Esther Bridges

The agenda for the regular council meeting included several items for discussion and action. Old Business featured the second reading of an ordinance concerning the control and prevention of litter and illegal dumping within Allendale County. New Business items included the reappointment for the Southern Carolina Alliance Board (SCA) by Councilman Matthew Connelly, a proposal for Allendale County tax sale searches, a consultant agreement for building inspection services with RCI of South Carolina, Inc., and a review of the St. Mark Fire Station bid tabulation. The meeting also scheduled an Executive Session to discuss contractual matters, specifically regarding Dr. William Molnar, and personnel issues concerning Judge Branch and Mrs. Dot Riley, covering topics like employment, appointments, and compensation.

The meeting agenda included a Public Hearing and Regular Council Meeting. Key discussion items involved an Ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of an Amended and Restated Solid Waste Service Agreement with the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority to extend the term through 2050. New Business items included an equipment purchase for Public Works, a proposal for asbestos removal in the McSweeney Building, and a resolution to amend the Master Agreement for the Quad-County Industrial Park to include additional property in Bamberg County. The Council also planned to enter Executive Session to discuss contractual matters, specifically an MOU with the Town of Allendale and contracts for building permitting and inspection services.

The regular council meeting covered several key items, including the approval of the agenda and council reports. The public safety committee reported on fire calls and provided statistics from the sheriff's department, including traffic stops, arrests, and animal shelter activity. Economic development updates mentioned forthcoming announcements related to the SCA region. The personnel committee met twice and will bring recommendations during executive session, alongside distributing permit reports for November. Discussion also included the upcoming Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on January 5th, 2026. A significant update involved the notification of receiving $1,115,000 from Congressman Kleinurn's office intended for courthouse roof repairs and administration office work, as the leisure center roof replacement was already funded. Furthermore, the School Board unanimously voted to sell the CV Bank property to the county for $1. Council was also informed about the annual MLK Unity Breakfast scheduled for January 19th, seeking sponsorships. The interim County Administrator presented on accepting a $750,000 grant from the Rural Infrastructure Authority for water infrastructure improvements related to Hampton Lumber, which will ultimately be part of the Fairfax system. Updates were given regarding the effective date of tax notice fee increases in January. Finally, an extensive discussion was held regarding the implementation of new accounting software (Smithbrook) to replace the current QS1 and QuickBooks setup, including establishing a new chart of accounts, staff training, and the goal of providing timely, reliable monthly financial reports to the Council by March, with a recommendation to eventually hire a Finance Director.

The Allendale County Council held a public hearing regarding an ordinance authorizing a credit agreement between the county and Hampton Lumber Mills for fee and loot taxes. The council also discussed the fire station, community center, and the road user fee. Additionally, there were discussions on public grounds, public buildings, rural roads, equipment, and state rollback tax fees.

The council meeting included an invocation and a welcome to Councilwoman Jennings. The agenda was approved, and Councilman White introduced Mr. Carol Graham, a former county employee, who was honored for his 16 years of service. Various council members shared their appreciation for Mr. Graham's contributions. The council also heard from Valerie Smith, the treasurer, regarding the start of the 2025 tax season. Additionally, Mr. Wayne Willis of CCNI discussed the permitting process and fee structure, including the concept of "peace milling" as it relates to project costs and permit requirements.