Full meeting transcript - June 10, 2025

» Okay, perfect. All right, cool. [Music] Good. Good evening everyone. Welcome out to this Kershaw County Council June 10th, 2025 meeting. We've been called to order. We'd like to welcome our council tonight, Miss Sydney Douglas. John Deose is out of town on vacation, so it's good to have a smiling face up here. Not that John doesn't ever smile. Uh, tonight we've got the invocation uh being coordinated by Councilman Jimmy Jones um and the pledge of allegiance. Tonight the invocation and pledge will be done by Hunter Press. And whenever young people get involved in um the public process, we'd like to recognize them. Hunter is a life scout in BSA Troop uh 316 in Lug.

» He's served his troop throughout the years in many leadership positions including senior patrol leader and is currently working on his Eagle Scout project. Hunter is an active member of Living Springs Lutheran Church, participating in worship, attending youth group activities, and serving on the TR church council. He plans to continue serving God and his community by attending seminary after college and becoming a pastor. And so we look forward to your prayer tonight. Hunter, if you would please come forward to the mic. Please stand and remove any headgear for the prayer. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful day, for the rain, for the plants and animals that you sustain. Help us to be good stewards of your creation.

» We thank you for the people gathered here today, the council members, guests, and others. Help us make wise decisions that serve you and our community. Finally, Lord, I ask that you watch over us and keep us safe in our comingings and goings and help us keep the teachings of your son of love, grace, and humility. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Please turn to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Hunter. Thank you, Hunter. Good job. Thank you very much, Hunter. All right, gentlemen. That brings us to item number four on the agenda. Are there any motions? Adoption of the agenda. Mr.

» Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to adopt the agenda and then I have some amendments. Okay, we got a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. We got a second on the table. Mr. Tucker, do you have any other motions? Yes, sir. I'd like to make an amendment that we include which uh the finance committee report which was uh left off of the agenda um when it went out and also um the resolution for safe streets and roads. This resolution is uh due, the grant is due this week from the COG and we need to have support from council uh so we can submit that package so we can uh qualify for some extra um road work here in Kershaw County if possible. Okay, Mr. Tucker, just make sure I understand your motion includes uh two additions to the agenda.

» One of which is for discussion only, correct? No vote, just a count just a uh finance committee report. That's correct. for addition to discussions and then the other one is uh timesensitive and thus exigent uh for addition as a resolution which would occur after ordinances. Is that correct? That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Okay, you got a motion. Is there a second? Second. Second from Mr. Thompson. Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor? There's your hand. On the Tucker agenda amendment that passes unanimously for those who are present in voting, Miss H. And Mr. Chairman, just kind of looking looking over this, it just really hitting my head. Um, and Mr. Jones, I see this as as your discussion, planning and zoning, ZLDR, and Ned Towel Planning Commission chair.

» Um, I would want to kind of ask a legal opinion on that to see um with us in the middle of second reading of a moratorum um on development. And the email that we got included um some potential um firms or or contracted people who would be there to do studies and other things that we would be doing and was wondering with us being government we have to go through procurement. So if potentially I would like to have that put from discussion to executive session because I think legally we would be more sound there. Um but I'd love to have Mr. Pierman uh to come and present as far as executive session. All right. So, is that in the form of a motion? That's the form of a motion. Yes. All right. Is there a second? I'll second that. Mr. Shake, Mr. Thomasson, you still have the floor. Yeah.

» Um would you care to provide some some legal opinion on that? They Well, well, I'm going to start off say I absolutely disagree with you on that 100%. That's nothing but Never mind. I I'll finish once once you get through. Um, yes. As far as the direct question, um, I think answering that would be more appropriate for executive session just because we do have, um, a pending ordinance that we're, you know, seeking legal advice on as far as, you know, exposure and that type of sort of thing. Um, so that is up to all of you how you want to handle that. Um, but you would recommend that we do that in executive session prior to out here. I would, sir. Yeah. That's not to say that you can't do it entirely. Have a question. Thank you, madam attorney. I have a question.

» Were were was this discussed with you prior to being here tonight? What what particularly this this amendment this amendment to this to the agenda? What he just said? Was it discussed with you earlier? Um not for I can answer that question. I haven't spoken with her. We just met. Okay. Actually, where you were sitting with her? I put the chairman of the planning commission and the planning commission on the agenda for discussion so they can come and tell us where they're at, what they're doing, how they're moving forward. Uh I don't quite understand why that calls for an executive session. Well, I'll note that on the agenda we do have an executive session related to the moratorum. We have an attorney here to give legal advice tonight on that particular purpose.

» Is that what you're thinking? Uh yes, I think we can conclude it um within that and and if we'd like to include the chairman of planning and zoning during that discussion. I I'm what I'm worried about is putting legal implications. We have no idea what's going to be said uh specifically. So there's legal implications. We're in second reading of a mortorium that is very important that I I've supported, Mr. Jones, you've supported. Um other council members up here have supported. Um I would hate to put us in a legal situation with conversations that I've had. And then and then two, also the procurement aspect of it. we're a government entity.

» If we're looking at um having a presentation with people coming up, I would hate for the implication that we would put out there um that we are already without going through procurement hiring people for contracts. So there's there's other things that I would like to have an executive session if we're going to have those conversations. That's my personal opinion and I hope I'd like to take the recommendation on going for the vote. Mr. Chairman, if I may, Mr. Folks, let me tell you something. I want to hear from the planning commission because we've been very critical as far as a timeline because we hadn't sat down and had a conversation. I asked the planning commission to be here tonight. I think there's three or four members here along with the chairman.

» They were going to get up during discussion where we could have just some a conversation. This wasn't about spending any money. It wasn't about signing any contracts. It was just a it was nothing but a conversation so we can be brought up to date on the comprehensive plan and we can be brought up to date on the the land use ordinance. We can still do the executive session but I still want to remain and keep my item agenda on the agenda. So as far as the the discussion under the discussion area so we can go in executive session ask him to come but I still want some discussion in open session county council for clarification on where we are where we stand because as I said we've been very critical of them.

» That's no no no if and but about it and I'm a little disturbed that this happens and I'm not even notified this is going to happen and um but Mr. Jones I was just looking through and there's I haven't spoken to anybody about it. I understand but but obviously I think some new about it but but here's the thing. I will not vote for an executive session for that unless we keep if we keep my agenda item on the agenda. If you're going to take my agenda item off the agenda, you're going to have to have a vote. And and I and the votes are probably here, but I'd be very disappointed. My motion is to rem is to move from discussion to executive session. Just a a point of order I'll raise myself. I don't think it's an actual removal.

» I think it would be a transfer or movement on the same agenda to be included with another agenda item or concurrent with it. stays on the agenda for discussion and get con consumed with another one. Any further discussion? Well, Mr. John, just to be clear, the emotion on the floor is it is it is removed from 9B and put into section 15. Yeah. Specifically, it would be 15 Based on the motion. All right. So, it' be 15B and 9B would be 9B would go away and it would become 15B. Yes, it would be included within the executive session. Um, and I I would be happy to bring it up at another another meeting.

» I just feel that any anything that we're talking about in this moratorum uh with the legal concerns that we could possibly get ourselves into, I don't want to have us in that situation how out here right now when we can have an executive session and discuss this at a further um What about what about the update that I wanted from the planning commission on the comprehensive plan on the land use sortness? Y'all not even willing to do that? I wasn't aware of that. This this right here in the email that I received um specifically talked about um the update was going to be looking at studies and other things and potential impacts of of hiring people which procurement plays a a role and then also if we're looking at a moratorum moratorum for us as a county is very legally challenging.

» We know this. So I would rather further have all the protections in place by doing that in executive session. It is not for having uh discussions not out here. The discussions are behind or in executive session for protection of this moratorum because I'm in support of it. I hope you are too. Let well let me just tell you this. I'm not really in support of what you proposed but I'm going to vote for it to carry it through. I feel like it should just be for major subdivisions only. Of course you know that there were no votes for that. However, he I have sat up here and know you guys started this, okay? I I sat up here and listened to one after another criticize the planning commission about the land use sortness, the the the comprehensive plan.

» And I thought it'd be a good idea to have the chairman and the committee members here to have some open discussion and dialogue with us on that and the moratorum. I don't know what legal or what lawsuits or what we could get into talking about well I don't I support a major subdivision moratorum which is 10 houses or more and because I I personally don't think that the the less than that is the problem. I think the problem is the major uh subdivisions that we have in place. However, um this is just this really taking me off taking me back, guys. I really I really I have never one thing I would say in my 20 years, I have never had someone take something off the agenda that I put on the agenda in 20 years. I'm not asking for it to be taken off.

» I'm asking for it to be moved to an executive session. And I think it's legal repercussions. No, I don't. I think I wanted I wanted public I just wanted the public to be involved to understand where we're going, where we stand. And I think the public has a right to know that. And uh there there's no fear of of anybody talking about anything that's going to get us in a lawsuit. I think that is ridiculous. I mean, can you control what anybody says up there? Can I control? Can Can you Can you control what anybody says, Mr. Jones? We've had We can't even control ourselves half the time. We We Speaking of which, hold on hold on hold on a minute. Speaking Let me just let me let me just mention um you you both uh respectfully have had opportunities to speak.

» I just want to see if any other council members but I was still talking, Mr. Chairman. No, it seemed like you'd yielded for another question. No, no, he he got excited. Well, please go ahead and and stepped in and and and to my colleagues, take a deep breath. You know, this is not personal, but it's uh it's disappointing. I think this is no more than just to if you're going to criticize, if you're going to if if we're going to complain, if we're worried about the comprehens plan and L and the land use ordinance, you got them here. If the if the moratorum is is is concerning to you, then he doesn't have to talk about the moratorum. And I think he and the planning commission would respectfully uh do that.

» But bottom line is at least let him come up here and talk about the uh progress they've made with the land use and the comprehensive plan because I think they they deserve that because we've been so critical of them. I I stand my ground. I'm very disappointed. I'm going to ask you guys not to vote for this tonight. I'm I'm going to ask you all to leave it as it is out of respect. Nobody's going to get up here and try to make anybody look bad. We're just going to talk about the we we'll talk about the comprehensive plan and the land use ordinance. Any further discussion? All right, let's move it to a vote. All in favor of Mr. Tomlinson's uh amendment to the agenda, raise your hand. All against. Miss Hannah, do you have that for the record or you need me to call the names? You got it.

» All right. So, it passes. That means that we have the Tucker amendment passing for two items and the Tomliness amendment passing as well. And that brings us to the agenda as amended. Okay. Any further discussion on the agenda as amended? Can you tell me where Mr. Tucker's items are going on the Yes. Uh Mr. Tucker's items are going. Um the resolution would go immediately after it become the new 11. It'd go immediately after ordinances under our normal course of business in the rules. And then uh the COG update which requires no vote would become the new 9B for discussion only. No vote. Any further you mean the finance report? Finance report, excuse me. Yeah, the finance report. Any further discussion or questions? Sorry about that.

» Do we are we going to talk about I I think there may be it may make sense to move the executive sessions up a little bit earlier before what are the executive sessions for Mr. Well, I was going to wait until after the agenda is adopted. That's Yeah, I that's fine. Go. The agenda has to be approved first. Okay. Yeah. All right. All right. Any further questions, discussion? Yeah, I have an amendment to his amendment. Okay. If you were on a prevailing side, you can make a motion related to a particular topic or do you have a new topic? No, it's well, it's new because we're going I I want to allow the planning commission to get up here and talk about the comprehensive plan, land use ordinance and have some dialogue with us during discussion. There's no votes there.

» There just a discussion with the planning and zoning commission and the and the chairman. Okay. Is there a second? Yeah. Denying that denying me that opportunity to do that. We have a motion. Is there a second? I see no second. So, the motion fails. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. We're back to the agenda as amended. If there's no other questions or discussion, then we move to a vote as amended. All in favor of the agenda as amended, raise your hand. Miss Hannah, you have those. And all opposed? Okay. The agenda passes. Mr. Chairman, is Russell Brazzo on the air or he hasn't called in yet? I think he's only indicated to staff that he plans on uh jumping on the call for participation in the moratorum uh ordinance item on the agenda. That's correct.

» He he reached out to me earlier and asked me to text him when we're going to that item on the agenda for voting um because he's at a conference in Tennessee and he's going to have to step away from it. So he's asked he's asked that we call him in for that particular item. How many session are we having tonight? We've got uh three and two of them since the agenda has now passed. For the record, Miss Hannah, two of them uh that would be 15. Mr. Chairman, I believe it's four now with the amended agenda executive session items. Yes. Well, he's combining two. They're combined, but 15 uh B and C. I'm going to move up to under chairman's prerogative uh right after proclamations. So, right after 7A, we've got some attorneys in the crowd to provide legal advice.

» And in order to reduce legal fees, uh, and respect their time because they're traveling from far and yonder, um, I'll move those two executive sessions up to right after 7A before approval of minutes. Okay. Okay. So, we have the agenda adopted. We're moving to public comments. Um, Miss Douglas. Yes, sir. Uh we have I believe six um individuals um signed up for public comment. Okay. Um so we should be right at our time limit for everybody to have their five minutes. Okay. Uh who who's the first person that signed up? We have uh David Dabney. Mr. speaking on the moratorum. Mr. Dabney, please. County Council, thank you for allowing me this time to come up here. Um although I did get a little lightheaded sitting here listening to the verbiage and stuff here to start off with.

» I came here tonight because uh last session y'all had um obviously we're voting on this moratorium which consisted of large subdivisions and I'm not saying that I'm totally against the moratorum against growth in that way. I'm not um Kershaw County is is growing and is growing at a pace in some areas in which Mr. Deb, if you could speak into the mic. I see some people saying they can't quite hear you. Okay. I think Kershaw County is growing and it needs to be addressed obviously with whether it's schools, whether it's sewers or or what have you. Um, and there's certain areas of Kershaw County that are uh growing pretty close to exponentially, and that's in the Lugoff and Elgen areas. And when you vote on this, I I just ask you to kind of kind of take that in perspective.

» It's it's not a it's not throughout the whole county. I mean, I would invite each and every one of you call me up. Let's go eat some breakfast and you ride around with me every day. By the way, I'm a residential builder here. My company is Sweet Brier Homes. I guess I probably needed to preface that. Um, we will go in and and do some minor subdivision developments. Most of those developments are over 6 acres. um 6.15 acres we're building on right now. We do have one lot that's 1.25 acres on Hall Road and Cassid that we're building on those areas. We're not burden we don't we don't put a burden on anything. We don't use we don't use we use sewer uh septic systems, rural water, co-op energy. Um, and we built one house in the past seven years that uh was on city sewer and water.

» And um I I started reflecting on this when Mr. Brazzle brought mine and Brett Mloud's name up as as small business owners when this proposal by Mr. Tomlinson was amendment to the original proposal here um for the moratorum which included a small subdivisions and I started thinking about all the people that we subcontract our work out. We subcontract 100% of our work out and everybody with the exception of one trade lives in Kershaw County. So obviously um they would be directly affected as I would. Um and it seems as though most of the time when we come up in front of county council and there's there's things to be discussed that every individual part has to have their own say in it. They have to have a little piece of the pie. We have to slice that great thin each time.

» Whether it's with Woodward Park and we have to go to Bthoon and and refurbish these parks or go to Lugoff and refurbish these parks. Everybody has to have have their little piece of the share. I'm just saying in this instance when you sit down and look at it, look at the areas in which are highly affected by it. Mr. Shoemake, your areas in which you represent are highly affected by the growth, traffic, schools, or what have you. Let's figure out what to do over there. Cassid. We got the problems in Cassid. We got the problems at Antioch. I mean, and if you're an individual wanting to move from one of those subdivisions out and have a little chicken coupe or little small farm or something like that to raise your family on, go try to find a five, six acre lot. Try to find one.

» Lots of people, lots of money around here own lots of big properties. And if you want to go try to find a five or six acre lot to build your house on, I challenge you to do so. They're very hard to come by, we will take 45 acres and divide it into nine lots. And most of those lots, we don't have any infrastructure. We don't have to have do any of that inside that. But I'm I'm I'm really taken back by included in this problem. I mean, I like some explanation. And and one thing that I got from the conversation to start off with here is how can you sit here and vote on something which you have so many questions about. You've got to go in executive session to find that out. I don't know. Seems kind of peculiar to me.

» And the last thing I'll ask is we've had a lot of influx of people move into Kershaw County. Property taxes, vehicle taxes, and everything else. Infrastructure is a problem. All this add additional revenue. What are we doing with it? Are we working on the infrastructure? Are we trying to widen roads? What are we building new? What are we doing with it? And I may be naive to that point because I'm not here every day griping and complaining about everything that goes on here. But I'm going to gripe and complain about this because it directly affects me. I'm out of time and I understand that. But I could sit up here and talk for about two more hours. And again, anybody want to go to breakfast? Come ride with me. I'll show you what I do and I'll show you how it affects our community.

» I Thank you, Mr. Dav. Pick you up wherever you want to go. Thank you, Dave. Thank you. Thank you for coming out, Mr. Davney. Keep wanting to say Mr. Bose. Miss Douglas. Uh, next we have uh Linda Canatzer speaking on the moratorum as well. Miss Katzer, please adjust the mic. Ma'am, thank you. Y'all please look at her. I was just writing her name down. Go ahead. Getting your notes ready. Chairman Connell, council members, sightings of polar bears, dinosaurs, and Elvis are pretty much non-existent in Kershaw County. We can add to this list Kershaw County residents who showed up at the last council meeting to speak for more mega developments or to oppose the temporary moratorum at the first reading. That in itself sends a powerful message.

» Remember, your loyalty is to the existing Kershaw County residents, not to future people who may or may not contribute to our county and in some ways negatively affect our current quality of life. Also keep in mind our local contractors and suppliers who we need to protect. As a writing instructor, I heard a lot of excuses. When that happened, I would look at my writer and say, "You have a choice to make. Either keep making excuses or stop because excuses get you nowhere. Oh, excuse me. I was making a note on your conversation. Thank you so much, Miss Douglas. Next we have Ray Griffin speaking on the airport. Mr. Griffin. Good evening. My name is Ray Griffin. I'm here to express my interest in serving on the Kershaw County Airport Advisory Commission.

» I'm a commercial jet and turborop pilot, flight instructor, and owner of Sunray Aviation. a growing flight school based right here at Woodward Field. I'm currently I currently have over 40 active students and I'm committed to aviation education, safety, and community development. Before moving before moving into civilian aviation, I served for six years as a US Air Force captain and financial officer managing research and maintenance budgets for the Predator and Reaper drone programs. That experience taught me the value of long-term planning, physical responsibility, and operational readiness. I hold instructor ratings in both single and multi-engine aircraft, and I believe Woodward Field is a key part of Kershaw County's future.

» I'd be honored to serve on this commission and help guide its continued growth and success. Thank you and have a blessed evening. Thank you, Mr. Griffin. That's my my classmate right there, too. Okay. Thank you Mr. Griffin. Miss Douglas. Next we have Lynn KTO speaking on the moratorum. Miss KTO. My name is Lynn Kto and I have a concern about the massive growth in Kershaw County. If you think about Charlotte and how much it's spread into Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Indian Land, and Lake Wy, you can kind of foresee our future. That concerns me. Smart growth, responsible growth is what we need. We should never settle for less. Smart growth means planning for our community's well-being to ensure that it's safe, healthy, livable, as well as a desirable place to live.

» This means implementing a six-month moratorum on large and small subdivisions to prepare for this smart growth and allow completion of the capital improvements plan. Finish revisions of the Kershaw County comprehensive plan and update the ordinances that complement the goals of Kershaw County. Establish a plan for real green spaces and vegetative buffers. Find appropriate ways to manage storm water runoff properly. initiate impact fees to cover municipal services, schools, parks, wrecks, and public safety. This is a necessity for infrastructure. This we don't have time to waste on this. And support our industries, agriculturalbased industries, poultry, timber, equin, and livestock. The USDA in 2022 said that we are one of 3,56 counties. We are number one. Number one. That's a big feat.

» We don't want to lose that. Currently, there are 28 farms for sale in Kershaw County. That concerns me. We have 79,000 acres of farmland as of 2017, but we've lost quite a few since then. The top three industries in South Carolina are manufacturing, technology, and tourism. And Kershaw County does have tourism to our revolutionary war park as well as to with our equin industry, the the racetrack and many other venues in Kershaw County. It is important that we consider creating a public internet site that shows housing development growth and progress so that everybody can see the growth in Kershaw County, not just government officials. It's not a secret.

» This site should include GPS locations for the number of houses, impacted schools, fire departments, and predicting the number of people or students or the increase traffic in that area. It could be marked with red as being applications submitted and impact fees paid, yellow as constructive construction started and green as construction completed and maintained for a 5-year period. Then you can look at the map and see where we are. plan. That was the number one of the number one things my mother taught me. She had a list of plans every single day and it worked for her. Are we doing a plan like this? Are we planning together or are we working against each other? Please vote for the moratorum and please vote for impact fees. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss GTO. Miss Douglas.

» Next, we have Thomas Allen speaking on 1045 Highway 1 zoning. Mr. Allen. [Music] Good evening. Yes, sir. As I stated last time when we were here for the last meeting, uh my wife and I moved here from Clemson, South Carolina. Um I said 6 months, but when we recounted it was actually nine months. But uh but we live at 991 Park Road which is on the corner of Highway One and Park Road going over by the um landfield. The property in question that had the proposition is right behind my property. And when we was here, when I was here last time, I gave out some pictures. I hope you all got a chance to actually take a look at them.

» But it shows where the property has already been worked, has already been cleared, everything, which I was understanding that that should not have been done before the zoning is completed. And so, and if I'm incorrect, please correct me on that. One of the questions I have is to myself is after I got home after listening to conversation that was in the chambers here, the question was asked to the proposition person that has the proposition up um about what would it sound like? The statement was made that would sound like cutting grass. Okay. Another question was asked, why aren't you doing it where you were living at? The statement was made because they had to shut down because of noise. Cutting grass noise is two different things.

» The only thing I'm saying is when we moved here and out in Cassid is where we live at. When we moved there, we moved there with the sanctuary around us where the animals come, the wildlife is there and we actually get on a bicycle and just ride around and actually motorcycle just walk. We actually walk I can I used to be able to walk through to go to the store general dollar general store and uh without having to get on the road.

» The question I have also concern I have is if this zoning is changed from what I read the anything could be put there is my understanding now the question was also brought up about hours the answer was given whatever y'all tell me I have to do it was asked about pole barn a building again what what do y'all want us to There's no plans here, nor if I'm understanding correctly, nor do they have to be. And so, and if that doesn't work, what comes in next behind us? That's a concern concern that my wife and I have is what? Cuz when we move here, I'm 62 years old in a few days. The last thing I want to do is have to pick up and move again because of what's around us. And also, if you go up Highway One, you can see some rough looking businesses up Highway One.

» If that doesn't work out, that can also happen behind my house. And I have a concern about that. I appreciate the consideration y'all having for this vote that y'all have here. All I ask is y'all keep considering. Also, I would ask this question. I'll put it in the air because I know I can't address you, but has anybody been out there to actually take a look? I I'll ask that question. So, so, but anyway, y'all have a good evening and thank you. Thank you, Mr. Allen. Thank you, Miss Douglas. Um, next we have Ted Brunson speaking on impact fees. Mr. Brunson, good evening. This will be a two-part conversation. Uh I came out of Fort Mill uh 2019, moved there in 2003. At the time, Fort Mill had already said that they were going to implement new impact fees.

» Now, I understand that there's a formula based on EMS, fire, things of that nature. But what we saw was what we're seeing down here now, 25 years later. And so what Fort Mill did, and I've actually have the contact name of the attorney that you can talk to, they implemented a $28,000 per single house hold impact fee. If you had a four uh townhouse, it was 15,000 per or excuse me, $100,000 per townhouse and then 15,000 for any additional. So, if you took the 3,144 that are on the u the docket right now, that'd be $88 million and they used that money in Fort Mill to work on the infrastructure. And the only thing I've ever agreed with Mr. Roy was don't make the Ben here's pay for the come here's basically what we're seeing.

» Again, there's plenty of time because if you do it wrong, you can always you always have to go back and fix it. there's plenty of times to do it right and that's starting with the zoning and things of that nature that that we need to look at or we're going to be in the same place that Fort Mill is in. And in fact, an article came out just the other day about Lancaster having to having to widen 521 on a 7.5 uh mile uh road that's going to cost approximately $52 million. And this is something that's happened in in the last 10 years. So in January, excuse me, July 1 of 2016, Fort Mill implemented that 28,000. Two things happened. The cookie cutter home stopped.

» The million-dollar homes started coming in and buying larger tracks of land to build their houses on because $28,000 is what their wife would probably put in the toilet seat or at least their closet. Taxes went were equal to what three or four small homes would be. you had less impact on the infrastructures. I've been talking about impact fees for two years. So, let's let's look at that. Here's the other one that's not very comfortable for me at all. It's never the right time to do the wrong thing, and it's never the wrong time to do the right thing. Back in 1984, I was a young salesman working for a $300 million corporation, and I was listed as a witness for a sexual harassment suit. I witnessed. I heard it. The young lady stormed out of the building. 6 weeks later, we got served a suit.

» I got a call from the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. His name was Mr. Herb Mullenex. And Mr. Mullenex informed me. I wasn't aware of the suit until he informed me, but he said, "Mr. Bronson, I don't know if you there's know that there's a suit um and you've been listed as a witness." Now, the gentleman that was the primary holder was a guy by the name of Bill Hope. One of the best salesman, one of the best managers that I ever had to work with and actually probably started out me being a successful salesman. So, what happened is Bill pinned a young lady against the wall, which I heard, she left. Six weeks later, a suit was filed. I told basically Mr. Mullenex exactly what had happened. And he said, "Well, Ted, do you think Bill did it?" And I said, "Well, Mr.

» Mullenex, you know Bill better than I do. What do you think?" Bill said, "I'll write the check." We're getting close to those same things. This is not a very comfortable thing to do. The council has an opportunity to do the right thing, even if it's the wrong time. And that's what I expect. That's what the people of of Kershaw County expect. Decisions are hard. It doesn't have to be easy, but things have to be done the right way, and that's what we can hope for. Thanks, Mr. Brunson. Does that conclude public comment? Yes, Chair. Thank you very much. All right, gentlemen. That takes us to public presentations. We've got um Midland's Fatherhood Coalition on the agenda at 6A. This is placed on by Councilman Tucker and Councilman Shoe.

» Is there a motion? I'd like to make the motion that we approve this proclamation. Um Mr. Chairman, and I would second. I think the first one's a presentation. We'll see if they have something else. It is. Okay. It is. All right. We've got a second. Uh any discussion at all, gentlemen? Seeing none, move to a vote. All in favor presentation. It's unanimous, Miss Hannah, by those who are present in voting. Uh, yes. Who's the spokesperson? Please come forward. I've got um Mr. Ivy, Armstrong, CS, and Miss Boyd. This is from the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition. What is this coming from? Good evening. Good evening. I'm Keith Ivy, director of operations for Midland's Fatherhood Coalition. We're nonprofit organization working through uh Midland's fatherhood, Midlands County, I mean the Midlands.

» Uh and we are proud to be here because we got some great news. I think it's time for us to hear some great news. Oh, good. Midland Fatherhood Coalition has been helping fathers succeed in the Midlands for over 20 years. MLFC is one of the nation's largest running and most successful fatherhood programs. Engaged fathers are best or the best way to get the the root problems to the root of the problems and make progress forward ending poverty, reducing crime and improving outcomes for our children. Program overview. The core of our program is parenting, healthy relationships, economic mobility, and health. Those core topics we discuss on our weekly peer group sessions where we have our fathers and to which I want to acknowledge we have some fathers that are enrolled in our program that Mr.

» uh Mr. Trayvon uh brought with us. Would you would you guys raise your hand and stand? These are some of our fathers that are actively involved in our program. Thank you. They discuss topics. Yes. Yes. [Applause] They they discuss topics with Mr. Trayvon Armstrong uh at our at our at our meeting places and we discuss these topics because they affect our children, our communities, our schools, the workplace and we want our fathers to be better. Kershaw County deserves that. So goal setting is one of the one of the key topics and and key activities that we discuss in our in our peer group sessions. Why? Because fathers need to plan. Without a plan, it's a plan to fail. So, we discuss their topics.

» What can they achieve? They need to go back to school to get their GED, go back to get a certification, to improve their their their time to to possibly find a job, uh prolong their career, case management. Mr. Travon Armstrong does case management with each guy that comes through our program, each couple that comes through our program. And it's helpful because it's almost like taking their hands and walking them through certain situations, navigating through this legal system, family court, whatever issues that they're dealing with, he's there. And that's important. Employment services. We have a a regional job developer that also identifies second chance employers. Why is that important? Because some of our some of our fathers may have a stripe where they made a mistake way back when.

» We don't want that to follow them. So we h help to find those employers that will dismiss things in the past and help them build a new future. Next, children with engaged fathers have a bright brighter futures. School readiness. Engaged father being involved 43 43% more likely to earn an A in school. 33% less likely to repeat a grade. mental health eva evaluated levels of physical and mental health or engaged father being present. It helps to cut all those anxieties that children have. It also betters their problem solvers more confident, more empathetic, self-esteem. Our young girls, young girls without a dad being involved, we see some of the symptoms of those problems. teen pregnancy, gang activities, violence, economic stability.

» We use certain uh professionals from the banking system to come in and talk about the five C's of credit, why that is important. Financial literacy, why that is important. It helps to overall stabilize the family unit through the father. Safer communities. We all want a safer community. We're tired of seeing the stories. We're tired of hearing the stories. And we want to be involved with our fathers so they know that their the father in in the in the household will be less likely for their child to be on the streets causing harm or being harmed. So I'm going to pass us off. All right. Thank you very much uh Chairman Connell and Kershaw County um council. Thank you for hearing us tonight. I'm Ellaner Boyd.

» I've been in the fatherhood space for seven years and I work in uh resource development and external relationships. I'm going to share a little bit with you about the impact of our program. So, how do we know it works? I will say the numbers I'm going to share with you are from our Sumpter site because that is the site that is serving Kershaw County. But there is a very colorful impact report in your folder that was passed out that gives you the data for all of Midland's Fatherhood Coalition and all of our sites for fiscal year 2024. So this is data once again in Sumpter from fiscal year 2018 to 2024. So what do we have? Well, in terms of employment and employability in that time period, we have had 372 fathers gain employment or get a better paying job.

» We've had 264 fathers complete our job skills training and we started about a year ago um in a partnership with Morage Morris College and we've had 18 get their micro credentials or professional certifications through that program. Also family outcomes that we have experienced from the Sumpter site. Uh these are part of our key performance indicators that we monitor. 319 have reported increased time spent with children and 293 have reported an improved relationship with the mother of the child. We also work with uh the department of social services very heavily and since 2019 we have served 103 um fathers and families through DSS and we have also had an 83% success rate in having 85 families basically united uh reunited.

» So um and with a lot of the population that we serve that is a tremendous success rate. In terms of participants we have served 1,7 fathers and and mothers in some cases. Uh we have also positively impacted 2,56 children. And um we have had in Sumptre County um 581,2924 paid in child support. And we have saved taxpayers ATI stands for alternative to incarceration. So if a father has a child support order, they can be sent to prison because they've defied a court order. But thanks to family court judges like here in Kershaw County having the option to send a father through our program, over $3 million in tax money has been saved. I am now going to turn the microphone over to uh Mr.

» Tvon Armstrong who is the site uh intervention specialist here in Kershaw County and he has a lot of important things to share and we'll also meet some of the fathers. Thank you. Good evening, county council members. U my name is Trayvon Armstrong and I'm an intervention specialist for the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition. And our organization heavily prides itself on strengthening fathers and engaging them into the lives of their children uh and empowering them. Um, tonight I want to briefly talk about the impact that fatherhood has had in Kershaw, not just as a concept, but as a communitywide investment. You can go back. You're fine. Since October of 2024, this year, I was appointed as the intervention specialist in Kershaw County.

» My primary goal was to go to the court and have fatherhood presence strongly advocated there as well as give services. However, even though this had been very good, we noticed an issue when court orders, as Miss Boyd just stated, is definitely something good to look at as far as is saving taxpayer dollars. However, we were having court-ordered individuals who had a barrier and that barrier was transportation. They was finding it seemingly difficult to get from here to Sumpter. So, my directors took a step back and instead of the fatherhood, excuse me, instead of the participant coming to the fatherhood, fatherhood decided to come to Kershaw County to the participant. And so, that's what we did.

» We came here in hopes of enrolling these participants and looking at the disparities and trying to be that change agent. Obviously encouraging autonomy. A lot of participants came through the program. I can say two have graduated, four is pending enrollment this week and eight is currently enrolled. One of those graduates is here tonight. uh a little bit later I'll give him my opportunity to speak if that's okay. Chairman, in November of 2024 I had an office and I have to say I am honored to say that the community partnerships is something that I just love because it shows that the community is willing to invest into themselves. It shows that the community says that it takes a team. it takes togetherness to get and change uh lives.

» And so in doing so, partnerships developed with the DSS where I now currently have an office in the United Way DSS building and they constantly uh refer me uh excuse me, refer participants to me um through other uh referrals in Alpha Center. Um, I stayed at United Way, uh, some other ones, uh, DSS, of course, SC Works, and we have a on June the 26 a, uh, event, um, with, uh, San Hill Medical that's coming up that I'm really excited about. Um, and so, uh, yeah, next slide, please. Thank you. Um, goals and needs. We have them. And one of the main goals that I'm looking forward this year is serving 40 fathers. That's one of the main goals that I'm looking forward to doing this year. Um obviously identifying financial support for growth and sustainability.

» Um one thing is for certain is that we are granting and bringing resources from Sumpter to Kershaw. So finding financial support for growth and sustainability is one of them. Grow and develop corporate partnerships for employment opportunities. A lot of times, especially with Judge Rankings, he would court order an individual to me and he'll give me a timeline uh probably two months, three months, and uh I kind of like that. I kind of like a challenge. And so, uh we we hit the ground running. We hit the ground running. And so, that's another uh goal of mine is to create more our u partnerships with employment um opportunities.

» uh create new and deeper partnerships with agencies and organizations to support fathers because at the end of the day we like to ask the questions of uh to peers hey you know what are you doing in the next two years what are you doing in the next three years a lot of time when a father is caught between you know paying his bills his lights and paying his child support that's something to look into not negating his responsibility of course but a resource uh nevertheless is something that uh is the father is needing Uh so without further ado, I would like to bring up that participant um the graduate who I'm very uh proud of to uh introduce. His name is Kenneth Harrison and enough can be said about him. Just 10 out of 10. Sure. If he's part of your presentation, that's fine.

» Um just so you know, you've got about three minutes left on your 15 allotted. Thank you. Thank you. Hi. How y'all doing this evening? I'm Kenneth Harrison. Um, I've been a beneficiary of the fatherhood program. Um, I had my first child. I was really young. I was like 17 years old. Like most children that dealing with that now, young men of all colors from all neighborhoods. What they tell you is take care of your child, but they don't tell you how. You know, you're grown now. You got babies. Um, I'm 42 years old when I entered this program. Uh, I was able to learn a number of different coping skills. Um, I was able to gain full full-time employment. I was able to improve my outlook and my view on the situations and places that I've been and how I could impact other fathers.

» Um, this ain't so much about myself because I know I'm not a finished product, but this is more about young men and their need for some kind of guidance. Their need for someone to say, "Hey, you need good credit." Their need for someone to say, "If you can't do this, you can reach out to someone else and they could help you." You know, um, it's argued about a lot that a woman can go and say, "I need some help." And everybody's like, "Oh, come help me. Come help me." But if a man says, "I need some help." then that makes him less of what he is or something or oh we can't help you help yourself. The fatherhood program is here to help men women. Um my um fellow graduating classmate was a woman. She's awesome and she's grown stride after stride as I have.

» Um I ask that you guys please think strongly about it. This is a a community situation and all people in our community need to be paying attention to it. So, thank you for your time. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you for your time, for your opportunity to give us and we would like to follow up and possibly have a a another meeting behind closed doors if possible for some ideas that we have that could help. So, we thank you. Thank you for coming out tonight. Appreciate your presentation. Thank you. All right, gentlemen. That takes us to item number 7A on the agenda. This is proclamation regarding South Carolina fathers and families. Mr. Tucker, Mr. Shoemake, I also have this one on the agenda. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion that we adopt the proclamation.

» Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all in favor? The votes unanimous, Miss Hannah, by those who are present voting. Mr. Tucker, you still have the floor. Okay. Myself or Mr. Sheay? Who? Whoever you you want to read and then I'll comment after. Sure. So, we have a proclamation honoring Elevate Fatherhood Month. Whereas fathers represent the foundational element of resilient families providing love, guidance, and support to their children. And whereas the significant influence of fathers on their children's development is profound as they impart values, encourage personal growth, and nurture resilience.

» And whereas the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, established in 2002, has emerged as a pivotal source of support, equipping tens of thousands of fathers throughout our state with essential resources and knowledge to fulfill their responsibilities in fatherhood. And whereas the long-standing collaboration between the center of the South Carolina Department of Social Services alongside other state, local, and private entities has facilitated the cent's expansion into all 46 counties and the enhancement of innovative programs designed to better serve a greater number of fathers. And whereas when fathers take an active role in leading and engaging their children, these young individuals thrive in social, emotional, and academic domains.

» And whereas the center has successfully supported, developed, and broadened its Father 365 statewide network of regional fatherhood organizations that directly impact thousands of fathers and families every year. And whereas the center continues to exemplify a model for fatherhood initiatives on a national level. And whereas the month of June presents an opportunity for all citizens of our county to celebrate and honor the essence of fatherhood, acknowledging the unwavering efforts of fathers in shaping the future of our communities.

» And now therefore, we the county council for Kershaw County, South Carolina, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2025 as Elevate Fatherhood Month throughout the county and encourage all citizens in Kershaw County, South Carolina to express their gratitude for the fathers in their lives. This initiative aims to celebrate the significant contribution of fathers and to promote their active involvement in the lives of their children. Such involvement is essential for enhancing the well-being of young individuals, cultivating responsible citizens, and strengthening families and communities across our county. Thank you, Mr. Schumick. Any further discussion or is there anyone here to receive the proclamation tonight? Yes. Uh I think they're out there in the audience.

» So, um after the vote, if you want to call them up, we can present. Did we just have we just had to vote? Okay. Well, we can present. Uh this was Call up who you uh who you want to. Yes. So, um How you doing there, Rev? Bring up everyone who's a part of the uh fatherhood initiative and uh let's take a photo. Come on through. Y'all can come right on up. There's a little door on the side. No, I'm stand up here. Then they'll bearing her beauty. [Music] make me look real. All right. All right. One, two, three, and a half. Guess he's got Yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Mr. Chair. Mr. Tucker, we have one comment from one of the members of the Senate, Mr. Mr. Jones, you have a point of order. Well, I was I I really want to just ask a question about the group. Okay.

» The young man that was up here speaking while ago, Mr. Armstrong. Yeah. Let me ask when I was jail administrator and that point of what I hope you'll let me do this. When I was jail administrator, our biggest the biggest thing used to really upset me was family court was send dads to jail, which they they deserved it. But yet, we couldn't get them to do an alternative program because if you're in jail, you're getting three hot a day. you can't pay your child support. So when you get out, bam, you get you go right back to jail. It's like a vicious system. And are are you working on that or do you see anything possibilities in getting into that area of it by working with the family court judges? So there is a bill and it's interesting that you bring up brought that up.

» Um it was another judge, but specifically Judge Rankis is privy to it that the bill is jobs not over jail, jobs not jail. And that bill is in state uh as of 2025, if I'm not mistaken, as of 2025, that the judge has the ability to court order them to our program. Yes. Now, granted, it's not saving grace. It doesn't mean that we're going to be we don't we you and I cannot say when the epiphany would actually come to play. No, I've been there. However, it does give them an opportunity to say, you know, you got two to three months here. You know, you can do it with me and we can actually move because the judge wants to see some progress. or they do a life sentence with the judge because they're going they're not going to be able to pay it.

» They get rule right back into court and then go right back to jail. It's just a vicious cycle. And and the thing is family court judges think they're God anyway, you know. So bottom line is I hope that you'll be able to work with them and and I'm sure you you are doing that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jones, Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Wesley, Mr. Wesley, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Family Program Manager. I just want to say thank each one of you guys for, you know, acknowledging the fatherhood on this um elevation month and millions fatherhood for being here tonight um serving the fathers in Kershaw County. Um Trayvon had done a remarkable job serving the fathers here in Camden cuz it's my hometown so I represent. So um I'm glad that fatherhood is in Camden.

» I just hope that you guys continue to support um this movement cuz fathers come with different barriers. Although we are father program, we have mothers in our program as well. And it's a holistic approach like no other program. So please take your time to continue to support Millions Fatherhood Coalition as they serve Kershaw County events. If you see Trayvon at the events, go and give him a handshake. You know, because this is not easy work alongside the fathers as Jimmy Jones say about the bears is already created for fathers. Um, one thing that you don't know, Smelan Fatherhood Coalition do go behind the fence in Sumpter County to meet fathers as they before they get released. So, being proactive and also helping them reunite with their families as they get released.

» Um, but once again, thank you for elevating fatherhood and we look forward to conversations after today. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, M. Wesley. Council members, any other comments or questions? I just want to say, Mr. Chairman, thank you uh to the entire group. Um, presentation was awesome. Um, it's good to hear good testimonies and successful stories and y'all just keep pushing. Don't let anyone slow you down. Um, you know, it's Father's Day this coming weekend and um, we like to all feel like a king for a day if nothing else. Um, not that we all deserve it, but we like to feel that way. And, um, I wish you nothing but Godspeed. If there's anything that this body myself can do, um, please reach out and I will get with Miss Hannah to get some contact information so we can meet later.

» Thank you, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Schemeck. And thank you to the group as well. All right, gentlemen. That moves us to the executive session items. Uh, we previously discussed this would be a motion to go into executive session on um really it's three matters, two kind of combined into one related to legal advice and a personnel matter. uh the moratorium related legal advice and related issues would come first, personnel matter second. This would all be under SC code 30-4-70 and that authority. Is there a motion? I'd make a motion we go in executive session for this. Mr. Schumake has the motion. Is there a second? Second. Second from Mr. Tomlinson. Any discussion? Yes, sir. I have a question, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. Uh can we state the names of who we're inviting in for the record, please? Yes.

» Um we're going to invite in Mr. Ned Towel, chairman of the planning commission. Mr. Ross Apple, attorney regarding moratorium related issues. Uh that will be on the first one and then on the second one we have another attorney, Mr. Fred Williams, and I'll have um Mr. Templar come in for the first one and and start from there. Okay. Thank you. If I may, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Jones, I would like to extend that to the other two commissioners that are here to come in with Mr. towel and so that they can be in there as well and hear because all three of them have been working on this project and I think it'd be it show it show a good hand of good faith on our part to hear all three of them. If I was Mr. T, I probably wouldn't walk in executive session with all of us by himself. Mr.

» Jones, I personally have no objection to that at all uh for the presentation portion that he would be uh present for. So I'm asking you during the time we discuss it in executive session. I thought we said we're going to talk to him in executive session. We are. Okay. I'd like to extend invitation to the other two that are here as well. Any objection from council? I don't have any. No objection. I'll call call them in as well. Thank you. Assuming they'll come. I don't have to wrestle you in there. Do I? All right. Did that move? Call for the vote. We're Yeah, we're going to call for a vote. All in favor, raise your hand. Miss Hannah, it's unanimous by those who are present voting. We're in executive session. Okay, I go back. I want to say this was this is just a breakout.

» It just keeps the calls in. Hey, don't let be on out there. No, no, no, no. Everything's muted and that's what it's by itself. This should be this should be quick. I enjoyed the class last year. I'll get you all. All right, we got a quorum. Seek a motion to exit executive session. Some moved. Second. Got a second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of exiting executive session, raise your hand. Miss Hannah, it's unanimous by those who are present in voting. And that puts us back on the agenda. So, we are now at item 9A, impact fees. Make a motion that we move We haven't approved the minutes, Mr. Chair. I'm exc I'm sorry. I had so many squiggles going through it. Um, item number eight, approval of minutes. Mr. Shoemaker, you have the motion. I move that we approve the minutes.

» All right. Is there a second? Got second. Any discussion at all? Seeing none, all in favor, raise your hand. It's unanimous. Miss Hannah. Thank you, Mr. Shoe. make. All right, that takes us to item number 9A, impact fees. Uh, I placed this on the agenda. I'll make a motion that we discuss impact fees in a general update amongst ourselves and from staff. Yes. Uh, second that, Mr. Chairman. We got a second. It's on the floor. Um, and it's not going to require any vote necessarily, just for discussion. Um, February 2022 is when I I recall last voting in favor of doing a study for impact fees.

» There's a statutoily required study that has to be done before you would assess them and there's a formula that applies and just want to get an update from staff so we can get this on an appropriate agenda with language as soon as possible. Do you have any update Mr. Templer? Yes, Mr. Chairman, members of council. I do. We have uh for next meeting we have Matt Nunster that will be here. Um he's been our consultant. He's also worked with city of Camden on their uh impact fee. um he will be here to do a presentation. He's he's already done a presentation to the planning commission that that received a favorable outcome from the planning commission. So, you're right. This started on uh June 14th of 2022.

» Um the fee was completed in 23 and it was um subsequently updated uh due to some delays uh re-updated or updated and brought up on the 11th of October in 24. So we have compiled a CIP for this. We've identified the departments that would benefit from this uh impact fee. Um, of course there's several entities that would benefit from this this impact fee in terms of uh like fire EMS, but then they have to be regionally and so it's not countywide. So when you look at the the money that comes from these uh these impact fees, they have to be identified for expansion of the service, not replacement or anything that has to correlate with growth of the county.

» So with um with recreation and solid waste as one of the um are are two of the um destinations for the impact fees because we can clearly put growth to those services where there's a burden and then also we can show expansion. So through our CIP we have identified some projects within recreation and with those uh and solid waste and with those two departments they it does not have to be regionally or in a focused area. Um they can be countywide. So there there's opportunity to address some some projects throughout as it relates to solid waste. Uh solid waste to me from an operational standpoint is where we get pushed the most in terms of our services uh because it's just garbage.

» We are just handling so much residential and CN D and just from the construction, the you know added uh added houses and just everything that you would imagine to come with a new home as it relates to garbage. So, um, we we are in a good position for that and Matt will be here next meeting and he will give a more robust overview. So, thank you for that update, Mr. Templer. Any other discussion or questions, council members? Uh, I'll just mention it's statutoily prescribed and so I think the amount would be $2,200 or something like that roughly per house, right? 2,300. 2,300. Okay. $2,300. Uh I know that school districts can do much higher amounts and we had talked about sending a letter to the school district if they want to piggyback on the u data developed in our study.

» They could update their own and perhaps do a higher impact fee study because they have greater greater uh I guess discretion in assessing a higher amount related to schools. Right. All right. Can I ask a question? Sure. Mr. Chair, maybe you can answer it or Mr. Templer. So So exactly what is the benefit? What what are you saying the benefit of the impact fee will be? What what do you plan to achieve out of that? It would I mean just for one uh with solid waste I would look at expanding the Elgen convenience center and by expanding I would add uh more compactors um increase the footprint. We we own a larger footprint than what we actually use. So I would expand our capability uh for compactors for residential waste, what we call MSW, your your like kitchen trash, household household trash.

» Um that is absolutely our busiest site. So the ability to use these fees for new rooftops, that's what the solid That's what solid waste fee pays for, doesn't it? I mean it goes towards it goes towards I mean and what are we raising that to that's being raised in this current budget isn't it? Yeah. We need to raise that because we've been behind for a while. Yeah. What what what exactly are we raising it to the solid waste fee? Uh we cut that in our amendment. So I'm trying to think off the top of my head Mr. Jones because we uh we end up when we increased the millillage to 3 and 1/2 uh we took a half a mill and put towards uh solid waste.

» So I think it cut it $5 and I want to say 30 or 60 I can't remember the exact numbers from the increase request from the increase that we were going to increase it. Okay. But we don't know what the increase is exactly. I think it's like uh $32 uh if I'm not mistaken or 24. So 32 and so it's now it's 2760 it was 530 so increase right 2760 increase no that's not the to the solid waste right what's the increase it was 32 originally right right and take the half a mill off took 530 off which made it 2760 then this impact fee will be how much 2300 approximately per home so it just depends on how many people pull permits to build um and then that would go towards solid waste and um what was the other one, Danny? Recreation. You said recreation and and Mr.

» Tucker, I was just trying to get clarification. No, no, you're fine. You're fine. And I didn't mean to jump in, Mr. Administrator, but um you know, we've had some concerns with solid waste uh since your existence. So, it's it's just one of those things that as a county grows, it doesn't get better unless you absolutely have a plan. And when these fees are calculated, and Matt can speak to this more next time, but um any any kind of revenue stream that comes in for these particular departments is backed out. Um so that lowers the our ability to have a higher impact fee. So that fee is taken in consideration. Okay.

» And I would say too because we had this discussion, this is getting a little bit on the finance committee report, but um we talk with staff and um you know, we run a lot of our recycle centers with part-time help. And that's hard because you're not going to pay me crumbs and get me abused at the same time. Um, and what I mean by that, if I'm working part-time and you've got people coming and they're agitated and um and they're jacked up on whatever problems they have in life and they go to say ugly things, I'm going to tell you take this job and shove it because it's part-time and I can find me another. So staff is looking at see can we put some more full-time people into these facilities and then maybe we'll have a little bit better TLC and ownership from our employees.

» Can I share this if the chair doesn't mind? I'm going to share something with you. Down in uh Surfside Beach, they had their recycling center. I pulled in there. Do you know the employees? They were so they were so polite, so nice, so positive. They even asked to help take the the trash out. I told them know I was physically able to do it. Thank you very much. But bottom line is that they were I I just and I think I had mentioned that to Mr. Templer, the attitude, the personalities. I mean, you felt welcomed when you went in there. Well, you know, and and I know um we can't do a lot of things without part-time help, but I also believe when you have people that's full-time that's getting benefits and more bang for the buck um go a little bit above and beyond most of the time.

» So, that's where that conversation sort of came from. So, thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Any further discussion? Any more questions? All right. We have it on the agenda for consideration uh for next meeting. Thank you, Mr. Templar. All right. All right. If I can read through my own scribble here, I think we've got uh item number 10A is the next item on the agenda. This is going to be a second reading. I think we have finance committee report. Finance. Finance committee report. Yeah. I couldn't read through my own scribble. Mr. Tucker, do you have a motion? Yes, I have a motion that we uh be able to brief uh council and the public with our finance meeting from last week, please. All right. We have a second from Mr. Sheay. Okay. It's on the floor. All right. Thank you, Mr.

» Chairman and council members. Uh we met last week. I believe it was Wednesday. I had a very uh productive meeting and I'll let my colleagues chime in. That's Mr. um Shoemate and Mr. Thomasson here in just a second. So, what we made sure of was the adjustment we made on the budget for four meals that were submitted by staff down to three and a half. Um that we had the deduction of the half a mill out. Um and uh cuts were made by staff. Bless you. uh cuts were made by staff um because the funds were not there. Um one of them happened to be one of our detention center positions. Um we had some u contract services and other things that were taken out.

» Um with that being said, the budget that is submitted next week into the package will be with the 3 and 1.5 mil increase and the fees um that uh we passed uh two weeks ago. So I want to make you aware of that. Um in that we got a request from staff that um we will be having um some debt millage that we need that we can which will be revenue neutral roll over to operational service. So that's going to come as a recommendation from finance committee. Um no cost to the taxpayers uh no increase in taxes. Uh we're changing departments on where this is coming from and this is going to help put back in uh the shortage where we had to cut uh the detention center budget. We had a $95,000 increase in our P&L insurance.

» Um it's for a new HR position so we can try to get a meet our target for one HR per 100 employees. And then we've got some contact services, contract services that we need to put in for some software to allow digital budgeting and financial reporting. Um, with that, that equals about $133,000, which is roughly right at that mill. We were going off about I'm at 100 33,000. And um, the meal is worth about 330 if you collect 98% of what the value is. So that is um, uh, some of the things we talked about. We happen to talked about the impact fees. We've already covered that in the meeting and um we um trying to think what else discussion did we have. You remember Mr. Shumate? Uh yes. So uh we talked about the moratorum.

» So we had asked uh staff several things um to look into uh which was uh how other counties and municipalities did moratoriums and uh they did do some research. Thanks, Miss Lauren. Uh on Anderson County and uh Lexington County and um in that um report back it it showed where uh they did take the 6 months of the moratorum um to set it and then uh it went into play um and they came out a lot better off um and it wasn't a what's the word I want to say? don't have the cost, the total cost because we couldn't find that anywhere, but it wasn't a um thing that where it uh cost the county a tremendous amount of money because it wasn't planned. So, just wanted to put that out. Um Anderson County was uh countywide for 60 days and um they um were able to get things done.

» The main problem with the moratorum I think that most of us are struggling with is what are we going to do to accomplish within that time period. So um that's why the finance committee was trying to um make sure that we had what we needed and that we're heading in that direction where we can accomplish our goals. So with that I will ask my colleagues Mr. Thomasson and Mr. Shemate do you have anything that you want to add? I don't have anything else. Thank you uh for that update and all of staff's hard work. That was a lot of lot of time and energy and and appreciate my colleagues for for being present there. Thank I I have nothing I have nothing to add. Uh we wore matching shirts today, so you'll have to look at our name tag to know who is who. Mr. Chairman, that concludes our report.

» Thank you for the report, gentlemen. Thank you for the report. All right. Now, um, back on to, uh, 10A, ordinances is the first ordinance, second reading. Um, I don't think we need any summary from staff on this one. This is second reading to amend the official zoning map regarding the piece of property cited in the packet. Uh, is there a motion? Make a motion. Where we at now? Second read. Second reading. This is a 10A second reading on a reszoning official zoning map. First reading was May 27th, 2025. Is there a motion? Seeing no motion, it does not pass. Second read motion. I'll make it. Is it Do we have somebody online? Well, Mr. B, you online. Yes, sir. Okay. I can barely hear you. Um, did you say you make a motion on 10A? Yes, I'll make a motion. All right.

» There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Seeing no second, it does not pass second reading. That takes us to item number. Can we find out what time he came on, please? So we know. Yeah. Russell, what time did you get on? 13 minutes and 22 seconds. You got Oh, at 19 minutes. Hey, Russell, I don't know what you got equipment wise. It's very, very hard to hear you, just so you know. Um, okay. How about any better now? Yes. A little better. A little bit better. All right. Um, this takes us to item number 10B on the agenda. Second reading regarding project NAM and a special source revenue credit agreement. Any, uh, recap needed by council at all before we have a motion. What is this? Project N. It's an economic development project.

» suggests um uh proposes $12 million in investment and at least 50 jobs special source revenue credit agreement. I make the motion that we pass second reading. Mr. Chairman. Okay, we got a motion. Is there a second? I will second. Mr. Schumick, you have the second. Mr. Tucker, you have the floor. I just once again want to um thank our economic development um group. I think he was here. Mr. Burgess, is he still here? There we go. There he is. for all his fine work and uh and his uh endeavors and look forward to um this taking third reading. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. Any further comments or discussion? Have none. Yeah. Thankful to staff as well and working on this. We've had some some great hits recently on economic development in in 2025. So, appreciate that. All right.

» For second reading, we'll move 10B to a vote. We'll go first um online. Uh Mr. Brazzle, how do you vote? I vote yes. That's a yes. And then for all those who are present, raise your hand if you're in favor. And it's unanimously in favor for those who are present. It passes second reading. All right. This takes us to item number 10 C on the agenda. This is second reading of a temporary moratorum in Kershaw County. First reading was May 27th, 2025. Originally placed on the agenda by Councilman Jones and Vice Chair Russell Brazzle. Is there a motion? I make a motion that we adopt second reading of the mortorium agenda. All right, you've got a motion. Is there a second? Second. You got a second. Mr. Schumick, you have the floor. Yeah. So, a couple of things.

» There's been a lot of discussion about this tonight, particularly with the uh inclusion of small subdivisions. Um, obviously was a little uh our last meeting was a bit spicy, but uh government's supposed to be messy, as I like to say. um had a chance to talk to Councilman Brazzle uh directly and then independently talked to uh Councilman Tomlinson and um at the sort of suggestion of Chairman Connell, you know, to try to come up with uh you know, a compromise play that kind of worked for everybody. We're advancing second reading tonight as is. However, um and I'm Councilman Brad, I know, will chime in after Councilman Tomlinson.

» Um what we would like to do is after this reading we have some ideas where we might be able to adjust at least propose adjusting um propose adjusting the definition of what a small subdivision is uh so that it has a smaller right now a small subdivision is nine lots or less. We were talk I I was thinking about personally proposing an idea where we would have small subdivisions redefined to maybe say uh five or less and then a major subdivision would be six or more and then we you know perhaps amending on third reading the ordinance into a uh into major subdivision only. So again those are just my ideas. I only had a chance to talk to Councilman Brazzle about that today.

» So basically what I'm proposing now to everyone is Councilman Brazzle, Councilman Tomlinson and I have all independently spoke and we think we have a good faith effort to sit down, obviously not four of us, but but for the two or three of us to sit down and come up with a compromise so that we can get something at the request of Chairman Connell that is more uh receptive of property rights, addresses some of those issues that were raised here today and gets us something that we can sort of all get on board with for third reading. So, that is that is what we had talked about and and my hope is we can get something that everybody uh or at least most of us can get on board with that does honor those those small business owners. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Shoemake. Um I know that Mr.

» Brazzle has limited time, so I'm I'll yield my time. Mr. Shoemaker handled just about everything I wanted to say. I'll yield my time to Mr. Brazzle. Um so, you can go ahead, Russell. Mr. Brazzle, you have any comments, questions? Yeah. Thank Thank you, Councilman U Shoemate Thomasson. Thank you for uh the conversation. So, my my major sticking point has been the inclusion of the minor subdivisions and um we've had some positive conversations that I think can lead us in a in a good direction for our third reading. It's a it's a very sensitive issue. We've got so many people who've built Kershaw County that were we're being thrown in the mix with home building and major development. Those are those are two different things.

» Um as we see family businesses work and grow versus um large national builders building three, four, 500 lot subdivisions. It's just apples and oranges. So, I appreciate uh the efforts and I appreciate the conversations and I look forward to working with you all on an amendment that that we can hopefully get passed for our third reading. Thank you, Mr. Brazzle. Any further comments or discussion? Any questions? Council members? Yes, I have to. Mr. Jones, I just want to say um when I first made my proposal, it was major subdivisions only. That's what I liked. That's that's what I I'm going to stand by or I was standing by. I voted for the amendment to carry it on through the second reading so we can maybe massage and have some conversation about it and make it better.

» My intention was to vote against it tonight because I I I don't like what was presented with with the small subdivisions, no pun intended. But after talking with these guys a little bit, I I feel like that they're willing to compromise to some degree to work with these other folks in the community. uh like David who got up here and spoke tonight, you made some valid points, but our citizens also make valid points with the fact we've got to do something. So, I just want to say to my colleagues, I appreciate the fact that Councilman uh Thomasson and uh Schemake and U Brazzle have talked about this. They've gotten together and uh I feel like there's some hope for us to have a successful third reading.

» I am voting on this tonight just to carry it through only to keep the conversation going for us to make it better. But I can tell you now we I like the things that y'all had talked about and said and I think it's a good compromise. I just want to make that clear before I vote tonight. Thank you, Mr. Jones. I was basically going to walk out here before I even vote. I was so irritated. Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Any further questions or comments? All right. I've got a few. Um, I voted against this last time and I still retain the same concerns about uh private property rights. Somehow we're okay with one house being built and that respects private property rights, but all of a sudden you split split it into two lots and we've got issues.

» And in some sense, since the council seems uh absolutely set on having a moratorum, my goal at this point is to try to make it um the smallest possible invasion of private property rights. And so I'll probably support it tonight on second reading with the understanding that I have questions about funding study timelines based on the actual stated leg legislation requiring certain types of studies, how long those would take versus the the publicly promised 6 months. Um whether or not we actually have to have or need a river uh overlay uh corridor study based on legal advice we've received recently. And um and then just again I have to harp on private property rights. I mean, it's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

» And to me, this is a core fundamental liberty issue is what can you do with your property? Uh, I know technically we're saying, "Oh, well, this isn't a takings. It's a short period of time. It's only 6 months." But I've gotten so many calls since first meeting about folks who have subcontractors that will rely on this type of work, particularly uh in the minor subdivision space. Uh so many questions and comments from people who are saying, you know, I planned on retiring next year. I wanted to subdivide some land and sell it. That's the right time for me. Just because we do this, it doesn't mean people's retirement clock or uh choice regarding their property stops.

» And so, if we're going to impact people's private property rights, again, I think we have to really put forth some strong justifications. And personally, I would like to see and hope at some point we can move to a a narrower area that lines up with these really dense or suspected to be dense corridors that are in some proximity to sewer or hight traffic areas so that we're using the least restrictive means to impact people's private property rights and leaving everybody else alone. Um, but that's what I have to say about it on second reading. Any other questions or comments? I think I think I think you and I are similar in our concerns. Mr. Connell, thank you, Mr. Jones. Okay, we'll we'll call it for a vote. We'll go remote first. Mr.

» Brazzle, how do you vote on second reading 10 C? I vote yes. That's a yes. And then for those who are in person, all in favor, raise your hand. We've got Mr. Shoemake, Connell, Tomlinson, and Jones in favor. All opposed? We got Mr. Tucker opposed for the record, Miss Hannah. Thank you. All right, gentlemen. That takes us to item number 10D. This is a first reading in title only. This is a memorandum of agreement uh regarding Kershaw County Library and Department of Aging. Mr. Templer, do you have any summary for us? Just a brief summary that this uh Mr. Chairman, members of council, this would allow us to expand some of our uh site capabilities at the library with the department of uh South Carolina Department of Aging.

» I have Amy Scoffield here for any other deeper questions or more uh complex questions but uh well it's entitle only so we'll see more substantive u information on second reading but uh with that background is there a motion I make a motion that we approve entitle only for the u the approval of the u what do I want to say minorandum of agreement between library and aging Correct. Okay, we've got a motion. Is there a second? Second. We got a second for Mr. Thomasson. You've got the floor, Mr. Tucker. Um, like you said, it's entitle only and um as Amy's out there shaking her head and she is a um a very good example blessing of Kershaw County. I know she won't make any mistakes as for us what is in best for us and and trying to provide to the to the citizens of Kershaw County.

» So, I thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to hearing more on how this partnership is going to work on second reading. But thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. Mr. Thomasson, you have the second. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I don't I don't have anything to add on this and glad you are here, though. It did remind me that I received an email two days ago that my two children's library books are due tomorrow. Um, that Yeah. So, I I really appreciate that and um I will be dropping the two books back off and grabbing two more. So, if I could, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. Mr. Jones, we've got a wonderful librarian. Is she in here? Yes, his name is right there. Just want to I thought that was your voice. I couldn't see you through the podium, but thank you for all you do.

» I I really mean that. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Any other comments? All right. On first reading, we'll move it to a vote. This is uh 10D. Um is is Mr. Mr. Brazzle still on the line. Oh, he's hopped off. Okay, so back to back to the old faithful here. Um, all those in person, raise your hand if you're in favor. Miss Hannah, it's unanimous. By those who are voting in person, it passes uh first reading entitle only. This takes us to item number 10E on the agenda. Um, this is authorization really for the administrator enter into some negotiations regarding a particular piece of property. Um, any background at all, Mr. administrator, you can give for us before we have a motion. Just briefly, this would be the Dominion property we have where EMS is currently housed.

» Um, we since uh found another location, a more optimal location. I It was always the location we wanted to be at from years back. So, uh, this is just an opportunity to offload this property and, uh, use that money, um, for the new facility. Thank you for that update. Is there a motion? Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we authorize uh entitle only for the um sale of that property there EMS station. All right. Do we have a second? I'll second. Mr. Shumig, Mr. Tucker, you got the first give some good clarification. Mr. Tucker, please. Sir, give some good clarification on it. Well, um it's in title only, but uh as the administrator just said, it's property that we on.

» Um, I'm pretty sure he's already got his eye on a potential buyer and um, we need to liquidate this so we can do our renovations at a new property uh, that we've already voted on to move EMS up off of Battleship Road and um, keep trucking. Am I correct by saying that, Mr. Temper? That's in plain English. Well, thank you. I'm I'm a plain English kind of guy. Um, any further discuss? No discussion on this whatsoever. Okay. And of course, any uh potential sale for property like this will have to come before us for ultimate approval with numbers and and we'll make the decision on what's best for the county. Thank you. Okay. Um any further discussion? Seeing none, let's move it to a vote. All in favor, raise your hand. It's unanimous by those who are present in voting. Miss Hannah. All right.

» Y'all hold my hand. as a left-handed male attorney. I know my uh handwriting is supposed to be even worse than a left-handed male doctor, but I'm on number 11, resolutions for the amendment. Am I right? Okay. All right. We got it. So, item number 11, new 11 on the agenda, resolutions. Uh this is regarding the Santi Lynch's COG and the time-sensitive grant matter support letter uh placed on by Mr. Tucker. Is there a motion? Uh, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the resolution for the um safe streets for the cog. Is there a second? I'll second. There's a second. Mr. Tucker, you have a before. Thank you. Um, I want to say uh thank y'all for allowing us to be on the agenda. At this time, I would like to read the resolution on what it says.

» You should have a copy at your desk because it did not make the agenda packet. a resolution by Kershaw County Council authorizing the submission of a grant application to the natural safe streets and roads for all programs um and other um matters related there too. Whereas Kershaw County places a high priority on the uh safety of its roadways for all residents and visitors including mo motorists, commercial vehicle operators, pedestrians, pedal cyclists, public transportation riders and whereas the development of safe streets for all safety action plans uh discrimination demon demonstration projects uh represents a important step toward reducing serious injuries and fatalities on county roads. roads.

» Now, therefore, let it be resolved that the Kershaw County Council authorizes supports the submission of a safe streets for all applications on behalf of Kershaw County. Kershaw County will uh participate toward the completion of successful safety action plan and demonstrations projects, including contributing a staff time serving on necessary committees and other input. and uh comments to provide $200,000 in local matching funds in support of the project. So, we have matching funds here, but we can get up to um I think it's over a million dollars here for this total grant. Depends on what we get awarded. So, um that is my motion and well, I already made my motion. That is my reasoning for this resolution tonight. Okay. Uh Mr. Sheck, you have the second. I think Brian did. You did.

» You did. No, I had the second, but I'm I mean I'm good. I have no Any other comments or questions? Um Mr. Tucker, just to be clear that so 200,000 of matching funds up to $1 million of Yeah, because it's 8020. So that that I think that makes a little bit more sense when I say that. Yeah. So yeah, so you know, it could be less, but it's up to that. Um I hope we get it all. Uh this would be for the entire county, but I know there's a study that took place west of the watery on some of the roads um that are badly needing some uh some help to just to ensure that they're safer if it's nothing more than what they did right there by um the new subdivision they built before you get to P's funeral home on the left.

» um where uh trooper go uh was in that accident, that fatality, they put a center turn lane there and I'm going to tell you that is tremendous help if you're coming off of Magnolia or one of those side streets or you're trying to turn into that housing development. Uh making a left, it has been truly a tremendous help. So, I'm hoping that we can do more smaller projects because, you know, a million dollars don't go far when you're talking about paving and road construction, things of that nature, but this can help. Thank you. If there's no other comments or questions or um issues to bring up, I just wanted to mention that this is one of the good moves for going to the Santi Lynch's COG. If this was the CM COG that we were trying to draw funds from, it wouldn't have happened.

» I mean, for we looked at the data and it was 20 years before since we had received a substantial uh funding for any project related to our roadways. And here you have the chairman of the SL COG saying we need to make sure we're eligible for the grant. You're in tune. We need the support letter in time to be eligible for the grant. Let's try to get some money for Westwater. That hadn't happened for 20 years. And so that was ultimately a good move. It took a lot of effort and um a lot of work from the state delegation uh from DOT and many others commissioners and this council. But I appreciate that. Thank you, chairman. No further comments or discussion. All right, let's move it to a vote. All in favor, raise your hand. Miss Hannah, it's unanimous by those who are present. Miss Jones, Mr.

» Jones, just for the record, has stepped out for a moment. All right, that takes us to we'll call it um 12A under appointments, airport commission placed on by Councilman Brandt Tomlinson. Yeah. And Mr. Chairman, I'm um going to hold off on my airport commission appointment for this evening. Um just wanted to have a few more conversations um kind of going forward and there's um some some good candidates in there. So, I'm going to hold off. Um is that in the form of a motion to defer to next meeting and um yes, let's hold off and defer to next meeting. Okay, you got a motion. Is there a second? I'll second his motion. You got a second. It sounds like you've already stated your reasons. Any further discussion? There we go. All in favor? and it is deferred to next meeting.

» Uh the next one, we'll call it 12B. Kershaw Health District, District number two, placed on the agenda by Councilman Tucker. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I would like to uh at this time, you should have had it in your package last time uh to make a motion to reappoint Mr. Nick Moore to our health Kershaw Health District um board. Uh Nick has served and has served well. Um I think Nick is actually chairing the finance there, but um he's retired, got plenty of time, and uh he's a very um um in inquisitive guy. I won't call him nosy. Um so so he's a busy body, but he's a busy body in a good way.

» And um I think that u with all the projects and things that we have going on and the partnerships with the health service district um that his expertise and his experience is needed on this uh board and um I would ask for y'all support tonight to reappoint it. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. Any other comments, questions, concerns? We need a second. Yeah. What? That was a long motion, wasn't it? Second. I'll second. We've got two seconds. M. We'll take Mr. Chak as a second. I'll just say that the health services district has been doing great work between Beachwood and u the funding that they now generate for recurring revenue and um by their charter are required to cycle it back into the county um for health related purposes is just great. They're doing good work over there.

» Nick is definitely included in that and so I'll support it as well. There's no other uh comments or questions. Let's move it to a vote. All in favor? Miss Hannah, it's unanimous by those who are voting and present. Mr. Jones is still out of the room. All right, that takes us to council member briefings. Uh Mr. Thomasson, I'll just start to my left. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I'm going to be short and sweet. Appreciate everybody coming out tonight. Appreciate it, my colleagues, and and all the good conversations we've had. We've had a lot of things that we've worked on over the past couple months and it's always exciting to get um one good public input uh good community involvement and then us sitting up here and having good conversations.

» Um to close I wanted to congratulate um the Kershaw County AU uh baseball all-star team. So my son and and his uh 11 other friends went to Hartsville and competed this past weekend. Uh we came up short last night. We got home about 10:40, but we uh competed in the championship game of the of the regional tournament and ended up getting beat or bested by Hartsville by a little bit. Um and congratulations to them. They're going on to the state tournament, but it was one of the best um AU all-star runs that Kershaw County has ever had. So, congratulations to a group of 12 12 little kids, eight-year-olds. Thank you, Mr. Thomasson. And congratulations, Mr. Shoemake. Yeah, just a couple very quick things. Also, congratulations, Coach Tomlinson, because I know you were a coach on that team.

» So, it's my favorite joke, but I'll say it again. Uh, Coach Tomlinson, they do coaches pitch and coach Thomasson holds the strikeout record. So, that's a true story. Um, I I just, you know, it's been a long meeting. I just want to thank some of the folks in the room and some are not in the room who make all this possible. And it's definitely not us. Starting with uh obviously Miss Hannah uh who by the way we omitted last meeting we were talking about all the various graduations. Her son also graduated high school last month. So congratulations and I apologize for that oversight. Um Tyler who I know is not in the room who is our budget whiz.

» Um if I was going to get a tattoo of someone it would probably be my wife's name or my kids' names but but very close on the list is Tyler because um he is amazing at what he does and without his help the finance committee would be pretty rudderless. So, Tyler, wherever you are, hopefully at home sleeping. Uh, thank you. Um, Will Glover, Lauren Reer, and, uh, Gerald, obviously the sort of core of the administrative team that pushes this county forward on a daily basis. Thank you. And, of course, last but not least, our county administrator, Danny Templar, who is the captain of this ship and who I have every ounce of faith in and look forward to his long continued service to this county. And that's all that I have. Thank you, guys. Thank you, Mr. Schumank. Mr.

» Tucker, any report? Thank you. Yes, sir. Very briefly here. Thank you, um, Mr. Shoemate. And I just want to say ditto to the staff and county administrator and, um, just know that, um, we appreciate you and, um, we we we've got you. Um, and I say that with a sincere heart because, um, your your work speaks for yourself. And, um, when people truly believe in what you do, um, they they show it. It should not just be talked. show it. So, with that, I want to say um I'm very interested in um Miss Hannah, if you can connect me with um the fatherhood um Midland's fatherhood information sometime soon. Like to get with them and see what other good programs or what help we can do as uh Kershaw County to improve services here, especially Mr. Templar, like maybe getting into our jails.

» if they're into the detention centers down there, we we probably should be looking at something along those lines as well. So, um that's something to look forward to. And um I got a text today um and it was actually a devotion that I want to share with you. Um and it came from one of my colleagues who's not here tonight. And it talked about um it talked about fatherhood. Ironically, we're talking about that tonight. Father's Day is this Sunday. So, I would say happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. Um, and it it talked about how um you not only need to be a father, but you need to show and display your fatherhood.

» And the thing that I always uh talk about with my um son and relatives and other nieces and nephews, um you don't have to birth a child or plant a seed for you to be a mother or father. It's how you treat people, how you steer them, how you guide them, how you love them. So, um just because you weren't fortunate enough to have children doesn't mean that you don't have children. cuz I'm going to have children until I die. I just know that I love young people and that's where my heart pours out to. So, be careful about what you do, how you do it, because there's always someone looking up to you. And um enjoy your day uh Sunday, fathers. And um that concludes my report. Sammy's Father's Day greetings from both of us. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. You're welcome. And for the quip, Mr. Schoemaker.

» All right. Um just a few things to share. Reminder that June 17th is the next meeting. We've got that uh scheduled. That will be third reading of the budget. We've been talking about it for over a month and a half plus. Um due to travel schedules as naturally occurs for the council, June the June 24th meeting has been cancelled and that was done previously by vote in open session. So June 17th is the next meeting and we will address third reading of the budget. Exciting update I wanted to share with you.

» Central Carolina has been growing in the community and it's one of the lifelines for uh workforce and bringing good jobs to the community, letting people who live here and have to travel out um have an opportunity to either get trained locally or have an opportunity to work and draw uh new employers in. Um in the state budget, we had worked uh quite vigorously with the chairman of that board for Central Carolina, Paul Napper, and Speaker Merl Smith has been very supportive. There was previously $10 million aotted over the last couple of years in the state budget. So that was a total of 20. And we just found out that in the state budget we've got another $5 million coming for an expansion project that will happen at uh 521 in Camden.

» This will be specific in some ways to particular um companies who I just can't say yet for various reasons, but um whenever those contracts are approved and out, it'll be exciting to announce and talk about. But making Kershaw County a regional training facility for some of the best brands and companies in the world is going to be very exciting. And then expanding um mechatronic programming and other opportunities at Central Carolina that campus is just going to be great for the Kershaw County students who are graduating here. So now we've got 25 million and we may ask for a little bit more next year based on the scope and commitment of other companies that want to come in.

» And so that's exciting for education, that's exciting for economic development, and I'm just thankful for all those who are involved in support of this council and the um the board for Central Carolina, particularly uh Chairman Napper and Speaker Smith in supporting Central Carolina in Kershaw County. Um I want to mention the Kershaw County Girls Basketball Association. They've got a camp going on right now. Uh this is just volunteers that put it together over at Stove. They had 42 girls show up and they have another camp in July. Uh this is starting to be a tradition where the girls show up and are finding confidence in themselves through the game of basketball. If you can tell, uh I'm big boned and never had the physique or or uh inclination to play basketball.

» Um wrestling was always during basketball season, so that's where I landed. But it's amazing to see these girls who are shy and timid and otherwise reserved and don't really have the personal confidence you want to see in young people develop that through picking up skills through this team game. And so I've developed a new appreciation for it seeing this camp grow and uh they've got another opportunity in July. So that's going to be great as well. That concludes my report. Uh Mr. Administrator, any uh report for us? Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, members of council, just a quick update on where we stand on some of our wreck projects. Uh we're clipping along. The weather's been a little bit of a hindrance, but I feel like we're we're pretty well on track. uh Boyd Young up in Westville.

» Uh we've got uh irrigation installed and that that's going to be um very important uh as it relates to having sustainable grass and coverage up there, grading. Um so they're they're early into that project, but it's it's moving along. But is um they're getting ready to set up silt fences and things like that. Some of the demolition up there, removing some of the old material. Woodward Park uh continues to move along. They starting to go vertical on some of the restrooms and some of the uh concessions. Uh just a lot of uh grading and and surface work. Uh some slabs have been put down for some of the uh shelters uh picnic shelters. Um Watery River Veterans Park. uh they look to pour concrete maybe Thursday, Friday depending on weather.

» Um they are at a point where the weather is not such a factor because of the uh the subsurfaces they've been able to get completed is doing its job as it relates to runoff and storm water. Uh they do look to have start pouring the ramp as soon as they can get lock step with Duke as it relates to lowering the river to make that happen. Uh Casey West the uh they've begun some mobilization out there. You'll see some equipment out there for the uh parking expansion as well as some earth work. Um I'm happy to say that these these projects are uh we are within budget. We have made some adjustments. We've saw some of the cost escalations coming up previously well some months ago. We've made adjustments in this year's capital budget. Uh and we've built back in capacity.

» This is a very dynamic time as it relates to projects. costs go up probably weekly and um but we are we're still in a a good position to have these projects funded uh through completion and um as close to on time as we can get. Okay. Thank you. Any questions uh for the administrator? Any comments? No, Mr. chair, it's not exactly related, but one thing I forgot to mention and I think it's important for logistics is our third reading of the moratorum uh uh the mortorium ordinance because of public notice requirements. We're going to have a public hearing on July 8th, but because Councilman Brazzle will be on vacation that week, we're likely not going to have the third reading on July 22nd until July 22nd.

» So, I just wanted folks to know in terms of, you know, the third reading would normally be next week, but because we had to do notice of the amendment, we had to do that. Uh, it took more time. So, July 8th is the public hearing and July 22nd would be third reading. Um, and I just wanted to flag that. That's correct. Okay. Any questions or comments for the administrator? All right. Uh, Miss Douglas, you've been great here tonight. Thank you. Any, uh, legal briefing? Nothing from me, Mr. Chair. Thank you. All right, that uh that takes us to I'm not I don't want to punish us tonight with another executive session. No, I don't I don't want to. Truly, if we've got almost a majority of the council gone, this is not a time-sensitive uh executive session matter.

» Um I make a motion that we defer item 15A to the next council meeting. Second. Got a second on that. Third, it's it's executive session, so we'll we'll address We all just poll voted. I feel the support. All right. Um, we'll move that for a vote. Then all in favor of deferral 15, it's unanimous by those who are voting and present. And I can only assume maybe Mr. Jones has left us. Um, with nothing else, that takes us to a German. We've already addressed the other executive session items. There motion. Yes, sir. Um, before we turn, just want to state that um for Mr. Kato, just in case he's watching. Uh, see Miss Hannah for uh your shirts and Mr. Brazzle and um everybody else should have theirs in hand or somewhere where they can put their hands on them.

» But thank y'all once again and happy Father's Day. Okay, we got a motion from Mr. Thomasson. Is there? We got a second. No discussion. I see. All in favor of journment. We are ajourned. Thank