City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. So,

Prior to having our hearing, it's our tradition at the city to have a short prayer, and you are welcome to join us if you'd like. Afterwards, we'll gavel the meeting into order. Tonight is my night, my turn, so please join me if you're so inclined. Dear Lord, thank you for bringing each of us here safely tonight, and thank you, dear Lord, for new beginnings, new beginnings for a new council member, new beginnings for the results of a lot of hard work by a lot of people and the vision for what our community can be. We thank you, dear Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed upon us. And we thank you for opening our eyes and our ears to your promise here for our people at this time. We thank you, dear Lord, for the love and the blessings. And we know that you are much more interested in our future than you are in our past. And it's a burden that we carry to make sure that that burden is of your liking. loving on each of us as we should according to your teachings. And for all these things and for your direction and for your leading us in our footsteps forward, we ask that you please continue to love us and teach us how best to love each other. These things we pray, amen. Please join me. I call this meeting of Monday, June 8, 2026 to order. Please join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,

Okay, we've got some recognitions to make tonight. So tonight, who's presenting? There's Rod. Rod, if you'll come on up, please. We're gonna recognize our Rock Hill police cadets. So I think they're all, I hope that's them lined up behind you. Welcome, Rod.

As you know, the Rock Hill Police Department Cadet Program provides young men and women ages 16 to 20 opportunities to gain knowledge, experience, and better understanding of law enforcement profession. While in the program, cadets participate in classroom instruction, hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and community events. I want to thank the council and our management for the continued support for our program. Behind me, I have our cadets, and they are Jake Barojo, Avrianna Garvin, Jaylen Heath, Antoine Vickers, Brendal Crosby, Adanelli, Jaime Iri, Cameron Gifford, Mariah Ashworth, and Andrea Chavez. And also would like to thank my staff for their hard work for these nine months. It's been an outstanding class. They'll be graduating here in a couple weeks, and we'll be ready to start our next class.

Congratulations. Do you have a class leader who's going to speak on behalf of the class informally?

Please give us your name and say a few words if you don't mind. Good evening y'all. My name is Jake Barojo. This is my second year doing this program and I've learned a lot. I've had a great time and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I got here because my advisors recommended I try this from New York Technical College. And again, I've had a great time and I've enjoyed these past two years and I'm currently trying to find to see if I can find a position working for the city of Rock Hill sometime soon enough.

That's good. Look forward to having you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Anyone else?

There you go. Hello, everyone. My name is Jalen Heath. This is also my second year in the program. I would like to give a thanks to, of course, the staff and you guys for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this program. It's helped me in a lot of places in my life. It's taught me a lot of discipline, opened me up to new opportunities like going to the Cadet Program. Sorry, the Cadet Law Enforcement Academy, which was hosted by the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Through the American Legion, they sponsored me to go. It was one of the funnest times I've ever had. So, yeah, thank you. Thank you.

All right, come on. Hey, my name is Ashantis Watts. I go by AJ. This is my first year. First off, I want to thank you guys, thank all the staff here. I just want to say this is definitely more than a program. I've made endless relationships, learned a lot, and this is definitely a family that I've... gained a part of this whole thing. So I just want to thank everybody here and allowing me to be here. So thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else? Last call. You're leaning for the microphone. Congratulations, guys. Yeah, it's quite an accomplishment. We appreciate you coming back for another year, and I look forward to seeing you on the police force here. Rod, congratulations. You and your entire team is in the back. Thank you all.

Let's come up for Rod.

Congratulations.

Yeah. Yeah. Congratulations. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. People did well. Yes, sir. Congratulations. Good job.

Good job. All right. Instructors as well. I guess I'll be taking pictures.

Chopper injuries. This one right here. They have been so good. All right, you ready? Shut up. Very good, thank you. Thank you. All right, man, appreciate you.

Thank you.

Okay, next item on our agenda is item four, consider accepting the certificate of election of June 2nd, 2026. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Welcome, Councilmember. Come on forward so we can take this oath.

I was going to report the certification that Ms. Hardy barely squeaked by. Ms. Hardy, if you could be so kind to raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible.

I'm going to put my glasses on because I'm old.

I'm sure you remember we have two oaths. One's a city oath and one's a state oath. We'll start with the city oath. If you would repeat after me, please. I, Ann P. Hardy.

I, Ann P. Hardy. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear.

That I am duly qualified.

That I am duly qualified.

According to the Constitution of this state.

According to the Constitution of this state.

To exercise the duties.

To exercise the duties.

Of the office to which I have been elected.

to the office of which I have been elected, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God.

As council member of the City of Rock Hill I will equally and impartially to the best of my ability exercise the trust reposed in me and will use my best endeavors to preserve the peace and carry into effect according to the law the purposes for which I have been elected.

purposes for which I have been elected so help me God so help me God come on not right there

Nikita, you want to turn that name tag around so she can see it? There we go. Welcome, Ann. Glad to have you. Welcome.

I bet it is.

Glad to have you. All right we'll move I'm sorry we'll move on to item six consider approving the consent agenda that's item 6a minutes of special session of May 26, 2026 6b second reading and adoption of the City of Rock Hill South Carolina fifth supplemental ordinance approving the financing of the improvement extension and enlargement of the combined utility system of the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina through the borrowing by the City of not exceeding $5,567,402 plus capitalized interest, if any, from the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund by agreement with the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority pursuant to Title 48, Chapter 5, Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 as amended, providing for acceptance of a loan from and execution and delivery of a loan agreement with the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority Execution delivery of a promissory note from the City to the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority and other matters relating thereto. Item 6C, second reading and adoption of the City of Rock Hill 6 supplemental ordinance approving the financing of the improvement, extension and enlargement of the combined utility system of the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina through the borrowing by the City of not exceeding $5,734,493 plus capitalized interest, if any, from the drinking water revolving loan fund by agreement with the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority pursuant to Title 48, Chapter 5, Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 as amended. Provided for acceptance of a loan from and the execution and delivery of a loan agreement with the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority, the execution and delivery of a promissory note from the City to the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority and other matters relating thereto. Item 6D. Second reading adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 7 annexation of the Code of the City of Rock Hill so as to provide for the annexation, zoning and ward designation of Long Creek Twin Lakes Area 3 at lying adjacent to the city limits of the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina. 6E. Second reading and adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of Rock Hill Code by making certain changes in the official zoning map affecting approximately 31.4 acres located on Lawal Creek Drive and Twin Lakes Road from residential mix 20, RMX 20, to master plan residential MPR. 6F. Second reading and adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of Rock Hill Code by making certain changes in the official zoning map affecting approximately 24.17 acres located on Old York Road from Limited Commercial LC to Single Family Residential 5 SF 5.

Ms. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve. However, I would like to see if we could remove item F from the consent agenda and make a motion to approve A through E on the consent agenda.

Second. So we have a motion and a second to consider and approve second reading on the consent agenda items 6A through E. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

I have a question. Yes. What happens to 6F? We take it up separate. Okay.

Separate, yeah.

Thank you.

Any other discussion, questions? Hearing no, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. All right, 6F, what's the wish of council?

Just a couple questions. One, we had a meeting with a developer just to clarify some things. Staff made a mention in here that a couple concerns I have was the construction entrance. And I'm not sure if, is the developer here? Greg's here. Yeah, so I just want to get some confirmation from him, a few of the conversations we had. I just felt like it needed to be put out in public with some of what we talked about before we lettered on that.

Greg, if you give us your name and address, please. Greg Wilson, 1200 Eastmorehead, Charlotte, North Carolina. Yeah, we talked about construction entrance and keeping the traffic off of Miller Pond Road so we can block it. We can cut the entrance off of the full access or one of the out parcels up front, but the construction traffic won't go back towards Miller Pond Road.

And then at some point, at a certain percent of opening, then we'd want the road to be opened and going through.

Just during construction, yeah.

But we still want to make sure that your guys understand that that's not a construction interest as well.

Yes, correct. Yeah, we're good with that.

Anything else? What's the wish of council?

So move for second reading and adoption. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Congratulations, Greg. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yes, sir. We'll move on to item 7A, consider a resolution of the City Council of the City of Rock Hill for the closing of a portion of Neptune Drive to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Hey, Dana.

Good evening, Mayor, Council. We had presented this as an option for closing this area and not allowing the existing road right of way to be connected from Neptune Drive to Galleria Boulevard. After the review by staff, we would like to recommend this as a change based on the topography of the area and work with the developer for this to move forward.

Good. Any questions for Dino? What's the wish of council? Does that move for approval?

Second.

We have a motion, a second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Thank you, Dana. You're welcome. Move on to 7B. Consider resolution of the City Council of the City of Rock Hill for the closing of a portion of Taylor Street to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Mr. Dillingham.

Mayor, members of council, this item is just a cleanup item. We have a parking lot that's been constructed and going to serve McGirt Auditorium in the adjoining church, and there's just a little sliver of Taylor Street which needs to be closed in order to provide access to the parking lot.

Any questions for Paul? So moved to approve the resolution.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item 8A. Consider ordinance for secondary adoption. Ordinance to provide for the disposition by conveyance of property located on Crawford Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina by the City of Rock Hill to Trinity Baptist Church. Mr. Dillingham.

And members of council, this is for the same project. Some of the folks who convey property for this project only wanted the church to hold title. So that's the reason that the title is being conveyed to Trinity Baptist Church. But the city in return for that is gonna get a blanket perpetual easement to maintain and have this parking lot for public use. And of course the church will use it as well. I'm happy to answer any questions. We would recommend approval.

So move for first reading? Second.

Second reading. We had first reading several months ago. No real changes. I'm sorry. Second reading and adoption. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Thank you, Paul. We'll move to item 8B. Ordinance to provide the second reading and adoption. Ordinance to provide for the disposition by sale of property located on Palmetto Parkway, Rock Hill, South Carolina by the City of Rock Hill to Project TULIP.

Mayor, members of Council, I'm not going to say a lot about this, but I believe this would be more for Council to have some discussion and potential approval of this ordinance, but I'm available if you have any questions.

Okay. What's the wish of Council?

So moved for approval. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Time for discussion. So this is the first item out on Project Palmetto Parkway, the Palmetto Research Park that we've been working so hard on for four years. And it's our distinct pleasure tonight to welcome Novant Health to Rock Hill. We're glad to have you here. We have with us tonight Chris Bowe, who is the regional president for Novant. We'd love for you to say a few words about your project and we can brag on you and talk about how much we love you.

Well, thank you, Mayor and Council. It's nice to see everybody tonight. And first, I just want to start by saying thank you to the Mayor and David Vihan, the City Manager, and the entire Council for your support and partnership. Novant Health is honored to partner with the City of Rock Hill as we invest in the future of this community together. Our commitment to expanding care in this community and the community surrounding Rock Hill is really unwavering, and it has been for some time. We are excited about the partnership, but we're also excited to further announce developments of the planned medical campus in the future for the Palmetto Research Park. And we really see this as an opportunity not just to expand access to remarkable care, but for true economic growth and high-quality jobs in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and to further establish Rock Hill as a leader in life sciences. So we really appreciate your trust and support, and we're excited about venturing on this journey together. Any questions?

Thank you. I would like, if you don't mind, to share with everyone about your love for Miracle Park as well that Novant has exhibited over the last few months.

Oh, absolutely. It's been really a true investment in the community. And when you look at health care, it's really not about the buildings, right? Health care is about an intact community. And when you think about jobs, access to food, but also where the community comes together. And I think that's where Miracle Park really shares where it's an opportunity for us to invest in the community together.

Thank you, Mayor. Do you mind sharing maybe what it looks like, what you're going to be doing there? I think some of the public probably doesn't know exactly. They hear no vaunt. They assume certain things. But can you maybe share just a few details of what actually is going on the site and

Yes, certainly. It's under development right now, and what I would say is that we can't share the full scope of it, but this will be a full medical campus, and it's an opportunity for patients to access care, stay right here in Rock Hill, and so we would expect that there will be more to come on that. Okay.

We do know that... Piedmont is no longer providing maternal health at Piedmont anymore. So would this service be provided at Novant Health as well?

Well, we certainly expect to review that. I think that's part of what we do with every new investment of this type. So it would be something that I would plan to discuss with the council as we go forward. We expect this to campus to be really full access to health care.

Ladies in Rock Hill gotta have babies somewhere.

Yes, ma'am. I agree.

I agree. Chris, roughly, I'm sorry, 25 acres is the land that you're purchasing from the city to put your campus on, is that? Yes. Okay, I'm sorry, go ahead.

No, I'm just curious, I know you're in the development stages, but any rough timeline on when you would be in operation? I would say the best guess is as fast as possible.

You should run for office. We would like to be, absolutely, we're in design phase right now. So I would expect the first half of 27 to be an opportunity for us to look at shovels in the ground.

And how many units will be?

To be determined. So yeah, I appreciate the interest and it's something that I'm really excited to get back with you and talk about the full design of the campus. But this is something that Novant sees as a material opportunity for investment in South Carolina, specifically Rock Hill. This community and your growth is really, it's not to be matched today. And so we need access to further care here. We believe Novant Health can be that for you.

Great. Thank you very much.

Welcome. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your support. Absolutely.

So we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

Mayor, I would just, I guess, thank our staff, thank the city attorney and yourself, and this feels a little bit like the similar time when the bleachery had burned and we had to make an investment and we see what's happened there that's come out of the ground and this land off of 77, we found ourselves in bankruptcy court, didn't know what we would do and so, There's been a lot of people work hard to get us to this point. I think Novant is a great addition to Rock Hill and just thank everyone for their hard work. And I think we're starting to see this process through. Well said. Well said.

All right. We have a motion. We have a second. Plenty of good discussion. All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Approved. Welcome to Rock Hill.

Welcome.

We'll move on to item, let's see, 9A, consider ordinance for first ring. An ordinance to provide for the disposition by sale of property on Pineboro Lane, Rock Hill, South Carolina by the City of Rock Hill to the Housing Development Corporation of Rock Hill. Corinne Sviraza. Corinne not here.

David, you got to us. Yeah, I think something came up and she was, I'm sorry, it was unable to make it mayor. So, um, this is a property owned by the city. We, from time to time when the housing development corporation does investments, uh, and we have land that's available within, uh, really across the city, typically within neighborhoods, we would transfer that property to the HTCs so they could make housing that would be available, all affordable housing, obviously. They try to build their lots at this point and something that makes it absolutely as affordable as possible. So we'd recommend approval.

Motion to approve.

Second. We have a motion, second. Any discussion, questions, hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Item 9B, ordinance to provide for right-of-way grant by the City of Rock Hill to the York County Natural Gas Authority. Dean Akiva.

Mayor, Council, the York County Natural Gas is requesting a 10-foot easement in order to rerun a gas line that they need through their system integrity program. Currently, there's a line on the opposite side of the road. They're wanting to establish service on this side of Confederate Park. And so we're asking council to allow this easement to occur. It is something that we've reviewed thoroughly and we have worked very closely with our legal counsel to make sure the language is added appropriately to make sure that it's not an exclusive easement and that we'll partner for the best placement and know it won't affect the park operations or facilities.

Do you know the timeline?

They have not committed a timeline. We wanted to put this in front of you before you weren't meeting for the month of July so that they could make the repairs necessarily for their lines. No, sir, I don't. I can't tell you when they'll break ground.

Okay, so move for first reading. Second. Motion to second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to other items. Item 10A, consider approval of facade easement agreement for 235 East Main Street. Mr. Dillingham.

Thank you, Mayor and members of council. Historically, the city has supported various facade agreements in the downtown area. Some of you in the public may be familiar with the Lantern, which is a hotel project on Main Street in the building, which was formerly the Guardian Building, which was formerly the Andrew Jackson Hotel. So it's kind of stepped back in time for the purposes and uses of the building. The project is seeking assistance for the facades on the exterior of the building and for the public betterment and public view. And we've had similar programs in place over the years. In this particular case, it is a good deal more money, it's a million dollars, but we expect to be paid back in the form of taxes and fees that come back to the city because it's such a mammoth, such a big project, an important project for the city of Rock Hill in less than two years and recommend approval. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions from Paul?

So I move for approval of five side easement.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing to see none, all in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. 10B, consider awarding external audit bid for fiscal years 2027 to 2030 to Malden and Jenkins LLC. I know you beat the doors down to get all the bids that came in. Madison Wilkerson.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for inviting me up here to discuss the award for the fiscal year 2027 through 2030. This is a process that we complete at least every four years according to state law, and we actually bid out this service, our professional auditing service, through a solicitation through a procurement department. We did directly solicit about eight firms to try to get more engagement. Unfortunately, we did just receive one bidder, But it was our same company that has been doing our professional auditing service for the last four years. We have a great relationship with them and they do a great job. So we do recommend approval.

Any questions from Madison?

So haven't we historic, I guess I looked at Ann. But haven't we historically changed? Every so often? Is it every three or four years? And so now this audit firm will be eight years in a row?

This will actually be 12 years. So four years ago, when Ann presented to you, we ran into the same concern that we received one bidder. At the time, when we spoke with those other firms that we, again, directly solicited, they said, well, it was around COVID. They said, we're short on staff. You know, we'll see kind of next go around. Well, here we are next go around. And what we're hearing, you know, we can't necessarily blame COVID anymore. But what we are hearing is that, you know, staffing is still an issue. But I think the bigger concern is that a lot of these firms are really just getting out of governmental auditing. So there were a lot of big players several years ago that the city had used before. And really that has dwindled to Malden and Jenkins in the state of South Carolina. And the reason for that is just, Of course, they're busy year-round is one thing. It used to be that governmental audits would take up time in their off-season. Really, accounting firms are busy year-round. Then the other fact of that is that maybe a governmental audit is not as lucrative as a private company audit or a tax return and things of that nature. It's just really the nature of the business.

Who are the eight that we, I guess this company and then who are the others?

I don't know that I can name all. I can certainly give you a list. But there were a few that I had direct relationships with from previous professional situations. And the feedback that I got from them was that we just don't have the time. Our schedule is already set in some situations.

So is it... Is it possibly that they're not bidding thinking it's gotta go to the lowest bidder and this firm is always the low ball bid?

I don't think so, because the way we do it, it doesn't actually have to go to the lowest bidder. It is an evaluation process. So while, of course, the financial piece of it is a factor, it's not the only factor. So it's not just a low bid type of thing. We do have actually a review committee, and we still completed that process even in this situation to make sure that Malden Jenkins, of course, fit our criteria. But it's not just based on the bid.

Expand the search. That covers, that search covers how many, what area?

The, I'm sorry?

Like the search when you put that out for bid.

So, I mean, again, we directly solicited by email for several. But, I mean, it's also listed on, like, the SCEBO website with the state of South Carolina. You know, again, from some of my previous professional situations, this is not necessarily uncommon. You know, it's just... These firms are not, this is not as lucrative as maybe a private auditing contract.

When is our deadline that we have to pick somebody by?

By June 30th of this year. So you always have to vote on it and approve before the fiscal year actually starts, so July 1. So this contract is for July 1 of 26 through July, I'm sorry, June 30th of 27, and then the years following. So it would just have to be decided before June 30th.

Nothing against these folks and nothing against our staff. I just think it's always good to have a fresh set of eyes every once in a while. So I think our goal should be in the 12th year that we find somebody else, even if we have to pay more for it.

Right. No. And we agree. We will certainly, you know, hopefully, you know, the economy and maybe we'll get some more CPAs. You know, we're also hearing the CPA profession, unfortunately, is kind of dwindling, not just in the state of South Carolina, but just nationally. So there could be just some changes that come through in the next four years. We'll see.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we had a motion and a second, I think. No, we did not. So move to award the bid to Mauldin and Jenkins. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item 11, our Smart Switch and Customer Connect winner. Congratulations, Kurt Chambers. You're our Smart Switch winner. And Arzada Page is our Customer Connect winner. You'll each get $50 credit on your next utility bill. Any City Council Committee reports? Any miscellaneous business? We have already held Executive Session. No action was taken. We don't need to go back into Executive Session, I don't believe. Oh, wow. So with all that and without objection, we'll stand adjourned. All right. All right.