The Town of Clover Town Council convened its regular meeting Monday, April 13, 2026, at the Clover Community Center on Bethel Street. The session covered a broad range of municipal business including the presentation of the fiscal year 2025 audit results, a mid-year budget amendment, three new appointments to the Economic Development Board, approval of a lift station rehabilitation project, a Juneteenth festival grant, and an update on several active town projects. Council also entered executive session regarding a potential property purchase before adjourning.
Before the meeting’s formal business began, council voted to remove Item B from the agenda, which had been the first reading of Ordinance 26-02 addressing a water and sewer connection fee structure update. Town Administrator Zach Grayson indicated the matter may return at the April 27 workshop, potentially in a special meeting format depending on scheduling.
Town Receives Clean Audit with One Repeat Finding
Catherine Wiemet, a senior audit associate with Mauldin and Jenkins, presented the results of the fiscal year 2025 audit of the Town of Clover. She told council the firm issued an unmodified, or clean, opinion on the town’s basic financial statements, meaning they were found to be presented fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The audit was conducted in accordance with both generally accepted auditing standards and government auditing standards.
The town also underwent a single audit in fiscal year 2025, triggered because the town used more than $750,000 in federal award money during the year. The major program identified was the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Testing of that program found no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.
However, one material weakness in internal controls was identified and noted in the audit report. Wiemet told council it is a repeat finding from the prior year, involving material construction invoices that were incorrectly excluded from accounts payable, resulting in accounts payable being materially understated. She acknowledged the finding without elaborating extensively, noting it is documented in the management letter that council members received.
Beyond the repeat finding, the audit also produced several management points carried over from the prior year, as well as one new management point for fiscal year 2025 related to capital asset management including depreciation schedules.
On the financial highlights side, the news was positive across the board. The town’s general fund balance has increased every year for the past five fiscal years, reaching approximately $5.3 million in fiscal year 2025. The water and sewer fund’s net position similarly grew each year over the same period, reaching approximately $15.5 million. Two new GASB accounting standards, number 101 covering compensated absences and number 102 covering certain risk disclosures, were implemented during fiscal year 2025 and had no material effect on the financial statements.
Wiemet noted that Mauldin and Jenkins received full cooperation from town management and staff, specifically thanking Finance Director Joanna and staff member Zach for their assistance. She also noted the firm offers free quarterly continuing education and newsletters for government clients and invited council to reach out if interested. Council thanked her and the firm for their work.
Mid-Year Budget Amendment Approved on First Reading
Town Administrator Grayson walked council through Ordinance 26-01, the mid-year budget amendment for fiscal year 2025-2026. He described the process as a routine step to align budget accounts with current financial conditions and ensure adequate funding for ongoing obligations.
In the general fund, $23,815 was moved from Streets and Sanitation and Parks and Recreation to cover a lease payment, identified as Lease Number 16, that had not been previously accounted for. Grayson explained the payment came as something of a surprise only because the final payments on the long-running lease had not been flagged earlier, though he noted it was not a major issue.
In the water and sewer enterprise fund, revenues increased by approximately $115,000 while expenditures increased by about $50,450, resulting in a decrease of approximately $64,550 to the fund balance. Among the unanticipated expenditures was $33,590 for a census analytics program tied to the town’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, which provides real-time monitoring of water usage and can alert staff and customers to potential leaks or pipe problems. An additional $16,860 covered another payment on Lease 16.
The fire department supplemental fund transferred $10,770 to the capital projects fund for work on Fire Station Two, a substation project.
The hospitality tax fund, which currently holds a balance of approximately $622,863, saw its use of fund balance increased by about $133,000 to cover overtime, festival expenses, special events, and capital expenditures related to the Clover Community Park tower and complex rehabilitation project. Grayson attributed the higher festival and special event costs partly to the addition of a car show that was not originally planned, rising personnel costs, and the challenge of accurately projecting staffing needs as events grow in attendance. “We just see the bad part,” he said with some humor. “We see how much it costs and how much it takes to make the magic happen.” He noted that hospitality tax revenue did increase but that those revenues flow back into the general fund rather than offsetting expenses within the hospitality tax fund itself.
The capital projects fund saw revenues increase by approximately $194,138, including the $10,770 transfer from the fire fund and approximately $100,000 in additional interest revenue from recreational facility appropriated funds sitting in investment accounts.
A council member asked whether subscription expenses like the new analytics program would now be built into the regular budget going forward. Grayson confirmed that going into the upcoming budget season, staff would ensure those recurring subscriptions are properly accounted for in advance. Council approved first reading of the budget amendment unanimously.
Three Economic Development Board Seats Filled
Council approved appointments to fill three vacancies on the Town of Clover Economic Development Board, which carries designated seats representing education, the Chamber of Commerce, and Town Council respectively.
The education seat was vacated by Martha Jean Starnes. The chamber seat opened when Greg Holmes stepped down as chamber president, as that seat is an ex officio position tied to the chamber leadership role. The town council seat was vacated by Jason Manos earlier in the year. All three appointments carry terms expiring December 31, 2026.
Council voted unanimously to appoint Ginger Marr to the education seat, Rory Brooks to the chamber ex officio seat, and Council Member Kathy Ray Brewer to the town council seat. Grayson noted that Brooks, who is also serving as chamber president on a volunteer basis and has three children at home including three in diapers, had called ahead to explain he could not attend the meeting. The mayor extended him a good-natured pass.
Albert Glenn Lift Station Rehabilitation Approved
Council unanimously approved the rehabilitation of the Albert Glenn Lift Station, a project involving replacement of key components including pumps, guide rails, the electrical panel, and associated piping. Funding for the project was previously approved in the current fiscal year budget under repair and replacement funds.
Staff solicited pricing separately for materials and labor. Clearwater Inc. submitted the lowest qualified bid for materials at $34,948.35, and Mechanical Resources submitted a labor quote of $37,000, bringing the total project cost to $71,948.35. Staff noted that splitting materials and labor between two vendors represented the most cost-effective approach. Council confirmed the town has an established working relationship with Clearwater and approved the project without further discussion.
Juneteenth Festival Receives Hospitality Tax Grant
Council unanimously approved a $2,500 hospitality tax grant to the Roosevelt Community Watch for the Clover Juneteenth Day Festival, scheduled as a two-day event on June 19 at Boyd Tire and Appliance and June 20 at Roosevelt Community Park.
The town’s hospitality tax grant program was established in 2023 to support events that attract visitors to the Clover community. The Roosevelt Community Watch has received funding through the program before and has been in good compliance with all post-event reporting requirements. Approximately $12,800 remained available in the grant line item for the current fiscal year cycle when the request was reviewed. The grant committee reviewed the application and voted unanimously to recommend approval for advertising and promotional expenses.
Council Member Easler took a moment after the vote to praise the Roosevelt Ladies Watch Committee, which he had recently visited. “Them ladies have got it going on over there,” he said, describing them as organized, welcoming, and full of plans for upcoming activities and events.
Staff Reports: Parking Lot, Park Renovation, Sewer Progress, and Upcoming Events
Town Administrator Grayson delivered an extensive staff report covering a wide range of ongoing projects and upcoming events.
The Gwynn Street parking lot project is well underway, with crews laying the four-inch binder layer. Grayson said the project has encountered several areas of poor soil requiring additional remediation, including a buried well discovered behind Main Street Station and soft spots at both parking lot entrances off Gwynn Street, but that work is proceeding well. He praised Public Works Director Kenneth and his crew for going above and beyond the scope of the original contract, including installing concrete at utility access areas and improving the overall appearance of adjacent spaces. He estimated the project will be substantially complete within about two weeks barring major rain events, with minor finishing touches like bike racks and golf cart parking to follow. The mayor’s upcoming town hall at the Lauren Building added some friendly urgency. “I don’t want to walk in there angry,” one council member quipped.
The Clover Community Park restroom and tower renovation project is getting started, with engineered drawings received from Badament Construction and access fencing installed around the project area. One early decision involved replacing multiple mini-split HVAC units throughout the building with a single centralized system, which required additional engineered drawings to size properly. Grayson noted that process added a brief delay but was the result of a decision made to improve the building rather than an issue with the contractor. He and a council member also discussed relocating the temporary portable restrooms currently on the property so they are more accessible to park users now that fencing has restricted movement through certain areas.
The sewer rehabilitation project for Division I is approximately 95 percent complete. Division II is scheduled for mid-2026.
On the upcoming events calendar, Grayson highlighted several items. Early voting for the Town of Clover special election to fill the council seat vacated by Jason Manos opens April 20 at the York County Government Center in York and runs through May 1. A candidate forum hosted by the Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce will be held at the Clover District Board Office and will also be live streamed. Students from Larne Elementary are visiting town offices on April 24. A town council workshop is scheduled for April 27. A Board of Zoning Appeals meeting is set for April 28. On May 1, a building owner’s workshop organized through the Main Street program will be held at the Lauren Building at 1 p.m., featuring six presenters covering topics including developer and investor models, tax credits, preservation processes, architectural adaptive reuse, Main Street resources, and tenant viability. That evening, Mayor Bo Legg will host a town hall at the Lauren Building at 6 p.m. The special election itself is May 5, with candidates Stephen Widener and Greg Holmes competing for the seat, as Bobby Hawkins has withdrawn. The new Center soccer field drainage project has been briefly postponed due to competing priorities but will be bid before May.
The center soccer field project was also discussed briefly, with a council member noting that parks and recreation has received more positive feedback this season than usual. A reminder was also issued that dogs must be on leashes in the park and are not permitted on school district property on the far side of the park.
Council Member Easler also congratulated the Area 11 Special Olympics basketball team, which will compete in Lexington that weekend. He noted the team has won gold at the state level for the previous two years and wished them well.
Executive Session on Potential Property Purchase
Council voted unanimously to enter executive session pursuant to South Carolina Code of Laws Section 30-4-70(a)(2) to receive legal advice related to proposed contractual arrangements for a possible property purchase. No action was reported publicly following the closed session, and council adjourned shortly thereafter.
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