[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6327523,"mediaKeyId","2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0","parentId",2322355,"title","Regional development official cites $23.1M in new capital, warns lawsuit and sewer capacity are slowing industrial recruitment","audioSeconds",419,"startMs",517000,"endMs",936000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0&start=517&end=936","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0/thumbnail_517000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327523/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Regional-development-official-cites-231M-in-new-capital-warns-lawsuit-and-sewer-capacity-are-slowing-industrial-recruitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327523-2c9e61fedd72000d28bd6b0929240a08/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204145&Signature=O1zRSRx5zAp3OFUuey4UV0itBQGKGmLIU2YSuV6lWUZuZoYcbduFyR5w0V4dXQkuXtcoQVEXepcRCKR9cP0-XW4~-7f1FP3WW2ABBiJ-MsNfalPcMZDS031YzqcJovaxrHQ0b6A7ZG~IfsR5C-3X~e20k~QVqV5PSXEBrbFCE~DRr2iYwkR7o~p6QKosYGhw~EXwC~E0SI4EPCwdYnCy~gdFp5hAns8w9pXX2uQDi1XNAYIs8qKgY4xh2ZjwgUdtH5Oh6r8tFx8z55Os8kxpQL7u8TiXnUdEwMwKKAbEWb~eG41A8VNJ54vFysaFGXw1PZO6JnlFGWEqiiZ8~VFXzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Edgefield County Government","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Will Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Western South Carolina Economic Development Partnership, told Edgefield County Council on Feb. 4 that the county recorded $23.1 million in new capital investment in 2024 tied to two companies and that other investments continue to grow.

“2024 was what I consider a very good year for Edgefield County,” Williams said. He told council the $23.1 million in new capital will create 34 jobs and identified Bondex and Portland Bolt (formerly Southern Anchor Bolt) as the two companies tied to that investment. Williams also cited a separate, first phase investment by Luck Company of about $40 million that he said will create 10 jobs in that phase.

Williams summarized broader economic data: Edgefield County’s gross domestic product grew 6 percent in 2023, which he said was the sixth‑fastest rate in South Carolina; per‑capita personal income for 2023 was $50,938. He reported a December 2024 labor‑force figure of 10,470 residents with 10,047 employed and 423 unemployed, which he said equates to an unemployment rate of about 4 percent.

Constraints on new industry: Williams warned that recruitment of new firms to the Edgefield County Industrial Park is stalled by two issues. First, he said, a lawsuit with a county resident is preventing the county from acquiring acreage the county has an agreed purchase price for, and second, limited sewer capacity at the Horse Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Aiken County is constraining growth for new and expanding manufacturers. “The recruitments of new companies into Edgefield County Industrial Park is at a standstill due to a lawsuit that the county filed against a resident of the county who does not wanna abide by a recorded legal agreement,” Williams said. He added that Aiken County is working on the wastewater issue and that Edgefield County Water and Sewer Authority has capacity via North Augusta but that the matters are active conversations.

Regional context and labor draw: Williams noted that roughly 8,000 Edgefield residents commute to jobs outside the county while about 2,400 nonresidents commute into Edgefield, underscoring the county’s place in a broader regional labor market. He encouraged council to keep a regional perspective because manufacturers often evaluate labor availability within a roughly 45‑mile radius.

Council response and next steps: Council members thanked Williams for the update and asked no substantive follow‑up questions during the meeting. Williams and county staff said they continue to monitor the litigation and wastewater capacity issues and discuss possible remedies with partner agencies and authority staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 04, 2025 County Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Will Williams, president and CEO of the Western South Carolina Economic Development Partnership, reported investment and labor figures to Edgefield County Council on Feb. 4 and warned that a land‑sale lawsuit and limited sewer capacity are slowing industrial recruitment.","taxTitle","Edgefield County, South Carolina","taxId",71124,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327528,"Council gives first reading to rural‑agriculture zoning text; map, parcel rollout deferred",1815,1130000,2945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0&start=1130&end=2945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0/thumbnail_1130000.jpg","/articles/6327528/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Council-gives-first-reading-to-ruralagriculture-zoning-text-map-parcel-rollout-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327528-d59643eb1a8ece48259d2bb4be67459a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204145&Signature=NPVW35ThUeNBUNasarflOmIyLF5RI4warxDzMDz8SyCU4NxT79ZGz2MmWincvzdhzKtkZ21wlA4iM~cl02ghtZNw0BPAYZJR-U6eNSk1yTxRNUFTiMHqT55x8v66p1gauGLPw-2PgRW6m8xYh3WlgBNRx24Nb8i-6mj75FttI9RTQUPATDkXGlj1zGgVtCB4IKE3XK1mrNGTCWJVafNsoUDN7RR~AU784G-hkVSuhJI~~Cp2Z-1SFn93HLIjgXN4J2gcTgtiUofTfiQ3V7fMWEnhjBk0Sez8Xt4L5aSkqbjs13nrzBEZtrg885CtXxWU66zcive2JPunKCu7TtgM6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edgefield County Council on Feb. 4 gave first reading to an ordinance that adds a rural‑agriculture (RA) zoning district to the county land‑development code, a text change council members and staff said does not itself rezone any parcels.

The ordinance creates a district that emphasizes agricultural uses, allows supporting commercial and residential uses and restricts industrial and large‑scale commercial development. Assistant Administrator Clark, who serves as the county’s planning director, told council: “What you have in front of you is the text amendment, not the map amendment. This does not apply to rural agricultural district anywhere on the map. You’re not zoning anything tonight.”

The RA text includes a minimum lot size of two acres. Clark and staff clarified that the two‑acre minimum would not immediately change existing lot‑size requirements in areas without water and sewer: “There is no water and sewer infrastructure in any of that area, and, therefore, their lot size requirement is 2.5 acres currently. If water and sewer expanded into that area, then you would need to consider the restrictive nature of 2‑acre lot sizes.”

Why it matters: The text change is preparatory — it establishes rules the county can apply later when it decides whether and where to place the RA district on the zoning map. Planning staff showed council a proposed map footprint that would cover roughly 1,600 parcels, primarily in Council District 2 with smaller portions in Districts 4 and 5; Clark said staff will not issue a final parcel list or mailings until council directs a map amendment because parcel boundaries change frequently.

Public comment and concerns: Resident Scott Cooper, who identified himself as a multigenerational Edgefield County resident from the Sweetwater community, urged caution and said the county should consider utility access and soil suitability before applying the RA district: “When considering the production of food, soil density, microbial activity, soil type, topography, water accessibility … all will have an economic impact on viability of any agricultural operation,” Cooper said, and added that a blanket designation could affect private property economics and future utility expansion.

Planning history and next steps: Clark said the RA language emerged from months of Planning Commission work and citizen input; he said the footprint shown to council expanded during the comprehensive‑plan update as residents and the commission asked to include additional areas. Council gave first reading to the ordinance unanimously; the item will return for second reading and a public hearing before a final map or any parcel rezoning is approved.

Council members emphasized the distinction between the text and map steps. Tiffany Arlund, council member, moved first reading; Moody seconded. Assistant Administrator Clark and a Planning Commission member in attendance answered technical questions during the session.","Edgefield County Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to give first reading to an ordinance that creates a new rural‑agriculture (RA) zoning classification in county code. The vote approved the text only; officials and staff said no map changes or parcel rezoning occurred and a separate public process will address where the district would be applied.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327520,"Votes at a glance: Edgefield County Council, Feb. 4, 2025",4167,170000,4337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0&start=170&end=4337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322355-eee5149b659a701b2c900666525b58f0/thumbnail_170000.jpg","/articles/6327520/Edgefield-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Edgefield-County-Council-Feb-4-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327520-c5ccf33c4a29809bd8e7b7e934ed102c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204145&Signature=nfdbjkXmeXe1L0UgfahwC29vkR1R6nXlq8EP47gGu1HX~ywcjJnyFuRrQb-FsaBuPVtnyQg5PUlV28cgkXA41sIyp43SOEWUyzqjELnvFduqzmk4aqofFAfGBadOqms2Rsc4uQhv0-u63xlu9g5kIX2oi61WHRdSrqexKQ~~uZZAJWRZycKO-nfG-~tLcWdF14MWoh6H6C08EBZnYE89wCq8LYmJ1Ix63xiDGvuSHIximWrwgKHoFDImIeY3o8Q9nmaq5XRXP2WX-g6GXp-f8KQqK4QhlxqefaHOUuif0F3805sxYyxmWWnz4NN1dvq3rvHw8evZiL3fjH04JhAvMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Edgefield County Council took the following formal actions at its Feb. 4, 2025 meeting. Where the transcript records a unanimous outcome it is noted; individual vote tallies were not specified in the meeting record provided.

- Agenda approval: Council approved the meeting agenda as discussed (motion by Mr. Tower; second by Miss Ireland). The transcript records: “Motion passes unanimously.”

- Approval of minutes: The Dec. 3, 2024 regular meeting minutes were approved (motion by Mr. Moody; second by Dr. Kenyon). The Jan. 7, 2025 regular meeting minutes were approved (motion by Dr. Kenyon; second by Mr. Talbert). Both motions passed unanimously as recorded.

- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda as presented (motion by Miss O'Riley; second by Miss Moody). The transcript records the motion passed unanimously.

- Third reading — comprehensive plan update (Ordinance 24‑25‑0004): Council gave third reading and approved Ordinance 24‑25‑0004, the five‑year update to the county comprehensive plan. The administrator reported no changes to consider; the motion passed unanimously (mover: Mr. Tauer; second: Ms. Ireland).

- Hire part‑time janitorial employee for new law enforcement center: Council approved hiring a part‑time employee at an estimated cost of $25,000 per year after staff reported bids for outside contractors were higher than expected. The motion passed unanimously (mover: Mr. Talbot; second: Ms. Ireland).

- Recreation escrow funds for dugouts: Council approved using $19,809 from the recreation facility escrow account to replace 10 dugouts at Bettis Park damaged by Hurricane Helene; total replacement cost is $34,500 and FEMA will be filed for reimbursement, staff said. The motion passed unanimously (mover: Dr. Kenyon; second: Mr. Moody).

- First reading — zoning text to create rural‑agriculture district (Ordinance 24‑25‑0005): Council gave first reading to the ordinance that creates the RA district in the county code (text amendment only). The motion passed unanimously (mover: Ms. Arlund; second: Mr. Moody). Staff emphasized no parcels were rezoned by the text change; map amendment and public hearing will follow.

- Executive session and adjournment: Council entered executive session for a personnel matter and later reconvened with no action taken; the meeting adjourned at the end of the session.

Notes: The meeting transcript records motions and that motions “passed unanimously” on multiple items, but does not provide roll‑call vote counts or a signed roll call in the included excerpt. Where available, the mover and second from the transcript are listed.","Summary of formal actions taken by Edgefield County Council at its Feb. 4 meeting, including ordinance readings, personnel hiring and funding for park repairs. All recorded motions passed by voice/hand vote; the transcript records unanimous approval where noted, but individual vote counts were not specified in the record.","actionData","errors"]

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Regional development official cites $23.1M in new capital, warns lawsuit and sewer capacity are slowing industrial recruitment

Council gives first reading to rural‑agriculture zoning text; map, parcel rollout deferred

Votes at a glance: Edgefield County Council, Feb. 4, 2025