The County Council focused its first meeting of the year on establishing administrative rules for transparency and setting the operational schedule for 2023. Council members passed an ordinance to formalize new rules of order, which include requirements for all budget amendments to be submitted in writing and placed on the agenda prior to a vote, aiming to prevent last-minute additions during budget proceedings.
8 votes8 passed
The vote behind the headline
2023 County Council Meeting Schedule:Council set their 2023 schedule for the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Yes 5 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Danny Catoe✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Brant Tomlinson
Council voted to adopt a formal meeting schedule for 2023, requiring the body to meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. Councilman Jimmy Jones argued that meeting twice a month is essential for the Council to stay informed and avoid the disconnect that can occur with only one meeting. He requested the 6:00 p.m. start time specifically to accommodate citizens who found the previous 5:30 p.m. time too early to attend. While some members suggested potentially meeting only once a month during holiday periods like November and December, the final vote confirmed the twice-monthly schedule for the entire year, with the understanding that the Council can choose to cancel specific meetings if there is no business to conduct.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 0. Council will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m
Adoption of Amended Agenda:Council formally adopted the evening's meeting agenda after removing the controversial holiday scheduling examples.
Yes 5 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Danny Catoe✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Brant Tomlinson
What this was about
Following the successful vote to amend the agenda by removing the pre-written holiday schedule examples, Council proceeded to vote on the adoption of the full, amended agenda. Councilman Russell Brazell made the motion to adopt the agenda as changed, and it was seconded by Councilman Brant Tomlinson. The Council held a brief discussion to confirm that the changes were correctly reflected and that no further amendments were needed at that time. The measure passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote, allowing the meeting to proceed to its scheduled items. This administrative step ensured the agenda aligned with the Council's desire for independence in determining their operational rules.
The Council reviewed the minutes from their December 15, 2022, meeting for approval. Because three current members of the Council - Katie Guinn, Danny Catoe, and Brant Tomlinson - were not present for that meeting, they chose to abstain from the vote. This left Councilmen Russell Brazell and Jimmy Jones as the only members eligible to vote on the approval. Brazell made the motion to approve the minutes, and Jones provided the second. The motion passed 2-0, with the remaining members formally noting their abstention in the official record. This routine action finalized the minutes for the previous session.
PASSEDFor 2 · Against 0 (Guinn, Catoe, and Tomlinson abstained)
Amended and Restated Ordinance Determining Rules and Order (1st Reading):Council approved the first reading of new procedural rules designed to improve transparency in the budgeting process.
Yes 5 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Danny Catoe
This ordinance formalizes new rules for Council operations, most notably targeting the budget process. Jimmy Jones, who led the effort, explained that the rules now require all budget amendments to be submitted in writing and placed on the agenda five days before a meeting. This is intended to stop the practice of last-minute budget additions or surprises during third readings. The ordinance also governs public comment guidelines, confirming a five-minute limit per speaker and removing a 30-minute aggregate cap, ensuring that all citizens have an opportunity to speak. Furthermore, the rules establish that the display of portraits or honorariums requires express Council action, rather than relying on previous precedents. The measure passed its first reading with a 5-0 vote, and a special meeting is planned to prepare for the second reading and the formation of a finance committee.
During the new business section, Councilman Russell Brazell nominated Councilman Jimmy Jones for the position of Vice-Chair for the next two years. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brant Tomlinson. While Jones noted in jest that he was reluctant to take on the role, he accepted the nomination to assist Chairwoman Guinn. Jones abstained from the final vote, as he was the nominee. The remaining four members voted unanimously to approve the appointment. The Vice-Chair role is primarily responsible for presiding over meetings in the Chairwoman's absence and signing official documents when necessary.
Involvement of Chair in Clerk to Council Hiring Process:Council approved a motion to include the Chair in the interview process for the Clerk position.
Yes 5 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Katie Guinn✓ Danny Catoe✓ Russell Brazell✓ Jimmy Jones✓ Brant Tomlinson
Councilman Jimmy Jones introduced a motion ensuring that the Chair of the County Council is actively involved in the interview and recommendation process for hiring a new Clerk to Council. Jones emphasized that the Clerk is an employee of the Council, not the county administrator, and therefore the Council should have direct oversight in the selection. The motion was seconded by Councilman Danny Catoe and passed unanimously 5-0. During the discussion, it was noted that there were approximately 40 applicants for the position, with a salary range between $40,000 and $52,000. Council members expressed a desire to move quickly to fill the vacancy.
Council voted to adopt a formal meeting schedule for 2023, requiring the body to meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. Councilman Jimmy Jones argued that meeting twice a month is essential for the Council to stay informed and avoid the disconnect that can occur with only one meeting. He requested the 6:00 p.m. start time specifically to accommodate citizens who found the previous 5:30 p.m. time too early to attend. While some members suggested potentially meeting only once a month during holiday periods like November and December, the final vote confirmed the twice-monthly schedule for the entire year, with the understanding that the Council can choose to cancel specific meetings if there is no business to conduct.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 0. Council will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m
Distribution of Narcan to First Responders: Councilman Brazell introduced the topic for the benefit of volunteer firefighters, but withdrew the motion after it was clarified that the Fire Department is already working with DHEC to implement a free training and distribution program.
Potential Development of a Kershaw County Sewer Authority: Council discussed the merits of forming a sewer authority to guide infrastructure and economic development. Members expressed varying opinions, with some highlighting the need for more expertise and others cautioning against adding bureaucracy. Council is awaiting a comprehensive sewer assessment from the administration.
Potential Development of an Architectural Review Board: Council explored the possibility of creating a board to oversee architectural standards for new developments. The discussion noted that any such board would need to be integrated into the county's zoning ordinance as part of the ongoing comprehensive plan update.
Coming up▸showhide
Special Meeting: A special meeting will be called for the second reading of the Rules and Order ordinance to prepare for the formation of a finance committee.
January 24 Meeting: Council will hold its next regular meeting, where the third reading of the rules ordinance is expected.
This is an independent summary prepared from the county's official published minutes and the meeting's live stream, not an official county communication.
How this recap was made: Prepared from the county's official minutes (the verified vote record) combined with the meeting's live stream (quotes and discussion). 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.
