[{"_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",6588698,"mediaKeyId","5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d","parentId",5560131,"title","Aiken City Council adopts consent-agenda option, approves multiple first‑reading ordinances and joins opioid settlement","audioSeconds",2741,"startMs",1755000,"endMs",4496000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d&start=1755&end=4496","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d/thumbnail_1755000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588698/Aiken-City/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Aiken-City-Council-adopts-consent-agenda-option-approves-multiple-firstreading-ordinances-and-joins-opioid-settlement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588698-9b807523ebfa408587c81e114b3900c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201675&Signature=YNGRZZkLjBup9~Y80Y9CRLt2IIK5OW8H83yCtIX9SKgicn8O-r~4rxNNMGfprFt4~5gL69htkbKIbuIk~fap3565EDXRlur4nJ6-HoIj2LgMN4nuMAd-wmIkAunlJAALayzNPD6YZe~n4o27HaVBBPNzRM0biydR-~LuEU5cWZlSRUhygHTyie49WJB9qlgUUzN4CQZibWVHzlSuDZuTYHfJvBK8L3m92woXv0L3Vspi3Lx5ONKhHkgrlDKShVmuWoH83gV32XeUitUh9k6r6Fmqnx0yk7FXfJ8i8tlWzMhLglCjvEVSk70zTgufEMXXgDxAK4EUflFceNY-iznFlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Aiken","date","2025-08-11T18:32:29Z","article","Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 approved a change to the city code to allow the use of a consent agenda and took first‑reading action on a slate of annexations, a zoning change and other measures, and voted to participate in the national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family.

The consent‑agenda ordinance (amending section 2‑64, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Aiken City Code) was presented for second reading and passed. Council members discussed a public outreach plan, an online form and procedures that would allow the public to request removal of an item from a consent agenda before the meeting or during the meeting before the gavel falls. City staff said items involving funding or concept‑plan rezoning would generally not be placed on a consent agenda.

Why this matters: a consent agenda is intended to speed council meetings by bundling routine, noncontroversial items (for example, unanimous annexations) into a single vote while preserving a public mechanism to remove items for separate discussion.

Major votes and actions at a glance

- Ordinance to allow consent agendas (second reading): approved (motion passed). City staff described an online removal form available when the agenda posts and an on‑the‑night option for audience members to request removal before gavel. (Discussion and vote recorded during second‑reading section of the agenda.)

- Ordinance (first reading) waiving the city’s right of first refusal for three parcels in Vereen’s Industrial Park owned by Avera Management Services LLC to permit sale discussions with Nicotine Plus LLC: approved on first reading. The applicant’s local counsel said the buyer, Nicotine Plus LLC, is a Maryland‑based nicotine/tobacco manufacturer and that prior uses at the facility were similar; specifics about employee counts were not provided. Several council members said they approved first reading but wanted more detail before second reading. (First‑reading discussion and vote on the industrial‑park item are recorded in new business.)

- Multiple annexation and zoning ordinances (first reading): council granted first reading to several small annexations and RS‑15 residential zoning requests and one general‑business request; the planning commission had recommended approval for each item. Staff said items that pass unanimously on first reading would be placed on a consent agenda for the Aug. 25 meeting.

- Signage waiver (first reading) for a shopping center at Village Green and Silver Bluff: approved on first reading with conditions recommended by the planning commission, including approval by the village architectural review board before permits issue.

- Business license ordinance update (first reading): council approved a first reading to update NAICS classifications per Act A176 (02/2020) and to recommend a minor rate adjustment (a proposed increase by $0.05 per $1,000 of gross receipts in the model presented) intended to offset a projected revenue shortfall tied to the NAICS reclassification. One council member was temporarily out of the room for the vote; staff framed the change as required by state law and described the specific exhibit updates in the packet.

- Intergovernmental agreement (first reading) with Aiken County for limited planning functions related to the Powder House Connector project: approved on first reading. County officials have agreed to delegate limited planning functions within the road right‑of‑way for phase two to help meet federally funded project timelines.

- Resolution authorizing participation in the national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family: approved. Staff said the city must execute documentation by 09/30/2025 to participate; the exact payment amounts the city will receive are unknown because allocations depend on how many jurisdictions participate. The city attorney explained the funds must be used for opioid‑related mitigation and abatement strategies per state guidance.

Council procedure and next steps: for items approved on first reading, staff said unanimous first‑reading approvals will be placed on a consent agenda for the Aug. 25 meeting unless a council member or member of the public requests removal. Several council members signaled support for the items on first reading while reserving final judgment for second reading when additional detail may be available.

Votes and formal motions are recorded in the meeting minutes for each ordinance and resolution; the packet and staff memos note which items will transfer to the consent agenda if they receive unanimous first‑reading approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Aiken City Council Meeting August 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 approved a code change allowing consent agendas, moved multiple annexation and zoning measures forward on first reading, waived a right of first refusal for an industrial parcel and backed participation in the national opioid settlement.","taxTitle","Aiken City, Aiken County, South Carolina","taxId",52307,"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},6588688,"Pastors and advocates urge city support for tiny‑home and transitional housing efforts; council responds to neighborhood concerns",292,1183000,1475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d&start=1183&end=1475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d/thumbnail_1183000.jpg","/articles/6588688/Aiken-City/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Pastors-and-advocates-urge-city-support-for-tinyhome-and-transitional-housing-efforts-council-responds-to-neighborhood-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588688-d2fe07c942dcbd8162a42ced9764b509/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201675&Signature=BuaHqONmyAZQv1SLxPl8voW~8q-0pxtV5MqdM0~PBsTEKOoEPEIkxh3dcNheoiuu4TrBaEus6Ce~5Fm38KKQZ-4CD9X5uiKlL~YnRtb4wozGriHT2v4m0MsnLLPeogQPgtNd9n0ui9LpSNtuHuCvuepw5SdhxOCU0SYfnWoBLbDcF5L-d1BSmmmo0B~esFiX2HqVDfCPRCqvSd6IjWfkK-fhJNNyn2zTkwTQt2FQnHGmvr3mD7RwRH9J3vrz7NfdJsx~Bz5TCBXTGSAmRFcfNY8DkrQrt4V6f4CZtKr9LblqcoblBJQLZvO9HrMj74gWAG2AH~J4hV-UTliLySzG-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pastors, advocates and nonprofit partners urged the Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 to support tiny‑home communities and transitional/bridge housing as tools to address homelessness and substance use disorders, and described local efforts to coordinate services and harm‑reduction resources.

Lex Barry, pastor of C4 Impact, said the effort is motivated by community care and training: “We are looking out for the entire community…It’s not just drugs and alcohol, which is just a symptom, by the way. It's not the cause of homelessness.” Barry said the organizations he represents require program participants to “put skin in the game,” including work, budgeting and active steps toward housing stability.

Kirk Johnson, a community organizer, thanked local pastors and organizations for a recent luncheon and described service coordination: churches now carry Narcan and there are plans for rides to appointments to reduce reliance on limited bus service. Johnson said, “We had over 256 overdoses last month,” and later clarified his remark referred to Aiken County; he said churches and local groups are distributing Narcan and coordinating food and resources through events such as a recent health‑for‑the‑homeless outreach in Giles Park.

Jacob Ellis, referencing a community meeting about a proposed tiny‑home community at Saint John's, said the event reflected “heartfelt pleas for help” and urged state leaders to support replication of successful shelters and rapid‑shelter models used in other South Carolina cities.

Council response and context: a council member representing District 2 (where staff have recommended that a first tiny‑home site include 11 units) acknowledged public concern that initial proposals are concentrated in one area and said the record shows other locations have been or will be considered. The council member said the planning and selection process includes sites that community members might not expect and reiterated that the coalition is seeking broader community support. No formal action or vote on tiny‑home or bridge‑housing locations occurred during the meeting; the discussion occurred during public comment and subsequent council remarks.

Speakers emphasized training (mental‑health first aid) for those delivering services, use of Narcan by churches, and coordination with existing shelters and outreach programs. Council members invited continued engagement and said they were monitoring proposals and neighborhood concerns.","Local pastors and service providers told the Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 that tiny‑home communities and bridge housing are needed to address homelessness; speakers described outreach, training and Narcan distribution while a council member acknowledged concentrated proposals in District 2 and said locations will be broader than a single area.",{"_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},6588693,"Resident urges 15 mph limit on Colleton promenade to reduce pedestrian hazards",166,737000,903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d&start=737&end=903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560131-5d4180a4cdf6af1164ec5977652e235d/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6588693/Aiken-City/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Resident-urges-15-mph-limit-on-Colleton-promenade-to-reduce-pedestrian-hazards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588693-96a6d20f45335bc8e12973456942151a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201675&Signature=dnV1fQKv6ugd3eTVHImNks8i7xk5rmLquTENUTY8zd7RtQ4YWcNZcyEhhEzCHCfe3O7cFPIw8L7DQ91Z0FZBcluVSU5IeTSbcWyHsx5Nmi3K82AxA8IQQMzvCMajmxdlVlszbp0myRuDkbSQ6kRne7h6cIla6qsR5X01GUvXJQeJAAWP8f4NNzMaBxj7PGrMWKWpcy0tM~eCt2h-dvaYPrGB6v3yBGzuVvdPdJ2aYr9q-ExsUNqEKuCiLWxR5vGnolJZMDTGU-ax3-IIXMlgw~Vev2b~9sqyH9k3LAzq7smyaqpRYrBumOURSDK61dHSuEolX0MWY1tG-baKC8P1kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Rose Hayes, speaking during non‑agenda public comment at the Aiken City Council meeting on Aug. 11, urged the council to adopt and enforce a 15‑mile‑per‑hour speed limit on the Colleton promenade to reduce hazards for pedestrians, cyclists and others.

“I recommend implementing, posting, and monitoring a 15 mile an hour speed law just as the city has done for the Horse District,” Dr. Hayes said, describing Colleton as a state‑maintained roadway that functions as a city promenade and arboretum used by walkers, joggers, stroller‑users and people visiting the winter‑colony homes. She identified multiple risk factors, including few sidewalks, increasing foot traffic since the COVID‑19 period, motorcycles performing wheelies, golf carts carrying children, and slower‑moving visitors stopping to read arboretum tree plaques.

Dr. Hayes told council she served 20 years as a federal public‑health and safety officer and as an expert witness for U.S. attorneys in the Justice Department. She warned that the mix of users “individually and collectively create safety hazards and the potential for legal action against the city,” and framed the 15‑mph recommendation as a public‑health measure to protect a recreational corridor used for exercise and leisure.

Context and next steps: Dr. Hayes acknowledged Colleton is state‑maintained but said the street functions as a city promenade with greenways and features that bring residents and visitors into pedestrian spaces. Council did not take formal action during the meeting; the comment was recorded during the non‑agenda public comment period.","Dr. Rose Hayes, a retired federal public‑health officer, told Aiken City Council the Colleton promenade’s mixed pedestrian and vehicle use creates safety risks and recommended posting and enforcing a 15 mph speed limit similar to the city’s Horse District rule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Aiken City Council adopts consent-agenda option, approves multiple first‑reading ordinances and joins opioid settlement

Pastors and advocates urge city support for tiny‑home and transitional housing efforts; council responds to neighborhood concerns

Resident urges 15 mph limit on Colleton promenade to reduce pedestrian hazards