Council approved a budget increase for the Lugoff Fire District to fund staff pay raises and additional personnel while also receiving a formal resignation from District 5 Councilman David Snodgrass
The council faced a standing-room-only crowd, with public commentary dominated by concerns over tax increases, residency requirements for council members, and recent social media rhetoric regarding the local farmers market.
8 votes8 passed3 split
The vote behind the headline
Lugoff Fire District Budget Request:Council approved a budget request and fee increase for the Lugoff Fire District.Taxes & budgetEMS & fire
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Julian Burns✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ David Snodgrass✗ Russell Brazell
The Lugoff Fire District sought a budget amendment to fund personnel pay increases and the hiring of three new firefighters. The measure sets an aggregate fire service charge of $83 per property, representing an increase over the current $23 fee. Chief Dennis Spitzer provided a compelling presentation, noting that his staff is currently underpaid and that the district has been extremely frugal, having not requested a fee increase in eight years. The funds are designated primarily for salary adjustments, as current firefighters have been working multiple jobs to make ends meet. While the motion passed 6-1, Councilman Russell Brazell expressed concern about the allocation of fee-in-lieu-of-tax funds, suggesting the county could potentially shift more money to the district without raising fees. Despite his concerns, the majority of the Council praised Chief Spitzer’s stewardship and voted to authorize the necessary funding.
PASSEDFor 6 · Against 1. This approval sets an aggregate fire service charge of $83 per property
During the adoption of the agenda, Councilman Sammie Tucker Jr. motioned to delete an ordinance regarding a hospitality tax from the evening's consideration. This item had been a point of contention for some council members who felt that new agenda items were being introduced without sufficient transparency or prior communication. Councilman Russell Brazell expressed frustration regarding the process, noting that he had been absent during a previous meeting where major changes were sprung on the body. Despite the debate surrounding the process, the motion to remove the item passed with a 4-0 vote. The removal effectively halted the discussion of the hospitality tax for this session, providing a temporary reprieve from the concerns raised by residents regarding potential new taxes during a period of high inflation. The move was met with approval from some, though it highlighted ongoing internal tension among council members regarding how items are placed on the agenda.
Following the removal of the hospitality tax item, the Council moved to adopt the remaining agenda. This process included an amendment by the Chairman to include the executive search contract along with a discussion on compensation as a contractual matter. These items required an executive session to address the legal and personal aspects of the administrator search. The motion to adopt the amended agenda was carried with a 6-0 vote. This provided the roadmap for the rest of the meeting, which was packed with budget discussions and public commentary. Adopting the agenda is a standard procedure, but in this specific meeting, it served as a platform for Council to navigate the controversial topics of tax increases and administrative staffing. The procedural vote ensures that all remaining items, including fire district funding, were officially moved onto the docket for final deliberation.
Minutes Amendment (Clerical correction on fire fee):Council corrected a clerical error in the previous meeting's minutes regarding a fire fee amount.EMS & fire
Yes 7 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell
Councilman David Snodgrass requested an amendment to the minutes from the June 28 meeting to address a clerical error. The original minutes incorrectly recorded a fire fee increase as being from 30 to 80 dollars, whereas the actual increase discussed was from 60 to 80 dollars. This correction ensures that the official record accurately reflects the legislative actions taken by Council. The motion to amend was seconded and passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote. Maintaining precise minutes is a vital part of municipal governance, as these records serve as the official history of county policy. By correcting the figure, the Council prevents potential confusion for constituents and staff regarding the specific fee schedules that were enacted. The adjustment was treated as a routine administrative matter.
The Council held the first reading of an ordinance to set the millage rate for the new fiscal year. This measure is the primary tool used by the county to determine property tax collection levels. The vote passed with a 5-2 tally, with Council members Russell Brazell and Jimmy Jones voting in opposition. The millage rate setting process follows recent public outcry from residents who are struggling with rising inflation and the cost of living. During the public comment portion of the meeting, many citizens urged the Council to use reserve funds instead of raising taxes, specifically referencing a suggestion made earlier by Councilman Jimmy Jones. By passing this first reading, the Council is signaling its intent to move forward with the proposed budget plan. This reading was done by title only, and it will require subsequent readings before becoming final law.
This ordinance, known as the codification enabling ordinance, marks a significant step in organizing and standardizing the county's collection of laws. By creating a unified code, the county will make its ordinances easier to access, interpret, and enforce for both staff and the public. This has been a long-term project for the county, and the Council members expressed satisfaction with the staff's efforts to bring this to fruition. The motion passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote. Codification effectively repeals outdated or conflicting ordinances that were not included in the new framework and establishes clear penalties for violations. This procedural milestone is intended to streamline future policy decisions and ensure that local laws are transparent and consistent across the board. The ordinance will proceed to further readings to finalize the adoption process.
The Lugoff Fire District sought a budget amendment to fund personnel pay increases and the hiring of three new firefighters. The measure sets an aggregate fire service charge of $83 per property, representing an increase over the current $23 fee. Chief Dennis Spitzer provided a compelling presentation, noting that his staff is currently underpaid and that the district has been extremely frugal, having not requested a fee increase in eight years. The funds are designated primarily for salary adjustments, as current firefighters have been working multiple jobs to make ends meet. While the motion passed 6-1, Councilman Russell Brazell expressed concern about the allocation of fee-in-lieu-of-tax funds, suggesting the county could potentially shift more money to the district without raising fees. Despite his concerns, the majority of the Council praised Chief Spitzer’s stewardship and voted to authorize the necessary funding.
PASSEDFor 6 · Against 1. This approval sets an aggregate fire service charge of $83 per property
The Council voted 6-1 to enter an executive session to discuss the search for a new county administrator and the associated compensation matters. This private meeting allowed the members to discuss sensitive contractual details that are not public record. Councilman Jimmy Jones voted against the session, arguing that a lame-duck Council should not be responsible for picking the next administrator. He also requested that the session be moved to the end of the meeting to avoid inconveniencing the large crowd of citizens who had gathered for public comment, but his request for a delay did not receive a second. The executive session followed the standard legal protocol for personnel and contractual deliberations, allowing the council to review candidates or contract terms. After the discussion concluded, the Council returned to open session with no immediate action taken regarding the search.
Return from Executive Session:Council returned to public session after concluding their private executive discussion.
Yes 6 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Ben Connell✓ David Snodgrass✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell
What this was about
After the executive session concluded, the Council formally voted to return to the public meeting. The motion to exit the private session and resume the regular agenda passed 6-0, with Councilman Jimmy Jones abstaining as he had not participated in the closed-door discussions. The Chairman reported that no official action was taken during the executive session regarding the administrator search or compensation matters. This return to open session allowed the Council to proceed with the remaining items, including council member comments and official announcements. By following this protocol, the Council ensured that its private deliberations remained separate from its public legislative responsibilities, in accordance with state guidelines for municipal meetings.
Council discussed a resolution establishing guidelines for displaying portraits of long-term members in council chambers; while an amendment to increase the service requirement to 30 years failed for lack of a second, the main resolution passed (note: see video for full roll call on final resolution).
Council members also held a lengthy discussion regarding professional decorum and recent public disputes involving members and the local farmers market.
Public comment▸showhide
Sixteen residents addressed the council, with many speaking in defense of the Kershaw County Farmers Market regarding recent social media accusations of illegal activity.
Other residents voiced strong opposition to the recent millage rate increase and questioned the residency status of Councilman David Snodgrass. Concerns were also raised regarding drainage issues in the Elgin area and the need for improved transparency in the council's budget process.
Coming up▸showhide
Council will hold a future meeting regarding the county administrator search, with updates to be provided via the clerk. The next regular session schedule will be posted by the county as needed.
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.
