Lauren Reeder

The meeting included the adoption of the agenda and the presentation of two proclamations. The first proclamation honored Betsy Gentry Greenway for her 47 years of service with the Chronicle Independent, recognizing her dedication to ethical standards in advertising and community relationships. The second proclamation honored the Stove Middle School Wrestling Team for achieving state championships, noting their 16-1 dual record and recognizing individual award winners and coaches. Several council members shared personal admiration for Ms. Greenway's career and congratulated the wrestling team on their impressive achievements.

The meeting proceedings included public comments addressing several significant local issues. One speaker detailed widespread property theft in the northeastern part of Kershaw County, expressing appreciation for anticipated increased law enforcement presence. Another speaker, representing Midtown Credit Union, formally requested the Council address safety concerns regarding two specific intersections on Highway 1, specifically requesting turn signals, and also noted deficiencies in DOT maintenance, such as undug ditches and an unsightly dirt pile left from median construction. The library director provided a farewell address, thanking the council for their support and strongly advocating for the approval of the new bookmobile capital request due to the critical failure of the current vehicle. A final speaker reported on conversations with SCDOT regarding median changes on Highway 1, noting that while the elimination of crossovers was cited for safety reasons, a proper traffic flow study was not conducted, and existing suggestions for alternative turning maneuvers were impractical or unsafe for residents and local businesses.

The meeting commenced with an invocation by Pastor Herby Harris, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A key agenda item involved the adoption of the agenda, which included moving a proclamation in memory of Sly Robinson to the next scheduled council meeting (March 11th) to accommodate the family memorial service, and deleting the agenda item concerning storm water regulations on large common plans. During public comments, discussions centered on the airport compatible land use overlay district (AOD), with speakers emphasizing its importance for aviation safety, economic benefits of the Woodward Airfield, and the need to protect existing agricultural uses, specifically the horse community, through grandfather clauses. Another public comment addressed concerns regarding a recently proposed litter ordinance, citing issues with its scope concerning private property decorations and potential fines.

The meeting included public comment where representatives from the Department of Mental Health introduced a new local clinic director and discussed plans for 2020, including restructuring crisis triage, collaborating with the detention center for inmate assessments, promoting suicide prevention with churches, and launching new programs such as LGBTQ safe place groups, DBT groups, and planning for a mental health court. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation on Workforce Development and Existing Industries, detailing the operation of the Kershaw County Industry Association, which focuses on addressing industry needs like workforce readiness, benchmarking wages, and providing a single point of contact for economic development updates. Key threats discussed included misconceptions about career paths, training for irrelevant jobs, and an aging workforce requiring continuous talent pipelines. Initiatives highlighted included succession planning workshops, an annual wage and benefit survey, and a three-pronged manufacturing awareness campaign involving counselors, parents, and an eighth-grade expo. Various just-in-time solutions were provided, such as waste recycling assistance and a GE education fair for tuition reimbursement and retraining. Council members expressed strong approval for the economic development efforts focused on supporting current businesses and preparing a skilled local workforce.

The meeting commenced with an invocation by Pastor Karen Belton and the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was adopted and rearranged to prioritize attendees present, including members of the fire service. A proclamation honoring Amy Brown for her courage and resilience in battling ALS was adopted, recognizing her contributions as a former employee of the Parks and Recreation Department. Following this, the Council addressed a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kershaw County Fire Service, detailing its history since 1974, the establishment under founding figures like Mr. Allan Guy Mayor and subsequent leaders, and its evolution from independent departments to a unified service. Presentations were made regarding the anniversary recognition and the distribution of commemorative challenge coins. Discussion also noted the ongoing effort to compile a historical research paper on the department's history.