Lancaster City Council Addresses Budget, Roadways, and Community Initiatives in May 27th Meeting

Lancaster City Council convened on May 27, 2025, to tackle a range of municipal matters, including budget adjustments, approval of community grants, and decisions on city assets. The meeting, presided over by Mayor Alston DeVenny, saw unanimous approval on most agenda items, highlighting a collaborative approach among council members.

Detailed Summary of Agenda Items and Council Actions:

I. Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance

Outcome: Council Member Sowell led the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

II. Roll Call

Outcome: A quorum was present with Mayor Alston DeVenny, Council Member Harris, Council Member Marsh, Council Member Miller, and Council Member Sowell in attendance. Council Members Hood and Taylor were absent.

III. Citizen Comments

Summary: The meeting’s citizen comment section began with Ms. Angela Robertson introducing new city interns: Braden, a rising sophomore political science major at Coastal Carolina, and Nica Evans, a comparative women’s studies major at Spelman, returning for a second year.
Outcome: The interns were welcomed by the council. No other citizen comments were noted in the provided transcript for this section of the meeting.

IV. Employee Comments

Outcome: No employee comments were noted in the provided transcript.

V. Approval of Minutes

Summary: The council reviewed the minutes from the Work Session held on May 13, 2025.
Outcome: The minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote.

VI. Monthly Reports for April 2025

Summary: The council reviewed the monthly reports for April 2025, which included discussions on city lighting and road maintenance. Concerns were raised about dark areas in the city and overgrown trees obstructing traffic signals. Matt Berry, Sanitation and Maintenance Operations Director, explained the process for requesting new lighting through the street light committee and Duke Power. The council also discussed the state’s responsibility for maintaining certain roads and intersections.
Outcome: The reports were reviewed and discussed. No formal vote was taken on the reports themselves, but council members sought clarification and proposed follow-up actions regarding city services.

VII. Cash Management and Finance Report for April 2025

Summary: The finance report highlighted key financial figures for April 2025. The General Fund showed a year-to-date (YTD) actual revenue of $13,982,971 against a budget of $21,158,738 (66.09% collected), and YTD expenditures of $15,367,411 (72.63% expended). Property tax rollback contributed to increased revenues, while information technology, police, parks, and capital expenses drove expenditures. The Hospitality Fund collected 35.53% of its budgeted revenue with $1,162,813 YTD actuals, showing a surplus of $64,595 in revenues over expenditures. The Gross Revenue Fund had YTD actual revenues of $8,117,594 (32.32% collected) and expenditures of $8,753,834 (34.85% expended), resulting in a deficit of $636,240. The Solid Waste Fund showed YTD actual revenues of $2,902,821 (74.78% collected) and expenditures of $2,774,487 (71.47% expended), with a surplus of $128,334. The budget year was reported as 83.33% completed.
Outcome: The reports were received and discussed.

VIII. Discussion and Action Items

A. Amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Calendar (Absher)
- Summary: James Absher, Finance Director, presented a revised budget calendar for FY 2025-2026. This revision was necessitated by delays in receiving reassessment information and his recent illness. The key changes included moving the recommended budget workshop to June 3, 2025, the public hearing notification to June 4, 2025, and the public hearing and second reading of the budget ordinance to June 24, 2025.
- Outcome: The revised budget calendar was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.

IX. Resolution

A. R25-10 A Resolution Declaring Certain Equipment Surplus to the Needs of the City and Authorizing its Disposal (Hutfles)
- Summary: This resolution declared various city-owned equipment, including sand spreaders, snowplows, backhoes, and trucks, as surplus and authorized their disposal through auction via govdeals.com. The items were deemed inoperable, obsolete, or no longer needed by city departments.
- Outcome: Approved by a unanimous roll call vote.
B. R25-11 A Resolution Authorizing the Awarding of Hospitality Tax Grants (Hutfles)
- Summary: This resolution authorized the awarding of Hospitality Tax Grants for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The Finance Standing Committee recommended seven organizations for funding, totaling $59,650, which exceeded the initial $50,000 budgeted amount. The grants are contingent on the availability of funds and the awarded applicants fulfilling all current and previous Hospitality Tax Grant requirements. Organizations receiving grants included: Carolina Elite Panthers, Ja’Von Crockett Foundation, iAm Dance Center of the Arts, USCL, United Way of Lancaster, Call Me Beauty Mentoring Program, and Lancaster County Historical Commission.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously.

X. Executive Session

Summary: The council entered executive session to discuss the sale of property and organizational restructuring, citing attorney-client privilege and personnel matters.
Outcome: The council entered executive session. Upon returning to open session, no action was taken on the matters discussed.

XI. Adjournment