Council honored local volunteers for their efforts in the community and initiated planning for the upcoming budget cycle
The meeting focused heavily on community service recognition and discussed potential strategies for utilizing incoming federal relief funds.
6 votes6 passed
The vote behind the headline
Amending County Council Rules for Electronic Meetings (2nd Reading):Council advanced updated rules allowing for virtual participation and electronic comments in future public meetings.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
This ordinance passed its second reading unanimously, marking a significant step toward codifying modern procedures for Kershaw County Council meetings. The proposed changes update the existing rules of order to explicitly permit virtual public access and the submission of comments via electronic means, including email. Council members discussed the balance between increasing transparency through digital engagement and the logistical realities of managing various multimedia submissions. While some members expressed interest in incorporating audio or video comments, staff noted the technical and financial hurdles involved in implementing such infrastructure. The initiative was praised by Council as a way to improve accessibility for constituents, and it is expected that further discussions regarding the rules will occur before the final reading.
Rezoning 99 Acres on Old Stagecoach Road (3rd Reading):Council finalized the rezoning of 99 acres on Old Stagecoach Road from MRD1 to R15.DevelopmentRoads
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
What this was about
This ordinance successfully completed its third and final reading, receiving unanimous support from Council. The measure rezones approximately 99 acres of land situated on Old Stagecoach Road, changing the designation from MRD1 to R15. According to the administrative presentation, this change is intended to ensure the subject property aligns with the zoning classifications of surrounding parcels, thereby creating consistent land use standards for the area. The item faced no public opposition during the meeting process. With this final approval, the zoning map will be officially updated to reflect the new designation for this acreage. This move concludes the legislative process for this specific site, as there were no changes made to the ordinance since the second reading.
Amending County Council Rules for Electronic Meetings (2nd Reading):Council advanced updated rules allowing for virtual participation and electronic comments in future public meetings.
Unanimous · 7-0
▸detailsless
How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
This ordinance passed its second reading unanimously, marking a significant step toward codifying modern procedures for Kershaw County Council meetings. The proposed changes update the existing rules of order to explicitly permit virtual public access and the submission of comments via electronic means, including email. Council members discussed the balance between increasing transparency through digital engagement and the logistical realities of managing various multimedia submissions. While some members expressed interest in incorporating audio or video comments, staff noted the technical and financial hurdles involved in implementing such infrastructure. The initiative was praised by Council as a way to improve accessibility for constituents, and it is expected that further discussions regarding the rules will occur before the final reading.
Resolution Recognizing the Clean Community Commission:Council honored the Clean Community Commission for their volunteer work and trash-reduction efforts countywide.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Clean Community Commission and the many volunteers dedicated to improving the aesthetic and environmental health of Kershaw County. The Commission, led by Wanda Swan and Judge Hardest, has been instrumental in organizing litter cleanup efforts across local towns, including Bethune, Camden, and Elgin. The resolution highlights the group's success in mobilizing private citizens and school groups to tackle trash on roadsides. Council members expressed strong support for the Commission's work, emphasizing that their efforts enhance community pride and economic development. The group is currently coordinating a major countywide cleanup event scheduled for May 15, 2021, and is seeking additional volunteers to assist.
Resolution Honoring Rebeca O'Hara and Irish Fest Camden:Council honored Rebeca O'Hara for her leadership in organizing the successful Irish Fest Camden event.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council passed a resolution honoring Rebeca O'Hara for her dedication and leadership in establishing Irish Fest Camden. This event, which O'Hara launched independently six years ago, has grown significantly in scope and serves as a fundraising mechanism for various educational and charitable organizations. Council members lauded her ability to build a highly functional team of volunteers and successfully host the festival during the challenging circumstances of the pandemic. The festival, which takes place at the historic Camden Revolutionary War site, doubled in scale this year in terms of sponsorship and attendance. This recognition serves to highlight the importance of grassroots community initiatives in fostering local culture and charitable support.
Resolution Designating March as Women's History Month:Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring March as Women's History Month in Kershaw County.
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Julian Burns✓ Russell Brazell✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ David Snodgrass✓ Tom Gardner
Council passed a resolution officially designating March as Women's History Month to recognize the significant contributions of American women throughout history. The resolution acknowledges women’s roles in the labor force, military service, and various social movements, while noting that their efforts have historically been overlooked. Council members emphasized that this resolution is a tribute to the women in their own lives and community leaders. The discussion highlighted a recent trend of strong female leadership in local organizations that have recently presented to the Council. All members expressed strong support for the measure, with some noting that recognizing women's achievements should be an ongoing effort throughout the year.
Council voted to enter executive session to receive legal advice regarding Kershaw County Hospital Board legislation and to discuss a personnel issue. The motion to include the personnel discussion was made by Jimmy Jones and approved by Council. No votes were taken during the executive session, and Council returned to public session to adjourn the meeting.
Council received a presentation from the Live Well Kershaw Coalition regarding a new federally funded two-year bus route connecting Elgin to East Camden. The administrator provided updates on COVID-19 case trends and noted that approximately $12.4 million in federal stimulus funding is expected for the county, with potential uses including infrastructure and small business support.
Council members expressed interest in refining public comment procedures to include more robust virtual participation.
Public comment▸showhide
Three citizens submitted emails: one resident requested code enforcement regarding inoperable vehicles; one suggested specific digital rules for virtual public meetings; and one expressed concern regarding negative rhetoric directed toward community members.
No citizens signed up to speak in person.
Coming up▸showhide
Council will begin a series of budget workshops in April, held on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Parks and Rec Department will host an Extreme Easter Movie Night at the Wateree River Veterans Park on March 26.
Independent summary, generated from the county's public video, not an official county communication.
How this recap was made: Prepared from the meeting's live-stream transcript. The county's official minutes (the verified vote record) will be cross-checked automatically once the county publishes them, often a couple of months later. This is an automated summary written by software (a neural-network summarizer working from the documents above). Rely on the official county record for anything important.
