Council adopts the reimagined Vision 2030 document and approves an study to address boat ramp safety
The council officially approved the updated Vision Kershaw 2030 plan, which serves as a long-term roadmap for economic growth and community development. Members also voted to allocate funds for a feasibility study regarding improvements to the Patriot's Landing boat ramp at the Wateree River.
9 votes9 passed1 split
The vote behind the headline
Motion to Allocate $60,000 for Patriot's Landing Boat Ramp Study:Council approved $60,000 for a feasibility study regarding improvements at the Patriot's Landing ramp.
Unanimous · 6-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones
What this was about
Following extensive public comment and council deliberation, the Council voted to allocate up to $60,000 in ARPA funds for a feasibility study to address safety concerns at the Patriot's Landing boat ramp on the Wateree River. Residents and local boaters, including licensed captains, spoke during the meeting to describe the ramp's current design as dangerous due to strong currents. The study will prioritize confirming property ownership and the county's legal ability to perform work on the state-owned right-of-way. It will also examine the feasibility of building a floating dock upstream, maximizing parking, and potential long-term infrastructure like event venues for fishing tournaments. The Council also directed staff to expedite the removal of the existing dangerous floating dock. Members agreed that the $60,000 represents an upper limit for the study rather than a guaranteed expenditure.
PASSED (Unanimous). Council clarified that ownership verification will be the first priority of this study
Approval of the Agenda:Council unanimously approved the meeting agenda after correcting a slight oversight regarding public hearing listings.
Unanimous · 6-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones
What this was about
The Council formally adopted the meeting agenda during the opening portion of the December 14, 2021, session. The approval process followed a brief delay to ensure all members of the public wishing to speak had registered on the sign-in roster. Chairman Ben Connell presided over the vote, confirming the presence of a quorum despite the absence of Councilman Snodgrass, who was traveling. Although the initial printed materials presented to the Council contained a minor omission regarding the listing of all scheduled public hearings, the administrative error was rectified during the meeting. With the agenda finalized, the Council proceeded to address the various resolutions, ordinances, and new business items outlined for the evening. The unanimous vote ensured the meeting could transition directly into the scheduled public presentations and legislative matters without further procedural delay.
Resolution for Project Orion Fee in Lieu of Taxes:Council approved a fee-in-lieu tax agreement for a $10.4 million investment creating 54 jobs.Taxes & budget
Unanimous · 6-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones
The Council approved a resolution authorizing a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes (FILOT) agreement for 'Project Orion.' This industrial project involves a $10.4 million capital investment in the county and the creation of 54 new jobs. The agreement includes a six percent assessment rate over a 20-year term and locks in the millage rate for that duration. This incentive is part of the county's broader economic development strategy to attract and retain industry. The measure passed unanimously, following assurances from staff regarding the investment specifics and wage data. This resolution was the first step in the process, which also included a corresponding ordinance reading later in the meeting.
Resolution for Project Panel Fee in Lieu of Taxes:Council approved a fee-in-lieu tax agreement for a $7.9 million investment creating 80 new jobs.Taxes & budget
Unanimous · 6-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones
The Council approved a fee-in-lieu of tax agreement for 'Project Panel,' a business expected to invest approximately $7.93 million into the county. The project investment is split between machinery and equipment ($3.4 million) and building improvements ($4.4 million). The company expects to create 80 new jobs with an average hourly wage of $20.00. The agreement offers a six percent assessment rate for a 20-year term, with no special source revenue credits (SSRCs) included. During the discussion, council members praised staff for the recent success in attracting industrial investments and noted the potential for using these tax revenues to support county fire services and offset fees for residents.
Council finalized the adoption of 'Plan 2b' for redistricting the six single-member county council districts. This move was mandated by federal law following the 2020 decennial census to ensure districts remain population-balanced and satisfy the one-man, one-vote constitutional requirement. The chosen map was selected after a lengthy process involving multiple public hearings and the establishment of guiding principles by the Council earlier in the year. The 2b plan, which included minor adjustments to district boundaries to improve minority voting age population (BVAP) scores, limits population variance to approximately 7.9 percent. Council members expressed frustration regarding the unavoidable disruption of established neighborhood boundaries and precinct identities necessitated by federal law. Staff advised the public to verify their voting precincts before the June 2022 elections, as the new district lines will likely affect polling locations.
Approval of 2022 County Council Meeting Schedule:Council approved a 2022 schedule of twice-monthly meetings for the first half and once-monthly thereafter.
Yes 5 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Ben Connell✗ Jimmy Jones
The Council voted 5-1 to approve the 2022 meeting schedule, with Councilman Jimmy Jones casting the lone dissenting vote. The schedule continues the current practice of holding two meetings per month for the first six months of the year - primarily to handle the heavy workload associated with the annual budget process - followed by one meeting per month for the remainder of the year. Proponents argued that this schedule provides staff with more time to manage county operations once the budget is finalized. Councilman Jones opposed the move, arguing that a single meeting per month causes the Council to become disconnected from ongoing county issues and limits responsiveness to citizens. Attempts to amend the schedule to ensure two meetings every month were unsuccessful.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 1. This schedule sets meetings twice monthly for the first six months and once monthly for the remainder of the year
Motion to Allocate $60,000 for Patriot's Landing Boat Ramp Study:Council approved $60,000 for a feasibility study regarding improvements at the Patriot's Landing ramp.
Unanimous · 6-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Ben Connell✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones
What this was about
Following extensive public comment and council deliberation, the Council voted to allocate up to $60,000 in ARPA funds for a feasibility study to address safety concerns at the Patriot's Landing boat ramp on the Wateree River. Residents and local boaters, including licensed captains, spoke during the meeting to describe the ramp's current design as dangerous due to strong currents. The study will prioritize confirming property ownership and the county's legal ability to perform work on the state-owned right-of-way. It will also examine the feasibility of building a floating dock upstream, maximizing parking, and potential long-term infrastructure like event venues for fishing tournaments. The Council also directed staff to expedite the removal of the existing dangerous floating dock. Members agreed that the $60,000 represents an upper limit for the study rather than a guaranteed expenditure.
PASSED (Unanimous). Council clarified that ownership verification will be the first priority of this study
Council members discussed the recent success of the Carolina Motorsports Park and its value as an economic asset and training site for local law enforcement.
There was also a significant discussion regarding the need for state and federal cooperation to improve local road infrastructure, particularly in the West Wateree area.
Public comment▸showhide
Several residents spoke regarding the Patriot's Landing boat ramp, highlighting safety concerns and the need for structural improvements due to river currents.
Other commenters spoke on the importance of maintaining and expanding trails through the KC Trails initiative and ensuring that Goodale State Park remains a priority for economic and recreational development.
Coming up▸showhide
Council will hold its next meeting on January 11, 2022. The council also plans to continue reviewing budget strategies during upcoming sessions in early 2022.
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.
