[{"_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",6089247,"mediaKeyId","2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f","parentId",2875228,"title","Central Midlands COG outlines EPA-funded solar plan for Batesburg-Leesville wastewater plant","audioSeconds",148,"startMs",262000,"endMs",410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f&start=262&end=410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f/thumbnail_262000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089247/Batesburg-Leesville/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Central-Midlands-COG-outlines-EPA-funded-solar-plan-for-Batesburg-Leesville-wastewater-plant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089247-717678bee8409511bfdbadcc1666af60/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182668&Signature=TreTzsEowR6~0Ht7uo2sIB82YJBMKXqOKWUJ8tRxEaGIasYpzZQzLSP4CEdYOaBvQy0fEXsR-IhkGTCyg-X1IMkjP5C9eyOafAsWqWjozYyyH8s~je5wsShSOa6mJ3XoK~X3e8XU3VZgXGMlTfAdb~35dCPBdFsbI2YsOox0ZuR2MNnQDuyKInAY~pQJ0g8Uqw-Z3V0hHpWQ6aKaM009-DtO6Q7f3LAUHpmj-GoLbR2D6Zzta0oKRg9T4ya0w61sX~v8apHSTfJCjXYZTPaC8j1jOpvF1Sqt1giuXVCOaBRLFTAI~zDwdpd3vCYDw3AxAiApsBDv1wdMfuDCGQAKxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Batesburg-Leesville","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","Jory, a planner with the Central Midlands Council of Governments (COG), briefed the Batesburg-Leesville Town Council on a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant the COG applied for that would fund a solar array adjacent to the town's wastewater treatment plant.

The grant presentation said the COG's program would support multiple Midlands communities and the COG identified a potential solar site next to the town's plant. Jory said the COG's model shows the array would reduce the plant's electricity costs substantially: \"The way I like to think about solar is, of course, it has environmental benefits, but it's also a money printing machine that decreases the electric bill,\" Jory said.

Jory told council members the COG estimated a roughly 13-year payback if the town paid for the system entirely itself, and that the payback would fall to about \"a 3 and a half year payback\" with the grant and available federal tax-credit reimbursements. He also described a matching-funds structure in the grant plan in which the COG would cover about 60% of project costs and the town would provide the remainder; the town would carry some upfront costs while awaiting an IRS reimbursement that arrives after project completion and paperwork filing.

During questions, a town staff member said the dataset used in the application listed about 12.9 acres of adjacent town-owned land; Jory said the final array would likely use only a portion of that acreage, \"potentially a few acres, but not all 12.\" Jory cautioned that final size will depend on additional scoping, design-bid responses and the local electric utility's interconnection limits.

Council members asked about timeline, cost-carrying and durability. Jory said the COG expects to complete the project within roughly two years if procurement and contracting proceed as planned, and that municipalities typically need to carry the unreimbursed share for months while IRS paperwork is processed. On durability he said commercial panels generally carry 20- to 25-year warranties and that maintenance needs are limited absent physical damage; he added that maintenance provisions can be included in procurement contracts if the town prefers.

Council members and staff discussed Dominion Energy's role in interconnection and any size limits set by the existing transformer at the plant. Jory said the array size chosen for the grant was based on preliminary coordination with Dominion and that the likely project would remain well under the 1-megawatt threshold that triggers a more intensive interconnection process.

The presentation was informational; Jory told the council there was no action required that night and that more detailed scoping would be done if the town elects to proceed during the next fiscal year.

Ending: The council placed the project on its horizon for future consideration. COG staff said they will return with more detailed figures and procurement-level information as the project advances.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 27th 2025 Special Council Meeting and Work Session with Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Jory, a planner with the Central Midlands Council of Governments (COG), briefed the Batesburg-Leesville Town Council on a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant the COG applied for that would fund a solar array adjacent to the town's wastewater treatment plant.","taxTitle","Batesburg-Leesville, Lexington County, South Carolina","taxId",70270,"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},6089237,"Votes at a glance: Batesburg-Leesville Council actions on Jan. 27, 2025",68,99000,167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f&start=99&end=167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f/thumbnail_99000.jpg","/articles/6089237/Batesburg-Leesville/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Batesburg-Leesville-Council-actions-on-Jan-27-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089237-97df34a80d8797ef0b5b9e3bcc4887b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182668&Signature=LWPsaL6PZSN3MuoiK01~cWta6mhCnCvAFBrJyzM-UnqI3np-8qdAEB7LwwwU0qOdAcvKkumdlzrjnYCXqiLRXTVm8MZcWSksH0yrvEjnwA0Q2OJ5b-GxvIiRdkgvDoZHpUQwa-IAWA7P2qhU~ezFpKVsyvJCKESKqupBguzCG6TiHLyTwTRz1RanvWg0O~2Fv9y63J69rq3DfKHkkgNDOAEx20NgD9VTgZBWdjmlgb4uo-5b3SlyRmMyZ8n9O1DAIlb2v3RfkPpgFAhw8Od1ndwGGjzX7p58L3Kakq-iuCJ7bA80yo4MUHM1tIriJis3AFXI0UZip5A5xbloL56ZsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Batesburg-Leesville Town Council recorded several procedural motions and one formal action arising from an executive session during its Jan. 27 meeting and work session. The council approved meeting agendas, entered and exited executive session, and accepted a contract discussed in executive session.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve agenda (special council meeting)
- Mover: not specified (motion recorded as \"So moved\"); Second: Mr. Hall
- Outcome: approved (council recorded multiple \"yes\" votes; meeting transcript recorded \"8 votes yes\" in the roll call)
- Notes: procedural approval of meeting agenda.

- Motion: Go into executive session to discuss two items (personnel: town manager; contractual: town manager)
- Mover: not specified; Second: Mr. Wise
- Outcome: approved (roll-call votes recorded as consents; motion carried)
- Notes: executive session captioned for personnel and contractual matters concerning the town manager.

- Motion: Accept contract as presented in executive session and authorize the mayor to sign on the town's behalf
- Mover: Mr. Prowse
- Second: Mr. Wise
- Outcome: approved (motion carries; council recorded affirmative votes from each district and the mayor)
- Notes: action reflects the council's formal acceptance of the contract discussed in executive session; transcript indicates the motion passed without recorded dissents.

- Motion: Adjourn (special meeting and later the work session)
- Mover/Second: recorded as moved and seconded in the transcript
- Outcome: approved (motion carries)
- Notes: routine adjournments concluded both the special meeting and the work session.

No ordinances, resolutions or numbered bills were introduced or adopted on the record during the session. The only substantive final action recorded on the transcript was the council's acceptance of the contract discussed in executive session; transcript indicates the vote was taken after the executive session and that the motion carried.","At its Jan. 27 special meeting and subsequent work session the Batesburg-Leesville Town Council recorded routine procedural votes and a formal acceptance of a contract resulting from an executive session; council approved agendas, entered and exited executive session, and voted to accept the contract discussed in executive session.",{"_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},6089241,"Batesburg-Leesville begins comprehensive plan update, council debates annexation, growth, recreation and schools",4211,1669000,5880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f&start=1669&end=5880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875228-25bdab794c3496395cb664875ddf4d1f/thumbnail_1669000.jpg","/articles/6089241/Batesburg-Leesville/Lexington-County/South-Carolina/Batesburg-Leesville-begins-comprehensive-plan-update-council-debates-annexation-growth-recreation-and-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089241-93f94b0fe60417be4acc6223adc7c45d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182668&Signature=cvQHr7BiFbIUmFw3Rt8t82bwhKRqFG9MUQOE9s6np5zFHEs-06nXdr7vDaOsptvaaG8RWWkaq2s2QJsI79ZY3fDRc7enWdTc29XfiXPnu5SG4F9etm1KqhJmDw2yOP1RyTwx376L6IH79sdeB-PfaCt0dlXvErC07BLe6YbU0~aeaDIn8oifkihCwRdw22Zy8hQs-SCoC1kRrXcxpQKYVvtO3rV3-o~768HHUpzmrXKjWuvFTd5Tbk8I5txI8WsXz1GDkMfmoj-oOBaeWuYSxKvjsJ6Z4NMIdZvaBO-bn1hOQRm-FRLF3w2i1FY1LIy7hpd2FxfP~rY~CPACl3-VwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Batesburg-Leesville Town Council and representatives from the Central Midlands Council of Governments (COG) held a work session on Jan. 27 to begin updating the town's comprehensive plan under the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994.

Gregory Sprouse of the COG said the comprehensive plan provides the town's long-term vision and forms the basis for future zoning and implementation decisions. \"This comprehensive plan is that concept. It's that vision,\" Sprouse told the council, adding that the plan should inventory existing conditions, identify needs and goals, and set implementation strategies and timeframes.

John Hanson, the COG's government services manager, introduced himself and described the COG's outreach role to support the town. Sprouse said the COG expects to collect data during the spring and aims for a draft plan in the fall; he described the plan's 10 required elements, including population, housing, transportation, community facilities, land use, priority investment and resiliency.

Council members and residents raised multiple issues they want the plan to address: annexation and growth management; traffic and infrastructure capacity; coordination with Lexington County school officials and the fire, police and EMS departments; recreation and youth programming; grocery store access and economic development; and urban tree canopy and greenways. Several council members urged that the school district, first responders and other service providers be directly involved in drafting priorities.

Speakers discussed whether the town should adopt interim measures to limit large-scale subdivisions until the plan and related ordinance updates are completed. COG staff and council members explained that the town can adopt a time-limited moratorium by ordinance if it chooses, and also that subdivision review already requires multiple departmental and county reviews; they described a technical review committee model in which water, sewer, police, fire, schools and other departments review development applications before they reach planning commission.

Council members emphasized balancing revenue growth with infrastructure capacity. One council member noted that business-license revenue has grown significantly for the town and said that controlling where and how growth occurs matters for traffic, schools and utility capacity. Residents and council members also urged more focused planning for youth recreation and for strategies to recruit grocery and hospitality businesses.

Sprouse closed by outlining next steps: COG staff will gather data and return to the town with follow-up meetings and a draft plan later in the year. Council members asked staff to include interactive mapping and to convene technical partners early in the process.

Ending: Council directed staff to continue the effort; no formal adoption decisions were made at the meeting.","Central Midlands COG staff opened a town work session on updating the mandatory comprehensive plan under the state's planning enabling act; council and residents discussed annexation, density, traffic, schools, recreation, grocery access and technical review procedures as priorities for the plan.","actionData","errors"]

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Central Midlands COG outlines EPA-funded solar plan for Batesburg-Leesville wastewater plant

Votes at a glance: Batesburg-Leesville Council actions on Jan. 27, 2025

Batesburg-Leesville begins comprehensive plan update, council debates annexation, growth, recreation and schools