Council moves forward with millage rate increase and executive search for administrator
Despite opposition from some council members regarding the transparency of the budget process, the council advanced a millage rate increase to its final reading. Additionally, the council voted to hold a special called meeting to appoint a new county administrator following an executive session.
8 votes7 passed1 failed4 split
The vote behind the headline
Motion for a called meeting to appoint the next administrator:Council approved a motion to schedule a special meeting to appoint a new administrator within 48 hours.Appointments
Yes 4 · No 3
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson✗ J. Burns✗ T. Gardner✗ Sammie Tucker Jr.
In a move to resolve the county's leadership vacancy, the council approved a motion to hold a special called meeting within 48 hours to appoint a new county administrator. Proponents of the move argued that acting quickly would provide stability to county employees and prevent the uncertainty associated with a prolonged search process. While some members expressed reservations about the speed of the decision, the motion passed 4-3, officially setting the stage for the upcoming appointment. The chairman and the clerk were tasked with finalizing the time and agenda for this meeting. This decision marks a significant step in the council's effort to move forward with permanent administrative leadership for the remainder of the year.
Ordinance setting the millage rate (2nd Reading):Council advanced a millage rate increase to its final reading following a detailed budget discussion.Taxes & budget
Yes 4 · No 2
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How they voted
✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Ben Connell✗ Jimmy Jones✗ Russell Brazell
This ordinance sets the millage rate for Kershaw County for the upcoming fiscal year, a key component of the overall county budget. This was the second of three required readings, following initial approval of the budget priorities in February. The council heard from the auditor, who provided detailed estimates of the tax impact on various home values in both the general and Lugoff Fire districts, clarifying that the increase reflects a balance between debt reduction and rising costs for essential services like fire and 911. While some council members expressed concern over the transparency of the process and the financial strain on citizens, supporters argued the millage was necessary to maintain county priorities and public safety. The council aims to finalize the budget process before the state-mandated deadline for sending out tax notices in September. The measure passed 4-2, with two members opposing and one abstaining, moving it toward a final reading and public hearing.
Ordinance adopting and enacting a new county code (2nd Reading):Council unanimously approved the second reading of a new, updated county code for Kershaw.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Ben Connell✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Tom Gardner
The council moved to adopt a comprehensive update to the Kershaw County Code, which governs local ordinances and regulations. This initiative has been in development for a significant period to ensure that county regulations reflect current best practices and legal standards. By modernizing the code, the council aims to provide clearer guidelines for both administration and citizens. This second reading allows for minor edits or refinements before the final third reading and ultimate passage. No public concerns were raised during this phase of the meeting. The ordinance passed unanimously, signaling broad council support for the legislative house-cleaning measure.
Amendment to cancel executive session for administrator search:The council rejected a proposal to eliminate a planned executive session regarding the administrator search.
Yes 1 · No 6
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How they voted
✓ Jimmy Jones✗ Ben Connell✗ Russell Brazell✗ Julian Burns✗ Tom Gardner✗ Sammie Tucker Jr.✗ Brant Tomlinson
Following the placement of an executive session item on the agenda regarding a search for a new county administrator, Councilman Jimmy Jones moved to cancel the closed-door session entirely. Jones argued that the search process, which involves hiring a consultant and potential contract fees, was unnecessary given that the county already has capable interim leadership. He suggested that the council should wait until the new board is seated in January before committing to such a search. The majority of the council disagreed, emphasizing the need for legal and personnel discussions to occur in a protected environment with council counsel present. The motion to cancel the session failed in a 1-6 vote, allowing the body to proceed into executive session.
Motion to enter executive session for administrator search:Council voted to move into a closed session to discuss personnel and contract methodology for the search.
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Ben Connell✗ Jimmy Jones
What this was about
After failing to cancel the executive session, the council voted 6-1 to move into a closed-door meeting to discuss the methodology and requirements for the upcoming county administrator search. The discussion was strictly limited to personnel matters and contractual frameworks to ensure compliance with legal advice. The chairman clarified that the goal was to prepare for the selection process while maintaining attorney-client privilege regarding potential legal aspects of the search contract. This session allowed members to review the scope of work and requirements for a future administrator without public disclosure of sensitive personnel information. Upon returning to open session, no formal votes were taken, though the groundwork for the search was established.
Motion for a called meeting to appoint the next administrator:Council approved a motion to schedule a special meeting to appoint a new administrator within 48 hours.Appointments
Yes 4 · No 3
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How they voted
✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson✗ J. Burns✗ T. Gardner✗ Sammie Tucker Jr.
In a move to resolve the county's leadership vacancy, the council approved a motion to hold a special called meeting within 48 hours to appoint a new county administrator. Proponents of the move argued that acting quickly would provide stability to county employees and prevent the uncertainty associated with a prolonged search process. While some members expressed reservations about the speed of the decision, the motion passed 4-3, officially setting the stage for the upcoming appointment. The chairman and the clerk were tasked with finalizing the time and agenda for this meeting. This decision marks a significant step in the council's effort to move forward with permanent administrative leadership for the remainder of the year.
The council approved a request for proposals (RFP) recommendation to hire a specialized firm to lead the development of the county's new Comprehensive Plan. This document is a critical roadmap that will influence development, zoning, and infrastructure decisions in Kershaw County for the next 30 years. The previous plan was last updated in 2015, and the council emphasized the importance of high-quality professional input rather than simply selecting the lowest bidder. The chosen consultant is expected to work alongside a parallel project on Zoning and Land Development Regulations to ensure consistency in the county's growth strategy. The project is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete, and council members stressed the need for significant public input throughout the process.
Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR) RFP recommendation:Council unanimously selected a consultant firm to update the county's land development regulations.Development
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson
Building on the approval of the Comprehensive Plan, the council unanimously selected the same consulting firm to update the county's Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR). Council members noted that having a single firm handle both the Comprehensive Plan and the ZLDR update will allow for better integration of engineering standards, stormwater planning, and infrastructure development. The update is anticipated to take about 18 months, during which time the county's current regulations will remain in effect. This process is viewed as a necessary step to better manage rapid growth in the region, particularly in the West Wateree area. The council expressed confidence that this investment would produce a high-quality regulatory framework suitable for the unique character of Kershaw County.
Three-year lease purchase agreement for breathing apparatus:Council approved a $1.55 million lease purchase for essential firefighting breathing equipment.County property
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Tom Gardner✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Julian Burns✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson
The council unanimously approved a three-year lease purchase agreement for 1.55 million dollars to acquire self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units for the county's fire services. The current equipment had become obsolete, and replacing it is necessary to comply with safety standards and fire codes. Staff explained that the county previously attempted to secure grant funding for this purchase but was unsuccessful, necessitating the financing agreement. The debt service will be handled through the fire department's recurring capital budget. Local fire officials attended the meeting to underscore the urgency of the equipment upgrade, which is vital for the safety of first responders entering hazardous environments.
Council members discussed the ongoing realignment of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments. Members expressed frustration with the Midlands Council of Governments, noting that Kershaw County has paid into the system for decades without seeing adequate infrastructure funding for the West Wateree area.
The council also reviewed upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions, including the A-Tax Committee and the Library Board.
Public comment▸showhide
Four residents addressed the council. Concerns included the proposed millage rate increase, the costs associated with the administrator search process, and the use of third-party consultants for the Comprehensive Plan.
Speakers also raised issues regarding littering, the need for increased government transparency, and the importance of finding common ground in local politics.
Coming up▸showhide
A special called meeting will be scheduled within the next 48 hours to appoint a new county administrator.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for September 13, 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.
