Council passed a significant amendment to the Unified Code of Zoning and Land Development Regulations, setting a new 3.5-inch asphalt standard for county roads
The move, which also mandates the use of conventional aggregate sub-bases instead of soil cement, aims to improve long-term road durability throughout the county.
7 votes7 passed2 split
The vote behind the headline
Award bid for Sludge Dewatering Boxes:Council unanimously awarded a $178,792.20 contract to S & S Welding & Fabrication for sludge dewatering boxes.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Danny Catoe✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Russell Brazell
Council approved a contract for three 20-cubic yard sludge dewatering boxes to be used at the county wastewater treatment facility. The contract, valued at $178,792.20, was awarded to S & S Welding & Fabrication of Lexington, South Carolina. The purchase is intended to reduce the county's reliance on outside contractors for dewatering services, offering a long-term cost-saving measure for utility operations. Funding for this procurement was identified within the current fiscal year's utility department budget.
PASSED (Unanimous). The council awarded $178,792.20 to S & S Welding & Fabrication
Ordinance to amend membership of Kershaw County Clean Community Commission (3rd Reading):Council deferred the third reading of this ordinance to allow for additional research on a potential name change.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Danny Catoe✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson
This ordinance was intended to amend the membership provisions of the Kershaw County Clean Community Commission by adding two at-large membership positions. During the meeting, members discussed the potential to rename the organization to the Kershaw County Clean Commission. Because the body was uncertain whether a name change might trigger legal or grant-related conflicts, Council decided to defer the vote to ensure proper due diligence. The appointment of new commission members was also deferred to align with the timing of the ordinance vote. This matter is now scheduled for consideration at the May 14 meeting. Council intends to consult with legal counsel regarding the name change during this interim period.
TABLED (Unanimous). The council deferred the vote to May 14 to allow time to research a potential name change
CASE 24-06: Rezone property on Mill Creek Trace (3rd Reading):Council unanimously approved the rezoning of property on Mill Creek Trace from R-15 to RD-2.Development
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Danny Catoe✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson
This ordinance officially rezoned approximately 4.9 acres of property located on Mill Creek Trace in Elgin, South Carolina. The owners, Joe and Cindy Smith, sought to change the zoning classification from R-15, Low Density Residential, to RD-2, Rural Resource District. The primary purpose of this rezoning is to allow the placement of a mobile home on their property. There were no changes to the ordinance between the second and third readings. The Council voted unanimously to pass the measure, effectively finalizing the zoning map amendment for the specified parcels.
CASE 24-08: Rezone property on Smyrna Road (3rd Reading):Council unanimously approved the rezoning of property on Smyrna Road from MRD-1 to RD-2.DevelopmentRoads
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Danny Catoe✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Russell Brazell✓ Brant Tomlinson
This ordinance finalized the rezoning of approximately 6.38 acres of property located at 1147 Smyrna Road in Elgin, South Carolina. The property, owned by Andrew Collins, was rezoned from MRD-1, Rural Resource District, to RD-2, Rural Resource District. This change in zoning classification was requested to facilitate the placement of a single-wide manufactured home on the site. As with the preceding case, there were no modifications to the ordinance following its second reading, and Council approved the third reading by a unanimous vote.
This ordinance updates Kershaw County’s road design standards by adopting the South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association (SCAPA) criteria. During the meeting, Council approved an amendment requiring a 3.5-inch asphalt thickness, while providing a pathway for geotechnical engineers to certify designs with different thicknesses, provided they meet specific engineering standards. Additionally, the amendment strictly prohibits the use of soil cement as a sub-base material, requiring conventional aggregate sub-bases instead to ensure greater durability. This decision followed extensive discussion regarding the prevalence of premature road failure in the county and the need for stricter, verifiable construction standards. The ordinance passed 5-2, with Council members Sammie Tucker Jr. and Jimmy Jones opposing the final measure.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 2. This ordinance adopts SCAPA standards with a 3.5-inch minimum asphalt thickness requirement
Council approved the first reading of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget in title only. This procedural step allows the county to initiate the budget adoption process while the detailed figures are finalized. Several members of the Council expressed concern regarding the lack of specific financial data provided at this initial stage, arguing that voting without detailed information prevents effective public oversight. The vote passed 5-2, with Chairwoman Katie Guinn, Vice-Chairman Jimmy Jones, and Councilman Russell Brazell casting the dissenting votes. A detailed budget presentation is expected to be provided during the second reading.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 2. This vote was conducted in title only
Council approved a contract for three 20-cubic yard sludge dewatering boxes to be used at the county wastewater treatment facility. The contract, valued at $178,792.20, was awarded to S & S Welding & Fabrication of Lexington, South Carolina. The purchase is intended to reduce the county's reliance on outside contractors for dewatering services, offering a long-term cost-saving measure for utility operations. Funding for this procurement was identified within the current fiscal year's utility department budget.
PASSED (Unanimous). The council awarded $178,792.20 to S & S Welding & Fabrication
Appointment of Laura Bowen to Assessment Appeals Board:Council unanimously appointed Laura Bowen to fill a vacancy on the Assessment Appeals Board.Taxes & budgetAppointments
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Danny Catoe✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Russell Brazell
Council unanimously approved the appointment of Laura Bowen to the Assessment Appeals Board. The board, which consists of five members, handles property tax assessment disputes. The appointment is intended to ensure the board remains fully staffed ahead of future property reassessment cycles. There was no discussion or controversy regarding the nomination.
Emergency Operations Plan: Discussed as part of the Emergency Management modernization.
FY25 Budget: Council members engaged in a brief debate regarding the practice of approving the first reading of the budget in title only before detailed figures are available.
Kershaw County Clean Community Commission: Members discussed the possibility of shortening the commission's name to "Kershaw County Clean Commission," prompting the deferral of related appointments until the May 14 meeting.
Public comment▸showhide
Residents expressed concerns regarding housing density, the impact of major subdivisions on infrastructure, and the necessity of preserving green space.
Several speakers urged the council to implement a moratorium on large-scale developments and to consider increased minimum lot sizes to mitigate strain on schools, public services, and water/sewer capacity.
Coming up▸showhide
Next Regular Meeting: May 14, 2024.
Finance Committee Meeting: April 24, 2024, at 3:30 p.m.
This is an independent summary prepared from the county's official published minutes and the meeting's live stream, not an official county communication.
How this recap was made: Prepared from the county's official minutes (the verified vote record) combined with the meeting's live stream (quotes and discussion). 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.
