Robin Fowler

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Key agenda items included the approval of the amendments for the November 10th council meeting minutes and the acceptance of the November financial report. A significant portion of the meeting involved the recognition of the town's 17U soccer state champions, celebrating their third consecutive state championship. A citizen expressed serious concerns regarding the pervasive smell of marijuana encountered in public places, leading to health issues for their daughter, and urged the council to take action. The council proceeded with the second reading and approval of Ordinance 2026-05, which established a countywide juvenile curfew for minors aged 17 and under between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Furthermore, approval was granted for the town manager to utilize funds from the drug fund to purchase Certex software for undercover police work, and to use state accommodation tax money to resurface parking lots adjacent to the hotel, the police station, and Sucker's Hall. Before adjournment, the council moved to reschedule a future briefing session.

The Cheraw Town Council meeting included discussions on several key topics. The council recognized the town for receiving the 2025 Risk Management Service Award from the Municipal Association. There was a reading of the first ordinance of 2026-05 regarding a curfew ordinance. The council discussed and approved a request for the town manager to pay for unexpected repairs to a fire truck. They also considered a request to enter into a contract for new playground equipment at Cassid Park and discussed entering into a contract for professional services for the new 4 MGD water treatment plant.

The meeting included discussions and actions on several key areas. Approval was given for the minutes of previous meetings and the June 2025 financial report. A public hearing was held regarding proposed water and sewer increases for fiscal year 2026, followed by a public hearing on a proposed garbage rate increase. The council approved ordinances related to water and sewer charges and garbage fees. Additionally, there was a first reading of an ordinance amending the business license ordinance. The council supported a grant application for Project Hometown and approved the purchase of a patrol vehicle for the Police Department. Lastly, Juneteenth was adopted as a town holiday, and a take-home vehicle policy for department heads was approved.

The meeting included a presentation by Lauren Griggs of Duke Energy, who presented a grant of $10,500 for a mobile command center. Mr. Germaine Thompson spoke about the Stop the Violence basketball tournament and the need for more community resources to combat violence. The council held a public hearing on the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, discussing projected expenditures, revenue estimates, and the utilization of fund balances. The budget includes adjustments for property tax rates, garbage and debris fees, employee raises, retirement contributions, and insurance costs. It also allocates funds for capital projects, sidewalk replacement, a federal lobbyist, airport lighting rehabilitation, and regional transit.

The meeting included discussions on various topics such as the presentation of the Tree City USA award, a petition for annexation of property into the town's corporate limits for future development of an ice machine, and concerns raised about soaring water bills. Additionally, there were comments regarding the paving of certain streets and the need for debris removal, overgrown properties, and drainage issues. The council also considered honoring three individuals for their contributions to the recreation system, amending the business license ordinance, rezoning a property for commercial use, authorizing the sale of town-owned properties, and a resolution for matching funds for a historic preservation grant.