Lonnie Browning

The council meeting included a special resolution honoring the late Reverend Lewis Albini Senior for his service to the community. Discussions were held regarding the implementation of an EMS tax and the budget planning process. The council addressed public concerns regarding traffic safety and high accident volumes in Sycamore, with recommendations to coordinate with the transportation advisory committee and CTC committee. Additionally, the council received an update on the status of the Bugaloo Crossing maintenance and the regional hazard mitigation plan, which requires adoption by local municipalities to facilitate access to federal funding.

The council discussed various community and operational matters, including upcoming revolutionary war educational events, proposals from the Office on Aging regarding funding and staffing, and the need for public works equipment repairs, including a request to address road conditions. Updates were provided on railroad crossing closures, and an appointment was made to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Additionally, council members shared reports from recent training sessions and discussed the importance of effective communication and administrative transparency.

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.