The Lancaster County Council convened its regular meeting Monday, April 27, 2026, at the County Administration Building with Chairman Brian Carnes presiding and a full quorum present. The session covered a wide spectrum of county business, including special recognitions for award winning EMS personnel and student artists, a budget amendment to cover juvenile detention costs, ordinances addressing Planning Commission workshop meetings and the Recreation Advisory Board, the long awaited approval of $90,500 in nonprofit grant funding, and the launch of formal discussions to transfer the Foster Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Lancaster County Water and Sewer District.
Citizens Comments
Three citizens addressed council during the public comment period.
Yokima Curitan of 1413 Somerset Drive in Lancaster spoke in support of continuing monthly workshop meetings for the Planning Commission, an item council would later take up under new business. She argued that workshops are essential to ensuring growth, infrastructure, and land use decisions are made with full information rather than rushed under partial knowledge. She called on council to insist that staff prepare thoroughly for those workshops with maps, timelines, infrastructure details, and analysis ahead of time so applicants, residents, and commissioners can engage from a shared foundation of facts.
Libby Sweat Lambert returned for what she described as her twice monthly visit, expressing frustration that nearly six months after asking council in writing how the Highway 521 corridor moratorium decision was made, she has yet to receive a written response. She said she has come to understand from public information that council was advised both sides of Highway 521 should be included in the moratorium for fairness, but chose not to follow that advice. She criticized what she described as a lack of transparency, arguing that answering citizen questions in writing is a basic courtesy and that requiring residents to file repeated Freedom of Information requests for routine information adds an unnecessary burden on the legal staff. She also reiterated her concerns about infrastructure capacity, telling council that approving more development without adequate infrastructure puts public safety at risk.
Jane Alford with the Lancaster County Council of the Arts at 2011 West Gay Street spoke not only on behalf of the Arts Council but on behalf of the broader nonprofit community. She characterized the $100,000 nonprofit grant program as an important step for Lancaster County and the first time such funds are being distributed outside of accommodations tax, hospitality tax, or ARPA channels. She noted that a seven member county staff committee evaluated 22 applications and recommended full or partial funding for 16 organizations, with awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. While modest in the context of county infrastructure spending, she said those amounts are meaningful for nonprofits accustomed to stretching every dollar through volunteer effort and other funding sources, and she encouraged council to support local organizations working for the greater good.
EMS State Awards and Director of the Year Honored
EMS Director Clay Catoe presented two state level recognitions to members of his team during special presentations.
Sydney Dewey was named the 2025 South Carolina EMT of the Year at the state EMS conference in Myrtle Beach in March 2026. Catoe described Dewey as a multi talented professional who graduated from Appalachian State University and considered returning there before deciding her heart was in EMS. Beyond her work for Lancaster County EMS, Dewey serves with the Friends Foundation of the Carolinas, a nonprofit that supports families across 13 counties in North and South Carolina who are affected by neuromuscular diseases. The foundation organizes a Victory Junction camp annually in Randleman, North Carolina, and has awarded 21 wheelchair van grants to date.
Paramedics Jeremy Munn and Tinsley Oliver were recognized as the team that took first place in the regional EMS competition before advancing to the state competition in Myrtle Beach, where Lancaster County represented the region as one of four finalist teams alongside the defending champions. Catoe noted that Tinsley came up through the Lancaster County High School vocational EMT program and is now a full time county employee, calling it a strong example of return on investment in local workforce development. The competition scenario simulated a stampede at Williams Brice Stadium following a Carolina Clemson football game, requiring the two paramedics to triage massive numbers of patients in just 15 minutes.
The evening’s final EMS recognition went to Catoe himself. The South Carolina EMS Association named him the 2025 Director of the Year. Catoe accepted the honor briefly, redirecting the credit to his command staff and the paramedics and EMTs in the field. “Tonight is not about me. It’s about the guys and gals on the street,” he said.
Student Artists and Essayists Recognized for County Government Month
Communications and Marketing Director Jenna Woods presented art and essay contest winners from the Lancaster County School District in honor of National County Government Month, observed in April. This year’s contest invited students to imagine what Lancaster County looked like in 1776, an exercise tied to the upcoming celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Woods noted that while Lancaster County was not officially established until 1785, the students brought the era to life with creativity and care.
Winners recognized included Winnie Hopper of Andrew Jackson High School, a student artist from Buford High School, Jaylen Robertson of Heath Springs Elementary School, Natalie Shaver of Barr Street School, and Karen Jones of Indian Land Intermediate School. Jones was recognized for an essay describing what daily life for a child in Lancaster County may have been like during the colonial era. Chairman Carnes also welcomed students from a recent high school mock council session who were in the audience.
Consent Agenda Approved
Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the April 1 budget workshop and the April 13 regular meeting, along with second reading of Ordinance 2026-2027. That ordinance rezones approximately 1.5 acres at 1553 Pageland Highway from General Business to Low Density Residential. The Planning Commission and planning staff both recommended approval, and the ordinance had passed first reading 7 to 0 at the April 13 meeting.
Harrisburg Road Natural Gas Easement Postponed
Council postponed third reading of Ordinance 2026-2026, which would grant temporary construction and permanent easements to the Lancaster County Natural Gas Authority on county owned property off Harrisburg Road, until the second meeting in May. Interim County Administrator Steve Willis explained that the natural gas authority submitted a last minute change to the easement, extending it 32 feet in length and one foot in width. Although small, the changes altered the legal description of the easement and required the ordinance to be re advertised for a new public hearing. Council Member Steve Harper moved to defer the item, and the postponement was approved unanimously.
Budget Amendment Funds Juvenile Detention Costs
Council unanimously approved second reading of Ordinance 2026-2029, which amends the current fiscal year budget to transfer $78,375 from the county administrator’s special projects line to the Sheriff’s Office detention center DJJ service contract line. Finance Director Jamie Privuznak explained that the South Carolina constitution requires juvenile detainees to be housed separately from adults, and because Lancaster County does not own or operate a juvenile facility, the county contracts with the state Department of Juvenile Justice to house local youth offenders. The county pays a per diem rate for each juvenile housed plus a $125 per day capital expenditure charge.
In late March, the Sheriff’s Office contacted Willis with outstanding invoices from the state. The transferred funds will both clear those outstanding bills and cover anticipated detention costs for the remainder of the fiscal year. Because the amount exceeds the $20,000 limit on transfers Willis can authorize on his own, council action was required. The transfer does not increase the general fund budget, and the special projects funding was available because the planned redesign of the administration building has been deferred.
Planning Commission Workshop Ordinance Amended After Lengthy Debate
First reading of Ordinance 2026-2030, which would change Planning Commission monthly workshop meetings from mandatory to permissive, generated extended discussion before passing in amended form.
Willis explained that under the original proposal, workshop meetings would no longer be required every month but could be called by the chairperson in consultation with staff on an as needed basis to review or discuss general planning related matters. Several council members raised concerns about the change. Council Member Charlene McGriff said she opposed cancelling workshops because the Planning Commission carries significant responsibility on rezoning decisions and benefits from continuing education and discussion. Council Member Jose Luis echoed that concern but added that he had also been disappointed with aspects of how planning staff has handled communications, including media interactions, and said that staff training on appropriate communication practices is also needed.
Chairman Carnes noted that one issue prompting the proposed change has been workshop discussions where only one side of an issue is presented and detailed, suggesting workshops should focus on general principles rather than upcoming specific cases. Council Member Stuart Graham pushed for a clearer framework, suggesting that a standing workshop meeting should remain on the calendar with the option to cancel when there is nothing substantive to discuss, rather than requiring affirmative action to schedule one.
Council Member Harper offered an amendment to allow workshops to be called either by the chairperson or by a majority of four or more Planning Commission members, ensuring that workshops cannot be cancelled by a single chairperson against the wishes of the broader commission. County Attorney Ginny Merck Dupont confirmed the language change and noted similar provisions already exist for general meetings. The amendment passed unanimously, and the ordinance as amended also passed unanimously on first reading.
Recreation Advisory Board Dissolution Advances on First Reading
Council voted unanimously to approve first reading of Ordinance 2026-2031, which would dissolve the Recreation Advisory Board, but with several council members expressing concerns about the absence of a clearly defined replacement program.
Deputy Administrator Stephany Snowden presented the proposal in place of Recreation Director Chris Clouden, who was absent due to a family medical situation. She explained that the board has struggled to meet quorum requirements and is unable to conduct business when members do not attend. In place of the formal board, Clouden has proposed an ambassador program drawing both former board members and broader community volunteers to welcome park visitors, support tournaments and special events, promote recreation opportunities, and encourage park stewardship. The board itself voted at its April 14 meeting to accept its own dissolution.
Council Member Harper said he could not support dissolution without seeing a fully developed replacement program, and Council Member Graham expressed similar concerns, asking that something more concrete be in place before third reading. Vice Chair Billy Mosteller argued that the existing board cannot conduct business without a quorum and that an ambassador program would broaden community involvement rather than narrow it. Council members generally agreed with the concept of community ambassadors but asked staff to bring back specific program details before second and third reading. The first reading vote passed unanimously, with Harper indicating he might not support subsequent readings without more clarity.
$90,500 in Nonprofit Grants Approved
After extended discussion at the April 13 meeting and careful review of all 22 applications in the interim, council approved Resolution 1323-R2026 distributing $90,500 of the $100,000 nonprofit grant allocation in the current fiscal year budget. The vote was 5 to 1 with one abstention.
Council Member Bryant Neal opened the discussion by listing the organizations he was prepared to support, focused tightly on food assistance. His proposal would have funded Greater New Hope Soup Kitchen at $5,000, Christian Services for food only at $5,000, Hope in Lancaster for food only at $10,000, Care of Kershaw at $10,000, and Finding Serenity at $10,000, leaving $60,000 unspent. He told council he opposes using ad valorem tax revenue for nonprofit grants in general, distinguishing those funds from the federal ARPA money that the county has previously distributed to nonprofits.
Council Member Graham offered a substitute motion that ultimately carried. His proposal funded Hope at $15,000, Greater Hope Soup Kitchen at $10,000, Christian Services at $10,000, Care of Kershaw at $15,000, Lancaster Children’s Home at $10,000, the Lancaster SPCA spay and neuter program at $5,500, and Finding Serenity at $25,000, totaling $90,500. Graham said he focused his recommendations on organizations meeting critical needs with longstanding records of service in Lancaster County. He noted one caveat about Finding Serenity, which appeared to involve ongoing personnel costs rather than a one time project, suggesting future funding decisions might warrant additional review.
Multiple council members raised process concerns during the debate. Vice Chair Mosteller asked whether allocations could be structured by district in future years, allowing each council member discretion over a proportional share of available funds. Snowden confirmed that council can set whatever parameters it chooses for future cycles. Council Member Luis emphasized accountability concerns specific to using ad valorem taxes rather than federal pass through funds, and asked staff to ensure robust mid year and final reporting requirements are in place. Snowden confirmed that awardees are required to submit a mid year progress report and a final report detailing outcomes, expenditures, and community impact, with future funding eligibility contingent on full compliance. Mosteller asked staff to confirm that awarded funds are subject to Freedom of Information Act disclosure, which Merck Dupont confirmed is automatic under state law.
The amended resolution passed 5 to 1 with one abstention, and the main motion as amended carried by the same margin. Council members signaled an interest in tightening parameters for the next budget cycle, including possible district based allocations and a more formal application and reporting framework similar to the accommodations tax process.
Foster Wastewater Treatment Plant Transfer Discussions Authorized
Willis presented a proposal to reopen discussions with the Lancaster County Water and Sewer District about transferring the county’s operating permit for the Foster Wastewater Treatment Plant. He explained that the package plant, which dates to the early 1960s and predates home rule, serves only the Foster Industrial Plant area. The lagoon associated with the plant essentially functions as evaporation, with no measurable outflow through its discharge pipe in years.
The county has spent between $75,513 and $91,689 annually operating the plant in recent years, with $74,189 spent so far in the current fiscal year. The county does not employ certified wastewater treatment plant operators and must contract that work out. Beyond operations, the aging terra cotta collection system needs replacement with cured in place pipe, which Willis estimated at roughly $440,000 in 2021 and which would likely cost more today. The Water and Sewer District has expressed interest in the permit, which has value to the district even though it provides no benefit to the county.
Willis outlined a possible structure under which the county would fund some immediate upgrades plus four years of transition support before fully turning the plant over. Council Member Neal supported moving forward with the discussions, saying the county should not be in a business it lacks the expertise to operate. Hearing no objections, Willis said he would begin formal talks with Water and Sewer District Director Brad and bring back proposed parameters in the form of a future ordinance.
Board and Commission Removals and Appointments
Clerk to Council Sherrie Simpson brought forward several board and commission matters.
Council voted unanimously to remove Nikesha Procope from both the Health and Wellness Commission and the Board of Assessment Appeals due to excessive absences exceeding the limits set in county ordinance. Simpson noted that Procope’s terms had expired June 30, 2025, that she did not reapply, and that staff liaisons have been unable to reach her, hampering the boards’ ability to meet quorum.
Council appointed Richard Crandall to the District 1 seat on the Planning Commission to fill an unexpired term ending June 30, 2029. Three applicants had submitted materials for the position. Council also appointed Karol Knoop to the District 1 seat on the Health and Wellness Commission for a four year term ending June 30, 2030.
The proposed appointment of Yvette Pressley to the Community Outreach and Engagement Commission was postponed at the request of Chairman Carnes, who noted that another application had been received that day and warranted consideration alongside the existing application before a decision is made.
Adjournment
With no executive session scheduled, council adjourned shortly after concluding board appointments.
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