On April 8th, Clarendon County Council met for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Council members approved the agenda and minutes for the regular council meeting held on March 11th and for three specially called meetings held on March 5th, 19th, and 27th. Council then opened to public comments after the minutes were approved.
Joe Oliver spoke on issues he and his family are having with four wheelers and dirt bikes coming through his neighborhood. Oliver asked council for help in controlling the situation and protecting his family. Council Chairman, Dwight Stewart, and County Administrator, Lyndon Anthony, stated they would speak with Sheriff Baxley on the situation.
Clarendon County Grants Administrator, Vicki Williams, then addressed council asking to pass a resolution proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month. This request was passed by council.
Katherine Coffey was then re-appointed to serve another term on the Harvin Clarendon County Library board by council.
Next on the agenda, council revisited a financial request from the Summerton Community Action Group (SCAG) for the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Brown vs Board of Education. The event will be held from May 16th through May 19th. SCAG original requested $6,000, then a subsequent, revised request was made for $43,059 to be taken from the county's hospitality fund. Council granted the group $8,500 for the event.
Council, acting as Clarendon County Transportation, then voted on sidewalk repairs needed, not to exceed $20,000. C Funds will cover a portion of these repairs. C Funds are allocated based on a formula that considers land area, population, and rural road mileage. This request was passed.
Ordinance 2024-02, an ordinance to amend the county's official zoning map designation for tax map parcel #170-00-03-050-00 from general commercial to residential multifamily, was given its second reading and opened for public comments. The property discussed is approximately 5.60 acres and is planned to be 48-unit multi-family apartment complex located on Meadow Brook Drive. There were no public comments and the second reading of the ordinance passed.
Next on the agenda was the presentation of the proposed FY2024/2025 budget. Among the presenters was Clarendon County Auditor, Paricia Pringle. Pringle did not ask for an increase in budget but did request a salary and title change for the deputy auditor. The employee has been with the auditor’s office for over 19 years and Pringle requested the title be changed to Senior Deputy Auditor with a salary change to reflect the new title. Pringle then listed some of the duties of the Clarendon County Auditor's office. For more information on the auditor's office and what their duties and responsibilities are, visit clarendoncounty.gov.
The next presentation was given by Clarendon County Coroner, Jacqueline Blackwell. Recently, Franklin Coakley was promoted to Chief Deputy Coroner. Blackwell asked for an increase in salary due to this promotion. She also asked for a full-time administrative assistant to assist in running the office on a daily basis. A request was made for $4,000 for equipment and repair, including two new office computers. A request for $5,000 was made for new uniforms. Blackwell also requested a new refrigerated van as their current vehicle is fourteen years old.
Matt Evans, Clarendon County Treasurer, had an overall decrease for the Treasurer's 2024/2025 budget.
Christine Harvin, Director of Voter Registration, made the request for a current part-time employee to be placed as a permanent employee. Last year, the Voter Registration and Elections Commission had three employees and a clerk, this year the office currently has two employees and a clerk. Harvin also requested $3,000 for poll workers and training. 75% of poll workers pay and training is reimbursed to the county by the State of South Carolina. Lastly, Harvin requested $5,000 for certification of two board members.
Third Circuit Public Defender, Edgar Donnald, Jr., requested an increase of $13,000 to cover health insurance and the rising cost of living.
Donnald was followed by Third Circuit Solicitor, Chip Finney. Finney stated the Solicitors Office currently has two attorneys and two clerks employed. He further explained that hiring a third attorney would be very costly and requested it to be put in the budget to hire an investigator instead. Finney also requested a seven percent pay increase for all current employees.
At this time, a consideration of first reading for ordinance 2024-23 was made. This ordinance is to provide for a levy of taxes for county purposes for the fiscal year, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th, 2025, to direct the expenditures of said taxes and other matters related thereto, including the administrative accountability procedures. To be followed during implementation of the budget (operating and capital) for the county for the fiscal year as stated above. This initial reading was passed unanimously.
Next, consideration of first reading of Ordinance 2024-25, an ordinance to authorize the granting of an easement across property owned by Clarendon County and identified as Clarendon County tax map parcel number 187-02-04-020-00. Anthony explained that this will be an extension of Clarendon Behavioral Health Services on Church Street. They are required to install a retention pond, plus improve and repair storm drainage and pipes. The easement goes along DuRant Street and is currently a vacant lot, unused and unimproved. This initial reading was also passed unanimously.
Several monthly reports were given, and council excused themselves to executive session. Upon returning, council named Anthony, who had been serving as interim administrator, Clarendon County Administrator.
Clarendon County Council will have its next regularly scheduled monthly meeting in May.
