Uh, good afternoon. I'd like to call this meeting of the Langster County
Council to order. I ask that the clerk note for the record that a quorum of
council is present. that public notice of the meeting, including the meeting
agenda, has been posted the required length of time in the lobby of the
county administration building and on the county website, and that the news
media was notified of the meeting time in place. I'd like to welcome you to
your county council meeting. I would ask that you take a moment to turn off or
place on vibrate any cell phones. Thank you for not wearing any hats or caps in
the council chambers and please be considerate of others in the room by
refraining from conversations and during the meeting. Ask that you please stand
and join council for the pledge of allegiance followed by the invocation
given this afternoon by council member Charlene McGriff.
Bit of my stellar >> Billy.
» Billy >> is my name on the thing up there. That
was from last Monday. >> Sorry.
» I pledge algiance 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. >> Let us pray.
» Dear father in heaven, thank you for this beautiful day today. Lord be with
us as we come to discuss Lanster County business today and give us wisdom and
guidance as we go through our meeting. Jesus name we pray. Amen.
» Amen. [snorts]
» We have a motion to approve the agenda. So move.
» Have a motion from Mr. Harper, a second from Mr. McGriff. All those in favor,
please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it's unanimous.
Okay, we're going to move on to item five.
[clears throat]
Doesn't look like anybody signed up.
» All right.
So, we have no citizens comments. We'll move on to item six.
» That's going to be a challenge for the two of y'all. [laughter]
Maybe I'll just try to project my voice a little. I'm Sher Gregory with the
Lindsey Pettis Greenway and you all of course know Flip Bud Lis city
administrator. We wanted to come before you today and give you a little update
on the Lindsay Pettis Greenway. [snorts] Has been a few years I think
since we have given you a comprehensive overview of our progress and our plans
for the future. And um first and foremost though, I want to just thank
you because without this council's support, we would not have accomplished
what we've accomplished to date. And what we've accomplished to date is that
we now have about three miles of hard surface trail for our residents and
visitors to the community to enjoy. [clears throat]
And what I have um Sherry's displayed here for you is an overall map of the
greenway. you can just see the um scope of it. And I just wanted to point out a
little about what we've um what we have done already and what we're looking to
do in the future. Um what you see in the purple, let's see if I can get my cursor
to work. Uh oh, I'm not the most technologically savvy and I don't have
my glasses. So, thank you. Start the slideshow.
Can you find that? start.
» So, what you see there in the purple to the east side of your screen is the
original two miles of the greenway that we built first and that opened in 2020.
2020 during COVID and um Steve Willis who was the administrator then actually
cut the ribbon on that and that was a tribute to the fact that the city I mean
the county had had um helped us fund that first segment by floating a the
recreation bond referendum that I believe was done in 2018 and it provided
$2.5 million towards the cost of that project. Since then, we have completed
the Main Street underpass. And I'm sorry that my cursor is not
working on this, but the U Main Street underpass is the red line that's just
north of the legend box. Um the little loop under um Main Street. That was an a
remarkable accomplishment for the engineers to figure out how to go under
Main Street and it was costly and we're very grateful that we were able to do
that. We further extended the greenway at that time to the west over to Forest
Drive. Um, since then we have added another
quarter of the a mile segment that we cut the ribbon on last fall which
extended the trail from Forest Drive over to Marian Sims Drive at Woodland
Drive near MUSC Lancaster for access to the hospital and all the medical offices
in that area. So that's what we've done to date.
Since we got started in we were we were founded in 2015 and started our
fundraising. We've raised 12.5 million dollars for the trail. To date, we've
spent about 10.5 million of what we've raised. We still have a little in our
pocket for future projects. One of those is a tap grant that the city
secured from the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Flip
can speak to a little bit about that and where it is.
» Thank you, Sherry. Yes. Um, city did secure a TAP grant. That's a
transportation alternative project. Uh, it's a 8020 match. The city is paying
20% uh with the greenway itself paying some as well. That is to do the
extension from Rody Drive which is I kind of had it but basically going
past the ball fields North Elementary then curving back into the Walmart where
Papa John's is Dunkin Donuts and Taco Bell. Um do is working on the
engineering draw drawings. They're doing the site the strip maps now and they
should go to let that project early 2027.
So probably March of 2027 they will start construction.
That is a relatively simple construction project. It's basically putting a 10-ft
sidewalk along Rody Drive and just turning to the west. With that said,
that's just one I think is gonna be a big
boost to the trail because I'm an avid user of the trail. And the one thing I
do love when I'm walking on trail is seeing other individuals wearing their
uniform with Hardies, Walmart, Fruit Lion. So, they're using that trail to
get to work and it's helping them um gain gainful employment. So, it is a a
huge benefit.
» Y'all, I apologize. My computer just suddenly started doing the perpetual
circle. So, I don't know what the technological problem is, but I lost my
display. But at any rate, I think most of you are familiar enough with the
community that you'll understand where we're um where our next priority project
will go. And it's going to one of the county assets. So, you you'll be very
familiar with this. So from the current terminus Oh, my computer screen is not
even owned. That's interesting. >> Oh, thank you. [laughter]
So, um,
Mr. Tucker, can I get you to stand up and point to something on the screen?
So, can you see MUSC Lancaster almost in the middle of the um
» Keep going. >> Keep going east down. Follow Just follow
the trail down. I'll tell you where to stop. Pardon me? [laughter]
» Because you've run the trail [laughter] from this perspective.
» Okay. Well, I um >> it's kind of in the middle of the map.
» Let me come over there >> next to the line.
See the legend? >> Yes, ma'am.
» Right here. Now go to your red line. That's where the trail ends.
Now run your pin up there
next. So continue west to your left along the red line. Now go south.
And that crosses meeting that
» sorry thank you thank you I want I that ends up at the rec center. So our that's
our next priority project is to go to the Melbourne Steel Soccer Complex will
be going underneath Meeting Street connect to the soccer complex and to the
rec center. Is it going under that little cross over that little bridge?
» Underneath the bridge on Meeting Street between um the offices at Barnett where
the rec center offices are now in DHECK and the Mariah Baptist Association
building. That bridge, it'll go under there and then continue into the
Melbourne Steel Soccer Field Complex and over across Bear Creek to the rec um
center um facilities there. So, and the estimated cost of that project is $3.5
million. We have about $1.1 million in capital project sales tax three funds um
available for that. Uh and and um we are seeking funding for that segment.
» And also too, the city did apply for a general assembly special appropriation.
Oh, we hit 1.7 >> three. I'm sorry. Yeah, we got $3
million for that project from the state. However, if you've been following the
news, that is now up in the air um with the state budget. But if we do see the
appropriation, we will have the funding hopefully if construction costs stay
stable to make it to the Springdale Rec Center.
And just one final thing I would remind you is that this entire project has been
planned, engineered, and permitted. So, it's ready to go. It's a construction
ready project. So, as soon as funds are available, we're ready to let contracts
and build pretty much. So, that's a big asset that we have for this project. But
it is a legacy project and we know that it'll continue to take time to build it
out um and eventually go beyond our next project and um the trail ends near the
bypass behind the old Duracell facility near there and it will eventually
connect into the larger county Carolina thread trail master plan. So, it's um
part of a larger project and um we I really want to um express our deep deep
appreciation for the investment that the county has made. Most of the funding for
this project has been local between the county, the city, and individuals,
corporations, and foundations. So, of that 12 million that um we have raised
so far, $12.5 million, all but about um four has been local. So about eight I
mean yes 8 million or so has been local funding and so that's tremendous the
value that our community has placed on this amenity. So I just wanted to um let
you know where we were and to give you an opportunity to ask any questions um
that you might have of us at at this time
» any questions or comments? >> No, I think Shar I think you answered
all of the questions that I had the future plans and where it's going. Uh, I
just know it's an asset for the community.
» Well, thank you so much, Councilman Griff. Councilwoman Griff, if you
prefer, but um, we c I cannot, um, overstate the importance of the council
support to making this project a reality for our community. And my final thing
I'd like to say to add to Flip's um comments about how the community is
using this is that we have a counter on the trail and we estimate that we have
over 20,000 visits to the trail every year and that's just in one area and
that we don't have count we only have counters in one spot and that doesn't
account for people who don't walk past that counter. They may walk other areas
of the trail. last year at our holiday lighting event. We had around 3,000
people attend over the three nights of that event. So, the facility is a
beloved amenity for this community and we really appreciate how you've
supported us and hope you'll continue to do so and um will be supportive of us as
we continue to seek funding for it. >> I want to add one more thing. Yes, the
trail is recreation but also helps when we are looking at industrial prospects.
They they are looking for quality of life issues and trails is always high on
the list. That's one thing you know when we talk about like the air rail park or
the quality drive industrial park is yes you have water and sewer but you also
have this trail and we have all these other amenities. So, it's not just
recreation and good um for the community, but it is a way for us to
help attract other industry than commercial.
» Mr. Chair, I've got some. >> Go ahead, Mr. Louise.
» So, Miss Gregory, I understand that you're thanking council, but you need to
give yourself some grace and some thanks, too, because these things would
not happen without your efforts and without the passion that you have shown
for our community and everything that it stands for, especially with this trail.
So, as a somewhat runner, um, this trail is
fantastic. Um, and and it is a great amenity for our community. And and to
flip to your point, this is something that we can tell potential businesses
that are coming in about how our county is supporting these efforts and how we
are a one county that does everything throughout our county. So, thank you.
» I appreciate. You know why Jose said and I must give you your props. Uh
» I didn't come here to get my props. >> When we started this discussion, you
started the greenway in my district and you don't know how much I appreciate
that starting it right there at Bar Street. And I know the discussion was
around where we're going to start it, but I appreciate uh including you know
my district in the start of that greenway.
Can I just say really quickly that that was a strategic decision because we
wanted our community to see that this is a an amenity, an asset for all people in
our community and not just one neighborhood in our community. And I
feel like the success of the project has been because of that strategic decision
to start it where we started it. have any other comments? Thank you both
very much. Okay, we're going to move on to item
seven, our non-consent agenda. Our first item is second reading of ordinance
number 2026-2048
and ordinance of the county council of Langster County, South Carolina,
extending ordinance number 2025-1992,
the 9month residential development moratorum for an additional 90 days,
reaffirming the findings of the county council, providing for severability, and
providing for an effective date. Do we have a motion to approve?
» So move. Have a motion from Mr. Louise. >> Second.
» Second from Miss McGriff. Is there any discussion?
All those in favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it is
unanimous. Okay, we'll go on to item 7B.
uh an ordinance to amend ordinance number 2026-2036
relating to the appropriation of funds and the approval of a detailed budget
from Langster County for the fiscal year beginning July the 1st 2026 and ending
June the 30th 2027 our fiscal year 2026 2027 to further provide for revenues and
expenditures during the fiscal year and to provide for matters related there
too. Do we have a motion to approve? So move
» a motion for Mr. Meller, a second from Miss McGriff,
» Miss Harris. >> Good afternoon, council members. Um the
ordinance you have before you today is requesting council's approval to
appropriate um $1,245,500
from the general funds unassigned fund balance for the sheriff's evidence
storage facility. Um these funds will provide well the facility will provide
secure um more modernized evidence storage that preserves the integrity of
evidence from the time it's collected um through its final disposition
um and supporting successful criminal investigations and court proceedings.
It's one of the um public safety capital projects is partially ARPA funded and
construction of the facility is um substantially complete. So, approval of
this budget amendment will restore the 1.216
um million that was um previously authorized in December of 2024 by
council through ordinance number 2024-1943.
Um and it'll provide an additional $30,27
needed to satisfy um any remaining cont um contractual obligations and to
complete the project. So staff is requesting that council approve um
ordinance 2026-2054 to appropriate the 1.245
um 1.1 1,245,500 from the general fund um unassigned fund
balance and that'll allow the um staff to successfully complete and
close out this project. Um we can answer any questions that you have about the
project or about the amendment. Is there >> any questions? Hearing
none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand.
All those opposed, it is unanimous. >> Thank you.
» All right, we're going to move on to item 8A. Um, proposed changes to
ordinance number 2025-1960. Uh, recommendation from the community
outreach and engagement advisory committee.
Are they here? >> Okay.
Well, we'll move on past that and we'll take a I need a motion to go in I
need a motion to go into executive session for the receipt of legal advice
subject to the attorney client privilege regarding potential contractual matters
relating to the regional park and to invite the deputy county administrator,
the director of parks and recreation and members of project management into the
discussion. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved.
» Have a motion from Mr. Neil, a second from Mr. Louise. All those in favor,
please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it is unanimous. We are in
executive session.
Okay. Do I have a motion to come out of executive session? So move.
» Uh I have a motion from Mr. Mel or a second from Miss McGriff. All those in
favor, please raise your right hand. All those opposed, it is unanimous. Uh Miss
M Dupont. >> Mr. Chairman, for the record, council
met an executive session in regards to one item, the receipt of legal advice
subject to the attorney client privilege regarding potential contractual matters
relating to the regional park. No motions were made, no votes were taken.
» Do we have a motion to adjourn? We stand adjourned.