dams were destroyed from Fort Jackson to the Congaree National Park. And all this solar farm was going to do is just increase that chance that happened again. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Mr. Carter. Next, we have Lori Hoback. I did good with that. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it. If you could properly state your name and address for the record.

Sure.

You have two minutes to speak, ma'am.

Thank you. My name is Laurie Hoback. I live at 1134 Ziegler Road South. I'm an equine veterinarian. I've been in the Eastover community for approximately 30 years now. When I moved into this area, it's a place I chose to call home because it is a farming area. It's a rural area. And that's why we moved there. You know, when everybody else on the 4th of July was sitting there enjoying their home and they're doing their cookouts and going to the beach, what were we doing? We were farming because that's what that community is. That's what we are. We're farms. And that's why we're all here tonight to let you know that we don't need these industrialized solar complexes to come into this location. Make no... difference about it these are not farms these are not farms that are coming in they're industrialized solar power plants that are going to be coming in and overtaking this rural community that we've been in for all this period of time There's better opportunities for where these plants could be put. Go down to the city of Columbia. Go stand on those places where those huge asphalt parking lots are at. I ask you to stand there for 30 minutes, three hours, six hours. Stand there and see what would happen. You're going to get overheated because it needs coverage. There's radiant heat in those locations. They're prime to be developed for solar. Now, the solar company doesn't want to do that because it's not profitable and cost effective for them to do it that way. It costs them out of their pocket to do that too much. It's easier for them to choose our fields and to take those over because they're already easily preparable for that. But Richland County needs to stand up to them and say it's not about what they want. I don't care what they want. We need to care what we want for our community and our community would benefit. Look at the airport. They're already all over this idea. Let's use those solar panels at a location where they can do some good. Let's not tie up our farms with those. The other part I ask you to consider is we keep getting individuals that don't reside in our community making determination on what's going to happen. Ziegler Road after the flood where I live. Individuals at the other end of our road got to make the decision that they were going to close our road. Think of that. The individual at the other end of the road doesn't live there either.

Thank you, Ms. Larkin. Next we have Ms. Bernice Scott.

Thank you. Bernice G. Scott, 328 Willowin Road, Hopkins, South Carolina, 29061. The community is upset because we don't know anything about the solar. We don't know what kind of is taking effect on our lives. We don't know anything. I talked with some people, and they told me that there's not an ordinance saying that they got to notify the public and I think that you need to pull this back and we really came just to stand everybody who come with that stand up we don't need to keep repeating ourselves but we really need to stop on this get uh ordinance and let us come and let the solar people come and let us hear what they got to say and then we say what you got to say we are the taxpayers of this county and we would love for y'all to take even something coming in especially your rural community we don't want to destroy it we want people to make money but the people don't live there And everybody come and don't live there, but they put all these pounds up and you don't know what kind of effect it's taking on our body. A lot of people got cancer, sinus, asthma, all that. We don't know. It's not enough study has been done on those pounds to let them come in the community like that in such a large amount. I just want y'all to take time, stop this, let's get together and work this thing. Look at it real good. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Next we have Jennifer Manki.

Manki?

Manki.

Good evening. I'm Jennifer Manki. I live at 320 Clearview Drive, Hopkins, South Carolina. I've lived there for 20 years, and I think I've been before you for 12 of those years trying to help what used to be called our uniquely rural land in Lower Richland. And now I wanna speak, I'll try not to repeat everything that they said, but there are other ways to do this that are more logical, covering parking lots, putting it on the roofs of buildings that come in, especially the newer buildings. Scout Motors could really do with some solar on their roof. So I know that it's not a zoning thing, can't be corrected with zoning necessarily because it's zoned as agriculture, which is the weirdest thing. But I wish that we could halt for a while this development. Let us get involved as we've gotten involved with other things before you let us help you work it out if we can. But try to make it more logical where we put it in places where it won't cause bad effects, but will cause good effects like shading building so they're easier to air condition shading parking lots. It and or making them mixed use farms farms. where they can have animals underneath them or crops grown. They do that in other parts of the country, but there are other ways to do this, and using those parking lots and roof lines would be more logical. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Jennifer. Next, we have Edith Taylor.

Good afternoon, Council. How are y'all doing? Good.

I'm here also... Sir, if you could state your name and address for the room.

James Faber, the mayor of the town of Eastover. Thank you for allowing us to be here this afternoon.

Mr. Mayor, can you give us your address?

Oh, post office by 642 Eastover. That doesn't take away my time, right? No, sir, you do. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Well, it's great to be here with you all, and I know you all are hardworking servants for the county, and we appreciate that, but we have a critical issue in our community, and that is that they're trying to install some major development in which we have not had the opportunity to review it. No one has ever come out at one point to discuss it, and it's really disgusting if you have a corporation like this coming into your community and not advertising and not allowing us to have input so no one in the community knew this was coming until a couple of days ago until we got notified from someone in the community so i i think it's disingenuous to even have someone come in our community like this and historically this has been in rural carlos all over this country and particularly in the area east over and surrounding areas companies coming in no one notifying you what what's about the the effects of what it might be and also the other thing about is that When they come in, no employment. They come in, they promise you that there'll be employment. But at the end, we find really that there's really no employment. So the benefit from this is there's a major, they have a major solar farm on Van Brocklin in Eastover now. No one has gotten employed. hundreds and hundreds of acres of solar panels. Not a single person in the town of Eastover benefited. So I'm asking you today, please take a look at this, like the other members have said, put this on hold until we have a chance to review it, take a look at it, and have the community input, and also the long-term, look at the long-term effects it might have on the people in the community. So thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Next we have Lonnie Atkins. Lonnie, if you could state your name and address for the record. You have two minutes to speak, sir.

I'll be glad to. Lonnie Atkins, 1829 St. Matthew's Church Road, Eastover, South Carolina. I wasn't really prepared to speak, but I will be glad to. As an owner of a home with solar, it does strike me that it's odd that we can't do more of that. But there's also a downside to that. When you make this, you get integrated into the system. I looked at my electric bill before I came up here. The electric company charges me 14 and a half cents per solar unit, or electrical unit that I use. It feeds back, my system feeds back into the tri-county electric system, and they give me a credit of six cents. Charge me 14 and a half, give me a credit of six cents. I wonder how it works. And I thought that should be thought of. But as everybody has brought to your attention, we would love to have input as to what happens in our community. And we'd appreciate it if y'all take that to heart. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lonnie. Madam Chair, that concludes everyone that signed on to speak for that item.

Okay, so there were two lists. So if you did not sign up for 8A, I'm assuming you signed up on a different sheet. So if you would give us just a minute. Okay, so we are going to call additional names that apparently are on 9A.

So we have Carolyn and Bobby Lamar. Say that again. What about Lisa Pryor?

Good evening.

My name is Lisa print and live at to 16 Adams ain't road Hopkins to 9061 we were in East over a couple of times per the postal service but we're back in the Hopkins have never moved an inch but. I was going to yield my time tonight to someone, but there was just one question that I had of the Council if y'all after my two minutes are over could respond is that how that works don't okay. Well, I'll tell you my question. It's my understanding from what I read and is that this land, the land plan, I may be calling it wrong, like I said, I wasn't gonna speak, had the solar under the agricultural, so it was never voted on except for the actual plan itself. so the plan was was voted on it was accepted but the actual problem with all of this is we believe i think common sense says that solar is not agricultural that it is uh um electrical corporation, industrial, whatever you want to call it, but it's not agriculture. It doesn't have anything to do with wildlife, animals, livestock, water, anything that agricultural, the word agricultural means. So I think what everybody, well, let me speak for myself. I think what would make sense is to take it out of that non-zoning part that you would have to come before uh council to get a zoning approval a zoning change because there are so many out of state or out of area companies coming in and profiting off which i have no problem people need to eat they need you know nobody gets a free lunch so uh you but you have to have some um boundaries and i think uh this topic has crossed the boundary of a zoning problem and so my my question is can we miss lisa that's your time yes sir thank you next we have homer rose mr rose if we post the podium state your name and address for the record and you have two minutes to speak sir

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the council. Thank you for letting me be here. My name is Homer Rose. I live at 1421 Van Volkland Road in Eastover. I own a piece of property that faces the east. It was a beautiful piece of property when I bought it, and I bought it for the beautiful vista of the property. It overlooked 500 acres of prime agriculture and a river basin on a watery river. prettiest sunset you'd ever want to see, make you appreciate what God has given you. I was able to sustain that for a while and enjoy it until the year of 2020 when a solar developer moved in without any public notice, without any notice to myself. and began putting in what is now 600 acre solar field. So my beautiful vista now is a 600 acre solar field. I had no opportunity to defend that. There was no public notice of that. I watched the displacement of wildlife. I watched the destruction of a beautiful piece of agriculture. I watched the destruction of natural resources, and I had been used to. I know you can only control what you buy, what you own. But through this council, I ask that you give your constituents of District 11 and District 10 your consideration about their surroundings and where they've lived before you make any decisions to allow these developers to come in. There's two winners in the solar field, the people who get money for leasing their property, and the other is the solar developer.

So, Rose, that's your time, sir.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Have a nice evening. Is it too late? Yes, ma'am.

I'm sure that concludes everyone that signed up to speak for that item.

Thank you so much. I want to let everyone know that although County Council cannot directly respond to your comments tonight, all comments listened to, they're taken. That is here that we'll work to gather responses. to your question. They will not go ignored. It's just that we will not engage back and forth here tonight, but you will get responses and answers to at least additional information to your comments. Next is nine citizens input must pertain to Richland County matters not on the agenda. Items for which a public hearing is required or a public hearing has been scheduled cannot be addressed at this time. Vice Chair, do you have anyone to sign up to speak this evening?

Madam Chair, no one signed up to speak for that item.

Next is item 10, report of the county administrator. Administrator Brown, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair, members of council. Under legislative updates under 10A1, I want to just share with you, there are a couple of developments. We've been talking about this for some time now related to the federal government. We have issued some comments regarding some potential funding changes that may be coming from the federal government. And we have asked them to consider strongly the impact of taking away funding during mid-cycle. That is some of the consideration right now that they are considering. So we have submitted comments. I just wanted you to know that in general, we don't have any final information right now, but you may have seen the NACO alerts, the National Association of Counties alerts. Just want you to know that we did respond as a county through our grants department, just raising the concerns about the impact that some of those changes could have on our local projects and our local residents. So just wanted to give you that legislative update. related to the next item on the agenda under general information. Wanted you to know that I believe it's also on your calendar, but on tomorrow, the 15th, there is going to be coordinated activity at the Garners-Ferry Adult Activity Center. where funding has gone from our CDBG community development block grant program to support the community. Some of you may be participating in that, but just want you to know that there will be members of my staff that will also be participating in that community support effort. So I just wanted to share that with you on a general updates. And that's from 1.30 to 3.30 on tomorrow. uh moving on to one of the items that i'm very pleased to share with you under 10 a2 we have another award-winning uh department with an award-winning project uh and i wanted to and i thought it was appropriate uh to recognize them here on tonight so our public works department were recognized for a program that they initiated it's there in your packet between pages 17 and 21. And they received this recognition for their program. So we have Director Maloney, we have other members of the public works team that are here. And we just again wanna recognize them for putting Richland County on the map from a work standpoint, putting forth efforts that represent good projects that other folks can look at as best practices. And just wanted to share that with this body, again, another department for their great work. If you want to take a look at the information there in your packet, specifically, they communicated a program that was in-house training and testing capabilities for our drivers to help them reduce issues that unqualified drivers may suffer from. And so having an internal program where our people are able to take that load off of the state, but also have qualified drivers of our own who can train others is a pretty big deal. And so they received an award for it. That award is here on display tonight. So Madam Chair, I know you've already had a few photos, but if we will please the body, I would love if you would be willing to take another photo with these award-winning members of our Public Works Department who are here and present. And if you would, that would be my request.

Would love to take a picture. Where's the award? Come on.

All right, gentlemen.

Congratulations, guys. Thank you.

Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Hello. Congratulations. There we go. One, two, three.

All right, one, two, three.

Okay.

Thank you, everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir. All right, thank y'all, thank y'all, thank y'all. All right, you got it. Thank you, Mr. Brown. Thank you so much. Congratulations. I don't know how you were.

Thank you.

Administrator Brown?

Yes, sir. Madam Chair, members of council, that does conclude my report on this evening.

Thank you so much. Item 11, report of the Clerk of Council. Madam Clerk, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's a quick reminder that we have a penny project coming up. It's the Trenholm Acres Sidewalk Groundbreaking Ceremony, which is scheduled for August the 13th at 10 a.m. The event will take place at 6300 Shakespeare Road. Anyone that would like to attend this event is welcome to attend. And again, this is one of our penny projects. That concludes my report.

Thank you so much. Item 12, report of the chair. I do not have anything to report this evening. Item 13, open close public hearings. 13A, authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds, fire protection service in one or more series tax exempt or taxable in an amount not to exceed $12 million for the purpose of funding capital improvements and acquiring equipment for the fire district authorizing the county administrator to prescribe the details of the issuance and sale of the bonds and the form in detail of the bonds providing for the disposition of the proceeds of the bonds and payment of the bonds and other related matters. This public hearing is now open. Vice Chair Pugh, do we have anyone to sign up to speak this evening?

I'm sure no one signed up to speak for that item.

The public hearing is now closed. Item 14, approval of consent items. Madam Chair. You're recognized. Move to approve items 14A through D. Motion, is there a second?

Second.

Motion and second for 14A through D approval. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Yes. Pugh? Yes. Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved. Reconsideration?

Yes, ma'am, for items 14A, B, D. So moved.

I have a motion and a second for reconsideration of items 14A, B and D. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? No. Pugh?

No.

Little? No. Livingston? No. Teresia?

No.

Weaver?

No.

Cooper? Aileen? No. Mackey? No. English? No. Newton? No. Motion fails.

Item 15, third reading items, 15A, authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds, fire protection service, and one or more serious taxes or taxable... and an amount not to exceed 12 million. For the purpose of funding capital improvements and acquiring equipment for the fire district, authorizing the county administrator to prescribe the details of the issuance and sale of the bonds and the form and details of the bonds, providing for the disposition of the proceeds of the bonds and payment of the bonds and other related matters. Move to approve. Second. Motion and second for approval. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? Yes. Pugh? Yes. Leto? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Second. Motion is second for reconsideration. Madam Clerk?

Branham?

No.

Pugh? No. Leto? No. Livingston? No. Horatio? No. Weaver?

No.

Cooper? Aileen. Oh. Mackie. Oh. English. Oh. Newton. Oh. Motion fails.

16 second reading items. Madam Chair. You're recognized.

Move to approve item 16A through F. Okay.

Motion and second for approval of 16A through F. Any discussion? Madam Clerk.

Brenham. Yes. Pugh. Yes. Leto. Yes. Livingston.

Yes.

Teresha. Yes. Weaver. Yes. Cooper. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Yes. Newton. Yes. Motion approved.

Madam Chair. Recognize.

Move to approve item 16G. Second. Motion and a second for approval of 16G. Madam Clerk.

Brenham.

No.

Pugh.

Yes.

Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio?

Yes.

Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Aileen? Yes. Mackey?

I recuse myself due to my parent company representing this applicant.

Noted. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Madam Chair, move to approve item 16H. Second. I apologize. There is a motion and a second to approve item 16 H. Thank you so much. Any discussion?

Madam Clerk.

Branham? No. Pugh?

Yes.

Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Aileen? Yes. Mackey?

I recuse myself due to my parent company representing this applicant.

noted english yes newton yes motion approved item 17 report of the economic development committee councilman livingston you recognize item 17 a economic development administration edam letter of support request the committee's recommendation was for approval you've heard the committee's recommendation it does not require a second is there any discussion

Madam Clerk.

Brenham.

Yes.

Pugh.

I recuse myself for my parent company may be, may receive benefits from the support letter.

Noted. Little. Yes. Livingston. Yes. Teresia. Yes. Weaver.

Yes.

Cooper. Yes. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Yes. Newton. Yes. Motion approved.

Okay. That completes the report of the development committee.

Thanks is item 18 report this to you planning ad hoc committee. The committee recently met to discuss items 18 a and B, which are both emotions that were made during our recent budget process and funding was allocated for two studies to be done one for recreation. tourism strategic study and implementation plan and another for economic development study on recruiting small businesses and strengthening the local business ecosystem. The committee recently met to discuss what it is that the intentions were of both these motions and to provide feedback to staff to then create an RFP. No action was taken. This report is really just for information and you will be hearing more updates from the committee as this proceeds along. Hearing no question, that concludes the report of the Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee. Item 19, report of the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee. Councilman Weaver, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just very quickly, 19A on the partnership with Columbia Housing. We are moving forward. We've identified approximately 10 houses that we're going to start on first. The fly in the ointment, so to speak, is getting HUD to sign the deeds over, and we're working on that now. Thought it was going to be July. Now it turns out it may be October. But we are pushing HUD to sign this paperwork so we can actually start the renovation. So we're working on that with Columbia Housing. Item B, down payment assistance program, we heard a report today. ACA Jensen gave us some things to think about. The big decision the committee needs to make is whether this is an outright grant to help new buyers or whether it's some kind of forgivable loan. And so the committee's gonna be working on that again at our September meeting, but we are moving that forward. And the last thing, item C, we did hear a report today from county staffer Callison Richardson that We'd like to start a partnership with the state. Apparently they're sitting on about $60 million in this great repair program they have. That wasn't originally discussed on the committee, but we did have a speaker at our last meeting in June and the money's available. So we're kind of trying to morph this into some kind of partnership with Richland County so that we can go out in our districts and talk about this repair program.

making progress all around and we will meet again in september and that concludes my report thank you councilman weaver i believe on 19c there was action taking in the committee so you would need to report out that action so that this body can then okay yes that was action today or in june no that happened today i made a motion in committee you remember

Oh yeah, okay. Mr. Brown, can you enlighten me on that again, what was actually passed?

Yes, sir. In your packet on page 697, there was a motion out of the committee to recommend that council, well, the motion made it out, but directing Administrator Brown to pursue a partnership with the South Carolina Housing Trust Funds Home Repair Program, allowing the county to access state funds for home repair in Richland County. That is the motion that came out of the committee. Mr. Committee chair. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Brown. So we need to vote on that full council tonight.

Yes, sir. You've heard the recommendation from the committee. It does not require a second. Is there any discussion? All right. Hearing none. Madam clerk.

Branham? Yes. Pugh? Yes. Leto? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Terracia? Yes. Weaver?

Yes.

Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Councilman Weaver, if you don't have anything else now, you can conclude.

Now that it concludes my report, Madam Chair. Thank you so much, yes. Thank you for that reminder, by the way.

Anytime. Item 20, report of the Transition Ad Hoc Committee. Councilman Livingston, you're recognized.

of construction. That item came before the committee. The committee recommended for approval of the road widening project for to Pametta Corp of Conway in the amount of $6,357,470.20. The committee's recommendation was for approval.

Heard the committee's recommendation does not require a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? Yes. Pugh?

Yes.

Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Item 20B, B2012, Transition Painter-Idaway Transfer. of North Main committee recommendations for approval. You see that on page 711 in your book.

You've heard the committee's recommendation does not require a second. Is there any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? Yes. Kew? Yes. Leto? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Hooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Item point to see to balance attention. You're paying a right away. Transfer reference. North main us 21 phase four road widening improvements. The committee's recommendation is for approval. You find that information on page eight 28 in your packet.

You've heard the committee's recommendation does not require a second. Is there any discussion? Madam clerk,

Brenham? Yes. Pugh? Yes. Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved. Madam Chair.

Will you give me just a minute to...

Sorry.

Thank you so much. Ms. Horatio, you're recognized. Thank you. Move to approve items 21A through E. Second.

Can you scroll down? Does she have a different agenda than what's in our printed document, please? Thank you. All right, so motion for approval of 21A through E. Did I hear a second? Yes. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? Yes. Hugh? Yes. Leto? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Teresio? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Move for reconsideration.

Second. Motion second for reconsideration. Madam Clerk? Yes. Sorry, Madam Chair. Can we confirm reconsideration for number 21A and E?

A through E? Is that your motion for reconsideration? Oh, yes. Okay.

Is there a second? Yes. Any discussion?

Madam Clerk?

Branham? No. Pugh? No. Leto? No. Livingston? No. Terraccio? No. Weaver? No. Cooper? No. Alleyne? No. Mackey? No. English? No. Newton? No. Motion fails. Madam Chair, can we request reconsideration of the previous item, item number 20C? So moved. All of the transportation items.

20A, B, and C. Move for reconsideration for items 20A through C. Second.

Motion and second for reconsideration. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Branham? No. Pugh?

No.

Little? No. Livingston? No. Horatio? No. Weaver?

No.

Cooper? No. Aileen? No. Mackey? No. English? No. Newton?

No.

Motion fails.

Thank you. We're now at item 22, executive session. Attorney Wright, you're recognized.

Yes, Madam Chair. The two items mentioned before, 7A and B, A pursuant to 30-4-70A1 and B pursuant to 30-4-70A2.

Thank you. You've heard the items for executive session this evening. I'll entertain a motion. Move to enter executive session. Second. Account of clarification. for the items which we're going into executive session for? Maker of the motion?

Yes, I'm reporting. Seven A and B. Seven A and B.

If you agree.

Yes, thank you for putting them there. Second.

I heard a second. Yes. Thank you. Madam Clerk. Moreno? Yes.

Pugh? Yes. Leto? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver?

Yes.

Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Now an executive session. Second to come out of executive session. Madam Clerk.

Branham. Yes. Pugh. Yes. Little. Yes. Livingston. Yes. Terracia. Yes. Weaver. Yes. Cooper. Yes. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Newton. Yes. Motion approved.

Thank you. Please let the record reflect that no action was taken during executive session. For 7B, I'd like to make a motion to authorize the county administrator to proceed with the process recommended by administration regarding 120 Clemson Road. Second. A motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk.

Brenham.

Yes.

Pugh. Yes. Leto. Yes. Livingston. Yes. Horatio. Yes. Weaver. Yes. Cooper. Yes. Aileen. Yes. Mackey. Yes. English. Yes. Newton. Yes. Motion approved. Madam Chair.

Recognized.

Thank you.

Upon further thought. For item 7A, I move to authorize the county council chair and the chair of the evaluation ad hoc committee to complete the mid-year performance review process as discussed in executive session. Second.

Motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk?

Brenham? Yes. Pugh? Yes. Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Terracia? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Yes. Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Thank you. Ernie Wright, is that it for executive session?

That is.

Thank you. Item 23, motion period. I did not receive any motions prior to this evening's meeting. And we're at item 24.

Move to adjourn.

Second.

Motion and second for adjournment. Madam Clerk?

Brenham? Yes. Pugh? Yes. Little? Yes. Livingston? Yes. Horatio? Yes. Weaver? Yes. Cooper? Yes. Aileen? Yes. Mackey? Yes. English? Newton? Yes. Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned.