[5:49] Mhm.
[17:19] » Mhm.
[26:54] » Mhm.
[29:46] » Our
first order of business is to
[29:50] discuss discussion regarding the Board
of Appeals
[29:54] assess assessment appeals.
>> Okay.
[29:59] Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.
Um
[30:02] So, was approached by our our assessor,
Melissa Mote, um
[30:08] regarding the Board of Assessment
Appeals.
[30:11] I think they've got a number of
vacancies,
[30:14] um in addition, I think they've got a
number of board members that just really
[30:19] haven't been attending the meetings. Um
it's really just kind of been the same
[30:23] board for many years.
And really need to look at
[30:27] um a change of the board and filling
some of the vacancies. Well,
[30:32] it was first brought to me that this is
a legislative delegation appointment,
[30:38] but when I reached out to legislative
delegation, they said, "No, that's done
[30:41] by the the county council." And so, I
got with with uh
[30:46] attorney here and and I'll let her
explain from there.
[30:50] » Okay, so, everybody's familiar with home
rule, right?
[30:54] Prior to home rule, there were a lot of
acts that were passed. And it was
[30:58] presumed that when home rule passed, it
eliminated all those prior acts. It did
[31:04] not. And so, there's an act, it's Act
333,
[31:09] and it is specific that um the
legislative delegation appoints these
[31:14] board members.
I sit on a committee with SCAC, it's
[31:17] called the Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee, and we put together the the
[31:21] docket for Tim Winslow and and Josh to
take to the State House to ask for new
[31:28] legislation and and um to rescind old
statutes and things like that. And so, I
[31:33] had requested this time last year that
Act 333 be revisited by the legislators
[31:39] and rescinded, and get new statutes put
into place so we could you as council
[31:45] could appoint these members.
Um it it didn't pass last legislative
[31:50] session. I have it on the docket again
for this coming session. Our committee's
[31:56] uh meets in 2 weeks, the
Intergovernmental Committee for SCAC.
[32:00] Um
I had asked Jeff if he would call
[32:03] Senator Cromer. I don't know whether he
did or not. I fully intend to do that
[32:08] and and explain to Senator Cromer just
exactly what I'm explaining to y'all.
[32:12] But right now, you do not have the
legislative authority to appoint to this
[32:16] board.
And my concern would be if you go ahead
[32:19] and do it anyway, any decision they make
could be legally challenged
[32:24] successfully.
[32:27] » So, in essence, we're just going to
That's was kind of an update that this
[32:30] is a This is a
a revolving issue that we're trying to
[32:36] help Melissa get resolved, but we'll
just have to work with our legislative
[32:40] delegation for now to see if we can't
get them to move forward with some
[32:44] appointments to the Board of Assessment
Appeals. Um we just kind of wanted you
[32:48] to be aware of where it's at statutorily
and
[32:52] and there seems to be some back and
forth on who has the authority to
[32:55] appoint to this board, but
right now our stance is it's the
[32:59] legislative delegation.
>> And the Association of Counties agrees
[33:02] with me.
That that act is very clear.
[33:08] » Any questions before we move on?
[33:12] » So
I do have one quick one. Um
[33:16] So at this point I don't know how many
members we're we've got on that board.
[33:22] Um
Do
[33:25] I guess how critical is it? Can the
board function
[33:28] as it currently sits or do we need be
making more phone calls to our
[33:33] delegation?
>> You want to update
[33:35] » You want me to email this morning?
Sorry, that you sent to me.
[33:39] » Yes. Um
>> Um will you go up there for me?
[33:42] » I can't.
[33:50] Um
we have a liaison in the GIS department
[33:56] that coordinates all board hearings
and
[34:00] we had one here a month ago
about a month ago.
[34:05] We had two board members to
appear.
[34:09] Uh so we had to reschedule
because we actually needed three to have
[34:13] a quorum.
Um
[34:17] so we have another one scheduled for
September 15th and we are just hoping
[34:23] that
the third person that says he will
[34:27] appear will
um because
[34:31] two of them um are stating that they
just don't have time for it anymore. So,
[34:38] but we have seven
board members is what we need and we
[34:43] only have two that appear every time.
So, that's kind of what we're facing.
[34:49] And you know, if we have to keep
rescheduling
[34:53] um
[34:56] it just doesn't look good on our part.
Um
[34:59] and then
you know, we can't go any further like
[35:04] to administrative law court or any of
the other procedures that we need to
[35:08] follow.
>> Are are the the board members, are they
[35:12] appointed uh by district? Similar to
what our other boards are that we do?
[35:19] » It appears to me that they are.
>> So, we would have one representative
[35:22] from each one of our districts.
>> Yes, sir.
[35:25] » Andrew, can you get us a list of those
board members and what districts they
[35:30] represent?
>> Yes.
[35:33] » We can get that to you. How do we uh
communicate with these board members
[35:37] about meeting times and dates?
>> Um Beth Conner, who is the liaison in
[35:43] the office, um emails them or
>> Okay, so we've done our
[35:47] » Yeah, due diligence. Yes, sir.
>> you.
[35:49] » Yes.
>> How many vacancies do you have now
[35:51] versus just inactive?
>> Um
[35:55] I would say five.
>> Five vacancies?
[35:58] » Yes.
Because the two that appear
[36:03] I mean, they're consistent from what I
hear, but um
[36:08] » And and to something that council could
consider if you once you you get the
[36:12] names of the the folks and find out what
districts they're in, if you want to get
[36:18] me names of folks in your district, when
I call Senator Cromer, I will ask him,
[36:23] could he consider these folks for
appointment now and then we'll we'll
[36:27] deal with Act 333 as the legislative
session comes upon us. At least that way
[36:32] we can get someone in the seats
uh legally.
[36:37] » And they have expressed the interest
that they do not have time to serve.
[36:43] » From an email that I received from Beth,
um
[36:47] they
>> Sure.
[36:50] » That's kind of how it looks.
>> making that comment.
[36:52] » Sure, I understand.
>> Right. I mean
[36:55] » I understand it's a commitment.
>> Yes.
[36:59] » Thank you.
[37:04] » All right, our next item
is discussion of resolution 06
[37:10] 2026 establishing a vision of zero
policy for Newberry County and
[37:15] committing to the elimination of traffic
fatalities [clears throat]
[37:18] and serious injuries on our county
roadway system.
[37:24] » Okay.
>> Uh so, as everyone's aware at this
[37:26] point, we received a Safe Streets for
All grant. We've been going through the
[37:30] process of community engagement and
community involvement meetings
[37:34] throughout the county, stakeholder group
meetings with our municipalities, law
[37:38] enforcement agencies, among many others.
Uh as this process been going on, it's
[37:43] all about creating an uh safety action
plan for the county, which can then move
[37:48] us to the next step of implementation
funding to start implementing some of
[37:54] the priority projects that have been
identified through this process.
[37:57] Uh one of the things that is required of
the grant
[38:01] um is an adopted safety action plan and
a vision zero policy that is required as
[38:08] a condition of future grant funding for
mitigation projects. So, this is merely
[38:14] a requirement of the grant that we adopt
this resolution
[38:18] uh to allow ourselves the opportunity to
have access to future grant funding
[38:22] through this grant opportunity.
Thank you, Ted.
[38:27] Any questions on it? Cuz we also have uh
Scott saw yours here. He's been leading
[38:32] this process.
So, if there are any questions about it,
[38:36] he's here.
[38:40] Okay.
All right.
[38:43] Moving on to item four. That's a
discussion regarding New Iberia County
[38:47] taxiway rehabilitation project and
parking lot project update by Adura
[38:52] Consultants.
Okay. You want me to kick it off real
[38:55] quick while we're here.
As you will recall a couple months ago,
[39:01] we had uh
we bid for the taxiway rehabilitation
[39:05] project. The bids actually came back
very good. We awarded the contractor.
[39:09] We're able to put the parking lot scope
of work in, which was bid as an
[39:13] alternate into it. Uh so, we we gave our
notice of intent to award to to
[39:18] Satterfield, who was the lowest bidder.
Um the next step was to actually apply
[39:24] for the FAA funding.
Well, we did. And unfortunately, I think
[39:30] uh he can dive further into the details,
but we were not funded
[39:34] um by the FAA, which more or less just
kind of takes away all the funding that
[39:39] we had, the millions of dollars access
to or thought we were going to have
[39:43] access to, but uh
I'll turn it over to Luke now and let
[39:48] him update more on the details.
>> Yeah.
[39:51] Um so, like Ted said, back in April, we
bid the project. It was awarded. Um
[39:57] we wrote a conditional letter of award
to Satterfield, just telling them that
[40:02] basically, "Hey, we we want to award
this project to you, but it's contingent
[40:05] on the FAA giving us funding for it."
Um so, the taxiway portion of the
[40:10] project estimated um with our consulting
services plus all of the construction
[40:15] costs was about 1.6 million and then the
terminal parking lot was about two and a
[40:21] half
250,000.
[40:23] Um the portion of the project that the
FAA did not provide was AIP funding. Um
[40:29] that's
discretionary funding. It's something
[40:32] that you have to compete with. Um so we
applied for the grant. Uh they let us
[40:37] know
two three weeks ago that they were not
[40:41] able to secure that funding for us. Um
that it was had to be provided to uh
[40:46] another airport, potentially a
commercial service airport with a bigger
[40:49] project with a need for that fund.
Um we tried to
[40:55] uh talk with Tia, talk with Josh.
Tried to uh move the parking lot project
[41:00] forward, but we didn't feel like it was
fair to Satterfield to miss out on the
[41:04] 1. 6 million dollars of the taxiway.
Um and additionally, the the remaining
[41:11] funds that we did get, which is um
the bill funding uh building infrastruct
[41:17] building infrastructure legislation
grants. Um we did get that funds, but it
[41:24] would not be enough to cover
construction observation, construction
[41:27] administration of the project. Um so at
this time
[41:31] the plan is to rebid the project again
next spring 2027.
[41:37] Um it is highly likely that we will
receive funding for that next year.
[41:43] Um
Any questions?
[41:46] » The
the grant, the building grant that you
[41:49] mentioned that we did get.
>> Right.
[41:52] » Is there a timeline on that that it will
expire?
[41:55] » It
It will roll over till next year. So we
[41:58] will be able to use that funding next
year for that project.
[42:01] » Okay.
>> Um
[42:03] but as far as the timeline goes, I
believe there's a
[42:06] two-year process on that. I'm not
entirely sure of the exact time frame
[42:10] that it'll be available.
>> Okay.
[42:12] » Um but it is the intention to use it
next year so that we don't lose it. Um
[42:17] another
good thing is that right now the airport
[42:21] has approximately $600,000 of
entitlement funds banked up from past
[42:25] years of no project work or not using
those funds.
[42:29] Um so next fiscal year we will have that
money as well. So it's just even more
[42:34] likely that we'll get the funds from the
FAA to move forward with both of those
[42:38] projects at the same time.
>> So the funding for this project is
[42:42] basically through funds that the airport
already has plus the grant money that
[42:46] we're talking about.
>> Correct. So the FAA provides uh next
[42:50] year it'll be 90% [clears throat] of the
funding and then the state and uh the
[42:54] county will provide 5% each.
Um
[42:58] so
>> So so we will
[43:00] I I guess it's county funds but it's
it's airport funds. It's Correct. It's
[43:05] what it's been.
>> Yeah.
[43:06] » Okay.
>> So um
[43:08] the the county has already planned for
those funds to be utilized. And I
[43:11] believe we can roll those funds, keep
those for next year and then so they'll
[43:15] be available for the match for the FAA
grant next year.
[43:19] » Okay.
>> Okay.
[43:22] Anything else?
>> Thank you.
[43:24] » Thanks, sir. For what it's worth, I
agree. I don't I wouldn't want to
[43:27] piecemeal it. So I'm glad
>> Right.
[43:29] » This way to do it right to start with.
>> I concur with that.
[43:36] » Our next item on the agenda is executive
session to receive legal advice
[43:40] regarding a capital project sales tax
project contract. We have a motion
[43:46] to go on executive session.
>> So moved.
[43:48] » Motion by Mr. Johnson, second by
um
[43:53] Councilman Reeder.
Any discussion?
[43:57] All in favor?
It is unanimous. We'll be in executive
[44:01] session [music]
in 5 minutes.
[47:59] » Mhm.
[49:54] » Mhm.
[1:01:24] » Mhm.
[1:03:19] » Mhm.
[1:05:14] » Mhm.
[1:09:04] » Mhm.
[1:11:11] » Come out of executive session.
[1:11:17] Motion in a second.
Um
[1:11:20] Any discussion?
[1:11:23] All in favor?
[1:11:27] Council met in executive session
for legal matters. No action was taken.
[1:11:34] Next item on the agenda
is it was unanimous vote on coming out
[1:11:38] of executive session.
Next item is adjournment. We have a
[1:11:41] motion for adjournment.
[1:11:44] Second.
All in favor?
[1:11:50] We're adjourned
until the 6:00 meeting.
[1:14:49] » Mhm.
[1:16:44] » Mhm.
[1:18:39] » Mhm.
[1:20:34] » Mhm.
[1:24:24] » Mhm.
[1:28:14] » Mhm.
[1:29:40] » It is 6:00.
I like to call to order the Newberry
[1:29:44] County Council
uh
[1:29:46] meeting for September 2nd.
Chairman Seeley sends his regrets. He's
[1:29:51] away on a family trip this week and
unable to attend.
[1:29:56] Our second item on the agenda is the
invocation and pledge by Councilman Leon
[1:30:00] Fuller.
>> Thank you.
[1:30:03] » [clears throat]
[1:30:06] » Dear Lord, we come to you tonight as
your humble servants.
[1:30:10] Hallowed is your name.
We thank you for this county. We thank
[1:30:14] you for the staff, employees, and the
volunteers to keep this county running.
[1:30:20] We thank you for the opportunity to
serve the citizens of the county.
[1:30:24] And we ask that you remember help
everyone to remember that the things
[1:30:29] that divide us are few.
The things that unite us are many.
[1:30:34] Those things that unite us together
are much more important than those that
[1:30:40] divide us.
>> Thank you.
[1:30:41] » For these and whatever else you see that
we may need, we humbly ask in your name.
[1:30:46] » Amen.
>> Amen.
[1:30:47] » Amen.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag
[1:30:51] of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands, one
[1:30:56] nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
[1:31:07] » [clears throat]
>> Item number three is our adopting the
[1:31:10] minutes.
Newberry County work session
[1:31:14] August 19th, 2026. Newberry County
Council minutes August 19th, 2026. And
[1:31:20] Newberry County Economic
Development Committee August 24th, 2026.
[1:31:26] I'd like to take all three of the three
of those as one if there are no
[1:31:29] objections.
[1:31:34] Uh
>> [clears throat]
[1:31:35] » all in favor of accepting the minutes?
Uh
[1:31:38] » Mr. Carroll. Can you tell me about the
first and second motion?
[1:31:43] » First was
>> It was Councilman
[1:31:44] » Mr. Reader.
>> Councilman Reader.
[1:31:46] » And then the second was uh
Councilman Scurry.
[1:31:50] Any discussion?
All in favor?
[1:31:55] It is unanimous.
Item number four, the approval of the
[1:32:00] agenda.
>> Um,
[1:32:02] » Mr. Vice Chairman,
I'll take it real quick. Um,
[1:32:06] we would ask there was a scrivener's
error with regards to the agenda
[1:32:10] tonight. Um, if I use that term
correctly. Thank you. Um,
[1:32:16] item 8D, ordinance 808-05,
2026. Um, the public hearing with
[1:32:24] regards to the multi-county industrial
business park, it was actually
[1:32:28] advertised for next meeting on September
16th and was placed under public hearing
[1:32:34] by error tonight. So, we would ask that
council, um,
[1:32:38] um, approve the agenda, but with the
removal of 8D from the agenda tonight.
[1:32:46] » Is there a motion to remove, uh, 8 Delta
and approve the agenda for tonight?
[1:32:50] » I'm make a motion that we amend the
agenda, um, and move, um, item D to
[1:32:56] » September 16th.
>> Motion by Councilman
[1:32:59] Peterson, second by Councilman Scurry.
Any discussion?
[1:33:04] All in favor?
It is unanimous.
[1:33:12] » [clears throat]
>> Item number five is our, uh,
[1:33:15] administrator's report.
>> All right. Got two quick items tonight.
[1:33:18] The first one being, uh, just a reminder
to everyone that next Monday, September
[1:33:24] 7th is Labor Day holiday and county
offices will be closed that day.
[1:33:29] Um, the second thing, and I'm I'm I'm
calling the sheriff in just a minute to
[1:33:33] help recognize a couple names that he
told me earlier this morning,
[1:33:37] but I am happy to report that, uh,
Senator Cromer, um,
[1:33:42] did put in a number of earmarks for
Newberry County. Um,
[1:33:46] we didn't think that the earmarks were
going to be a possibility a few weeks
[1:33:50] ago as all earmarks were removed from
the state budget, but they came back
[1:33:54] into session last week, and, uh, the
Senate was able to get all of their
[1:34:00] earmarks pushed through.
So, what does that mean for Newberry
[1:34:03] County?
Right now, we have a right at $787,000
[1:34:08] earmark that can go towards the
engineering and design of the future
[1:34:13] joint city and county public safety
facility that
[1:34:17] is being proposed out on 219 near the
interstate so that we can get that
[1:34:21] engineering and design started.
The second earmark was for $500,000
[1:34:28] for the Sheriff's Department towards the
new record management system, jail
[1:34:32] management system, CAD system.
[1:34:36] And also,
just to say on that, we had actually
[1:34:40] budgeted 300,000 in this year's budget
for the record management system. So,
[1:34:45] with that half a million dollar earmark
being approved, that is now funds that
[1:34:51] we will, once we get this done, we will
be able to kind of put those back in and
[1:34:55] look at other uses for
The last thing was the Rosenwald School
[1:35:01] did receive a $20,000 earmark. So, just
a special thank you to Senator Cromer
[1:35:06] for for entering these earmarks into the
state budget and uh
[1:35:12] I know that he was persistent in pushing
for these and and put a lot of legwork
[1:35:16] into getting people on board. So, we're
thankful and the governor did sign off
[1:35:21] last night and did no vetoes with
regards to the Senate. So, it is good to
[1:35:26] go at this point. Now, the Sheriff did
call me this morning. There were a
[1:35:29] couple names that you said also needed
to be recognized for the half a million
[1:35:34] dollars.
>> Probably would not have happened,
[1:35:37] especially on the public safety side, if
it wouldn't have been for Sally Foster.
[1:35:41] No kin.
She's executive director of the South
[1:35:45] Carolina Sheriff's Association.
And
[1:35:49] Cindy Conderus, who is the
um
[1:35:55] principal for the Internal Order of
Police of South Carolina,
[1:35:59] uh who works with the former chief of
SLED, Robert Stewart.
[1:36:04] They worked really hard to make sure
that the law enforcement
[1:36:06] [clears throat and cough] public safety
got the money,
[1:36:09] uh the local fund grants is what they
call it now. They are marked a rose by
[1:36:13] any other name.
But, um
[1:36:16] they they are That was cut completely
out of the budget.
[1:36:21] Um
but,
[1:36:22] when they came back to vote on some
other things, they made sure that that
[1:36:26] got taken care of. There's a lot of
money cut out of that as well for COs
[1:36:31] and nonprofits, but public safety got
everything they needed.
[1:36:35] » All right. Thank you. I didn't want to
leave them too out cuz you called me
[1:36:38] this morning to let me know that. So,
>> can tell you it would not have uh
[1:36:43] it would not have happened had it not
been for them.
[1:36:45] » So, a special thank you to Senator
Cromer and and and those individuals for
[1:36:50] helping to get those earmarks through.
That's all I have for today.
[1:36:54] Thank you, Ted.
Our next item on the agenda,
[1:36:59] a public appearance by Newberry County
Auditor, Donna Lominack, to set the
[1:37:03] fiscal year 2026-2027
tax levy.
[1:37:14] » Mr. Chairman, uh Vice Chairman, members
of County Council, and the public
[1:37:19] gathered here tonight. I stand before
you honored and humbled for the 18th
[1:37:24] time to recommend the fiscal year 26-27
Newberry County tax levy. I want to have
[1:37:30] to give a big thank you to Debbie Cromer
this year, our finance director. As most
[1:37:35] of you know, our assessor left in the
middle of reassessment. Uh she retired
[1:37:39] on us. So, Debbie was really a big asset
this year to the auditor's office. Also,
[1:37:44] I'd like to thank Cameron Bremner,
Cameron Smith, and Ted Laukadoo for
[1:37:49] their expertise. I think we make a good
team. Together, we got it done
[1:37:54] with a few little bumps along the way.
Speaking of Ted, I want to let council
[1:37:58] and everyone know here tonight that I
personally think he is a blessing to
[1:38:02] Newberry County. In the short time he
has been here, he has proved to me he
[1:38:07] wants the best for our county and the
employees, regardless.
[1:38:12] Since I came to work in 1977, we have
had 11 administrators and three interns.
[1:38:19] Five of these have been the last five
years. We need to stand together and
[1:38:23] appreciate his abilities and him. He's
willing to work, and that's what I like.
[1:38:29] Thank you to my office,
Melinda, Shannon, Chris, and Kim. And
[1:38:33] Melinda's here tonight, my deputy
auditor. Without her,
[1:38:37] I might not be standing here.
Okay, as Newberry County Auditor, I'm
[1:38:42] officially stating the 2026 tax levy for
all county and school bonded
[1:38:47] indebtedness purposes as authorized by
Section 4-15-150
[1:38:53] and 59-71-150
of the 1976 Code of Laws of South
[1:38:58] Carolina.
I am presenting the 2026 tax levy for
[1:39:02] school ordinary purposes as set by the
Newberry County Board of Education per
[1:39:08] letter dated July 20th, 2026,
which states the 2026 school ordinary
[1:39:15] tax levy be set at 180 mills. And that's
the same thing it was last year. They
[1:39:21] did not change it. For County of
Newberry Budget Ordinance number
[1:39:25] 4-1-2026,
I am recommending county levy 122
[1:39:31] and 6/10 mills for county ordinary
purposes. County General Obligation
[1:39:36] Bonds of 2020A,
I am levying 5/10 of a mill. The County
[1:39:42] general obligation bonds of 2020B, I I
am levying 2/10 of a mill,
[1:39:47] county general obligation bonds of
2018C, I am levying 3/10 of a mill.
[1:39:53] Lease purchase, which is new this year,
I am levying 1 and 2/10 mills. I am
[1:39:58] recommend the county council levy 6.2
mills for community services for a total
[1:40:05] 26 levy for county purposes of 131
mills. Last year it was 130.
[1:40:14] For school purposes, the Newberry County
Board of Education has levied the 180
[1:40:19] mills
and for the general obligation bonds, I
[1:40:23] am levying 53 mills for a total of 2026
levy for school purposes of 233 mills.
[1:40:30] The total levy for county purposes is
131 mills, which is a one mill increase
[1:40:37] from last year. And for school purposes,
it's 233 mills. The total 2026 tax levy
[1:40:44] for both county and school purposes is
364
[1:40:49] mills. The anticipated value of the mill
for 2627 for county purposes is
[1:40:55] $201,710.
[1:40:58] For school purposes, it's 209
and $64. And for school purposes, school
[1:41:05] operating is 132,587.
Of course, the difference there is
[1:41:10] because
uh the state gives us legal residency
[1:41:14] exemptions. So, we have a difference on
the two levies for the millages the um
[1:41:19] county purposes for the school purposes
of the value of the mill.
[1:41:24] And respectfully submitted, Donna
Lominack. Does anyone have any
[1:41:27] questions?
[1:41:31] » I just want to say I applaud you and the
county for all that you you do every
[1:41:36] year and you come up with these the
millages and you don't raise
[1:41:42] things much. So, I applaud the job that
all of you did this year.
[1:41:48] » Thank you very much and County Council,
I applaud you for holding the tax rate
[1:41:52] like it is by your budget.
>> That That's what I
[1:41:56] appreciate you so much. This This
Council
[1:41:58] um I know we hear a lot of the bad, so I
just want to say this Council made a
[1:42:02] decision last year with reassessment
going on and all the things are going
[1:42:07] on, we were going to hold the line on
taxes even though things around us were
[1:42:11] increasing and that we made the
decision, but you all made it happen and
[1:42:16] so [clears throat] it's a lot easier to
decide something than it is to make it
[1:42:19] happen. So, I give kudos to you and the
entire team that you mentioned,
[1:42:24] um but I also think that that that
speaks volumes about the Council being
[1:42:28] committed to the people of this county.
And that we understand taxes are a
[1:42:32] strain.
>> Oh, yes. Glad to work with y'all.
[1:42:35] » Thank you so much. Thank you again.
[1:42:41] All [clears throat] right, our next item
is the public hearings
[1:42:45] and we'll do these in in order from
alpha to Charlie.
[1:42:49] Uh
the first ordinance is going to be
[1:42:52] 0801-2026.
[1:42:55] And that's the authorization to
execution of an equipment lease purchase
[1:42:59] agreement in the amount not exceeding
$2,475,000
[1:43:03] for the purchase of one Tatra, two
ambulances, one dump truck, one trailer,
[1:43:09] and one patching machine.
Um now I declare the public hearing open
[1:43:14] on 08-01-2026.
[1:43:17] Anybody signed up?
Anybody want to talk that didn't sign
[1:43:21] up?
Hearing none, I declare the public
[1:43:24] hearing on 0801-2026
now closed.
[1:43:30] Moving on to 8 Bravo. Ordinance
08-03-2026.
[1:43:37] That's the rezoning of property at US
Highway 76, Little Mountain, consisting
[1:43:41] of 6.33 acres from single-family
residential
[1:43:46] to R2 rural. And that is tax map 640-87.
[1:43:52] Anyone signed up for the public hearing?
I now declare it open. Hearing none,
[1:43:56] nobody signed up.
I now declare the public hearing closed
[1:44:01] on 08-03-2026.
[1:44:07] Our next one is 8 Charlie, ordinance
08-04-2026.
[1:44:13] And that's the rezoning of property at
79 Raider Road, Prosperity,
[1:44:18] consisting of 3.025
acres from general commercial
[1:44:24] to R2 rural.
And that is tax map
[1:44:30] uh
[1:44:32] 651-
43.
[1:44:38] Anyone here signed up for it?
I now I now declare the hearing open.
[1:44:43] Hearing that no one has signed up for
it, I now declare the public hearing
[1:44:47] closed on 08-04-26.
[1:44:58] Next item
on the agenda is public comments.
[1:45:07] I have Mr. Jim Alman,
resident, to speak.
[1:45:13] » Yes, thanks, sir.
[1:45:19] Mhm. Ah.
[1:45:24] Thank you.
Uh this is on comment on item number 11.
[1:45:28] New business resolution 06-2026.
[1:45:32] Resolution establishing a vision zero
policy for Newberry County committee
[1:45:37] to eliminate all traffic fatalities,
elimination
[1:45:41] of fatalities and serious injuries in
the county's roadway system.
[1:45:45] Here are a few of the items that are
envisioned in this zero in this policy,
[1:45:49] which is called a vision zero policy,
which came from Sweden in 1997.
[1:45:54] And we're implementing it now because of
the CDC as far as I can tell.
[1:45:58] Center for Disease Control.
>> [clears throat]
[1:46:00] » So, here's some things that is in the
zero policy.
[1:46:03] Building sustaining leadership,
collaboration, and accountability,
[1:46:06] especially among a diverse group of
stakeholders to include transportation
[1:46:10] professionals,
policymakers, public health officials,
[1:46:12] police, and community members.
Prioritizing equity and community
[1:46:17] engagement. So, leadership.
Do we not have leadership now? What
[1:46:21] about County Council?
Uh, managing safe speed limits. Are not
[1:46:26] the speed limits on our highways now at
a safe level?
[1:46:28] Are they not?
Achieving zero traffic deaths. Zero
[1:46:33] traffic deaths?
Zero?
[1:46:35] Impossible? Probable? What do you think?
[1:46:40] Prioritizing equity and community
engagement. Equity and community
[1:46:44] engagement?
You mean we have to have a number of
[1:46:47] people from various races to actually be
part make this vendor this venture work?
[1:46:52] So, what this vision zero policy really
is?
[1:46:56] Well, it's a long complicated thing from
like I said, from Sweden back in 1997.
[1:47:01] And yes, Sweden has a lower level of
traffic fatalities than they had back in
[1:47:05] 1997. That's a fact.
But, if you read this thing the way it's
[1:47:09] written,
I can't see how you can make it work in
[1:47:12] this county. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Jim.
[1:47:21] All right. There is no one else signed
up for public comments.
[1:47:25] Moving on to item 10, old business.
[1:47:29] First item of old business is the third
reading of ordinance 08-01-2026
[1:47:35] authorizing the execution of equipment
lease purchase agreement in the amount
[1:47:39] not exceeding $2,475,000
for the purchase of one fire truck, two
[1:47:45] ambulance, one dump truck, one trailer,
and one patching machine. Do we have a
[1:47:49] motion?
For third reading.
[1:47:53] Motion by Councilman Johnson.
Have a second?
[1:47:57] By Councilman Smith.
Any discussion?
[1:48:02] All in favor?
[1:48:06] Unanimous.
[1:48:11] Next item is uh
10 Bravo third reading ordinance
[1:48:15] 08-02-2026
[1:48:19] amending the tax of Newberry County code
of ordinance related to a single site
[1:48:23] burials.
Do we have a motion for third reading on
[1:48:26] the single site burials? Motion by
Councilman Reeder.
[1:48:30] Second by Councilman Smith.
Any discussion?
[1:48:34] All in favor?
It is unanimous.
[1:48:40] » [clears throat]
>> Our next item is the second reading of
[1:48:45] ordinance 08-03-2026
[1:48:48] rezoning the property at US Highway 76
Little Mountain consisting of 6.33 acres
[1:48:55] from
single family residential to R2 rural.
[1:49:00] And that is tax map 640-87.
Do I have a motion?
[1:49:07] For a second reading.
Motion by Councilman Former. Second by
[1:49:12] Councilman Scurry. Any discussion?
All in favor?
[1:49:18] Unanimous.
[1:49:24] Item 10 Delta. That's our second reading
of ordinance 08-04-2026.
[1:49:31] And that's the rezoning of property
[clears throat] 79 Raider Road,
[1:49:34] Prosperity, consisting of 3.025 acres
from general commercial
[1:49:40] to R2 rule, tax map 65 on
-43. Do we have a motion? Motion by
[1:49:48] Councilman Reader.
Seconded by Councilman Scurry. Any
[1:49:52] discussion?
All in favor?
[1:49:57] It is unanimous.
[1:50:01] Moving on to 10 Echo.
It's the second reading of ordinance
[1:50:05] 08-05-2026,
[1:50:09] an ordinance authorizing multi-county
industrial
[1:50:13] business park agreement between Newberry
County and Greenwood County
[1:50:18] for the property owned by Project
Pearldust or its affiliate or assign or
[1:50:23] other matters related thereof.
Do we have a motion?
[1:50:29] » Comment.
>> Motion by Councilman Scurry. Seconded by
[1:50:32] Councilman Johnson. Any discussion?
>> Just reiterate that there's no county
[1:50:37] government funding associated with this
ordinance.
[1:50:41] » Yes, just allows them to get extra money
from the state per employee for training
[1:50:46] purposes.
[1:50:49] » [clears throat]
>> All in favor?
[1:50:52] It is unanimous.
[1:50:56] Moving on to item 11, new business.
New business, we have a resolution
[1:51:03] 06-2026,
a resolution to establish
[1:51:07] the previous
zero policy for Newberry County and
[1:51:11] committing to the elimination of traffic
traffic fatalities and serious injuries
[1:51:15] on the county roadway system.
[1:51:19] And you want to add anything to this,
Ted?
[1:51:21] » I mean, the only thing that I would
state um
[1:51:25] the as discussed in the work session is
to be eligible for implementation
[1:51:31] funding for the safe streets for all um
adoption of this resolution is a
[1:51:37] requirement.
Just stating that we commit to take the
[1:51:41] steps necessary to improve upon known
pedestrian and vehicle safety concerns
[1:51:48] and to implement projects and use the
grant funding towards implementation of
[1:51:52] projects that will reduce these risks
within our community and our county.
[1:51:57] » Thank you, Ted.
We have a motion. Motion by Councilman
[1:52:01] Johnson, second by Councilman Smith.
All in favor Any discussion?
[1:52:07] All in favor?
[1:52:10] Passes unanimously.
[1:52:13] Moving on to item 12.
Uh County Council may take action on a
[1:52:18] matter discussed in executive session at
5:00 p.m. No action was taken.
[1:52:25] Moving on to the item 13, which is
appointment. Uh the first item is
[1:52:30] library board district five.
>> Yes, I'd like to nominate Ms. Karen
[1:52:35] Johnson for uh library board.
>> Second.
[1:52:40] » Uh nominated by um
Councilman Sis uh Smith, second by uh
[1:52:45] Councilman Johnson. Any discussion?
All in favor?
[1:52:51] Passes unanimously.
>> [clears throat]
[1:52:54] » Next item is uh item Bravo, Glennis
uh human resources commission. We have
[1:53:00] one for low income sector and one for
private income sector.
[1:53:06] And Travis is one of the nominees and
he's excusing himself from the vote.
[1:53:14] So, our low-income sector is the first
one and that's Mr. Carlton Conner. Do we
[1:53:19] have a motion?
>> To appoint Carlton?
[1:53:22] » I'll [clears throat] make that
>> Motion by Councilman Johnson, second by
[1:53:25] Councilman Scurry.
Any discussion?
[1:53:27] » [clears throat]
>> All in favor?
[1:53:35] Mr. Conner passes for low-income sector.
Next is private sector.
[1:53:40] Did you want to stay in the room or
leave?
[1:53:42] » He can stay.
>> He can stay. He can stay. Okay.
[1:53:47] » [clears throat]
>> Next one is uh
[1:53:50] Councilman Reeder for the private
sector.
[1:53:53] Do we have a motion to
nominate Councilman
[1:53:56] Motion by Councilman Johnson, second by
Councilman Scurry. Any discussion?
[1:54:02] All in favor?
That would be six.
[1:54:06] » Five.
>> Five of us
[1:54:08] with
Councilman
[1:54:10] Reeder
uh
[1:54:12] excusing himself.
[1:54:18] All right.
[1:54:21] Next item on the list is adjournment. Do
we have a motion for adjournment?
[1:54:25] Councilman Johnson
and second by Councilman Scurry.
[1:54:30] Any discussion?
All in favor?
[1:54:33] We are adjourned.
[1:54:38] » Always