Kershaw County Council initiated the process to sell the county-owned spec building at 15 Mesa Lane in Lugoff to an entity referred to as Project Orion
Council unanimously approved both a letter of intent to begin negotiations and the first reading of an ordinance to authorize the property conveyance.
2 votes2 passed
The vote behind the headline
Ordinance Authorizing Conveyance of Land at 15 Mesa Lane (1st Reading):Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to begin the property sale process.
Unanimous · 7-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
What this was about
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of the land and spec building at 15 Mesa Lane. This ordinance establishes the legal framework required for the county to eventually sell the property to Project Orion. By approving the first reading by title only, Council followed standard procedure for industrial recruitment, leaving room to flesh out contract details in subsequent readings. Members expressed support for the economic development team's efforts but stressed the importance of transparency as the negotiations advance. Council members underscored that they expect to review the final contract terms before the sale concludes. This measure allows the formal legal process to begin, ensuring the county is positioned to act if the negotiations with Project Orion result in a mutually beneficial agreement for the community.
Authorization to Execute Letter of Intent for Project Orion:Council approved a letter of intent to begin negotiations for selling the county-owned spec building.
Unanimous · 7-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
What this was about
Kershaw County Council voted unanimously to approve a letter of intent regarding the potential sale of the county-owned industrial spec building located at 15 Mesa Lane in Lugoff. This action serves as the formal starting point for negotiations with an entity identified as Project Orion. Council leadership clarified that the letter of intent is a preliminary step, similar to dating before a marriage, rather than a final binding agreement. While the document mentions a potential valuation of $2.3 million, members noted that the county has approximately $3.2 million invested in the property. The move is intended to facilitate economic development within the county while keeping the specific terms under wraps until a finalized contract is ready for public review. Officials emphasized that this process is ongoing and that more details will emerge as negotiations proceed, with further public hearings expected as the deal matures.
Ordinance Authorizing Conveyance of Land at 15 Mesa Lane (1st Reading):Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to begin the property sale process.
Unanimous · 7-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
What this was about
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of the land and spec building at 15 Mesa Lane. This ordinance establishes the legal framework required for the county to eventually sell the property to Project Orion. By approving the first reading by title only, Council followed standard procedure for industrial recruitment, leaving room to flesh out contract details in subsequent readings. Members expressed support for the economic development team's efforts but stressed the importance of transparency as the negotiations advance. Council members underscored that they expect to review the final contract terms before the sale concludes. This measure allows the formal legal process to begin, ensuring the county is positioned to act if the negotiations with Project Orion result in a mutually beneficial agreement for the community.
Council held an executive session to receive legal advice regarding Project Orion and Project Seagull. Prior to the session, Councilman Jimmy Jones requested that Project Seagull be discussed in an open session rather than behind closed doors, but the motion failed for lack of a second.
Council leadership assured residents that details regarding these economic development projects will be brought forward for public hearings and formal readings in future meetings.
Public comment▸showhide
There was no formal public comment period during this special called meeting.
Coming up▸showhide
Regular Council Meeting: August 10, 2021.
Economic Development Ribbon Cutting: A project at Wateree Executive Park is scheduled for July 21, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., representing a $17 million investment and the creation of 144 jobs.
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.
