[{"_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",6101635,"mediaKeyId","2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394","parentId",2807446,"title","Residents clash over ranked-choice voting resolution during Irmo meeting","audioSeconds",375,"startMs",1668000,"endMs",2043000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394&start=1668&end=2043","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394/thumbnail_1668000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6101635/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Residents-clash-over-ranked-choice-voting-resolution-during-Irmo-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101635-df6ffa5f88a4b9614d121492a8269114/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061180&Signature=VCc55HJ~2bqxlXnT5ZF6~qpWqCGQ3~3fCOSRvwNUve3yyjqNdS9FN--lOg7DSH6gQHQoiOnxz~5nAD2Kacv5h7ykNZ9Ipfqa3Y6r0~61AUAfVAXyiyZLVyLT6-kO3osS9hs6BE4LVmrStCzyCgMoO2KnZPfWk9jKW7G8xZRMVsQBc-LaB66IyG0glYux~6cgrNxtb65rfS7Pqb-MNybl7nq-1vX2aRMQWHMBn3BjE9yzspT1EFFjyxGkaTVLo5wy2txJ5ZvqrO1MDC85dG3VQQMYRWS6PvWq49-1YaS2Nwp1frP1qQyI9rPSt5g92J724F3gBaogdMB7PpWx3Y6e~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Irmo","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","Two residents spoke during the public-presentation portion of the Town of Irmo meeting March 18 to express opposite views on a resolution concerning ranked-choice voting.

Barry Walker, a resident who identified himself as speaking in opposition, said ranked-choice voting is unnecessary and confusing for Irmo voters. \"It's too complicated. It's too expensive. The person with the most votes can lose in this ranked choice voting scenario, and your vote might not count,\" Walker said, adding that in his 2019 mayoral race he received a majority and that ranked-choice voting could have produced a different outcome.

Nicole Sanchez, who gave her address and identified herself as a town resident, disputed Walker's characterization and said instant-runoff voting has already been litigated and found to meet the \"one person, one vote\" standard. \"It is still a valid way to vote as 14,000,000 people in this country already vote, including our overseas military,\" Sanchez said. She added that ranking candidates can guarantee a majority winner and increase voter choice.

The council did not take action on the comments during the meeting; the remarks were part of the public-presentation period and not an agenda item requiring a council decision.

Walker urged the council to dismiss the approach; Sanchez thanked council members for supporting municipal options that increase voter choice, noting the resolution seeks more legislative options for municipalities. No council debate or vote on changing the town's voting method occurred during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Irmo Town Council (LIVE) - Mar. 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two speakers at the March 18 Town of Irmo council meeting offered opposing views on a resolution about ranked-choice voting: Barry Walker urged the town not to pursue ranked-choice voting, while Nicole Sanchez said instant-runoff voting is legally established and broadens voter choice.","taxTitle","Town of Irmo, Richland County, South Carolina","taxId",58114,"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},6101639,"Irmo council approves annexation, zoning changes, grants and road closure; appoints mayor pro tem",207,1115000,1322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394&start=1115&end=1322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394/thumbnail_1115000.jpg","/articles/6101639/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Irmo-council-approves-annexation-zoning-changes-grants-and-road-closure-appoints-mayor-pro-tem","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101639-244e3e719aefd212948862312b746b07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061180&Signature=ThI0mlzlcVZj0OSfAdSGZMJYCBadf8ltdARe3OTL0Jw5AQZkCu606a3COmGnTbKeocCKU3INtWd02RtFX~Rd2FnyNBvdD6XL4ayryc8J6X3Ik7cFvIclpJ7~NC3G0NbLVrL32bT4LZlg8xTfyqoMaI-Sctp8zBjTgSOH2dbLTWl4I9I5r2Y03XkXGYQw8VcnYiyoeV4II2m55b-X5ftjoYXqoJ~PXTpL9mSLgV-5UNSP~jgTOXorrkBUvjXvM3cu42tBMgVM1g1d~LqhvL0QzkhBEm4vDQESdr4zTmZdfAqfzK~tS82DFwQ3dCcXzCma8IRGITgCJVBUngfEqrgOfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Irmo Town Council on March 18 approved several routine and legislative items, recording unanimous support on roll-call votes for each.

On the legislative docket, the council gave first reading approval to an annexation ordinance (ordinance 2052) to annex four properties totaling approximately 1.93 acres, including 1076 Broad River Road and two parcels behind Lake Murray Floor Covering, and to rezone the properties from Richland County General Commercial (GC) to Town of Irmo General Commercial (CG). The council also approved on first reading ordinance 2503, a set of amendments to the Irmo Municipal Ordinance covering Chapter 22 (Offenses and miscellaneous provisions), Appendix A zoning and land development regulations (conditional uses for accessory apartments), Article 3 (Setbacks of corner lots and architectural standards), Article 5 (prohibited signs and sign regulations), and Article 13 (definitions). Both ordinances passed on unanimous roll calls after staff noted planning commission recommendations and prior workshop review.

The council also approved a request to submit a Justice Assistance Grant application for $68,328 to cover police training equipment; staff noted the grant requires a 10% local match of $6,833. Council members described the investment as scenario-based training focusing on de-escalation and use-of-force decision-making; the police chief said the training would emphasize officers' de-escalation skills.

A road-closure request to close a portion of Carlisle Street on May 17, 2025 for Young's Chapel's community yard sale was approved; staff confirmed Carlisle Street in front of the town park is owned and maintained by the town and that Young's Chapel will hire two town police officers to staff barricades. The special events permit carries no town permit fee; event organizers are responsible for paying officers assigned to the closure.

The council appointed Councilwoman Waldman as mayor pro tem by motion and roll-call vote. Minutes for the Feb. 25 and March 4, 2025 meetings were approved by voice vote earlier in the meeting.

All recorded votes on ordinances, grants and the road closure were unanimous according to the roll calls read at the meeting.","At its March 18 meeting the Town of Irmo council approved multiple items on unanimous roll-call votes including an annexation first reading, zoning amendments, a justice assistance grant application, a road closure for May and the appointment of a mayor pro tem.",{"_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},6101646,"Irmo council approves first reading to authorize nearly $5.9 million for new town hall",85,1297000,1382000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394&start=1297&end=1382","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2807446-9ab36796ecc18ce64575061294d86394/thumbnail_1297000.jpg","/articles/6101646/Town-of-Irmo/Richland-County/South-Carolina/Irmo-council-approves-first-reading-to-authorize-nearly-59-million-for-new-town-hall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6101646-0c86425d5ac838d986f386e9b5d85da7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061180&Signature=oG8oVTXG94O1o6Md5Lid1eOwH1QNmbVDsA1SwdSyYe88BXX91i6U85CEz68emonZq~k6s~EI2PP4ESZL2Y~fac9CXJwCNAys-apHcIpdhkBkeUmwpsuUL3xlwHoxL0rEOfBLMIEk-7mIDyRqbsx-Y~1CywSfbPtB5qmKzeV~CDj9UVSfM556Vi9aoYpvuUzDs6kkKXkGLoDDsMu4-2hQOl7yQpuAwuJPNPp-FaEh0ZS8fwIYEIVvIvOUtyIgXURKYcclgNIdyT7OUKks2VB25g7TpI2gzbbeFgKqrKC7vi7wvSH38rDhg2-1fUVPT5vKqzEyjJMZu5E1T21fA1kowA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Irmo Town Council on March 18 approved on first reading an ordinance authorizing a $5,898,000.939 budget for design, construction and related expenditures for a new town hall.

The ordinance, introduced by town staff as ordinance 2504, was presented by Courtney, a town staff member, who said the council previously authorized a $300,000 design phase and that Jumper Carter and Sees are working on design. \"What this ordinance does is, authorizes the $5,800,000 budget, makes us stick to that budget, and gives us authority, to pull the funds needed to pay for the project out of general fund, capital improvement funds, those grants that we have, state and federal grants, and also able to delegate the project management, to LCK,\" Courtney said.

Council members voted by roll call to approve the ordinance on first reading. The vote recorded each council member as voting yes.

Council discussion during the meeting focused on confirming that the ordinance would allow staff to proceed beyond the design phase and that previously authorized funds covered the initial design work. Courtney also noted that LCK would be delegated project management if the ordinance is adopted.

Courtney said the $300,000 design phase has already been authorized and paid to the design team. The ordinance text presented at the meeting sets the total budget at $5,898,000.939 and lists general fund, capital improvement funds and state and federal grants as funding sources; the town clerk called the roll after the discussion and recorded unanimous approval on the first reading.

The item was recorded as a first reading of ordinance 2504; further procedural steps for formal adoption were not described during the meeting.","The Town of Irmo approved on first reading an ordinance authorizing a $5,898,000.939 budget for design and construction of a new town hall and delegated project management duties to LCK; staff said design work has already begun.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents clash over ranked-choice voting resolution during Irmo meeting

Irmo council approves annexation, zoning changes, grants and road closure; appoints mayor pro tem

Irmo council approves first reading to authorize nearly $5.9 million for new town hall