Hope M. Jones

The council meeting addressed several public hearings regarding tax agreements, multi-county industrial park developments, and the issuance of general obligation bonds. Key business items included the review of zoning designations for the Highway 76 Corridor, the potential acquisition and disposition of city and county properties, the dissolution of the City-County Memorial Stadium Commission, and various appointments to boards and commissions. Financial and administrative matters covered included monthly reports, contractual agreements for engineering services and transportation studies, and the allocation of infrastructure and road maintenance funds.

The Council agenda covers numerous items including public hearings on property leases, the creation of a Florence City-County Convention and Visitors Commission, and proclamations for Disabilities Awareness Month and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Additional business includes the recognition of employees, a proposal for a basketball court, various zoning ordinance amendments, and resolutions for fee agreement amendments and project funding. The Council also addressed infrastructure funding requests for the Timmonsville Police Department and the Florence Veterans Affairs facility, as well as contractual agreements, the declaration of surplus property, employee longevity incentive bonuses, and the awarding of bids and RFPs for road projects and firefighter physical examinations.

The agenda for the February 19, 2026, meeting includes the consideration of committee reports from various bodies, including Administration & Finance, Public Services & County Planning, Justice & Public Safety, Education, Recreation, Health & Welfare, and Agriculture, Forestry, Military Affairs & Intergovernmental Relations. The meeting also features several proclamations and resolutions of recognition, such as proclaiming Montessori Education Week and recognizing various high school and individual athletic achievements as state champions or award recipients. Resolutions for Council consideration include authorizing the cessation of maintenance on Palmer Road, designating projects to be funded from CPST III Excess, and amending the Procurement Card Program limits. Ordinances scheduled for a third reading cover the purchase/sale of the Johnsonville City Hall building, multiple zoning and future land use designation changes related to the Highway 76 Gateway Study, and resolutions regarding the Road Maintenance Fee and the issuance of Public Facilities Corporation Revenue Bonds Series 2026 for County facilities. Reports to Council cover updates on CPST III projects across various districts, amendments to the Sheriff's Office Recruitment & Referral Bonus Program, declaration of surplus property, authorization for new Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief positions for Fire Rescue, and approval for design services for a new EMS Station.

The meeting agenda included the election of 2026 officers and public hearings on several ordinances. Key ordinances addressed included authorizing a new Fee Agreement between Florence County and Pearl Solar, LLC, creating a definition for Chronic Nuisance Property, continuing the County Road Maintenance Fee, and authorizing revenue bonds for County Facilities. Agenda items also covered presentations from Crossroads Florence regarding their Soft Re-entry Program and the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority concerning their final transit study report. The Council reviewed committee reports and addressed multiple resolutions, including the transfer of CPSTIII funds for park and road improvements, and the designation of CPST III Excess funds for specific projects. Numerous zoning change ordinances related to the Highway 76 Gateway Study were introduced or read for a second or third time. Appointments considered included new members for the City-County Memorial Stadium Commission and reappointments to the Pee Dee Mental Health Center Board. Department reports provided updates on FY2026 monthly financial reports through November 30, 2025, declaration of surplus property, approval of a lease assignment in Lake City Industrial Park, and award of bids for an underpass cleaning project and Lynches River County Athletic Park improvements. Other business involved infrastructure funding allocations for various districts, including demolition assistance and HVAC replacement for park buildings, and expenditures for road surfacing via Road System Maintenance Fee funding.

The agenda for the regular meeting includes the Election of Officers for 2026. Key discussion points for public hearings involve several ordinances: authorizing a replacement Fee Agreement with Pearl Solar, LLC; creating a chronic nuisance property classification; continuing the County Road Maintenance Fund and imposing a road maintenance fee; and authorizing financing through revenue bonds for county facilities acquisition, construction, and capital reimbursements. Appearances are scheduled for Crossroads Florence to introduce new services and the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority to present the final Transit Study Consultants report. Business items also include committee reports, considering several resolutions, three readings of multiple zoning ordinances related to the Highway 76 Gateway Study, appointments to the City-County Memorial Stadium Commission and Pee Dee Mental Health Center Board, and various reports concerning monthly financials, surplus property declaration, a lease agreement assignment, bid awards for underpass cleaning and park improvements, EMS equipment purchase, and a fire rescue contractual service agreement. Other business involves infrastructure expenditures from Council District funding allocations and Road System Maintenance Fee (RSMF) allocations.