How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

At the opening of the May 12, 2026 meeting, Kershaw County Council considered an agenda amendment to remove a planned discussion item regarding voting registration and local legislative delegation offices. The item had originally been placed under the discussions section of the agenda as item 9B by Councilman Jimmy Jones. Before formal business began, Councilman Jones requested that council remove the item from the evening schedule, preventing any public deliberation or staff presentation on the topic. Chairman Ben Connell called for a second and initiated a vote, which passed unanimously with all members present and Councilman Sammie Tucker Jr. voting in favor remotely. The deletion eliminated what would have been a broad review of local voter registration procedures and administrative office space for state delegation members. Because the item was removed prior to the adoption of the final agenda, no action or further directives were issued to county staff during the session. Future consideration of voter registration administrative matters will require a council member to re-submit the topic for a future meeting agenda.

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How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Councilman Danny Catoe requested an amendment to the agenda to add a proclamation recognizing the North Central High School strength team for winning their third consecutive state championship. Because school was ending at the end of the week and graduating seniors would be leaving, Chairman Ben Connell cited exigent circumstances to allow the emergency addition. The motion passed unanimously, allowing the proclamation to be considered and presented later in the meeting.

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How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Kershaw County Council unanimously approved the official meeting agenda as amended at the beginning of its May 12, 2026 regular meeting. Adoption of the agenda followed two preliminary procedural motions that modified the published schedule of business. Council first voted to delete a discussion item regarding voter registration offices and then voted to add an urgent proclamation recognizing the North Central High School strength team for winning a state championship. Following those adjustments, Chairman Ben Connell called for a vote on the final modified agenda to govern the evening proceedings. The motion passed unanimously, with Councilman Sammie Tucker Jr. participating and voting yes via remote link alongside all present council members. Adopting the amended agenda set the stage for extensive deliberations on the county proposed building permit allocation system, zoning land development regulations, and economic development agreements. Establishing a clear, approved agenda satisfies state public meeting laws and ensures orderly governance during county council sessions.

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How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Councilman Danny Catoe and Councilman Jimmy Jones sponsored a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month in Kershaw County. The proclamation specifically honored local residents and former Sheriff's Office employees affected by the fatal neurodegenerative disease, including Jacqueline Armstead, Philip Crawford, Richard Bailey Jr., Barbara Ann Jones, and Amy Brown. Sheriff Lee Boan and community members attended the meeting to accept the honors and raise awareness for ALS research and family support resources.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously passed a proclamation honoring the North Central High School strength team and its coaching staff for securing their third consecutive state championship. Sponsoring Councilman Danny Catoe noted that the team brought pride to the community and that the proclamation would be formally presented to student athletes at the school prior to graduation.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council approved the minutes from its previous regular meeting on April 28, 2026. Chairman Ben Connell abstained from the vote due to his absence from that prior meeting, while all other council members voted in favor. The approved document serves as the official public record of council actions and proceedings from late April.

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously approved first reading in title only for an economic development ordinance authorizing a Fee-In-Lieu of Ad Valorem Taxes (FILOT) agreement and Special Source Revenue Credits for Project Ballast. Because the ordinance was introduced in title only, specific details regarding company identity, total capital investment, job creation targets, and tax credit percentages were not yet detailed in the public agenda packet. First reading title-only votes allow negotiations and document drafting to proceed between county economic developers and company representatives before substantive terms come before council for second reading and public hearing.

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How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously approved third reading of an ordinance amending the joint industrial park agreement between Kershaw County and Fairfield County to remove properties formerly occupied by TB Kawashima USA, Inc. The affected parcels (TMS# 324-00-00-036, 324-00-00-03-009, and 324-00-00-048) are no longer utilized by the former sponsor for economic development operations. Deleting inactive properties from multi-county park boundaries maintains accurate tax administration records and frees park capacity for active commercial developments.

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Council passed the third and final reading of an ordinance creating a Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS) to cap residential building permits over a two-year period running through April 30, 2028. The measure establishes an annual ceiling of 350 residential dwelling units across the county, distributed semi-annually in May and November. Council adopted a comprehensive package of amendments introduced by Derek Shoemake that combines accessory dwelling units and multi-family units into a shared pool of 58 permits, reserves 80 percent of major subdivision permits for developers with already-approved site plans, caps any single builder outside major subdivisions to no more than 20 percent of available permits, and requires upfront payment of permit fees. Vice Chairman Russell Brazell and Councilman Jimmy Jones voted against the ordinance, arguing that government caps penalize local builders, create regulatory hurdles, and strain the housing supply. The allocation system takes effect immediately, with council reserving authority to review and adjust permit numbers periodically.

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Council passed third reading of an ordinance amending the Unified Code of Zoning and Land Development Regulations (ZLDR) to establish Section 5:3.3, setting new design standards for homes in major subdivisions. The ordinance regulates exterior facade building materials, mandates architectural variation among adjacent residential structures, and sets foundation standards, including a 25 percent cap on on-grade slab foundations within any single development as amended at second reading. The standards aim to improve aesthetic consistency and structural durability across master-planned communities in unincorporated Kershaw County. The measure passed 5-1, with Councilman Jimmy Jones casting the sole opposing vote.

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What this was about

Council approved the third reading of ZLDR Section 3:5.4, tightening requirements for buffering, screening, open space, and landscaping in major subdivisions and large commercial projects. Under the updated regulations, developers must reserve scaled percentages of usable open space based on total project acreage. Additionally, the ordinance restricts unusable wetlands and flood hazard areas from counting fully toward open space minimums, adopting a 50 percent credit compromise approved during second reading. The regulations passed 5-1 as part of a block vote, with Councilman Jimmy Jones opposed.

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What this was about

Council enacted third reading amendments to ZLDR Section 5:3.14, mandating the installation of sidewalks on both sides of public and private street rights-of-way within all major residential subdivisions. The requirement is intended to enhance pedestrian safety, improve neighborhood connectivity, and encourage walkable development patterns as new housing tracts are constructed. The measure was adopted 5-1 in a block vote, with Councilman Jimmy Jones voting against.

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What this was about

Council gave third and final approval to ZLDR Section 5:1.2-13, establishing mandatory official naming regulations for private easements and drives over 2,000 feet in length or those providing access to more than three parcels. Standardizing drive naming and posting visible address signage allows 911 dispatchers, fire units, and emergency medical services to identify and navigate to rural properties without delay. The ordinance passed 5-1 as part of the third-reading block vote, with Councilman Jimmy Jones opposed.

How they voted

What this was about

Council passed third reading amending ZLDR Sections 5:2.4-7, 5:2.7-6, and 5:2.12-3, significantly increasing financial performance guarantee requirements for developers during final plat approvals. The ordinance raises the initial performance bond requirement from 15 percent to 25 percent of total infrastructure costs for year one, mandates a 15 percent guarantee for year two, and permits a one-year extension if substantial infrastructure defects occur. The elevated financial security protects the county and homeowners against abandoned, substandard, or incomplete roads, stormwater systems, and public utilities. The measure passed 5-1 in a block vote, with Councilman Jimmy Jones dissenting.

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What this was about

Council approved third reading revisions to ZLDR Section 5.2, expanding county planning staff review windows by five additional business days for exempt, minor, major, and large-acreage subdivision plans, as well as Planned Development Districts and group developments. The extended timeframe provides reviewers, county engineers, and emergency service representatives sufficient opportunity to conduct thorough site plan evaluations and verify compliance with land development regulations before granting permits. The vote passed 5-1 as part of a slate vote, with Councilman Jimmy Jones voting no.

How they voted

What this was about

Council passed the third reading of ZLDR Section 5:2.9-3, clarifying that the Kershaw County Planning and Zoning Commission must evaluate and consider impact assessments, including school capacity reports from the Kershaw County School District and public safety studies, when deciding whether to approve proposed developments. The ordinance removes redundant traffic management plan wording while granting explicit legal grounds for the commission to deny submittals if adverse infrastructure or facility impacts are demonstrated. The measure passed 4-2, with Vice Chairman Russell Brazell and Councilman Jimmy Jones voting against.

Who said what

How they voted - unanimous

What this was about

Council unanimously approved Chairman Ben Connell's motion to reappoint Lynn Blizzard to the Kershaw County Assessment Appeals Board. The citizen board hears property tax assessment appeals and valuation disputes brought by real property owners in Kershaw County. Chairman Connell praised Blizzard for her faithful volunteer service and dedication to fair property tax review for local residents.

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