Please stand for our invitation.
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,
Holy Father. Thank you for your
blessings upon us, for our community and
the goodness and encouragement that
flows from them. for our council and
staff in their time, work, and patience.
You give us comfort when we suffer
grief. You strengthen us when we are
under stress. And you instill hope in us
when all seems hopeless. Help us in our
work to honor and serve you. Your grace
and mercy are everlasting. In his name
we pray. Amen.
>> Amen.
>> Thank
All right.
We have a hearty agenda this evening.
So, we're going to start with item
number one, a presentation of the
official affiliate certificate by Joseph
Barry with Palmata Pride/Keep South
Carolina beautiful, Joseph Berry. Yay.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
Uh, thank you, town council and mayor.
Uh, my name is Joseph Ary. I work for
Palmeta Pride. We're a statewide
nonprofit that deals with litter
throughout South Carolina. Um, part of
my role is I get to oversee the Keep
South Carolina Beautiful network. And
that is a network of over 38 different
affiliates of Keep America Beautiful.
Um, and I'm excited today to say that we
have officially launched Keep Fort Mill
Beautiful.
>> Yay.
» I I'll give you a little bit of
background of what that means and what
that means for your town, but I'll um
also give you a little bit of um doing
on this group that y'all have. Um, but
what a keep America Beautiful affiliate
does is they are focused around
beautifification of your town, um, waste
reduction within your town and
addressing litter to end it in your
town. Um, all of those things, um, this
group is more than willing and excited
to do, and they're prepared to do it.
They spent the last year come up with an
amazing board, amazing plan, and amazing
action items to make sure that they
address these issues in your town. And
I'm excited about the work they're going
to do. Um, kind of give youall some um,
information. They're joining a network
of over like I said 38 different
affiliates but they have um over 700
affiliates throughout the nation. We
were today we were talking doing some
strategic planning with them and um as
we were they were like I'd love to do
this idea. I was like well actually this
affiliate over here does this and this
town um or actually y'all should check
out this state. They do this awesome job
with that. So, they've joined an
affiliate network of over 700 affiliates
and 38 within South Carolina to make
sure that they're well equipped and
they're um well uh I I'll leave it
equipped um to make sure that they're
addressed on these issues. Um they as a
keep America Beautiful, they've had over
2.7 million volunteers. Um just in South
Carolina alone, we had almost 31,000
volunteers this past year. Um that
address litter throughout South
Carolina. Keep America Beautiful
beautified over nine 94,000 public
spaces last year and I'm excited for the
work they're going to do in Fort the
town of Fort Mill this year to add to
that. Uh 52 million pounds of litter,
recycling, and debris were removed. 1.2
of those were just in South Carolina
alone that we were able to track. Um so
that's a lot of trash that we're taking
up off the roadways and waterways. Um
and this crew is they're excited.
They're already they're talking about
not even ways to address it without
before it even hits the street and we're
excited about that. Um
189 plants or thousand plants and trees
were planted last year through Keep
America Beautiful. Um hey Pimea Pride
offers a tree grant to um our affiliates
and our network partners. Um and they're
already talking about how they're going
to apply for it next year to get those
trees on the ground to make sure they're
addressing with it. Keep America
beautiful offers a nice uh re-tree
program that helps address disaster
areas. Um, and then the one stat that I know uh town council always likes to
hear um is the money stat. Uh and
there's nearly $3 million of cost
avoidance last year in South Carolina
alone um through our network of
volunteers and our partners with our
affiliate network. That was money that
you didn't have to spend on your your
tipping fees or your crews to pick up
trash or your maintenance fees. um
volunteers and affiliates like keep Fort
Mill are able to engage those volunteers
to make sure that that work gets done on
behalf of the communities that they love
and respect. Um and I'm excited for the
work that they're going to continue to
do. Um this past year they've worked
tirelessly. I've talked with Mina uh
almost weekly at times. Um but she's
been great to work with. They're uh we
did a little bit of strategic planning
allude to earlier. I'm talking about,
you know, what are some of the goals and
stuff and I I was telling them a lot of
our affiliates, they get to this point
and that's this is the finish line. They
finally hit their affiliation and
they're excited for it. Um, and they kind of have to figure out what to
do next. This crew was already talking
about what they're doing next and and
I'll let them talk about it next because
I think that's part of their
presentation. So, I want to step on
their toes, but I do want to say that
I'm excited for the work they're going
to do. Um, and that the work that
they're going to be able to produce in
y'all's town. Um, and so I want to say
today is their affiliate birthday. So,
happy birthday to them. Um, every year
they get to celebrate the day today as
their birthday of their affiliate. And
so, we're excited for the work they're
going to do and the support that y'all
continue to give them um will only
increase the support they're able to
give your community. So, thank y'all so
much for allowing me to come here and
speak on their behalf um and the amazing
work they're going to continue to
support through y'all. Thank you.
>> Incredible. Incredible.
» I also come bearing gifts. So, um, this
is the official certificate certifying
them as a Keep America Beautiful
affiliate. Um, it'll be presented to
them today, um, for them to hang or
display wherever they feel feel the
need, but I'm excited for the work
they're going to do. Um, and as y'all
continue to grow this network, uh, thank
y'all for everything y'all do.
>> Amazing.
>> Thank you.
>> All right, Miss Mina, I think you're up
next to, uh, do a recap for 2026.
you're all coming up.
>> I love it. I love it.
>> Yeah, this is this is uh the most of our
committee, but we're just missing one
person today. So, we're excited to speak
to y'all. And I I will go ahead and say
I just realized as we were going over it
downstairs, I think the version of our
presentation that we submitted has like
a a slide missing and a slide out of
order. Thank you, Canva, to PowerPoint.
So, that was my fault for not catching
that. So, you'll see a little shuffle,
but
>> it's all good.
>> We got
>> It's all good.
>> All right, I'll let
>> I'll take it away. Hello,
>> madam mayor and members of the town
council. Uh, my name is Eva Dean and I
am the chair of this board. And, um,
when I think about who we are, and I
know that you have all been waiting
probably a year to see the faces. Um we
are I describe us as um plant lovers,
anti-litter enthusiast,
non-certified
environmental science um educators but
mostly dreamers of a greener and cleaner
Fort Mill.
And as such we um you want to advance?
I'm ready. As such, um I feel like we
embody the pillars of Keep America
Beautiful, which is our parent um
nonprofit organization very well. Um
particularly the four of them, litter
prevention and reduction, recycling and
waste reduction, um neighborhood
rejuvenation and beautifification of
open spaces. And now um by the way, this
is a recruitment also event. So, if you
would like to or send somebody to us, we
will take them. And like we're going to
say, we have those really neat shirts to
give. So, I'm going to let Tyler take
over.
>> Good evening. My name is Tyler Silvers.
I'm serving as the uh vice chair of our
board this year. Uh when we came
together as as a committee, uh one of
the first things that we did was
establish our foundation together. And
that came in in the form of three
different aspects. It was our mission,
our vision, and our purpose. Uh you'll
notice on the screen here that all of
these are centered around the people of
our of our town, our broader community.
Uh our mission is to empower the
citizens of Fort Mill to take action. Uh
lead change and build a cleaner, greener
tomorrow. Our vision or our our picture
of future success is that Fort Mill will
become cleaner, greener, and uh have a
culture that's more environmentally
responsible.
And our purpose or what we're charged
with as a committee is to provide uh pro
programming and planning
that teaches the citizens of our town uh
how to accomplish this vision this
vision and this mission. I keep going
next slide.
Soon after we established that
foundation we started focusing on well
what are we what are our action items?
What are what are our focus areas? And
these we like we like to call them call
them the pillars. Uh so we've
established our foundation and now we're
going to set these pillars on top and
these pillars will symbolically
represent what the community is going to
see the the product of what our
committee is is producing. Um our
pillars are litter awareness and
prevention, natural resource education
and conservation and restoration and
beautifification. And you'll notice
aspects of all three of these pillars
throughout our entire presentation this
evening.
» This one got a little janky. So bear
with my my numbers. It was right when I
sent it though, I swear. Um, so this is
just our path to affiliation, just sort
of how uh we got to where we are now. I
think y'all probably recall you uh we
had a resolution back um in 2024 to get
the the ball rolling and then y'all just
recently uh added us into the ordinance
because Casey realized we we needed to be codified a little bit better. Um
but we've been working on this uh as a
staff person, I've been working on this
since 2023. And um while Joseph's still
in the room, I think um I want to say
that Palmetto Pride has been a fabulous
partner uh to us. Even before we started
on the path to affiliation, you know, we
have our water goat because of them. We
have our environmental sculpture over at
Harris Street Park because of the the
program from Palmetto Pride. We were
able to have the Marionette Theater come
up and do their litter trashes everyone
um program for for local children
because of Palmetto Pride. So they've
been a fabulous um partner to us. All
right.
Stay there. Hello. I am Josie Vanell and
I'm a board member and
the litter survey we did in January 2026
for the town was in all four wards and
it was um a randomized survey. So we got
to drive through different neighborhoods
um 55 and a mile an hour sections to 25
m an hour sections. And the scale from
one would be maybe one piece of litter
that might have flown out of someone's
mailbox, all the way to four, which is
an illegal dump site. And
it the average was a 1.8 of the 15 sites
that we were able to view, which is
really good, but it still gave us where
we want to be better. So when we go back
next year, the areas we've already
noted, we've scheduled cleanups. We want
to be at a one and keep it at a one for
to keep our town so beautiful.
» All right. Hi, Mayor Gwen. Hello,
council. Uh I'm going to tell you guys a
little bit about what we have done so
far in 2025 and in 2026. So, so far we
have planted two pollinator gardens, one
at Steel Streak Park, one at Harris
Street Park, and we've kept up with
them. So, that's the mulching, the weed
pulling, the watering. We have worked
with Cub Scout Pack 832 to organize an
event where the scouts received their
environmental and sustainability badge.
For America Recycles Day, we organized
an educational event at Steel Street
Park and we educated on recycling and we
passed out um recycling magnets that
show what can and cannot go into our
recycling bins to kind of help our
community members know, yeah, this is
recyclable, this is not. And then most
dear and dear to my heart are the litter
pickups that we did. So we had the big
litter sweep. That's probably the one
that you guys notice in the spring where
there's little people groups sprinkled
across Fort Mill. We had about seven,
eight, nine starting points across Fort
Mill. We had roughly 150 volunteers on
one day and we picked up litter all
across Fort Mill.
>> We had the Berry Sweet litter pickup. It
was the day after the strawberry
festival and we all came. We picked up
around Walter Elijah Park and we picked
up around downtown Fort Mill. After the
festival, you know, people had fun, they
enjoyed, but we want to, you know, bring
Fort Mill back to its beauty. So that
was the Berry Sweet litter pickup and
we'll keep that going in the future. And
then we had the Santa suite pickup which
was the day after the Christmas parade,
>> excuse me, immediately after the
Christmas parade. Uh and we had a groups
pick up around downtown Fort Mill, you
know, as everyone left from the
Christmas parade. So overall, we picked
up 889 pounds of litter across Fort
Mill. We had 174 volunteers and our
events reached almost 1,700 people in
Fort Mill.
>> It's amazing.
>> All right, I'm going to turn it to
>> That's worthy.
>> Hi. Um, so my name is Danielle Holmes.
Um, it's kind of hard to follow
Michelle, but um, I will. Um, we plan in
the future to do everything that
Michelle just said. Um, we'll plan on
doing those again next year. Um, we also
are planning on partnering with the
Clemson Extension for a Fort Mill
Bradford pear bounty.
>> Um, Bradford pears are not native to the
US. Um, and they have been widely
planted everywhere.
>> Although they look very pretty, they can
become very stinky.
>> They are stinky.
>> And as many of us know, when storms
happen, the branches fall um and it
becomes um a huge mess. So, we are
looking to partner with the Clemson
Extension. Um the program is where they
can bring up to five um Bradford pairs
and then they are given in exchange an
equal number of free healthy native
young replacements on a one-on-one
replacement. Um we'd also like to
continue and expand our cleanup events
and our educational events. We want to
increase more awareness within the
community. Um also based on the
pollinator gardens that we've already
started, we would love to continue some
more um kind of increase that reach.
Another thing, and I really think this
is an attainable goal, and I wore my bee
um earrings tonight just to show you
that this is an attainable goal. Um we
would like to become a B city. Um our
local we there are local affiliates in
Colombia, in Greenwood and Florence and
South Carolina, and close by in Gastonia
and Belmont and Charlotte are all B
city. So we would love to become a B
city. Um it it only has a couple things
that we would need to do. We would need
to reduce the use of pesticides. We
would need to incorporate a pollinator
conscious practice into our city
policies and plans. Um, we would host
pollinator awareness events and we would
create and enhance pollinator habitats
in public and private areas. So, we
really think that these are doable and
we hope that you all will come on board
with us um in the future to do those
things.
>> Join us.
>> All right. Hello everybody. My name is
Dan. I'm uh the newest member of the
keep fort mill beautiful committee. Uh
started back in I believe it was April.
Uh and to go continue on with what she
was just describing uh some of our
long-term goals here uh we're really
looking to build the momentum that the
committee has already created and one of
our bigger goals uh would be working
with the town uh to get the Tree City
USA designation as well as the B city.
That one is a little bit more in-depth,
a little bit more involved, requires a
lot more resources and a lot more
involvement from uh other other groups
outside of us. Um, but it feels like it
would be a great recognition of Fort
Mill's commitment to urban trees and
green spaces. Uh in addition to that, we
would also want to continue working with
the police department on opportunities
to reduce litter uh while also looking
for new mural and beautifification spots
uh such as sculptures and and other
beautiful things that uh that just make
the town a lot nicer. Uh and finally,
we'd really like to get more young
people involved. Uh and I'd say that
goes for everything that we do. Um they
already do a great job at it, but um
would love to continue uh with that with
uh creating a be uh sorry a beautiful
keep form beautiful youth council
possibly and the ultimate goal is to
make beautifification something that the
whole community feels invested in and a
part of. So
>> all right so um we just wanted y'all to
get a snapshot of what we we've been up
to this past year and what we will be
doing in the years to come. Uh just know
that you are invited to come to any of
our uh Saturday service cleanups that
will be happening. They start back up in
September. And if you come, I will give
you a t-shirt. I will. Um you don't get
one until you come pick up trash, but
then we'll get you a shirt. Uh and then
also the litter sweep. Uh like Michelle
mentioned, litter sweep's a big one for
us in April. And I would really love to
see y'all out there in your wards
leading um groups with us. We have a
great turnout and it would be fabulous
to have y'all involved. So, thank you.
Any questions that y'all have?
>> So, incredible. I This just fulfills so
many of our discussions and our dreams
to bring this forward to our community.
So, you're making it happen. That is
just near and dear. Uh just absolutely
priceless to us that you have started
this. And yes, we will pitch in. I know
Chris
>> I have a whole list of things to follow
up just exactly what you
>> and I think Chris and Ben have assisted
with the economic and Allen the economic
development group has on our Saturdays
that we pick up. It's just really sad
that it has to be done. Um I I really
wish I had a ruler for every hand that
goes out a window. Um but it is an
amazing gift to Fort Mill. So, thank you
for what you're doing and I do dearly
hope that we'll all participate with
you, council.
>> Yeah. So, I I have a whole list of great
and all of them have smiley faces by
them, but the the tree grant I think
it's great. Uh uh you'll realize this
counsel is very tree friendly.
>> Uh and staff will they probably hear
more than they want to about it. the uh
thank y'all so much for the education uh
on what is recyclable and is not because
I try to wash all the stuff out do it
then I see I ride by the neighborhood
and there's somebody's got old tires and
garden hoses and they just undo what
everybody else is trying to do um and
also on uh education for well I'd say
kids but also adults I don't know where
they ever got the idea it's okay to
throw trash out some can and I'm
surprised that number is not higher than
1.8 because there are certain areas that
I you can spend 10 minutes in one ditch.
>> That's that's exactly right. We had to
get a randomized sample. So I I'll give
Gavin did us um some word maps with
randomized road sections and so yeah
there are a couple like driving through
Massie and like yeah there's here. Um we
didn't get to go down like brickyard.
>> Yeah, there's other areas
is terrible. Yeah. And and I actually I
just got back from a a trip to Ireland
and I was talking to the mayor. They
actually have a community pride thing
because they're a little different
organization, but they have these little
small rural towns and you see people out
there working at the entrance of their
towns. And the guy was telling us they
have this by pro not by province, what
do they call those? Uh
>> they're like uh not states uh uh
counties. They call them counties over
there and they have county awards for
that. So, it's it's to get people
involved and it's all about pride for
their communities. And I was like, it
was a great I came back and called the
mayor right up. I said, "Oh, we got to
do this. It's the greatest thing ever."
And she goes, "Let's do this." You know,
so so everything y'all doing, there's a
lot of passion up here about it. So,
thank you. And uh look forward to seeing
uh what happens by this time next year.
>> Yeah.
>> A long list. We'll have a long list of
accomplishments.
>> Give a shout out to the Colonel's Club
as well. Being part of the greenway, we
uh adopted the section between all down
Old Nation Road, the whole length of
that from the dairy barn all the way to
the walking parks four times a year.
>> Y'all picked up 14 bags this weekend.
>> I know.
>> I saw
the
picked up.
>> You guys mentioned the cleanup the day
of the Christmas parade and it kind of
had had a flashback to the candy cane
wrappers everywhere. So, we do the same
thing. had pockets were overflowing with
candy cane rappers. So, you know, those
are but thank you guys for doing that.
Thank you for all that you do. Like I
said, the passion that this group has is something else and it's contagious,
too. So, thank you guys.
>> Incredible. Just incredible.
>> And I hope the education piece will
continue. We've got so many corporations
within the area that I think it's a
great time to reach out to them to make
sure they see this nice award that we
now have and how can they partner with
us because I know even the company I
work for, we've got sustainability goals
and projects that we do and so we get
volunteer hours and get paid to
volunteer. So you can count on me for
that. I will say um you know it was
mentioned about Massie. Massie I live in
the community and we do four cleanups a
year. I think three or four and it is
amazing how many people and how much
that they the pride that they take all
ages to clean it up. So, um I hope those
go into your numbers of how much stuff
but almost as prideful as I am with
that. The fact that we have a strawberry
queen wearing Birkenstocks really makes
me feel good. So, um you're speaking my
love language for sure now. Um I did
want to um ask I know Gordon, you and I
talked the other day about the civic
camp. Um, and this is a great thing that
we could add to that civic camp if we
did it for the youth. So, just want to
make sure that didn't get lost. As well
as the comment about making sure the
chemicals that we're using within an
organization are sustainable, they are
um healthy for the environment, making
sure as we look with our budget that
we're putting out there that we're
making the community better um and not
killing the pollinators. So, um yes,
central everywhere you can to help with
the I love the plants. They do great
here. And get rid of the Bradfords. I'll
wear that t-shirt all day.
>> You can't tell we're interested, can
you?
>> I'm really excited about the Bradford
Fairy
um that we'll get more details on
registration for that because uh public
will be able to register um and and
claim those trees and we will be giving
those away uh next next April. So, April
2027. And the rain barrel sale is is
next spring as well. So, rain barrels
will be happening. So, we've got all
kinds of good stuff going.
>> Yeah. Miss M, I do have a question. Um,
with the cleanup, the second Saturday
clean up. Are you you guys going to do
it through the farmers market like you
used to in the past?
>> We are doing a sign up genius and we uh
I'm trying to rebrand it as Saturday
service because we do move them around a
little bit like the Christmas parade
one. Um, so we're trying to drop the
second just because it gets confusing
for people. But we um have that sign up
out there right now so people can sign
up. We usually have between 40 and 50
volunteers each time. We do allow people
if they don't want to clean up on the
section we're doing, they want to get a
bag and, you know, gloves and vests from
us, they can do that and then go do
their own area, sort of like they did at
the farmers market. Um, but yeah, we we
do them September through June, take a
break July and August, and I do creek
cleanups during that time. And of
course, Danielle is my partner in crime
on all of those. We kind of flip-flop
who's got which month, um, who's leading
those. So
>> because it just it felt like the through
the farmers market there was a kind of a
sense of purpose going there getting the
bags getting supplies you know picking
out a section and everything. So
>> and we look at at having um some se you
know some put together bags available at
the farmers market tent for people who
want to do that for sure.
>> Awesome.
>> I've got I'm doing inventory right now
y'all. got tons of
>> well and also I didn't mention it but
the river cleanup after Hela came
through um it was horrible everywhere
and and that wasn't somebody throwing
out something as much as it just what
mother nature did to our area and as
much as we're kayaking on the lower half
past um Riverwalk area all of it got
past there are people's tubes that you
know got cut along the way thank you for
what y'all been doing in the waterways
and keeping them clean I mean if there
is one little benefit benefit of being
in a drought. It makes it easier to
clean up some. So, thank you. Yeah.
Thank you to everybody who took
advantage of that time and cleaned up
our waterways.
>> We're going to be doing the river suite
in Sugar Creek the first Saturday in
October, October 3rd. Registration is
open for that as well if anybody wants
to come out. It's a great uh workout
because it's cardio. We're digging tires
out of the Sugar Creek. Um we usually
will get between 50 and 100 tires out of
the creek in two hours. And then after
you dig them out, you have to get them
out and it's a 25 foot embankment. So
leg day, arm day, full cardio.
» Amazing.
>> Totally amazing. Thank you so much.
>> So much appreciate you.
>> Congratulations.
>> Chris Sardelli, did you want to get a
picture of them with the Please, if you
guys would.
>> Yes.
>> Where do you want us?
>> Up here.
>> Please.
All right.
>> All right.
>> Will you guys stand up? So, we're not.
>> So, where are you going to put the uh
the the thing there?
>> You're good.
>> Wherever I'm allowed.
>> Anywhere you want.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank y'all. Congratulations. Good work.
Great work.
» Well, that's a great way to get started.
All right. Uh, now we have a
presentation of parks and wreck proposed
budget for the fiscal year 2627.
Our very own Brown Simpson. Welcome,
Brown.
>> Brown.
>> Good evening, everybody.
>> Good evening,
>> Mayor, members of council. Thank you for
this opportunity for us to be here
tonight to present uh our kind of a
snapshot of our 2026 budget and talk a
little bit about next year's budget also
too. I think you got a handout
>> uh that was given out. Chris, you gonna
sign it for me as we go forward. Thank
you. Uh, as we look at this year's this
past year's budget, our annual budget
was 2,587,470.85
and expenses to date 2,18,9
excuse me, 2,189225
has been stent. It's been spent that's
almost 82.1%
of our budget. We do have 13 full-time
employees um and about 15 to 20
part-time employees in all aspects of of
things that we do. I do want to point
out recognize two of our employees
tonight. Two of our superintendents in
our divisions. First of all, our parks
superintendent Lee Louney is here and
also our recreation superintendent Bob
Houston. I know some of y'all have met
Bob, some of you have not. He's been
with us since um January. moved all the
way from from the Pacific Northwest and
has done a great job for us hit the
ground running. So, we're glad to have
Bob on our team and of course Lee's been
with us here with the town for about
>> 17 years.
>> Uh, one of the budget notes is we did
move $42,500
uh back in the fall of last year after
we approved this from contract to
services to salaries regular to affect
the hiring of a tennis manager. We hired
Brevin McKini. I think some of y'all
know Brevin. His dad Billy was our
longtime contracted tennis employee. And
we also hired part-time tennis
instructors for the tennis program.
Every instructor that we have now in our
tennis program is a part-time employee
of the town of Fort Mill, which is a
good thing because we've done background
checks on all those folks and they've
really hit the ground running. Some of
our key accomplishments fiscal year
2526.
Uh the big one of the biggest ones I
think the biggest one is we completed
the parks and recreation master plan. We
hired like I said Bob and uh Brevin our
800 all-star football team won the SCPA
Scap State Championship. You recognized
those kids at the uh at our last meeting
here. Our all-star baseball posted it
best district tournament finish in more
than seven years. Our ozone team
finished second the district and our AAA
team finished third the district. Ozone
is 11 12. AAA is 9 and 10 year olds.
Some of our parks and facility
improvements that we've done, of course,
Walter Elijah Park, which I call the
jewel of our park system. Uh we finished
a concrete sidewalk all the way around
the entire park. We've got new safety
cameras and lighting is installed in
that park. Steel Street Park, uh we
built a new indoor picnic shelter and
added picnic tables there. Banks
Athletic Park. Our batting cages are to
be concreted by the end of August. We
actually got those finished today and
that is something that we're excited
about. Uh so that we should open those
up hopefully by the end of the week.
We're going to let that concrete settle
and make sure it's good. So that'll help
with uh warming up the teams whether
they want to hit some or and we're
excited about that. Millstone Park, of
course, we added the new uh port and
play safety surfacing also there. And
then a new outdoor picnic shelter and
tables. I give get to give credit on
something with Millstone. It's probably
been a couple years ago Lee mentioned to
me, he said, "You know what would be
nice up here is we had a shelter at the
top of Milstone Park where people could
eat lunch and enjoy downtown Fort Mill."
So Lee, you've been wanting that credit.
So I had to give Lee that credit
tonight.
>> It does. It really does. It's really
added to that part. Harris Street Park.
Y'all know we added a new picnic picnic
shelter in gazebo. Also too, one of the
things we did was a couple years ago we
had a massive rainstorm. If y'all
remember on a Friday night where we had
to shut the interstate down the turf at
Fort Mill High School buckled, but it
did recede back down when we had that
massive rainstorm that we kind of didn't
doing do anything to that field. So, we
were able to repair the fencing back
earlier this fiscal year. And also we
just add a side to the infield because
we want to be able to use that field for
practice space for flag football or for
youth soccer and because we have the
lighting on there. And then probably the
other thing that's excited too is the of
course the community center. The
construction is uh right on schedule and
we're hoping to open that in early uh
early winter. Uh we actually rode by
there today. We have a meeting every two
weeks. We got a meeting this Thursday.
So, being able to go in that facility
and see what's being done, it's going to
really make Fort Mill proud and
especially for those that went to school
there many years ago. Uh, our spring
sports participation is next. Um, we can
look at our numbers if this was spring
baseball. We were down a little bit
there. Flag football down a little bit
there. Soccer numbers have gone down
there. Softball increased. and
volleyball in the spring was down from
279 to 260. Uh softball did increase.
Our fall participation numbers when you
look at baseball from last year was down
uh some flag football just down about
five folks. Soccer down a little bit,
softball increased and volleyball
has exploded. Our our volleyball program
has taken off. The biggest thing we got
to look at next is what can we do for
boys because our girls program has taken
off big time and we're very very proud
of that increase about 19.8%.
» Before you turn the page
>> Yes ma'am.
>> Do we believe that any of the decrease
in participation is related to the
county not providing us with the funding
that they historically had for our
programs?
>> Yes, ma'am. And then the complication of
a county resident that actually has a
Fort Mill address trying to get the
money, the stipen that they had offered
to participate in our programs.
>> Yes, ma'am. We think that's a lot to do
with that. And I was going to address
that a little bit later on on some
future slides on it, but that's okay.
That's a great question. It is. We truly
do believe what's happened with some of
those and I and I'll touch on it right
now.
>> Thank you.
>> Our winter basketball, we had 806 kids
this past year participate. The year
before that we had 1,3
and let me hit on that right there. When
we we started winter basketball
registrations on October the 1st, 2025
we registered for about a month. That is
also the time that we introduced civic
wreck which was our new software
program. And civic wreck has been a big
plus for us. And one of the things that
we've been able to do with that also too
is we've been able to tie into our GIS.
So we know if if a participant whether
they sign up for you sports or they sign
up let's say for sh picnic shelter or
they sign up for to play tennis they
want to reserve a tennis court
everything goes to civic wreck and we're
able to identify whether that
participant
lives in the municipal town limits of
Fort Mill or they live in an
unincorporated area of of of Fort Mill
or another unincorporated area of the
county or out of eight. We got a lot of
questions about this when we started
this back in the winter because we were
able to activate that GIS and we would
have people call us and say, "Well, we
live we have a Fort Mill address." And
we would say, "Yes, ma'am, you do. You
have a Fort Mill address, but you don't
live in the municipal town limits of
Fort Mill where you pay taxes actually
to the town of Fort Mill." So, that was
a great question, mayor, and we kind of
as we've gone through that and I think
we we've gotten better with that. We've
been able to educate people over the
last 10 months on why they had to pay
that extra $70 fee. Tennis lessons were
down a little bit this past year from
5.85 to 4.89. Our pickle ball lessons uh
were down a good bit. We cut last year
with pickle ball when Billy was on
staff. We were just able to throw some tennis some pickle ball lessons in
because he had a great interest in that.
We're still teaching them, but they're
down some. One of the biggest pluses we
had this past summer was we had 44 slow
pit softball teams. That's the most
we've ever had. Now, we did switch it up
some. We still had the men's church, we
had a co-ed, and then we had more of an
industrial league, but it was a big
plus. We actually got city of Rock Hill
called us and we know how'd y'all do
that? Why is your numbers up? And we
were able to tell them what we did. We
changed it the format around with that.
Uh we did have we talked about pickle
ball. We did have a new indoor pickle
ball facility that that opened here in
the town limits and they took a good bit
of those bit of those folks
>> and the heat had a lot to do with tennis
lessons. Billy Billy and I talked about
that.
>> The heat's been brutal this summer as we
all know.
>> Our summer camp participation,
uh, our tennis camp, we were down some
in that from 243 to 180. Pickle ball
camp, you can see that one during the
summer. Kids on the ball camp uh was
down a little bit. Soccer camp down. Our
baseball camp was down a little bit.
Basketball camp was up. Instructional
basketball league was down. Our
volleyball camp went from zero
participants to 75. I give Bob credit
with that. He was able to build a
rapport with one of the local high
schools, Kataba Ridge, and their coach.
And that was something that we were able
to add new. And it's been been a huge
plus. Let me mention this. kids on the
ball camp, soccer camp, baseball camp,
basketball camp, all those are done by
individuals. It's it's a contract
service. So, we give them a percentage
and we get a percentage of that revenue.
Um, we do have competition here. And if
the next slide, when you look at soccer,
flag football, baseball, softball,
volleyball,
um, one of the things we have is some
other organizations that are also
offering sporting activities too. uh
Fort Mill United Soccer, Charlotte
Independent Soccer, I9 Sports, uh
Victory Sports Outreach, and of course
the Baxter YMCA. Uh which uh we do have
some local travel ball organizations
also doing baseball and softball, flag
football. You've got the endzone sports
and some of the other ones I just
mentioned there. And of course, the
pickle ball, we just mentioned that the
new indoor facility uh right above us
here at 160 and 21.
Um, mayor, you you mentioned of course
about the the funding. Uh, York County
fund for you sports, tennis, and camps
was eliminated for fiscal year 2526.
In prior years, that funding allowed the
town to charge one uniform registration
fee regardless of where you lived at.
Now, we did charge an out ofstate fee,
an extra fee then, but if you live
anywhere in York County, you paid one
fee, and that was pretty much the rule
across the board for all municipalities.
it was
>> because we had that recreation
coalition.
Um the non-resident fee implementation,
you can see that what I just mentioned
earlier about our loss of funding from
the county. Uh the funding change. York
County funding was discontinued, not
included in fiscal year 2526.
town council. Uh you guys as a body last
year approved a non resident fee of 70 bucks for those folks living outside
of Fort Mill municipal limits and
applied to you sports tennis lessons and
camp and that fee did mirror what
Rockill and TK also did. Uh also I
mentioned about uh we started civic
wreck back on October the 1st, 2025. And
I will say this, like I said before,
over the past 10 months, staff has
worked to clarify the difference between
a Fort Milling address and residing
within the town limits. The public
understanding has steadily improved with
that. So that is that is good news
there.
Want to talk a little bit about the
proposed fee adjustments for fiscal year
2027.
And I'll just go through each one
individually. If you need to ask me a
question to stop, we we can do that.
Baseball AAA ages 9 and 10 is currently
$95 for those that live in the municipal
town limits. We're proposing increase
that to $110. Uh that is to help with
cost of umpires have increased and
uniform costs have also increased. TK
charges $110 currently for that.
>> So how does Rockill get away with 65?
That's a great question and I think
that's because they have a heck of a
sports tourism program that some of
those costs.
>> So it's the Walmart principle. They buy
in bulk so they get lower cost.
>> Well, we we we buy in bulk, too. And we try to we try to get the best quality
uniform we can, but also
>> fast improvement.
>> We bid we bid it out also too. So we try
and look at look at all that. But I
think one of the things Rockill has done
with that is like I said the sports
tourism they bring in a lot of lot of
funding on that.
>> Baseball ozone is also the same and then
Dixie Boys we're encouraging to move
that up to 125. You can see the
breakdown there. Let me say this about
our our fees right here. Since we
started running the youports when Leroy
got out of the business in 2010, that
was our first year running that. We have
not increased the fees in our youth
sports at all. So we've held that cost
for the last 16 years. And of course
also too the price of uniforms have gone
up. The price of officials have gone up.
So that has that has increased pickle
ball and tennis daily fees. Currently we
charge $2 if you live outside of the
municipal limits of the town of Fort
Mill. I'm en encouraging us to move that
up to $5. I think that that adds value
to our to our courts, to our facilities,
and it kind of makes people realize
there is there is a cost of that. We
will be opening the community center. I
am uh suggesting that we don't charge
our residents anything, but for a
non-resident to come in just to play
basketball, I'm I'm I'm asking you that
we look at a $7 fee on that. To me that
also provides value and also from a
standpoint of appreciating and valuing
that that money that the town residents
have put toward that toward that fee
toward that facility. Um one day
preseason skill clinic uh which we're
looking at doing some of those this
upcoming year. Uh $50 preseason clinic
listed for sports and residents will pay
additional $70. Fort Mill Knights select
baseball team. That's something new and that's my next slide and I will I
will talk about that. We're a $225 fee
for that which will cover uh two jerseys
for that program and a hat. Wbridge Park
Rental $50 is $50 an hour right now and
$250 for the entire day for a field. I'm
encouraging you to raise that up to $60
an hour and 300 a day for the field. And
um also looking at doubling that for
non-residents that don't hold residents
inside of Fort Mill Community Center
gym. We know we're going to be uh asked
to use that facility. Also a $60 an hour
and a $300 a day for those that live in town limits. Uh proposed non-resident
rate would be $120 an hour and $600 a
day. the community center rooms, which
are going to have two of those. Uh we're
asking you to look at proposing and
approving $30 an hour for those that
live inside the town limits that they
want to use that. And then if you're
non-resident, let's say somebody want to
rent some for a birthday party, it would
be $60 an hour. We would double that.
>> That is a small amount compared to other
rentals. I have worked to get rentals
for my garden club and looked all all
across town at available space. That's a
very very reasonable amount.
>> And then the rest of our youth sports,
basketball, flag, football, volleyball,
soccer, we're looking to ask you to bump
that up $5, $80 for non-competitive and
$100 for competitive. And the
non-residents will continue to pay an
additional $70. Ran before you flip over
uh because I know the community center
rooms as the mayor mentioned it's going
to be very there's a lot of interest in
that. So if when you mentioned birthday
parties I think a cleanup so is there
going to be a cleanup fee now like I
know there's a lot of adult groups that
need a place to meet and that's one of
the reasons we moved aggressively on
this project. But you know birthday
parties that's all we don't want to
leave birthday cake all over the floor
and so how you going to deal with that?
>> We did not include that in it but
something we might need to look at.
>> Yeah. You might want to bake that in.
>> That's absolutely necessary.
>> And we can and we can do that.
>> Go to Chuck-E-Cheese and spend an hour
and you'll have all different
perspectives.
>> We can do that.
>> Brown, while we're on that too on the
community center, um, as we're looking
at charging $7 for somebody, are we
going to have an administrative support
at the door as people are walking in to
support? And does that mirror what we're
doing at the YMCA as well?
what they're doing at the Y right now. I
think it's a $10 fee if if they allow
somebody, a non-member, to come in and
like shoot basketball for a day.
>> Okay.
>> Um
I'm not sure. I think it's around $10 is
what they what they
>> ought to look at mirroring whatever
they're doing given that, you know, the
town owns both facilities. So, um we
ought to consider that, please.
>> Okay. We can we we'll look at that and
get back with y'all on that.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I know it's primarily going
to be on the weekends at the community
center. We got a lot of questions about
that. But is the rate going to be the
same like seven days a week or will it
be different more on the weekends or
>> It would be the same seven days a week.
Yes, sir.
>> It would be.
>> And you list the Dixie Boys league. Um
do we have a Dixie Girls league?
>> We don't, but we have a um 15 and under
softball
uh that we do offer. We've had one or
two teams in that that's played and they
usually play with some of the other
municipalities like Rock Hill, TK,
Clover, York. Okay.
>> So,
>> but the baseball team we do allow girls
to play as co-ed. Correct. So, can we
take boys off of that name?
>> Yeah, we will. That's just officially
the name of
>> after having the girl play. I understand
the semantics.
>> We can we can look at that. Change that.
>> Thank you.
>> Y'all have any other questions about
proposed fees? We can look at everything
that y'all said to us, especially about
the deposit and everything for like a
birthday party.
>> Yeah. Some of the um other information
you went through a lot and I was trying
to take notes but didn't want to
interrupt you. Um with the flag football
side of things, are we doing now that
they've added girls flag football at the
high school level? Are our programs
mirroring that? So is what age flag
football? Is it co-ed, boys, girls? How
does that look? It's we're still using
that model NFL flag football. So, the
kids get the rep replica jerseys. They
love it. It comes with the replica
jerseys of a team. It also comes with
the flags. It comes with footballs.
>> Uh we are co-ed in that. Right now, we
don't have a separate girls league or
separate boys league. It's co-ed right
now. But,
>> and what ages?
>> 6U, 8U, 10U, and 13U.
>> Correct.
>> Okay. So, that will cover um I I would
like for us to consider a middle school
age to do um until the middle schools
actually get a team knowing that we're
doing it in high school now. Yes, ma'am.
>> And maybe middle school has
>> I think middle school's got it already
at the and the middle school girls. I
think I'm correct on this play in the
spring.
>> Okay. I think too we would have to
consider the fields because we use the
fields at the schools and those are not
free. Uh we pay a sizable amount of
money to the Fort Mill School District
to rent their fields, which is
reasonable. We would too, but I can tell
you right now it's difficult because
having grandkids in many of the programs
you've just talked about, times get
changed, fields get pushed because of
school practice. It It's not an easy
situation.
>> I will I will say to address you on
that, Mayor, last spring was a disaster.
this spring.
>> I didn't say it.
>> I know. This spring was a lot better.
>> A lot better. And and I'm going to give
Bob credit for that because he's built a
great rapport with that contact, the new
contact at the Fort Mill School
District. And we want to thank I know
this is being recorded. We want to thank
the Fort Mill School District for
allowing us their facilities. We
couldn't do a lot of what we do without
>> Absolutely.
>> that partnership that we have. So, we're very appreciative of that.
>> Absolutely. I I mean no harm to the
school district. I'm just saying it's
not without cost
>> for us to be able to operate these
programs. So when we want and I don't
disagree with you at all, Lisa, we need
to offer fairly across the board, but to
increase the programs, we have to
increase the field usage. And Brownie,
you and I both know from the travel
leagues, they're looking, they're
begging for field use. And and I do
think we have to take a long hard look
at this,
>> right? When it comes to the decline in
numbers, I also think that what has come
into play is the school district's
calendar changing. So, you know, we have
now squashed down to eight weeks in the
summer.
>> Eight weeks.
>> So, vacations are very tight. It's hard
to get as many camps in as they the
parents probably would like to do. So,
it's probably worth Well, yeah. School
camps, YMCA camps, you know, vacations,
there's not enough weeks to cover it
all.
>> That's that's a great point. and and
even with our leagues and everything
because you have that intercession week
the first week of October now
>> you have three days off at Thanksgiving
you have two weeks off at Christmas we
got another week off in February and
then we got another week off in April so
we try to you know once we once we
finish our summer camps we go right into
the fall sports and we're wide open for
another 44 weeks during the year just
trying to get everything in to finish up
before Memorial Morial Day.
>> So, it is a tight schedule, but I give
our staff a lot of credit. They do a
good job of of managing that and getting
all that done.
>> Well, and I know we've seen some camps
be successful on those off weeks during
the school year. So, you know, maybe
that's a way to shift an indoor camp
that doesn't have to be outside to still
get the play.
>> You just brought up a great point that
we've been working on and I'm glad you
mentioned that with our tennis program.
Brevin has done a good job. And one of
the things we're looking at is offering
a camp during that intercession weeks.
We're also looking at and at at offering
a camp between Christmas and New Year's.
Um we're going to start a little bit
later in the day like a half day camp.
Instead of nine, we're going to do 10
because it might be a little bit cooler
out there. That's some things that we're
looking and talking. How do we get how
do we think out the box? How do we get
more creative as to help with those
things?
>> Now that corporate world's gone back to
so many businesses having um work from
home doesn't work anymore. Uh look at
maybe a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
where the core hours the parents are
going into the office might be
successful too. So just a thought.
>> Thank you for that. All right. Fort Mill
nights initiative. This is something
that that we've talked about as a staff
and something we want to introduce you guys to. It would be select
baseball. It's not travel. Stop wreck.
It's what we call select in between. And
this is modeled on TK select program
which has run successfully now for over
10 years across six age divisions 8U 9U
10U 11U 12U 13U. It bridges the gap
between traditional recreation and
travel baseball keeping skilled players
registered for fall and spring seasons.
Still have volunteer coaches for select
teams. Continue coaching at the
recreation level. We still have those
guys coaching uh for us, keeping both
players and coaches in the recck league.
Select players are required to play
recreation baseball in the spring while
in the select program. This strengthen
strengthens the talent pool for
recreation all-star selection at the
district and state competition.
Bill's positivity positive visibility
for Fort Mill through branded uniforms
and teamed identity and adds program
revenue per participant.
This is one of the key things. Our
department retains direct control of
select teams and coaches. Our recreation
coordinator who has a passion for
baseball will oversee the program
alongside the volunteer coaches that uh
we would select for that. And we um I
always said this, some of the best ideas
you get, you get from other programs or
other entities that do something good.
And we feel like this has been a good
program. Ever since we've been talking
about this, actually last week, Rock
Hill also reached out to us and said,
"We know y'all are interested in
possibly starting a select team. We're
interested in that also, too." So, I
just wanted to to bring that bring that
to you. We feel like this would be a
great proposal for for our program and
especially from a competition standpoint
to keeping those good kids with us if we
can a couple more years. I'll give you
this example and I'm not taking anything
away from this. When we won the coach
pitch Dixie World Series, it was Dixie
still then. It wasn't dime at that time
a couple years ago. A lot of those kids
that came back from that seven and eight
year old team did not come back play
with Seymour. They moved on to travel
ball and that's okay. That's their
option to do that. I'm not taking
anything away from travel ball at all.
That's not it. What we're looking at
with this program is just trying to
bridge a gap in between from wreck ball
to travel ball and have something kind
of a middle just to let people we've had
parents, coaches kind of come to us and
say, "Tica Kay's done this good. Can
y'all look at possibly possibly doing
this?" So, we're we're bringing that to
you and I'll be glad to answer any
questions for you on that. Lisa,
>> I was going to say you you knew I was
going to fight you on this one and and
it's for many reasons. Um, number one, I understand about playing at that high
level. As you know, my son's team and
two other teams made it to um, Little
League World Series representing the
state of South Carolina. So, um, in
addition to the Dixie team, we had,
we've had some outstanding baseball
programs, but when I look about our
comprehensive plan and what the
community has asked for more of with our
recreation program, it hasn't been an in
between select team for baseball. it has
been more adult programs, more youth,
um, young adult programs that we can
have. It's for senior citizens. There's
a lot of other programs that we really
need to consider outside of just the
youth side of things. Um, I don't see us
as competing with the travel ball teams.
I don't see us competing with the YMCA
or Victory Sports. I think each one of
them brings their own value proposition
to what they're why the parents are
choosing those organizations. What I do
see is a lot of input from our community
really wanting to have more activities
for older adults in different
demographics than what we are
considering. So, I feel like with, as
Gwen was mentioning, the field usage
that we have and our decreasing numbers,
right now, to me, it's not a time to get
into travel unless we're willing to do
it for multiple sports, not just one
sport, one activity. Um, so I I am not
in favor of this at this time at all. As
you know, when I ran 13 years ago, it
was because of my passion for our parks
and recck program and for the youth
sports in the community. back to the YM,
what was it? FM ya, Fort Mill Youth
Athletic Association that tried to save
parks. Um, I I just would like for us to
consider some other means of growing our
programs besides this.
>> Now, can I can I add something to that?
>> Absolutely.
>> Um, while I do not disagree on the the
different programs for more than just
the youth, I will disagree with you on
that that program right there. I think
that's a great idea. my son just came
through it and while he he wasn't the
one to be part of the travel team um but
seeing just kind of the the poaching of talent from the local to you being
pulled out of our wreck league and going
to other other leagues and travel ball
and everything else. I think this is a
great initiative to try to keep those
kids in our program and like I said and
kind of create that year after year uh
with it. So, I I I personally think this
is a good idea. And not again, not to
take away anything from senior
activities or anything else, but to keep
our kids here, I think that's I think
it's a great idea.
>> I I'm in the middle. Um because I see
value in having, you know, I used to
play softball for springs when I worked
in this building when it was Springs and
we played all the Lancaster teams. We
played everyone. We travel a little bit
to Lancaster, whatever. It was a lot of
fun. We loved it. But to Lisa's point
and Allen's point, my point is we have
to have some division because it is also
not right. I have been to many ball
games in the last two years to have a
wreck mentality and a wreck team that we
have travel teams using it for practice
because they join the team. That is a
whole lot of not fun for a bunch of
little kids that are not traveling on
the weekends and not getting individual
skill sets and they're knocking them out
of the park. I'm scared for the health
of the kids in field because those kids
are really playing at a different level.
So, I I think it's something we need to
discuss. I'm not marking it off, but I I
do think we have a lot of opportunities.
To Lisa's point, I agree. We have been
asked about walking trails, which
Penelopey's working on. I have witnessed
rugby matches on the fields at the
complex and lacrosse, you know,
>> cricket, I saw adults playing cricket at
the complex. So, I I do think that
there's a need for us to embrace, you
know, there are a lot of taxpayers that
don't have little kids and and we do owe
them, too. So, I I I think these are
great conversations.
So, let's let's try to see how we can
find some middle ground to do what's
right.
>> And I will say this, one of the things
with the community center that we're
going to look at is concentrating on
senior program and doing things there,
whether it's pickle ball, whether it's
bingo classes, I mean, you name it. It's
all kind of things that we can do for
seniors. And that's one thing that we're
going to look at as we open up that
facility to do more for for seniors. We
even talked about in house when we have
meetings about looking at possibly doing
uh an adult men's basketball program or
adult women's basketball program or
adult volleyball program. That's some of
the things that we're that we're looking
at.
>> I want to play the volleyball thing.
>> Yeah, I was going to say there were
pickup soccer leagues at one time where
you know Sunday afternoons the field was
an open league. You know, again, I just
feel like seniors and I'm getting closer
to that little bracket there aren't
necessarily playing bingo all the time.
You know, some of us want to do a little
bit more active lifestyle and still like
the competition. Yeah. Give me flag
football game. I'm I'm all in.
>> All right. I'm going to move on to the
next slide. Wbridge Park project.
>> We uh budgeted this year $475,000.
One of the ideas we had was the
playground adjacent to field one was
built more than 20 years ago when the
park only had one baseball and softball
field. That was the first first field we
had there. And we built that one too
because we had a lot of homes going up
out in that area too during that time
frame. The budget covers a completely
new play structure, new swings and port
in place safety surfacing. A matching
grant opportunity from game time has
been been identified in the last two
weeks and could significantly lower the
town's cost and we do believe that we've
got a good chance at getting that. So
just want to give you a heads up on
that. Also, I know we purchased more
property out there about the possibility
of a disc golf course. Uh, one of the
land that was was was purchased. Of
course, y'all know that the headquarters
for disc golf is right across as they
like to say,
>> right across the river in Rock Hill over
off Red River Road on Commerce Drive. We
feel like that we can build a disc golf
course out there. Partnering with this
group, it's f fits well into currently
underutilized areas of the park. A sport
that everyone can play regardless of
age, ability, or gender. A 9-hole course
is schedule friendly and easy to try.
Local players are frequently willing to
help with the course maintenance and
upkeep. It's easy to learn with lasting
recreation and fitness value, and
sponsorship opportunities can be
explored with Ace Place is the name of
the organization now, and other
corporate partners to help fund this
project. So, we're excited about that.
So,
>> y'all have any questions about the
possible grants?
>> No.
That's awesome. And thank you to the
Cunningham family. I know they're Fort
Mill, so I am proud of what they are
doing for the community um across the
nation, honestly. Um the port place at
Field One, it's not 20 years old, is it?
>> It's it's approaching 20 years. Yes,
ma'am.
>> Wow. It feels like it's been done since
I was on council. Okay. Um, and Gordon
and I have had some ideas, you and I can
talk offline, too, about um, as we look
at making it a safer park and more
usable. You know, I've expressed a lot
of concern up at field two and three at
the turnaround area that we have up
there. I'd like us to consider instead
of having that separate playground down
at field one, potentially putting making
a larger playground up at between those
two, we've already got the asphalt area,
so it makes it real easy to add to it. I
feel like I'm not an engineer, but um
and then possibly making where the field
one playground is make that batten
cages, make that a picnic shelter or
something for that field to be able to
use. Um
>> you know, we have a batten cage there.
Okay,
>> just left of field one back up toward
field three. So, we have that in place.
>> One of the things we would have to look
at to see if that if we add on to that
playground between fields two and three
if we have enough room there.
>> Yeah.
>> To make put that in there. That would be
something that we would have to explore
because we know we have the room
currently where the one is now.
>> Yeah. I I'd love to be involved and know
a little bit more before we actually
spend the money and apply for the grant.
But I do think it's great and I do hope
we will continue to get a lot of sun
shade while we're there. I know that's
been one of our projects with all of the
playground equipments.
>> That is one thing that we looked at with
this with the possible play structure is
adding shading on that play structure
>> needed. I'd also believe on both of
these initiatives that we have some
businesses coming nearby that might
would like to do some sponsorships. Um I I think we should probably
talk to Mr. Pettit or Gordon about
reaching out and seeing if they'd like
to have a banner um for I don't know
picnic area or whatever we decide it's
collocation is prime
>> for that kind of recognition and we'll
have a walkway over that way. So um I
think too on the disc golf course don't
forget that Winthrop holds the
international disc golf championship
once a year. It's incredibly well
attended. Um, so since we're going to
have Winthre next door, I think there's
some partnershiping that we might
try to benefit from. Um, just saying
>> that's a great idea. It is. And we're
And actually, I'm going to give Bob
credit on something. We're working Bob's
reached out to Winthre with the athletic
department and we've actually got a
volleyball night at the Winthrop
Coliseum September the 19th. Bob, am I
correct on that? Oh,
>> September 19th, all our volleyball teams
are going to get in free and parents can
get in for $5. That's a Saturday night.
>> Awesome.
>> So, put that on your calendar.
>> We'll we'll send you more information on
that.
>> Well, and as we're talking about camps,
can we get a disc golf camp so I can
learn how to throw a Frisbee, please?
>> We can look at that.
>> Thank you. I'll take that.
>> Be a great opportunity for a healthcare
company. I really
>> going forward strategic uh some focus
areas that we've got uh we want to focus
on community and customer experience and
uh I won't go through all of that but
y'all can read that are our of course
our athletics recreation standard
evaluate the program structure coaching
standards officiating scheduling field
allocation sportsmanship parent
communication competitive balance and
the overall participant participant
experience partnership and community
relationships y'all would ment Mention
that define roles of schools, YMCA,
athletic associations, nonprofits,
private providers, sponsors, and
volunteers. Identify where partnerships
can expand services without
unnecessarily duplicating programs,
performance, and measurement
accountability. Uh we want to build a a
parts direct manageable scorecard of 8
to 12 meaningful KPIs such as
participation program fill rates,
customer satisfaction, complaint
resolution, cost per participant, cost
recovery, and the registration and
facility experience. I will say since
we've gone to civic wreck, it has been a
lot better than the former software that
we had, especially for instead of eight
or nine clicks to register, it's three
to register now. So, we're we've been
very pleased with Civic Recre programs
and services. Eva, evaluate the current
portfolio of youth and adult athletics,
recreation programs, camps, special
events, and rentals. Determine what
should be expanded, modified,
discontinued, or added based on
participation, demand cost, community
benefit, organizational capacity, and
staffing. Evaluate staffing levels,
organizational structures, seasonal
staffing, training, succession planning,
workload, technology, internal process.
confirmed the department is organized to
deliver the level of service expected as
the community grows and of course
financial sustainability and cost
recovery. Uh you can look at that uh
principle for fees, subsidies,
scholarships, sponsorships, rental
tournaments. The goal is not to maximize
revenue but to be intentional about
which services are subsidized and why.
And of course we're going to ground all
this in evidence and uh I think the park
and recreation master plan will help
with that. the SWAT analysis and survey
feedback from participants, families,
coaches, and our partners. And we do
have a lot of uh current businesses that
sponsor at a certain level for us and I know this is being recorded. I
want to thank all those that have been
with us over the years. We couldn't do a
lot of things we do without them.
>> Moving into a strategic planning
process. Um, of course I said our
department looks forward to its next
chapter. Staff are moving forward in
strategic planning process once again
grounding the parks and recreation
master plan or third of SWAT analysis
and extensive survey feedback gathered
through participants, families and
coaches. And if you'll look over on the
right, how the process will be executed,
evaluate the seven focus areas.
Gather evidence, build the scorecard,
and present the adoption.
And I started by saying this and I'll
end by saying this. I've been here
almost 23 years now. And when I came, I
was the only employee that we had in the
department. And things really changed in
2010 when we took on the workload of all
the programming and everything. And I've
been with uh worked with different
mayors. I've worked with different
council members. But one thing's always
been significant. We have had the
support of this council. And we cannot
thank each and every one of you so much.
And we we're thankful for what you do
for us and our department. And we look
forward to continue to working with you
with all of you. and we're working with
this community to better what we offer.
So, I'll be glad to answer any
questions.
>> I don't have a question. Um, but I do
have a comment. This is a very nice
presentation. Uh, we've received some
data recently that has been helpful as
we consider where our money needs to be
spent and how can we maximize the use of
it. And yes, I do want to thank all
those that sponsor and I want to thank
the volunteers. We have some amazing
I've been to so many ball games that
went so pleasantly. There were no
fighting, no arguments. It was, you
know, our coaches are quality coaches.
They're there for the kids and they want
to make it a a great experience and a
safe experience for those kids. So,
whatever we're doing to help them and
prepare them, it's working. And I I
can't thank our volunteers enough and
our sponsors enough for what they do.
And you guys, it's it's a good thing.
>> Ron, how are we doing getting coaches?
Um, how are volunteers looking? Do you
have a waiting list? I hope
>> we we have folks that's been with us
year after year, but then also too
depends on the number of teams that we
have. we have to sometimes call parents
and ask we need help. Okay?
>> You know, so we we do do that. Uh the
volunteer opportunity is always there.
Uh we do do a thorough background check
once a year on all of our volunteers. We
run it through our our security system
that we have. So, uh just like every
other organization out, it's it's hard
to get good quality people, but we do
have good quality people, volunteers
here in Fort Mill. Yes, we do. We are
appreciative and we want to say thank
you. We can't say thank you enough.
>> I I remember while I was doing baseball
and soccer, it was some of the most
gratifying um work that I've ever done
and even though it didn't pay a dime, it
was a lot of fun and a lot of those kids
we still have relationships with. Um I
did want to ask you about the financial
aid. I know we're talking about raising
the fees that we have, but can you also
talk a little bit about what we offer
for those in need?
>> Yes, ma'am. If if we have I've always
been a true true believer and I it goes
back to the value and if we have folks
that are you know have a tough time they
might have five kids if they will come
to us and sit down with us we will help
them. Now I do think it's important that
you pay something because it goes back
you value what you pay for. So we we
have had folks that's called us and said
you know I'm going through a tough time
right now and I I'll say to them you'll
come in and sit down and talk to me
we'll be glad and look and see what we
can do to help you out. So we have done
that.
>> Okay. So they just need to reach out to
you or um
>> me or Bob. Okay.
>> So yes ma'am.
>> Thank you.
>> Any further questions?
Thank you for the diligence in the
presentation. very beneficial and the
hard work. Thank you all. We appreciate
it.
>> Thank you all.
>> Appreciate it.
>> Thanks, Brown. Appreciate you.
>> All right. Item number two. We're going
to move into a public hearing as duly
published in the Afro said newspaper
Rock Hill, the Herald, and affidavit
number IPL363651.
Item A, we're going to open a public
hearing. Second public hearing to enter
into a fourth amendment to the
development agreement with Charlotte
Meckllinmberg Hospital Authority. Let
the public meeting be opened.
» Good evening.
>> Hi. How are you,
>> Council? I'm Ben Johnson. I have an
office in Rock Hill. I'm here tonight on
behalf of the Charlotte Meckllinburgg
Hospital Authority. Our project team is
back on I guess that's the bride side of
the of the room. Um
>> it's all the good guys, right?
>> The um a thumbnail. We covered this last
time. Um we uh are requesting that you
give second reading tonight to um our
request to annex two parcels that the um
hospital authority has has one it it has
owned all along since 2008 and it was
left out by survey um just a
miscalculation and then 10.9 acres that
were recently acquired from the Scott
family. We ask that these parcels be
included under the existing mixeduse
plan, that it be zoned mixed use and
included under the existing mixeduse
plan already in effect for the 83 acres
that Atrium already owns uh and has
owned on Sutton Road. Uh this is without
increasing any of the entitlements,
without increasing any of the density.
Um, and then we would also request and
as part of the proposal is that we
update the term of the agreement and set
a new development schedule because these
we're we're ready to begin. Uh, the
request is limited to the atrium
property out on the site. Uh and then
finally, as I covered last time, we've
made a commitment to the town and to the
Carolina Thread Trail to build
connectors uh from the hospital site and
to provide parking uh down to the trail
and down to the connector to the trail.
So, thank you. Be glad to answer any
questions.
>> All right.
>> Thank you.
Ben.
No further
interesting comments. We'll close this
public hearing.
Okay. Now we will entertain a public
hearing for ordinance amending the town
zoning code as it relates to election
signs. This is item B. Chris Pettit.
Open the public hearing.
This sounds so funny.
Go ahead.
>> Thank you, mayor. Um this is um uh a
change from in the timing where the
signs are allowed to be out from 60 days
prior to the election to 30 days prior.
It also increases the size of those
signs from six square feet the allowable
size from 6 to 8 square feet. Uh there
have been no updates since first reading
approval.
>> Any questions for Mr. Pettit?
>> No.
>> All right. Um, any further interest in
speaking? None heard. Public hearing is
closed for item B.
All right.
Council members, you have received the
July 27th council meeting minutes,
August 10th council workshop minutes,
and the August 17th council budget
workshop minutes. Do we have any
changes, deletions, or additions?
I need a motion.
>> I make a motion to approve minutes or A,
B, and C as submitted.
>> I have a motion.
>> Second.
>> I have a second. All those in favor,
please say I. I. Thank you.
>> All right. Public comments. Pursuant to
section 2-46 of the code of ordinances
for the town of Fort Mill, any citizen
of the town may appear before council
for the purpose of providing public
comments on any municipal matter except
for personnel matters. Those who wish to
speak must sign in outside of council
chambers prior to the start of the
meeting. Citizens will be given three
minutes each to speak. Casey, we have
none. All right. Thank you. Old
business. Item A, consideration of the
second reading of Ordinance 20
26-32,
an ordinance annexing York County tax
map number 66100000030
and 65800 0106
containing approximately 10.986
acres and to reszone from general
commercial to mixed use. Penelope
Caragunas.
Hi.
>> Hi. Good evening, mayor and council. Um,
this is second readin. Um, this is for
the annexation. It's el eligible.
There's no changes from the first
readin. Perfect.
>> That's just uh some additional thoughts.
I read down through this again today.
The MXU that it came in under in the
original agreements, I think it was in '
08.
>> Have any of the ordinances changed in
that many years? the the MXU have has
that ordinance changed
at all? Have we?
>> Gosh, that that's before my time because
I I got here in 19. Um, however, always
keep in mind, you know, it's locked with
because it has a development agreement
so that it's entitled um what the code
was at that time. So again, this
annexation doesn't change anything about
the MXU. is just basically to provide
them a little bit more room um from a
design flexibility and they're very
small portions of um like 10 acres.
>> Just think about it. Are we still
looking at something from 18 years ago?
That was my thought was
>> it is um Mr. Hudgens. I mean again when
you have these big development
agreements and mixeduse projects, you do
lock in um given the developer security
but also council security of what was
approved back then. And there are times
that we have done amendments, but again,
you do an amendment with the um
agreement between the council and um the
developers, but for this one right now,
it's the annexation. Later on, the mayor
will talk about the amendment of the
development agreement, but but right now
for this annexation, they're eligible.
And even though Penelopey wasn't here
then, Penelope abides by the regulation
to the to the minute detail. I'm very
familiar and it is a good faith process
that we go about working with those that
wish to build and develop and enter into
an agreement with the town. So, I thank
you for your diligence. You might not
have been here 18 years ago, but we're
really happy you are now.
>> Well, thank you.
And just to clarify, so we're right now
it's just the uh annexing of the two
pieces of property. Yes, sir. The little
small together. That's 9 10.98.
>> Okay.
>> Yes. And there's been no public input uh
since the first reading. We've not heard
from anybody.
>> I have not received any.
>> Okay. Perfect.
>> All right.
>> That being said, I'd like to make a
motion that we approve old business item
A.
>> I have a motion. Do I have a second?
>> A second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor, please say I. I.
>> All oppose. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Then we have old business B. You might
as well take a seat there, Penelopey.
You're going to be here a while. Okay.
>> Consideration of the second reading of
ordinance 2026-33,
an ordinance authorizing the town to
enter into a fourth amendment to the
development agreement with Charlotte
Meckllinburgg Hospital Authority.
>> Yes, ma'am. So, this is an amendment,
the fourth amendment that this project
has had over the time period that it
first got approved. Um, and it's
basically we're adding the properties
that we're going to were annexed
successfively just free just a couple
seconds ago. So, we add those parcels to
this development agreement. It's also
updating the actual development
agreement schedule and also adding the
part where they're their commitment for
the Carolina Thread Trail by utilizing
the future hospital property and working
with Carolina Thread Trail to connect
with the trail and provide the the free
public parking.
» Tremendous um benefit for the town.
Thank you uh for the effort on that. It
really matters to all ages and uh
certainly upholds a healthy opportunity,
doesn't it?
>> And you know, it's very close to my
heart. So, I know it is. So, to be able
to have a company like Atrium and I do
hope other people that want to do
business in Fort Mill look for the
future by giving us opportunities
because it does take a lot of money and
effort to build these trails. So, it's
very great that we are having this
partnership with Atrium Health.
>> Not just on that, but we certainly are
open armed welcoming you to Fort Mill.
We appreciate uh your investment in our
community.
>> And after spending um an hour of my
morning having a work meeting, hiking a
trail with somebody else that we said,
"We're not going to sit and have lunch
today. We're going hiking and we're
going to have a conversation." I would
like to make a motion to approve all
business item B.
>> I have a motion. Do I have a second?
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor, please say I. I. All those
opposed. Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> All righty. Thanks, Penelope.
>> All right. We have uh item C,
consideration of the second reading of
an ordinance 2026-34,
an ordinance to amend the town's zoning
code as it relates to election signs.
Chris Pettit.
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh, no updates. Happy
to answer any questions.
>> Okay. Any questions for Chris? No
updates. I need a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to approve uh old
business item uh C regarding the
amending zoning code for election signs.
>> Thank you.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor, please say I. I.
>> All those opposed. Thank you. Item D,
consideration of the second reading of
ordinance 2026-35,
an ordinance amending the fiscal year
2526 budget with amendment 2609 for
Academy Street. Eric Davis.
>> Thank you, Mayor Council. This is the
second reading of budget amendment
26-09,
which appropriates a total of $4,120,000
for water and sewer improvements on
Academy Street. Uh just a reminder that
the town did apply for and receive a
grant from the Rural Infrastructure
Authority or RAIA uh in the amount of
$1,320,000.
The remaining funds will come from the
town's water and sewer cash reserves,
which is $2.8 million. Uh there are no
changes from the first reading.
>> Any questions for Eric? No changes from
the first reading.
>> Eric, it was a little hard to hear you.
How much did you say that grant was that
we received?
>> The grant's 1.3 million.
>> 1.3. Awesome. Thank you.
>> I need a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to approve old
business item D.
>> Have a motion. Do I have a second?
>> I'll second.
>> Have a motion and a second. All those in
favor, please say I. I. All those
opposed. Thank you. And we're going to
move into new business. Uh, new business
a consideration of a resolution 2026-36,
a resolution to accept the streets
within Ardan Mill into the town street
maintenance system. Chris Pettit.
>> Thank you, mayor. Um, the developer has
completed construction within the Ardan
Mill subdivision. All the inspections
have been approved by town staff. We do
have bonds and landscape maintenance
agreements in hand. Uh, therefore, they
are requesting uh acceptance of the
streets. Happy to answer any questions
you may have.
Okay.
>> A one-year bond or something with that.
The first year
>> there's a one-year warranty period in
which we're holding a bond on that.
>> Okay.
>> Can we do that with everyone moving
forward? Right.
>> That That's correct. This is our st
everything is following our standard
policy here.
>> Warranty, etc.
>> My biggest concern with this one as
opposed to other ones we've had is the
Ardan Mills 2 project that is still
looming out. Have we had any changes or
updates after it was voted down by this
council
>> there? As of today, there have been no
updates from the county as far as
anything being officially submitted to
them. Um ultimately,
um if they were to come back through
council, that's a council decision, but
uh as of today, nothing's been submitted
to the county.
So, I still have the concern that when
we approve this, if we approve this, if
it passes, that um we're going to have
additional these roads weren't designed
for those additional homes to be using
as a pass through and traveling on. So,
we're going to be covering the cost of
the additional use as a town. Um would
they be paved any differently? And do we
have any legal leg to stand on given
that they've met our requirements? So, I believe what you're referring to is
the the road stub out that that
basically stubs out to the north. Um,
I don't know immediately off the exact
top of my head whether that road um goes
all the way to the property line or
generally to the property line. So,
there may be some discretion uh of of
staff and council as to whether um a
connection is made. there would need to
be an encroachment permit uh by which
they would should anyone develop that
property to the north uh get a permit to
touch our roads. Um so there is some
authority there. Um,
but
certainly understand your point of if a
connection is made, it would be county
folks coming potentially coming through
the the town's road system
>> and they certainly would not pay
anything to do,
>> right? We'd barely have any way of
recognizing who was who, but uh it is a
an interesting quandry since there has
been interest expressed publicly and a
process that they went through. Um
I don't know Barry do we
>> they met all the requirements
>> they've met all the requirements that's
kind of what I was trying to get to that
>> the only concern I would have be and
thought where you were going to go is
there's any damage due by construction
equipment who would be responsible for
that
>> beyond the same in any neighborhood
right
>> yeah beyond the one-year warranty period
I mean certainly it's it's hours to
maintain um we we we know when someone's
installing a pool and uh by chance the
sidewalk panels get busted during that
process, we we know who to go to. Um if another subdivision is being um built
behind here, you would have no idea who
to go to or how to prove it wasn't um
you know, a delivery truck for somebody
getting a new refrigerator. So it it
would be an impossible task for us to to
place the blame on somebody given given
the context of what council's talking
about.
But with us, if we own the road, does
that give us a voice at the table when
Ardan Mills 2 were to come?
>> Yes, there would be an encroachment
permit request
um coming to the town for any connection
to be made.
>> Okay.
>> Um
as a public rightway, I don't know
really what
authority we would have to say no in
that situation. Um, but a request would
be made and and we would have typically
in that scenario you would be talking
about how the connection is made from a
construction design standpoint, not
necessarily a pass through construction
traffic, that sort of thing.
>> Okay. Is that something that um staff
would be able to notify us of as it
moves forward? C
>> certainly is something if anything were
to happen uh any in the property to the
north, we can certainly notify you, sir.
I will say that from coming from a
neighborhood who was not in the town
obviously it was not built to code uh
it's not say fair for lack of a better
word to hold the residents of that
neighborhood met all requirements and
done everything for us not to accept the
roads
>> uh because it's not going to get any
better um if if there's no if Barry has
no concerns with any incumbrances put on
it by future development and I think
it's our duty to take those roads into
the town. It's not for the homeowners to
be responsible for all if they've put
the bond and they've already met all
requirements.
» Further comments
hearing none. I need a motion.
>> Make a motion to approve item 6A.
>> I have a motion.
>> I'll second.
>> Have a second. I have a motion and a
second. All those in favor of approving
item 6A say I.
>> I. All those opposed. Thank you. All
right. New business item B,
consideration of the appointment of
committee members to the accommodations
tax committee. Gordon Bernett.
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh, this I this item
is being presented to full council or
for full council consideration due to
the timing of the ATAX grant application
process and the need to review
applications and return a recommendation
within the required time frame. Three
applications were received which
correspond to the three vacancies that
currently exist on the ATAX committee.
Um given the limited applicant pool and
the need for a full committee before
review can begin, timely consideration
will keep the process on schedule. This
will allow the committee to meet, review
the applications, and bring its grant
award recommendations back to council by
October 12th. Um, so I say all that to
say we are asking for consideration to
appoint Adam Smith from Poppyc Kitchen,
Nick Confory from Humble Cup Coffee
Company, and Melinda Foster from True by
Hilton Fort Mill to two-year terms
expiring March 31st, 2028.
>> Excellent.
>> I need a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to approve business
item 6B, the motion to appoint Nick
Confory, Adam Smith, and Melinda Foster
with their terms to expire March 31st,
2028. I'll second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor, please say, "I."
>> I. Thank you.
>> All right. Item C, consideration of
setting the millage rate for the fiscal
year 2627.
Eric Davis.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, it's that time of
year again. Uh, due to the variation in
fiscal year calendars, York County
requires a notification of the proposed
millage rate from the town of Fort Mill
prior to August 30th of each year. Uh to
date the council has held multiple
meetings where the proposed operations
and capital needs were discussed for the
coming fiscal year. Uh based upon the
information provided by staff, the
priorities indicated by council and the
expected revenues and expenditures for
the coming year. Uh the required millage
rate would be 87.0
mills per $1,000 of assessed value. Uh
we'll be going through the budget
adoption process at both meetings in
September, but due to the uh calendar um
uh issues, we have to give York County
notice before August 30th. Happy to
answer any questions that you may have.
>> I think I've asked this previous, but
I'm going to ask again. What
flexibility, if any, do we have to start
our process much earlier so that we're
not attempting to set a millage rate
increase on a budget we've only had one
meeting on.
>> I mean, we in the time that I've been
here, we we we keep moving the time up.
So, the issue is not what we're doing at
the beginning of the process. It's it's the fact that um it's it's the back
end here as far as uh trying to get
everything adopted. We have to give
everything to to the county um really a
month before the end of our year. So um
I mean we've had meetings in July and
earlier this month. So I don't know what
else we can do.
>> We had a meeting last week was our first
formal meeting on the actual data within
the budget. Right. I know we've talked
about the budget a multitude of times,
but as far as a process to do that, it it's not our it's not your fault.
It's not my fault that the county has
that date
>> and our fiscal year, Carrie, is set
there. Do we not have any opportunity to
say we're going to do a different end
date for our fiscal year?
>> Yeah. So, mayor, if I may, um, staff has
had conversations over the last several
years about actually changing our fiscal
year fiscal year
>> to a more customary July one start date.
>> Um, we could not do that this year
because there's just too many moving
parts switching from one finance
software to another finance software. U,
but that remains our goal.
>> Um, so we hope to be on our new finance
software
>> probably in our second or third quarter.
I don't want to overpromise and
underdel. Um, but next year we will be
on our new finance platform and at that
point we will do everything we can.
We'll probably have to pass maybe a six
or eightmonth budget
>> and and then pass another budget that
would begin July 1 at some point. So we
understand your frustration.
>> I'm not mad. I'm not
>> I understand. I'm not mad. I'm just
asking.
>> We share the sentiment. I'll put it that
way. I I could see the stress and I
understand it, but I I also know that
it's up to us to vote that and and to
vote that on one formal meeting. It's
not your fault. Uh I'm just asking, is
there a way we can make this work for
you, for us, and for what the process
needs to be?
>> Ultimately, I I believe that that final
resolution is really transitioning to a
more standardized fiscal year.
>> Thank you. Thank you. That makes me feel
better.
Yeah, and I want to commend staff. Every
year our budget process does get better
and the information gets even um more
detailed. The metrics, y'all know my
favorite word, metrics and details that
we get helps us to make a much more
educated decision and a much more
knowledgeable decision based on what our
staff is doing and the accomplishments
that they're making. So, thank you to
everyone who's been involved. the
presentations that we have been
receiving from the various department
heads also is very informative for us.
Um I I would like the mayor's mentioned
like to have time to react before we
have to make a decision on the
millillage. Um because you know to
Brown's presentation, we haven't dug
into parks and wreck really hard on the
numbers or our event stuff. you know,
we've touched on it a little bit, but if
we want to make a change, we don't know
how that change impacts the budget
without having to make an amendment to
the budget. So, um I look forward to the
day when we are all um have our
questions answered and new ideas veged
out and played out a little bit before
we have to make a decision on the
millillage. So,
>> and I second the presentations this year
have been phenomenal. the information
collection has been much better in my
opinion. Um process is getting there. I
just needed to ask that question because
I think it's very difficult. This is a
recorded meeting and everyone that
watches it afterward, you they're going
to hear that we're going to vote on
something that has to be done by an
agenda and a process in the county, but
yet we're not approving our own budget
till a much later date. So, I just think
that's a complicated process to describe
to our constituents.
>> So, uh anything we can do to better
that? Yes.
>> I just want to kind of follow up. the process has done been very good and
we have had a lot we spent hours and hours on the budget so it's
not like
>> this year
>> yeah uh
>> really
>> yes
>> I don't
>> sure
>> should I mute
>> no
>> so I just want to say thank you for the
time that we've put in on it it's not
it's if you watch just this you'll feel
like it's we're pushing this through
we've spent a lot of effort into in the
budget all of us have and I just want to
acknowledge that it has gotten better
and it's not just a snapshot. We've done
a lot of work. The mayor's trying to get
the two dates to match. I understand
that, but it's a lot of work's been put
into this budget and I want to thank
everybody for it. Uh from staff all the
way up. So, thank you.
>> And I apologize for interrupting you
when you said we. I assumed you meant
council. I didn't understand you meant
the collective. We And you're correct.
Our collective we have spent tremendous
a number of hours to get this through. I
was only addressing an opportunity for
us to have more than one formalized
meeting before we make that decision on
raising the millillage. That's all. So I
guess what we need is to know what are
we voting on
» narrow
>> narrowed down.
>> Can you repeat it without going through
the whole just I need a motion so I need
somebody to make a motion.
Right. So, the the motion would be to
set the millage rate as as we've at
least um the workshop and uh the
meetings that council's had to date. Um
with regards to our our CIP, uh we're
looking at a millage rate of 87.0
mills, up from the current mill rate of
83.0.
Uh so that's an increase of 4.0 mills.
The value of a mill is right at about
$245,000.
Um, so that'll be about a million
dollars of additional revenue in that
one line item. Um, if I need to go into
more detail, I'm happy to do so. I don't
know if that's what you're looking
>> Do you happen to know what it means for
a person with a $400,000 home?
>> I can I can get all that.
>> That probably be pretty good for the
public's knowledge.
>> Sure.
>> I think to to what Mr. Wolf was saying
also is there's been a tremendous amount
of time not only with everybody with
staff but as council maybe we would have
liked ideally you could always keep
raking it over but there has been for
everyone to know there's been a lot of
hours that are spent reading through
this at home and and trying to to rake
through it and see literally where
everything is going. you know, that's
our responsibility to go line item by
line item and and make sure it's truly
being vetted out as as best as possible.
So when we do get together and meet and
talk about it, that is, you know, we're
able to have intelligent conversation
based on the homework that's been done.
So there is a lot of effort that gets
put into that.
And you know, any anytime that you
propose raising taxes is something that
needs to be taken seriously and it's not
something that we should take very
lightly. And and to Mr. Mr. Hoden's
point, the the budget has been gone
through, items have been cut. It was
really kind of cut down to essentials,
but with with a growing town and just
that the things that we've been going
through and the different projects,
including, you know, the the room that
we're sitting in here, all kind of
factors into that. So, um, if there's
not any other comment, I'll I'll make a
motion to uh to set the millage rate at
87 mills and to direct staff to notify
York County.
I have a motion to approve item C. Do I
have a second?
>> I'll second.
>> Have a motion and a second. All those in
favor, please say I.
>> I. All those opposed. Thank you very
much.
>> And as a followup real quick, when will
we finalize the budget then?
>> Uh you'll have two budget meetings or
public hearings in September 14th and
28th.
>> September 14th and 28th. Okay. Just
making sure the public's aware. Thank
you.
All right. I think given that we have an
executive session, even though item item
seven is for council comments, we
typically do that at the end. Um, we do
have an executive session this evening.
Item A, discussion of the sale or
purchase of land. I need a motion to
move into executive session.
>> Motion to move into executive session.
>> I'll second.
>> Have a motion and a second. All those in
favor, please say I. I. All those
opposed. Thank you.
All right. Um, I need a motion to return
to to regular session.
>> I'll make that motion, please.
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion and a second. All those
in favor, please say I. I. Please let
the record reflect that no votes were
taken inside of executive session.
With that, Mr. Wolf, do you have
anything for the good of the whole?
>> No. A lot of good uh good stuff. the uh
the the uh lead off thing of the the
clean up the litter and all that was
great. It's great the involvement, a lot
of the energy going on with that. So, I
think that's uh it touches a couple of
the main topics that we've like to do.
The trees
uh you know, it's good stuff.
>> Mr. Moody,
>> um it was interesting approach the
budget issue. I was really glad that we
got all the presentations kind of see
what goes into it even though I've been
doing this about what 11 years now it's
pretty a lot more seamless I felt like
this year and any questions I I emailed
I think you know and got back with us
that went back with me on that. So
anyway good presentation good meeting
tonight and Mr. HS will say I'm I'm
good.
>> Okay Mr. Garrison
>> mornings are getting a little cooler.
Squirrels are starting to get nervous.
Uh leaves are starting to fall. Just
please, as the leaves fall, don't put
them in the gutters. Don't put them in
the drains. Don't put them on the roads.
Please.
>> I'll add to that. Don't put the leaves
in the drains. Don't blow the grass in
the street. You know, we we need to be
respectful for everyone else using the
same community. It it's not just get it
off your property. And as far as all of
the uh presentations tonight, I couldn't
be happier to think that we have such a
great group of people addressing uh the
things that are important to all of us,
the beauty of Fort Mill. Miss Cook.
>> Yeah. So, um received several comments
over the last few days about ebikes in
the Massie neighborhood. I know it's
something that our police department is
continuing to look at, our staff, town
manager is continuing to review.
Ultimately, it comes down to just people
being mindful of what's going on. I
mean, I had a regular motorcycle pass in
the I forget the split lane, I think
it's what my husband called, in between
cars right on the bypass flying through.
People are going to do um not wise
things out there and the police
department can't enforce all of it. So,
um I hope parents will make sure they're
educating their kids on eBike safety and
that they're um being mindful of stop
signs just like I hope every motor
vehicle will be mindful of stop signs.
Um so that's one thing and just want to
say congratulations on starting a new
school year. All the kids are back in
school and colleges and it's nice being
an empty nest again. So
>> Mr. Hudgins
>> just uh excited about Thursday the
groundbreaking for the new fire station.
>> Amen.
>> I think uh based on some solid
information from the fire department and
chief doing his due diligence uh as he
always does and identifying the need for
that on that side of town. Seeing that
come along I think is going to be a very great thing for for that side of
town and for the town in general.
>> Thank you Gordon. I do have one request.
I had a letter in my inbox from someone
that had come to town hall expecting to
vote here. Uh, tomorrow there is an
election of which the town of Fort Mill
does not run elections. That comes from
the board of elections in York. But if
you would please put on our all of our
social media sites and make our customer
service uh aware of if anyone should
come to this building asking for
directions how they might be of
assistance. I appreciate that. Uh with
that I'll entertain a motion for
adjournment.
>> I make a motion we adjourn.
>> I'll second.
>> I have a motion. Uh oh. You have
something else? Okay. Uh motion and a
second. All those in favor please say I.
>> I. All those opposed. Thanks so much.