How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

County Council formally adopted the published meeting agenda at the start of the March 24, 2026 regular meeting. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with Vice Chairman Russell Brazell participating remotely and Councilman Brant Tomlinson absent. Adopting the agenda establishes the official order of business for the council meeting.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council approved the official minutes from the previous regular meeting without any requested corrections or edits. Danny Catoe offered the initial motion to approve, which was seconded by Sammie Tucker Jr. The measure passed unanimously among all present council members and Vice Chairman Russell Brazell voting remotely.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council passed the first reading of an ordinance amending the official county zoning map to rezone a 32.17-acre portion of parcel 062-00-00-025 PO, located at 41 Youngs Bend Road in Kershaw. The property owner requested a shift from Rural Development District (RD-2) to General Development District (GD) to allow the nearby motor park business to expand its footprint and establish perimeter buffer zones. The Kershaw County Planning Commission previously held a public hearing with no public opposition and unanimously recommended council approval. Councilman Derek Shoemake moved the measure, noting the business has been a positive economic contributor to the community while respecting neighbors. Surrounding properties are already zoned General Development, preventing spot zoning issues. The ordinance requires two additional readings and a public hearing before final enactment.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council passed first reading of an ordinance amending Section 3:3 of the Kershaw County Unified Code of Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR) regarding conditional uses for rural golf clubs. The amendment redefines guest lodge limits from four bedrooms up to 24 bedrooms on the grounds of a rural country golf club, supporting broader hospitality and tourism investments. Applicant Candy Root Lodge Holdings sought the text update in connection with a multi-course investment in Kershaw County. Planning staff and the planning commission reviewed the proposed changes to ensure that visitor amenities remain compatible with rural land protection. Danny Catoe made the initial motion, seconded by Derek Shoemake, which passed unanimously. The ordinance requires two additional readings before becoming county law.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously adopted an amendment offered by Sammie Tucker Jr. to refine the proposed rural country club ZLDR text ordinance. Drafted in response to feedback from the Planning Commission, the blue-line edits restrict guest lodge allowances strictly to properties operating an active golf course and increase minimum parcel size requirements. Legal counsel reviewed the edits prior to the meeting, confirming they narrow the scope of the ordinance to prevent commercial lodgings from operating independently if a course fails. The amendment requires guest lodging units to remain transient and limits total lodge floor area while preserving perimeter setbacks and buffers. Council passed the amendment unanimously before proceeding to vote on the main ordinance as amended.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Following the adoption of the Tucker amendment, Council voted unanimously to pass the first reading of the amended ZLDR Section 3:3 ordinance. The revised text updates conditional use regulations for rural country golf clubs, setting parcel minimums, defining permissible events, and establishing transient guest lodging standards capped at 24 bedrooms per building. The measure aims to encourage eco-tourism and recreation investments while protecting surrounding agricultural land, wetlands, and open spaces through required perimeter buffering and height limits. All six council members present in person and online voted in favor of the amended text. The ordinance will go through two more readings and a formal public hearing before final enactment.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance adding Article III to Chapter 24 of the county code, creating strict regulations governing solicitation and panhandling in unincorporated Kershaw County. Modeled closely after a recent ordinance adopted by the City of Camden, the measure targets aggressive begging, blocking traffic, soliciting within 50 feet of financial institutions or outdoor dining, begging after dark, and soliciting drivers in vehicles or at traffic intersections. Councilman Derek Shoemake introduced the ordinance, noting that roadside panhandling has been increasing in areas like Lugoff and near highway ramps, presenting growing public safety concerns. Councilman Jimmy Jones requested that county staff bring existing non-profit and 501(c)(3) permit rules to the next meeting so council can ensure legitimate charity drives, such as Boots and Badges, remain clearly protected under the code. The vote passed unanimously 6-0.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council approved a slate of four appointments to the Kershaw County Accommodations Tax Advisory Commission (ATAX). Sammie Tucker Jr. offered the slate motion appointing Dee Patel (District 2), Shane Duncan (District 3), Kayci Brazell (District 1), and Thomas Mullikin Jr. (District 5). To ensure continuity across the board, council established staggered terms, setting District 1, 2, and 3 terms to expire on March 11, 2029, while District 4, 5, and 6 terms expire on March 11, 2027. Vice Chairman Russell Brazell abstained from the vote due to a family member being on the slate, and the motion passed 5-0 among remaining members present.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously appointed Matt Downey to the Kershaw County Recreation Advisory Commission. Downey will fill the seat vacated by Shane Kirkley, serving a three-year term running from March 24, 2026, through March 24, 2029. Sammie Tucker Jr. introduced the motion on behalf of Councilman Brant Tomlinson, praising Downey's dedication and coaching involvement in county youth sports. Vice Chairman Russell Brazell voiced enthusiastic remote support for the appointment.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Following an executive session discussion on legal and contractual strategy, Council authorized County Administrator Danny Templar to direct Public Works to perform extensive heavy maintenance and drainage repairs in the Pecan Orchard subdivision. The planned scope includes road grading, ditching, driveway repairs, pipe replacements and upsizing to 18-inch pipes, establishing an upper outfall, cross piping replacement at 404 Blackberry Place, installing riprap, hydroseeding, and externally contracting a 36-inch closed drainage system and outfall project at 419 Berry Place. Sammie Tucker Jr. moved the motion, which includes a hard project cap of $350,000 that encompasses engineering costs and necessary land acquisition. Several residents addressed council during public comments regarding ongoing neighborhood flooding, utility line delays, and project cost concerns. Council members emphasized that while county road drainage maintenance will move forward rapidly, the work cannot fix all inherent natural hydrological conditions in the private subdivision.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously authorized the County Administrator, county staff, and County Attorney to pursue purchasing a vacant parcel in the Pecan Orchard subdivision at a cost not to exceed its appraised fair market value. Identified in engineering plans, the lot is required to construct a stormwater retention basin and outfall system to capture runoff originating from county-maintained roads in the subdivision. Sammie Tucker Jr., who introduced the motion, explained that acquiring the property is critical to enabling the overall drainage improvement plan and preventing extensive utility line relocations or tree removals in residents' yards. Engineers confirmed that while county roads contribute to local runoff, private hydrological features cause much of the broader neighborhood flooding. The acquisition cost falls within the overall $350,000 budget cap established for the Pecan Orchard project.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 7:22 p.m. under S.C. Code 30-4-70(a)(2) to receive a legal briefing covered by attorney-client privilege regarding potential contractual matters linked to Pecan Orchard drainage solutions. Ben Connell made the motion to enter executive session, seconded by Danny Catoe, with all six present members voting in favor. Council reconvened in open public session at 7:46 p.m. following a motion by Sammie Tucker Jr. and second by Danny Catoe.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

County Council voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:00 p.m. following the completion of all agenda items and post-executive session voting. Sammie Tucker Jr. made the motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Danny Catoe. Council Chairman Ben Connell called the vote, which passed unanimously among present members.

Who said what