Gene Zaleski
The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.
(TNS)
Sep. 30—Orangeburg County is continuing to develop a fire services agreement with the City of Orangeburg.
The county is negotiating an agreement with the city to get rid of the fire contracts used by people who live outside the city but receive the city’s fire services.
Council gave first reading by title only to an agreement during its Sept. 16 meeting. The matter was discussed further in closed session.
Property owners within the city pay for fire service through their taxes.
The city also provides fire services to an area within five miles of the city limits, but it does not tax property owners outside the city for the service. Instead, property owners are supposed to buy fire contracts — but not everyone does.
A county-city fire services agreement would place the area outside the city, but served by its fire department, into the Orangeburg County Fire District.
This would allow the county to collect a fire tax for all property owners within five miles of the city limits, but outside the city. The county would then pay the city for serving this area.
Both the city and county will have to give the ordinance three readings before its passage.
In other matters:
—Council gave unanimous first reading by title only approval to tax incentives for a company currently identified by the code name Project Supernova.
—Former professional boxer Monte Barrett will be hosting a youth outreach program at South Carolina State University on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The program, in partnership with the Robinson Neal Boxing Academy, will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature former heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer and Creed III actor Yahya McClain. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students with an ID and children under 7 will be free.
—Council gave unanimous second-reading approval to rezoning about 10 acres of land on Garland Road in Rowesville to residential general for the placement of a subdivision. The property is across from the Universal Forest Products plant on Garland Road.
The property is currently zoned forest agriculture. Cross Engineering Services is requesting the rezoning.
The Planning Commission previously approved the request.
—Council unanimously approved giving second reading to rezoning about a half an acre of land on Resort Street in Santee to forest agricultural for the placement of a mobile home. The property is currently zoned residential single-family and the area is mix of residential and vacant properties.
The Planning Commission previously approved the request.
—Lower Savannah Council of Governments Executive Director Bill Molnar requested council’s input as the COG begins the process of developing its strategic plan.
—South Carolina State University Associate Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture Dr. Lamin E. Drammeh requested input from county officials about the trees they would like planted as part of a federal grant the university received in 2023.
The university got a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant 20,000 trees across the state. About 5,700 are to be planted in Orangeburg County over the next four years.
—Orangeburg resident Steven Palmer of Mulberry Street requested the county pave the portion of Medway Drive that is not paved.
The road serves as a pass-through from Riverbank Drive to North Road. The road is adjacent to the newly built Petco.
Palmer said a new subdivision is being built in the area and GPS systems direct people to take the road. He expressed concerns about motorist safety.
Council said the matter will be looked into.
—Council read a proclamation naming Sept. 10 Jada Sharice Fludd Day. Fludd was a junior at the Orangeburg High School for Health Professions.
Fludd and 8-year-old Ania Chalk both died at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on Sept. 7. Fludd was 17 years old.
The proclamation was sponsored by Councilwoman Latisha Walker and was presented to Fludd’s family.
—Council recognized Jerrod A. Anderson for his service as the county’s deputy attorney for several years. He has served as the 1st Judicial Circuit Seat 4 Family Court judge since July 1.
—Council unanimously passed a proclamation recognizing Fire Prevention Week as Oct. 6 through Oct. 12.
—Council entered into closed session to receive an economic development update related to Project Supernova and Project Time Machine, as well as discuss contractual matters related to fire service protection.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.
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