Council finalized the approval of Project Seagull and Project Orion, two economic development initiatives involving tax incentives and property transfers
Despite significant public opposition regarding the use of taxpayer incentives for private enterprise, council members argued these projects are necessary to revitalize long-vacant properties and generate future tax revenue.
7 votes7 passed6 split
The vote behind the headline
Infrastructure Credit Agreement for Project Seagull (3rd Reading):Council finalized an incentive package for a new boutique hotel development in downtown Camden.
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Russell Brazell✓ Julian Burns✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ David Snodgrass✗ Jimmy Jones
This ordinance authorizes an infrastructure credit agreement for 'Project Seagull,' a private boutique hotel development. The package provides an eight-year tax abatement, which proponents argue will revitalize a long-vacant building and generate future tax revenue. Councilman Russell Brazell noted that the project will generate roughly $110,000 annually during the abatement period, whereas the site currently generates zero tax revenue. Opponents, including Councilman Jimmy Jones, contended that the project lacks transparency, deviates from the County’s established commercial incentive policy, and creates an unfair playing field for existing small businesses. Residents during public hearings echoed these concerns, questioning why public tax incentives are being offered to a private enterprise without a clear business plan or evidence of necessity. The measure passed 6-1, with Jones voting no. The agreement includes placing the property into a multi-county industrial park to allow for the credit structure under state law.
Request to State for Limited Millage Cap Increase (Resolution):Council requested the state allow counties a one-time millage rate increase to fund fire protection services.Taxes & budget
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ David Snodgrass✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Ben Connell✗ Jimmy Jones
This resolution addresses the urgent need to transition Kershaw County from a volunteer-based fire service to a system incorporating career-paid firefighters. Because current state-imposed millage caps limit the ability to generate sufficient revenue, Council is urging the General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 401. This legislation would provide a short-term, one-time mechanism to increase millage rates specifically for fire protection districts. Supporters, including Councilman Ben Connell, argued that agrarian counties like Kershaw face unique challenges in funding 24-hour fire coverage as they grow. Conversely, Councilman Jimmy Jones opposed the measure, arguing it provides an unlimited tax-raising mechanism that circumvents fiscal responsibility and places a burden on property owners. The vote was 6-1, with Jones casting the dissenting vote. This resolution serves as a formal request to the state legislature to provide local governments with the flexibility to ensure life-saving fire protection services are properly staffed and funded.
Usage of ARPA Act Funds (Resolution):Council approved a broad policy framework for spending approximately $13 million in federal pandemic recovery funds.
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Russell Brazell✓ Julian Burns✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ David Snodgrass✗ Ben Connell
This resolution establishes how Kershaw County will allocate its $13 million share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The primary focus of the approved spending plan is a $10 million investment into wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, which Council members described as a critical necessity for future economic development. Additionally, the plan allocates $1 million for public employee support and $2 million to be used for "reclaimed loss revenue" across various categories, including public safety radios and tourism infrastructure. While the measure passed 6-1, Councilman Ben Connell voted against it, expressing strong disagreement with the inclusion of bonus payments for public employees. Connell argued these funds could have been directed toward broader household assistance or used to avoid future debt, rather than favoring a specific subset of employees. The vote establishes the high-level policy guidance, while specific expenditures will return to Council for final budgetary approval.
Infrastructure Credit Agreement for Project Seagull (3rd Reading):Council finalized an incentive package for a new boutique hotel development in downtown Camden.
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Russell Brazell✓ Julian Burns✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ David Snodgrass✗ Jimmy Jones
This ordinance authorizes an infrastructure credit agreement for 'Project Seagull,' a private boutique hotel development. The package provides an eight-year tax abatement, which proponents argue will revitalize a long-vacant building and generate future tax revenue. Councilman Russell Brazell noted that the project will generate roughly $110,000 annually during the abatement period, whereas the site currently generates zero tax revenue. Opponents, including Councilman Jimmy Jones, contended that the project lacks transparency, deviates from the County’s established commercial incentive policy, and creates an unfair playing field for existing small businesses. Residents during public hearings echoed these concerns, questioning why public tax incentives are being offered to a private enterprise without a clear business plan or evidence of necessity. The measure passed 6-1, with Jones voting no. The agreement includes placing the property into a multi-county industrial park to allow for the credit structure under state law.
This ordinance approves the sale of a county-owned 'spec building' site at 15 Mesa Lane to 'Project Orion,' a polymer compounding subsidiary. The sale is part of an ongoing effort to divest from the speculative property and bring a new industry into the county. During the meeting, Jeff Burgess, the county's economic development representative, confirmed that while the sale price of approximately $2.1 million represents a loss compared to the total investment, the tax revenue generated will offset the shortfall within two years. Concerns were raised regarding an adjacent landlocked tract, but the sale proceeded unanimously. The development is expected to employ dozens of workers, and the Council expressed a desire to move past the speculative building venture to focus on more sustainable industrial growth.
Zoning Map Amendment for 86 Acres (1st Reading):Council advanced a request to rezone 86 acres to allow for higher density housing near Camden.Development
Yes 5 · No 2
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ David Snodgrass✗ Russell Brazell✗ Jimmy Jones
This ordinance initiates the process to rezone 86 acres from RD1 to R15 status, which increases the allowable housing density. Neighbors near the property, including Don Canada and Dr. Jim Pisuch, voiced significant concerns during public comment about traffic congestion, the loss of rural wildlife habitats, and the impact on their privacy. While the Planning Commission recommended approval on a 5-1 vote, Council was divided. Councilmen Russell Brazell and Jimmy Jones voted against the first reading, and Councilman Jones abstained from the final decision process during this meeting, citing a desire to visit the property in person before casting a vote. Proponents suggested that as the county grows, such developments are inevitable and that the three-reading process will allow enough time for neighbors and developers to discuss potential conditions, such as the installation of privacy fencing.
Ordinance Setting the Millage Rate (1st Reading, Title Only):Council approved the first step toward setting the annual property tax millage rate.Taxes & budget
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ David Snodgrass✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Ben Connell✗ Jimmy Jones
This procedural vote marks the first reading for the ordinance that sets the county's millage rate for the coming year. Because the county is currently in a reassessment year, the final numbers are pending data from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Administrator Carpenter explained that the millage rate is likely to decrease or 'roll back' due to rising property assessments, but exact figures cannot be confirmed until state data is finalized. The ordinance was passed in title only to keep the process moving. Councilman Jimmy Jones voted against the measure, maintaining his stance against potential tax increases until he sees the final, audited figures from the Auditor’s office.
ARPA Funding for Volunteer Firefighter Service Pay:Council authorized using $67,000 in federal funds to provide service payments to local volunteer firefighters.
Yes 5 · No 2
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How they voted
✓ David Snodgrass✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones✗ T. Gardner✗ Ben Connell
Following the approval of the broader ARPA policy framework, Council voted 5-2 to distribute approximately $67,000 in federal funds to the Lugoff Fire Department and volunteer fire responders. The pay structure mirrors the point-based system used to reward other county employees for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Councilman Sammie Tucker Jr., who introduced the motion, thanked Councilman Jimmy Jones and the administration for their work in ensuring these volunteers were recognized for their contributions. Councilman Ben Connell and Councilman Brant Tomlinson voted against the measure, with Connell reiterating his fundamental opposition to distributing ARPA funds to specific subsets of government employees rather than applying the funds to broad capital needs or community-wide assistance.
Council received a presentation from the Kershaw County Library and Access Kershaw regarding their collaborative social work initiative, which has provided hundreds of resource connections to residents.
Additionally, council discussed the upcoming redistricting process mandated by the census and approved a professional rate study for the county wastewater system.
Public comment▸showhide
Residents expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the Project Seagull negotiations, the fairness of providing tax abatements to private developers, and the perceived uneven playing field for existing small businesses.
One resident shared a moving account of a 2020 boating tragedy involving her son, calling for legislative changes to law enforcement reporting and investigative requirements, known as Jaden's Law.
Coming up▸showhide
The next council meeting is scheduled for October 12, 2021. Future agenda items will include a briefing on the county redistricting plan and further readings for the pending millage rate ordinance.
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.
