On Mar. 11, Clarendon County Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting. After approval of the agenda and February minutes, public comments were opened. Cindy Risher spoke on adding the lane from her house to the main road repair/resurfacing list. Interim Clarendon County Administrator, Lyndon Anthony, stated that he would see if the lane is already on the list of roads to be fixed and if it is not he would pass it on to the public works department and see if it can be repaired.
Delmer Jenkinson then shared his concerns about solar farms. Moye Graham then spoke on the appointments of boards and when the openings are and how the public can find a list locally of the openings of the different boards so that members of the community can be made aware. Chairman Dwight Stewart agreed that a list should be on the website. Anthony elaborated, stating that obtaining a list for the website was already in the works. Members from the Summerton Action Group along with Briggs, Pearson, Delaine Foundation spoke on the proposed 70th anniversary celebration of Briggs versus Elliot ruling. The celebration will take place from May 16 to May 19. The group requested $43,059.00 from council. The original amount requested was $6,000 but Patricia Pringle explained more funds are needed for the four day celebration. The request was tabled so that Anthony is allowed time to review that new request of funds. This concluded public comments.
Next on the agenda was board appointments. Lakesha O. Meredith was appointed to serve on the First Step Partnership Board. Cedric Allen Liqueur representing District One, Cleveland Gore and Rommie L. Williams representing District Two, William Chad Gibbons and John Richard Byrd representing District Three were all appointed to serve on the Aeranautic Commission Board.
Lindsey Moberg and Arlene Ham were appointed to another term on the Harvin Clarendon County Library Board and Meesha Witherspoon was appointed to the Library Board representing District Two.
A Proclamation Proclaiming National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week was read by Anthony. Council declared the week of Apr. 14 through Apr. 20, 2024 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators week in Clarendon County in honor of the men and women that keep the county safe.
Anthony then spoke on two requests. The first for $6,000.00 for the 2024 Puddin Swamp Festival. This was unanimously approved.
Next on the original agenda was a $6,000.00 request from Clarendon County Branch NAACP for the Briggs versus Elliot 70th Anniversary Celebration. Due to the amount being changed during the public comments section, this was tabled.
Tripp Duke, Clarendon County Procurement Director, gave a presentation on March being National Procurement Month. The entire document can be found at the end of this article.
On the agenda at this time was authorization to add Otter Lane to the road repair/resurfacing list. Council convened as Clarendon County Transportation committee and approved unanimously, adding Otter Lane to the list.
A consideration of the third and final reading of ordinance 2024-01- an ordinance adopting a three-month moratorium on the acceptance of applications for solar/solar farm use to provide for an immediate effective date, and to provide for an extension of 90 days here to by further resolution of council was passed unanimously.
Last on the agenda was the consideration of the first reading of ordinance 2024-02, an ordinance of the County Council of Clarendon County, South Carolina to amend the country’s official zoning map designation for tax map parcel #170-00-03-050-00 (PR), from general commercial (GC) to residential multifamily (RMF) and providing an effective date. The proposed property is off Meadow Brooks to the right of SAFE Federal Credit Union in Manning. The request was passed unanimously.
