[0:25] Uh, good afternoon. I'd like to call
this meeting of the Langster County
[0:28] Council to order. I ask that the clerk
note for the record that a quorum of
[0:32] council is present. that public notice
of the meeting, including the meeting
[0:37] agenda, has been posted the required
length of time in the lobby of the
[0:41] county administration building and on
the county website, and that the news
[0:46] media was notified of the meeting time
in place. I'd like to welcome you to
[0:51] your county council meeting. I would ask
that you take a moment to turn off or
[0:56] place on vibrate any cell phones. Thank
you for not wearing any hats or caps in
[1:01] the council chambers and please be
considerate of others in the room by
[1:06] refraining from conversations and during
the meeting. Ask that you please stand
[1:10] and join council for the pledge of
allegiance followed by the invocation
[1:14] given this afternoon by council member
Charlene McGriff.
[1:19] Bit of my stellar
>> Billy.
[1:23] » Billy
>> is my name on the thing up there. That
[1:28] was from last Monday.
>> Sorry.
[1:31] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[1:37] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:45] justice for all.
>> Let us pray.
[1:51] » Dear father in heaven, thank you for
this beautiful day today. Lord be with
[1:55] us as we come to discuss Lanster County
business today and give us wisdom and
[2:00] guidance as we go through our meeting.
Jesus name we pray. Amen.
[2:04] » Amen.
[snorts]
[2:11] » We have a motion to approve the agenda.
So move.
[2:15] » Have a motion from Mr. Harper, a second
from Mr. McGriff. All those in favor,
[2:18] please raise your right hand. All those
opposed, it's unanimous.
[2:24] Okay, we're going to move on to item
five.
[2:29] [clears throat]
[2:36] Doesn't look like anybody signed up.
[2:48] » All right.
[2:55] So, we have no citizens comments. We'll
move on to item six.
[3:18] » That's going to be a challenge for the
two of y'all. [laughter]
[3:22] Maybe I'll just try to project my voice
a little. I'm Sher Gregory with the
[3:26] Lindsey Pettis Greenway and you all of
course know Flip Bud Lis city
[3:30] administrator. We wanted to come before
you today and give you a little update
[3:34] on the Lindsay Pettis Greenway.
[snorts] Has been a few years I think
[3:39] since we have given you a comprehensive
overview of our progress and our plans
[3:43] for the future. And um first and
foremost though, I want to just thank
[3:48] you because without this council's
support, we would not have accomplished
[3:52] what we've accomplished to date. And
what we've accomplished to date is that
[3:56] we now have about three miles of hard
surface trail for our residents and
[4:02] visitors to the community to enjoy.
[clears throat]
[4:04] And what I have um Sherry's displayed
here for you is an overall map of the
[4:10] greenway. you can just see the um scope
of it. And I just wanted to point out a
[4:16] little about what we've um what we have
done already and what we're looking to
[4:21] do in the future. Um what you see in the
purple, let's see if I can get my cursor
[4:28] to work. Uh oh, I'm not the most
technologically savvy and I don't have
[4:33] my glasses. So, thank you. Start the
slideshow.
[4:39] Can you find that? start.
[4:48] » So, what you see there in the purple to
the east side of your screen is the
[4:52] original two miles of the greenway that
we built first and that opened in 2020.
[4:59] 2020 during COVID and um Steve Willis
who was the administrator then actually
[5:04] cut the ribbon on that and that was a
tribute to the fact that the city I mean
[5:09] the county had had um helped us fund
that first segment by floating a the
[5:16] recreation bond referendum that I
believe was done in 2018 and it provided
[5:20] $2.5 million towards the cost of that
project. Since then, we have completed
[5:28] the Main Street underpass.
And I'm sorry that my cursor is not
[5:34] working on this, but the U Main Street
underpass is the red line that's just
[5:40] north of the legend box. Um the little
loop under um Main Street. That was an a
[5:48] remarkable accomplishment for the
engineers to figure out how to go under
[5:52] Main Street and it was costly and we're
very grateful that we were able to do
[5:55] that. We further extended the greenway
at that time to the west over to Forest
[6:01] Drive.
Um, since then we have added another
[6:04] quarter of the a mile segment that we
cut the ribbon on last fall which
[6:09] extended the trail from Forest Drive
over to Marian Sims Drive at Woodland
[6:15] Drive near MUSC Lancaster for access to
the hospital and all the medical offices
[6:21] in that area. So that's what we've done
to date.
[6:25] Since we got started in we were we were
founded in 2015 and started our
[6:32] fundraising. We've raised 12.5 million
dollars for the trail. To date, we've
[6:37] spent about 10.5 million of what we've
raised. We still have a little in our
[6:42] pocket for future projects. One of those
is a tap grant that the city
[6:49] secured from the South Carolina
Department of Transportation and Flip
[6:55] can speak to a little bit about that and
where it is.
[6:58] » Thank you, Sherry. Yes. Um, city did
secure a TAP grant. That's a
[7:03] transportation alternative project. Uh,
it's a 8020 match. The city is paying
[7:09] 20% uh with the greenway itself paying
some as well. That is to do the
[7:15] extension from Rody Drive which is
I kind of had it but basically going
[7:21] past the ball fields North Elementary
then curving back into the Walmart where
[7:27] Papa John's is Dunkin Donuts and Taco
Bell. Um do is working on the
[7:34] engineering draw drawings. They're doing
the site the strip maps now and they
[7:40] should go to let that project early
2027.
[7:45] So probably March of 2027 they will
start construction.
[7:50] That is a relatively simple construction
project. It's basically putting a 10-ft
[7:55] sidewalk along Rody Drive and just
turning to the west. With that said,
[8:03] that's just one I think is gonna be a
big
[8:06] boost to the trail because I'm an avid
user of the trail. And the one thing I
[8:12] do love when I'm walking on trail is
seeing other individuals wearing their
[8:18] uniform with Hardies, Walmart, Fruit
Lion. So, they're using that trail to
[8:24] get to work and it's helping them um
gain gainful employment. So, it is a a
[8:30] huge benefit.
[8:34] » Y'all, I apologize. My computer just
suddenly started doing the perpetual
[8:38] circle. So, I don't know what the
technological problem is, but I lost my
[8:43] display. But at any rate, I think most
of you are familiar enough with the
[8:46] community that you'll understand where
we're um where our next priority project
[8:52] will go. And it's going to one of the
county assets. So, you you'll be very
[8:57] familiar with this. So from the current
terminus Oh, my computer screen is not
[9:02] even owned. That's interesting.
>> Oh, thank you. [laughter]
[9:07] So,
um,
[9:13] Mr. Tucker, can I get you to stand up
and point to something on the screen?
[9:18] So, can you see MUSC Lancaster almost in
the middle of the um
[9:24] » Keep going.
>> Keep going east down. Follow Just follow
[9:27] the trail down. I'll tell you where to
stop. Pardon me? [laughter]
[9:33] » Because you've run the trail [laughter]
from this perspective.
[9:37] » Okay. Well, I um
>> it's kind of in the middle of the map.
[9:42] » Let me come over there
>> next to the line.
[9:48] See the legend?
>> Yes, ma'am.
[9:59] » Right here. Now go to your
red line. That's where the trail ends.
[10:05] Now
run your pin up there
[10:12] next. So continue west to your left
along the red line. Now go south.
[10:17] And that crosses meeting
that
[10:24] » sorry thank you thank you I want I that
ends up at the rec center. So our that's
[10:31] our next priority project is to go to
the Melbourne Steel Soccer Complex will
[10:37] be going underneath Meeting Street
connect to the soccer complex and to the
[10:41] rec center. Is it going under that
little cross over that little bridge?
[10:45] » Underneath the bridge on Meeting Street
between um the offices at Barnett where
[10:52] the rec center offices are now in DHECK
and the Mariah Baptist Association
[10:57] building. That bridge, it'll go under
there and then continue into the
[11:01] Melbourne Steel Soccer Field Complex and
over across Bear Creek to the rec um
[11:07] center um facilities there. So, and the
estimated cost of that project is $3.5
[11:14] million. We have about $1.1 million in
capital project sales tax three funds um
[11:21] available for that. Uh and and um we are
seeking funding for that segment.
[11:29] » And also too, the city did apply for a
general assembly special appropriation.
[11:35] Oh, we hit 1.7
>> three. I'm sorry. Yeah, we got $3
[11:40] million for that project from the state.
However, if you've been following the
[11:45] news, that is now up in the air um with
the state budget. But if we do see the
[11:52] appropriation, we will have the funding
hopefully if construction costs stay
[11:57] stable to make it to the Springdale Rec
Center.
[12:03] And just one final thing I would remind
you is that this entire project has been
[12:08] planned, engineered, and permitted. So,
it's ready to go. It's a construction
[12:12] ready project. So, as soon as funds are
available, we're ready to let contracts
[12:18] and build pretty much. So, that's a big
asset that we have for this project. But
[12:23] it is a legacy project and we know that
it'll continue to take time to build it
[12:29] out um and eventually go beyond our next
project and um the trail ends near the
[12:36] bypass behind the old Duracell facility
near there and it will eventually
[12:41] connect into the larger county Carolina
thread trail master plan. So, it's um
[12:46] part of a larger project and um we I
really want to um express our deep deep
[12:53] appreciation for the investment that the
county has made. Most of the funding for
[12:58] this project has been local between the
county, the city, and individuals,
[13:03] corporations, and foundations. So, of
that 12 million that um we have raised
[13:10] so far, $12.5 million, all but about um
four has been local. So about eight I
[13:16] mean yes 8 million or so has been local
funding and so that's tremendous the
[13:21] value that our community has placed on
this amenity. So I just wanted to um let
[13:27] you know where we were and to give you
an opportunity to ask any questions um
[13:31] that you might have of us at at this
time
[13:34] » any questions or comments?
>> No, I think Shar I think you answered
[13:38] all of the questions that I had the
future plans and where it's going. Uh, I
[13:44] just know it's an asset for the
community.
[13:47] » Well, thank you so much, Councilman
Griff. Councilwoman Griff, if you
[13:51] prefer, but um, we c I cannot, um,
overstate the importance of the council
[13:59] support to making this project a reality
for our community. And my final thing
[14:03] I'd like to say to add to Flip's um
comments about how the community is
[14:09] using this is that we have a counter on
the trail and we estimate that we have
[14:14] over 20,000 visits to the trail every
year and that's just in one area and
[14:19] that we don't have count we only have
counters in one spot and that doesn't
[14:23] account for people who don't walk past
that counter. They may walk other areas
[14:27] of the trail. last year at our holiday
lighting event. We had around 3,000
[14:32] people attend over the three nights of
that event. So, the facility is a
[14:38] beloved amenity for this community and
we really appreciate how you've
[14:43] supported us and hope you'll continue to
do so and um will be supportive of us as
[14:49] we continue to seek funding for it.
>> I want to add one more thing. Yes, the
[14:54] trail is recreation but also helps when
we are looking at industrial prospects.
[15:01] They they are looking for quality of
life issues and trails is always high on
[15:07] the list. That's one thing you know when
we talk about like the air rail park or
[15:12] the quality drive industrial park is yes
you have water and sewer but you also
[15:16] have this trail and we have all these
other amenities. So, it's not just
[15:21] recreation and good um for the
community, but it is a way for us to
[15:26] help attract other industry than
commercial.
[15:30] » Mr. Chair, I've got some.
>> Go ahead, Mr. Louise.
[15:32] » So, Miss Gregory, I understand that
you're thanking council, but you need to
[15:38] give yourself some grace and some
thanks, too, because these things would
[15:41] not happen without your efforts and
without the passion that you have shown
[15:44] for our community and everything that it
stands for, especially with this trail.
[15:48] So, as
a somewhat runner, um, this trail is
[15:54] fantastic. Um, and and it is a great
amenity for our community. And and to
[15:59] flip to your point, this is something
that we can tell potential businesses
[16:04] that are coming in about how our county
is supporting these efforts and how we
[16:10] are a one county that does everything
throughout our county. So, thank you.
[16:16] » I appreciate. You know why Jose said and
I must give you your props. Uh
[16:22] » I didn't come here to get my props.
>> When we started this discussion, you
[16:29] started the greenway in my district and
you don't know how much I appreciate
[16:33] that starting it right there at Bar
Street. And I know the discussion was
[16:37] around where we're going to start it,
but I appreciate uh including you know
[16:42] my district in the start of that
greenway.
[16:46] Can I just say really quickly that that
was a strategic decision because we
[16:52] wanted our community to see that this is
a an amenity, an asset for all people in
[17:01] our community and not just one
neighborhood in our community. And I
[17:05] feel like the success of the project has
been because of that strategic decision
[17:10] to start it where we started it.
have any other comments? Thank you both
[17:17] very much.
Okay, we're going to move on to item
[17:21] seven, our non-consent agenda. Our first
item is second reading of ordinance
[17:26] number 2026-2048
[17:29] and ordinance of the county council of
Langster County, South Carolina,
[17:33] extending ordinance number 2025-1992,
[17:38] the 9month residential development
moratorum for an additional 90 days,
[17:43] reaffirming the findings of the county
council, providing for severability, and
[17:48] providing for an effective date. Do we
have a motion to approve?
[17:52] » So move. Have a motion from Mr. Louise.
>> Second.
[17:55] » Second from Miss McGriff. Is there any
discussion?
[18:01] All those in favor, please raise your
right hand. All those opposed, it is
[18:05] unanimous.
Okay, we'll go on to item 7B.
[18:12] uh an ordinance to amend ordinance
number 2026-2036
[18:16] relating to the appropriation of funds
and the approval of a detailed budget
[18:20] from Langster County for the fiscal year
beginning July the 1st 2026 and ending
[18:26] June the 30th 2027 our fiscal year 2026
2027 to further provide for revenues and
[18:34] expenditures during the fiscal year and
to provide for matters related there
[18:38] too. Do we have a motion to approve? So
move
[18:40] » a motion for Mr. Meller, a second from
Miss McGriff,
[18:50] » Miss Harris.
>> Good afternoon, council members. Um the
[18:53] ordinance you have before you today is
requesting council's approval to
[18:57] appropriate
um $1,245,500
[19:02] from the general funds unassigned fund
balance for the sheriff's evidence
[19:05] storage facility. Um these funds will
provide well the facility will provide
[19:10] secure um more modernized evidence
storage that preserves the integrity of
[19:15] evidence from the time it's collected um
through its final disposition
[19:20] um and supporting successful criminal
investigations and court proceedings.
[19:24] It's one of the um public safety capital
projects is partially ARPA funded and
[19:30] construction of the facility is um
substantially complete. So, approval of
[19:34] this budget amendment will restore the
1.216
[19:39] um million that was um previously
authorized in December of 2024 by
[19:44] council through ordinance number
2024-1943.
[19:48] Um and it'll provide an additional
$30,27
[19:52] needed to satisfy um any remaining cont
um contractual obligations and to
[19:57] complete the project. So staff is
requesting that council approve um
[20:02] ordinance 2026-2054
to appropriate the 1.245
[20:09] um 1.1 1,245,500
from the general fund um unassigned fund
[20:14] balance and that'll allow the
um staff to successfully complete and
[20:20] close out this project. Um we can answer
any questions that you have about the
[20:24] project or about the amendment. Is there
>> any questions? Hearing
[20:30] none, I'll call for the vote. All those
in favor, please raise your right hand.
[20:34] All those opposed, it is unanimous.
>> Thank you.
[20:40] » All right, we're going to move on to
item 8A. Um, proposed changes to
[20:45] ordinance number 2025-1960.
Uh, recommendation from the community
[20:50] outreach and engagement advisory
committee.
[20:57] Are they here?
>> Okay.
[21:02] Well, we'll move on past that and
we'll take a I need a motion to go in I
[21:10] need a motion to go into executive
session for the receipt of legal advice
[21:14] subject to the attorney client privilege
regarding potential contractual matters
[21:19] relating to the regional park and to
invite the deputy county administrator,
[21:24] the director of parks and recreation and
members of project management into the
[21:28] discussion. Do I have a motion to
approve? So moved.
[21:32] » Have a motion from Mr. Neil, a second
from Mr. Louise. All those in favor,
[21:37] please raise your right hand. All those
opposed, it is unanimous. We are in
[21:41] executive session.
[1:09:43] Okay. Do I have a motion to come out of
executive session? So move.
[1:09:47] » Uh I have a motion from Mr. Mel or a
second from Miss McGriff. All those in
[1:09:50] favor, please raise your right hand. All
those opposed, it is unanimous. Uh Miss
[1:09:56] M Dupont.
>> Mr. Chairman, for the record, council
[1:09:58] met an executive session in regards to
one item, the receipt of legal advice
[1:10:01] subject to the attorney client privilege
regarding potential contractual matters
[1:10:04] relating to the regional park. No
motions were made, no votes were taken.
[1:10:08] » Do we have a motion to adjourn? We stand
adjourned.