Clarendon County Council voted April 13 to approve an agreement to temporarily house the Clarendon County Archives collection while repairs are pursued at the current Archives building, moving forward with a plan county leaders say is intended to protect the materials while preserving a long-term future for the historic facility.
The agreement, approved through Resolution 2026-03 on a 2-1 vote, allows the county to enter into what County Administrator Walt Ackerman described as a public-private partnership with Clarendon Newspapers, Inc., doing business as The Manning Times, to house and display the Archives collection “in its entirety” for public viewing and research until repairs can be completed on the current building. Council members Pat Coker and Kurtis Rodine voted in favor. Billy Richardson voted against.
The vote follows a joint statement issued last month by County Council Chairman Jay Johnson, Coker and Rep. Fawn Pedalino, who said they are working to secure state appropriations for repairs to the Archives building. The statement said materials would need to be temporarily relocated because of the building’s condition and outlined a long-term plan to restore the facility and eventually donate it to the Clarendon County Historical Society.
Ackerman told council the move is necessary because the building needs significant repairs and the county does not currently have funding to complete them. He pointed to moisture intrusion, structural concerns and the condition of the building, along with accessibility and safety issues.
“No current funding is available to make the repairs,” Ackerman said during the meeting. “If these repairs are not made, the entire collection is at risk of being damaged and or destroyed.”
The county’s current position is also shaped by a preservation effort that began last year.
The county previously received a $50,000 grant through the South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Historic Preservation State Grant program to fund an engineering and architectural assessment of the Archives building. A September 2025 probable construction cost estimate prepared as part of that process placed the total for proposed exterior repair and restoration work at $299,874.30, with the document stating it was prepared to assist with budget planning and a historic preservation grant application. The county later narrowed the repair scope to fit grant guidelines, but Ackerman said it did not receive the larger repair grant.
He also confirmed that Rep. Pedalino has committed to seeking an appropriation in the state’s fiscal year 2027-28 budget to fund repairs to the building.
During public comment, Clarendon County Historical Society President Lee Reaves urged council to delay action and instead approve a one-year moratorium to allow time for further review of the 750-page architectural study, fundraising efforts and additional grant exploration.
Reaves also said the group opposes the temporary relocation plan, arguing it could disrupt access and put fragile records at risk.
“We are not in favor of it because it threatens their protected existence and, in essence, keeps these vital records unattainable for local, state and national individuals who need them for a host of reasons,” Reaves said.
Andrew Hodge also urged council to slow the process, saying the volume and significance of the materials required more time and care before any move.
Before the vote, Richardson asked whether emergency repairs could be made to keep the Archives open while the county waits for possible state funding. Ackerman said some immediate repairs could be addressed, including HVAC-related needs, but maintained that larger moisture and structural concerns make delay risky.
Richardson said the issue has become a matter of public trust and urged council to delay a decision while more options were explored.
“I would ask this council to get the trust back of the people that we serve and just explore every opportunity … that we could preserve that building,” Richardson said.
Johnson defended the plan before the vote, saying the county was trying to accomplish the very goals residents had asked for: keeping the collection intact, preserving public access and pursuing repairs to save the building.
“All I’ve heard from day one about this is: ‘We want to save the archives,’” Johnson said. “‘We want that whole collection to be kept intact where it can be viewed by the public.’ That’s what we’re giving.”
Because The Manning Times is part of the approved agreement, the newspaper also issued a public statement after the vote.
In that statement, The Manning Times said it stepped in after concerns over a possible closure of the Archives emerged during county budget discussions and emphasized that it is not a decision-maker in the broader debate over the Archives’ future. The paper said it agreed to temporarily house the materials because many of its own bound editions and photographs are part of the Archives collection and because it wanted to help ensure the records remain accessible rather than placed in storage. The statement also noted the arrangement is intended as a temporary solution with an initial three-year term while repairs are pursued, and that the newspaper expects to make access available Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Additional details, including when the move will occur, when public access at the new location will begin and whether digitization will begin before the relocation, were not fully outlined during the meeting.
This story is ongoing.
Chairman Jay Johnson issued the following statement after the April 13 vote:
“Contrary to what a small group of people in our county would like for you to believe, last night’s County Council meeting was a huge success for that group and our taxpayers. In case you missed the meeting, here’s the truth behind the Archives…
Everyone is chanting ‘Save the Archives’ and that is exactly what Council did. The building is in need of much repair. To protect the contents, we must move them to a safe location during renovations. In the meantime, Representative Pedalino is securing funding to repair that building. This will not be an overnight process. With that in mind, preserving the entire collection is first priority. The Manning Times graciously volunteered their space to store and exhibit all Archive material for five days a week, as long as needed. Also, there is only one copy of most of this material and we plan to digitize this to ensure it will always be available for future generations. Upon completion of renovation of the Archive building, County Council plans to donate the building to the Clarendon County Historical Society.
I’m not sure where the confusion is coming in. Council will do exactly what they proposed. This will not only protect and preserve the Archives but will also save the taxpayers money.
So to reiterate, Council was asked to save the Archives and the building which is exactly what was done.
This council works for ALL the people, not just small special groups.
Hopefully, this will clarify any and all rumors being spread.”
