Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement to resolve a long-standing employment dispute involving a former county employee
The resolution follows three previous briefings regarding threatened litigation and authorizes a payment not to exceed $95,000 in exchange for a complete and final legal release.
6 votes6 passed
The vote behind the headline
Settlement of Employment Dispute and Threatened Litigation:Council approved a $95,000 settlement to resolve a long-standing employment dispute and threat of litigation.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement to resolve a long-standing employment dispute involving a former county employee. The resolution authorizes a payment not to exceed $95,000 in exchange for a complete and final legal release of all claims. The matter reached this stage after three separate briefings where Council received legal advice from the county’s labor attorney, Vance Bettis. The process involved direct facilitation by legal counsel and the county administration to ensure the dispute was handled appropriately before it could escalate into formal litigation. By approving this measure, the county effectively concludes the threatened legal action, avoiding the uncertainties and costs associated with a protracted court case. This is a final action on the matter, and the settlement will be finalized once all documents are signed as approved by the county attorney.
Proclamation Honoring Ms. Beverly Brevard:Council recognized longtime Sheriff’s Office records clerk Beverly Brevard for her thirty years of dedicated service.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Kershaw County Council officially honored Ms. Beverly Brevard, a longtime records clerk at the Sheriff’s Office, for her three decades of service to the community. Throughout her career, Ms. Brevard served under five different county sheriffs, providing administrative support and managing sensitive records, including sex offender documentation and NCIC data. Her colleagues and Council members lauded her ability to navigate numerous administrative transitions while maintaining a consistent focus on serving the citizens of Kershaw County. This proclamation serves as a formal mark of appreciation as she prepares for a well-deserved retirement. A public retirement gathering is scheduled for May 29, 2019, at the Sheriff's Office, where community members can celebrate her contributions. The resolution highlights her dedication to public service and the significant institutional knowledge she provided to the county over the last thirty years.
Bid Award for Heritage Point Sewer Line (Stutson Williams, LLC):Council awarded a contract to Stutson Williams, LLC, for sewer line installation at the Heritage Point site.Water & sewer
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council approved a contract with Stutson Williams, LLC, in the amount of $286,953 to install a sewer line at the Heritage Point industrial site. This project had previously appeared on a meeting agenda but was pulled after the initial low bidder withdrew, citing errors in the information they provided during the submission process. County staff confirmed that no other bidders were affected by similar errors and recommended the project proceed with Stutson Williams, LLC. The cost of the contract remains within the original budget allocation for the site development. This infrastructure work is part of the county's effort to prepare the Heritage Point industrial building for potential tenants and future economic expansion. No further changes to the scope of work were reported, and the project is expected to proceed as planned following this unanimous approval.
PASSED (Unanimous). The previous low bidder withdrew due to errors in their submitted information
Appointment to Health Services District Board (Walter Long):Council unanimously appointed Walter Long to the Kershaw County Health Services District Board.Appointments
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council voted to appoint Walter Long to fill a vacancy on the Kershaw County Health Services District Board, often referred to as the Kershaw County Health Board. The appointment process was completed after the candidate submitted his application in a timely manner according to county procedures. The Health Board plays a vital role in overseeing health-related services and community wellness initiatives within the county. No other candidates were considered for this specific vacancy during this meeting, and Council members voiced no objections to the appointment. This role ensures continued representation on a board that significantly impacts the delivery of local healthcare services for Kershaw County residents.
Appointment to Airport Commission (Robert Park, Jr.):Council appointed Robert Park, Jr., to serve on the county's Airport Commission.Parks & recAppointments
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council appointed Robert Park, Jr., who is commonly known as Bob, to the Kershaw County Airport Commission. He was selected to replace outgoing member Tim Hopkins, whose term had concluded. The Airport Commission is responsible for advising Council on matters related to the operations, maintenance, and strategic development of the local airport facility. The appointment was motioned by Councilman Al Bozart and received unanimous support from the present members. This appointment maintains the necessary oversight and community representation for the commission, ensuring the airport continues to operate as an effective transportation hub for the region.
Bid Award for Bethune Recycle Center Paving (Campbell Pavement Specialties):Council approved a contract for resurfacing and expansion work at the Bethune Convenience Center.RoadsEnvironment
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council awarded a contract to Campbell Pavement Specialties to install new asphalt at the Bethune Recycle Center, also known as the Bethune Convenience Center. The project, which was approved in the current 2018-2019 fiscal year budget, involves resurfacing the facility and performing a slight expansion to improve service for residents. County Administrator Danny Templar noted that out of three bids submitted, two were determined to be non-responsive, leaving Campbell Pavement Specialties as the qualified low bidder. The expansion and resurfacing are designed to address maintenance needs at the existing location rather than relocating the facility. The work will proceed immediately to improve the site's utility and safety for the public.
Settlement of Employment Dispute and Threatened Litigation:Council approved a $95,000 settlement to resolve a long-standing employment dispute and threat of litigation.
Unanimous · 7-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement to resolve a long-standing employment dispute involving a former county employee. The resolution authorizes a payment not to exceed $95,000 in exchange for a complete and final legal release of all claims. The matter reached this stage after three separate briefings where Council received legal advice from the county’s labor attorney, Vance Bettis. The process involved direct facilitation by legal counsel and the county administration to ensure the dispute was handled appropriately before it could escalate into formal litigation. By approving this measure, the county effectively concludes the threatened legal action, avoiding the uncertainties and costs associated with a protracted court case. This is a final action on the matter, and the settlement will be finalized once all documents are signed as approved by the county attorney.
Kirkwood Community Park concerns: Franklin Alexander, a board member for the community, presented an activities report and raised concerns regarding the maintenance of a softball field, noting that current conditions do not meet the standards outlined in a 2013 memorandum of understanding.
Economic development mega-site: Local residents John Rice and Jeff Maddox raised questions regarding the county's financial involvement in economic development projects, specifically the mega-site option and the role of state-level funding versus county expenditures.
Council briefings: Council members discussed ongoing efforts to improve county signage, drainage issues near Woodward Park, and the recent success of the Clean Community Commission, which cleared 440 bags of trash from county roads in a single day.
Public comment▸showhide
Residents addressed council regarding the potential for a town hall website to better communicate with citizens, scholarship opportunities through NASA programs for local students, the maintenance of Kirkwood Park, and criticisms regarding the economic development philosophy and taxation practices of the county.
Coming up▸showhide
Sheriff’s Office Event: A retirement gathering for Beverly Brevard is scheduled for Friday, May 29, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Community Events: Council reminded residents of the upcoming Colonial Cup and Carolina Cup events, encouraging attendees to be safe and responsible.
Independent summary, generated from the county's public video, not an official county communication.
How this recap was made: Prepared from the meeting's live-stream transcript. The county's official minutes (the verified vote record) will be cross-checked automatically once the county publishes them, often a couple of months later. This is an automated summary written by software (a neural-network summarizer working from the documents above). Rely on the official county record for anything important.
