Walterboro City Council Meeting

Posted

January 7, 2025 at City Hall.

The first item on the agenda was the invocation, given by Mayor Bill Young and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Paul Siegel. Councilperson Carl Brown was not in attendance.

Secondly was a call for public input on agenda items. A question was asked regarding the application for preliminary certification of historic rehabilitation and what pertains to it. It was explained it was an incentive to encourage rehabilitation.

Item three opened public hearings on Ordinance #2024-16 which would establish a façade improvement grant program for the city beginning in the historic district and would allocate $10,000 from the city’s economic development fund. In the beginning the allocation would be for signage, awnings, and canopies. Applications would be capped up to $1,500 and the grants would provide up to 50% reimbursement of the eligible cost. Also depending on response to the program it could be extended into the next fiscal year. Council’s favorable consideration was requested. The next public hearing was on Ordinance 2024-17 an amendment to the zoning map of the City of Walterboro. The city has a piece of property that fronts Peach Tree Road currently zone highway commercial district. The Planning Commission has reviewed and made a recommendation to change the zoning to medium density residential citing “more consistent with the future possible uses of that property.”

Item number four on the agenda was presentations. The first presentation was given by Director of Electrification for Dominion Energy, Westy Westmoreland introduced by Blakely Williams. His presentation was about EV charging stations in Walterboro. He briefly explained the different levels of charging (Levels 1, 2, and 3). The focus was on Level 2 charging stations for placement in the city and the benefits these charging stations could bring to the City of Walterboro. Mr. Westmoreland relayed the information that Tesla has a program for small communities. He asked if Tesla would be willing to donate the chargers and the pedestals. According to Westmoreland, Tesla said they would donate the chargers and pedestals, which could cut expenses by approximately $5,000. He also cautioned he would have to confirm the donation with Tesla as it had been three to four months since he last spoke with them. Westmoreland further advocated for the stations in the city center and town areas which are currently not available.

Dana Cheney, Director of Keep Walterboro Beautiful announced the winners of the Christmas Decoration Contest in the next agenda item. The first-place winner was at 127 Chestnut Road, second place winner was James Lloyd at 129 Robert E. Lee Drive, and third place went to 700 Hampton Street. Cheney was pleased with the participation and the donations received this year.

The next three presentations were given by John “Barrett” Ulm, Helen Wrigley and Carolyn Robertson, also speaking for Juanita Harvey, and Carol Black. Mr. Ulm’s, Ms. Wrigley’s, and Ms. Robertson’s comments dealt with what they felt was a lack of safety in Walterboro. They cited specific incidences of activity such as but not limited to gunfire at different times during the day several days of the week, theft of property and breaking into vehicles to steal property, drive-by shootings, gang retaliation related homicides, being verbally threatened with death while sitting on one’s front porch, illegal drug activity, vehicles racing through and revving engines in residential areas, animal cruelty, homicide, abandoned homes being used for illegal activity, and either no police or unseen police response. There were some additional comments from attendees not on the agenda regarding these issues also. Mayor Young, addressing all present, commented that he and City Council shared the community concerns. He further advised that he, City Council, Chief of Police and Assistant Chief, CCSO Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff, City Manager, and Solicitor Duffy Stone have met to discuss these issues and try to “think outside the box” in terms of a solution(s). Solicitor Stone advised the citizenry to contact their state representatives and senators in support of a bill addressing gang violence expected to come before the SC State Legislature this year. Mayor Young also addressed looking into a way to hold people responsible for juveniles who commit offenses. Mayor Young ended his address by saying, “I can assure you that City Council is going to work harder on it. We share your concerns. It is a difficult problem.”

Carol Black then took the podium to address ordinances. Her complaint was that some of the ordinances are vague and not necessarily common knowledge. She cited an example of how one must have a fence permit before a fence can be erected anywhere in town. Black also commented on how the fencing choices have dwindles from 35 to 13 over the last several years. Her request was to publicize the ordinances so people understand them. Black also advocated enforcement of existing ordinances. Ms. Black then addressed what she felt was “the most egregious thing the city [is] not doing is keeping minutes of all these boards and commissions.” She further said that every one of these ordinances that each of these commissions has to keep minutes, and they are not and requested compliance in this area.

Item V of the agenda called for the Approval of Minutes. A motion was made for approval, seconded, and passes unanimously.

Item VI 1 of the agenda called for approval of Ordinance #2024-16 an ordinance authorizing and establishing a façade grant improvement program to encourage private investment in the historic district area of the City of Walterboro; and other matters related thereto (second and final reading). A motion was made for approval, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Item VI 2. of the agenda call for approval of an ordinance to amend the zoning map of the City of Walterboro, South Carolina, to provide for changes in the zoning classification of one parcel of land designated as TMS#147-14-00—0088 from highway commercial district (HCD) to medium density residential (MDR) (second and final reading). A motion was made for approval, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Item VII on the agenda was New Business.

VI 1. Is an ordinance approving an application for preliminary certification for historic rehabilitation; and other matters related thereto (Introduction and first reading). A motion was made for approval, seconded, and passed unanimously.

VI 2. Was a consideration of a request from Clarence Wiggins to close North Walter Street to Hampton Street from 9:00 am-1:00 pm on Saturday, January 18, 2025, for the Annual NAACP Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Colleton County Courthouse. A motion was made for approval, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Item VIII on the agenda was the City Manager’s Report. At this time there was recognition of the Walterboro Police Department and Walterboro Fire Department members for their actions in the Ireland Creek Vehicle Submersion Rescue on December 16, 2024 during which the life of one man and a dog were saved. Those recognized were Lance Corporal Robert Cook, Lance Corporal Jesse Moon, Lance Corporal Jamie Bloodworth, Patrolman William Stanley, Fire Captain Jeffrey Shuman, and Driver/Operator Gerald Fraser. City of Walterboro Chief of Police Wade Marvin praised these men for their response and willingness to put themselves out there in service to the community.

Item IX of the agenda called for City Council to go into Executive Session. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to go into Executive Session.