[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6495031,"mediaKeyId","5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd","parentId",5595109,"title","Public commenter urges city help as Meals on Wheels program faces shortfall serving North Augusta seniors","audioSeconds",149,"startMs",2889000,"endMs",3038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd&start=2889&end=3038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd/thumbnail_2889000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6495031/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Public-commenter-urges-city-help-as-Meals-on-Wheels-program-faces-shortfall-serving-North-Augusta-seniors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495031-4064b991cc0219931d78bbeaadbe6561/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150867&Signature=KQue8eJ5uSWt5p3Z9seSDHiAERktpDmEhJhg~foarnBz7PXn4Nejx2-WfnDCKBcNIbLoDqYI9ofJtA6epXjA5DNkJhG2Huy3LV1A3dsU~dLFF1zz9vVE7CBNJ8lhTmrU95iUVxHcvKjOyo8ZsRb1c2KfgJx4eW9mzO~-MqAo6fBCDDNcJ-6I-sJ6CIvVawK-6dMJ2wimnDDmKMWw8Q-ABaYeg7tYsSdFA73jW1s4WRv4DH6siMmAPuAze-~WOoegvuSWUFxBmkSHouXbp7LL63v17Yj56u~1ig4-VQi8~vUNPnAJAZf5i84un-YUmqNE991KJwSVRYrZRKUfI1MbHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of North Augusta Public Information, SC","date","2025-08-18T22:46:42.383Z","article","At the Aug. 18 meeting a North Augusta resident urged the council to help address a funding shortfall at Aiken Senior Life Services that she said threatens daily meal delivery and wellness checks for seniors in the city.

\"Every weekday, over 200 of our neighbors, half of which are right here in North Augusta, depend on a single hot meal and a wellness check,\" said Bridget Keener, a citizen volunteer who described coordinating with Aiken Senior Life Services. Keener said funding cuts to the agency mean a lifeline of meals and welfare checks will be at risk between mid-August and October unless emergency support is found.

Keener asked the city to consider emergency funding, partnerships, or other support to ensure that seniors do not lose daily meal delivery and welfare checks. She said Meals on Wheels would be short about 2,500 meals and that donations to date left a remaining funding gap reported as roughly $21,000 to $24,000 to cover the next six weeks. Keener invited council and residents to a town hall hosted by Aiken Senior Life Services set for Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where the agency will describe the funding gap and options.

Council members responded with expressions of concern and suggestions for non-financial assistance, including amplified outreach via the city website or community partners. No formal council action or city funding commitment was made during the meeting; staff and council members suggested helping publicize the agency's appeal and connecting the nonprofit to churches, radio stations, and other community networks.

Keener identified herself as a citizen volunteer and a member of the Aiken County Democratic Party; she said the issue was raised to her by an agency staffer. She urged the council to treat the issue as a matter of public health and safety, noting that some seniors rely on the meal delivery as their only daily human contact.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of North Augusta Council Meeting 08/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A citizen told council Aiken Senior Life Services' Meals on Wheels faces a funding shortfall that could suspend deliveries to about 100 North Augusta seniors between mid-August and October; she urged the city to consider emergency funding or other support and promoted a town hall Aug. 20.","taxTitle","North Augusta, Aiken County, South Carolina","taxId",56877,"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},6495034,"City staff reports utility-billing stabilization and hurricane recovery progress; requests end to monthly recovery briefings",609,2061000,2670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd&start=2061&end=2670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd/thumbnail_2061000.jpg","/articles/6495034/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/City-staff-reports-utility-billing-stabilization-and-hurricane-recovery-progress-requests-end-to-monthly-recovery-briefings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495034-864bbb3e3cea54ea2ae2bbf7f168f691/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150867&Signature=LyWQy0TfPjLCuP9OZlY~yybmHLP9U8xjuaGmsWO-KKiHvPePpqPqJvgVjSphnp-P~6P0fXPRXzqavFi~Em1pdDCCWprjRWT1DrQPqyZOpT1SHYtdh1azxAIGvI0s0LdFg8pfVoaHPHUvT7pN-7vkEjcw25aGleHXBVJNyDb38QkNZfkHiCEicre9R1PvFKMUae3nMVtLRFuUL9ph171ZFaOoygGmvcrJCFu~~Su3LCN3XNBGiMebBtXbfkiTNMXOdrKqTs7hK~IcL9Gk1OgHO6XDZ-fU7I6NIZBDsMZwtYT0GEuvM-2ZND-b383M7NJiRYF9wRVdKfg5PLZZ58JZTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City administration provided a detailed update on utility billing and hurricane recovery work during the Aug. 18 meeting, saying utility bills returned to schedule and multiple recovery projects are in final reconciliation.

\"We were pretty close on the July 25 bills, but the Aug. 10 bills are the first that actually went out as they were scheduled,\" said Jim Clifford, city staff, reporting that the Aug. 25 billing cycle is expected to go out on time and that call volume about billing errors has decreased as cycles returned to normal.

On storm recovery, Clifford told council that all city debris sites have been cleared to staff satisfaction, most state-managed debris remains have been removed by SCDOT, and the city obtained a FEMA and State Emergency Management Division (SEMD) extension through Sept. 29 allowing overtime reimbursement for residual cleanup work. Clifford noted work remaining includes cleanup of stumps and some contractor reconciliation for invoices from firms such as Tetra Tech and Southern Disaster Recovery; reconciliation of contractor billing may continue for 60 days or longer.

Clifford said the city was not eligible for FEMA reimbursement for the Country Club Tennis Building because it was not in active use at the time of the storm, and that demolition of a pavilion at Modern Field remains delayed because electrical work must be relocated before removal. He also described ongoing NRCS-funded remediation work (a zero-match federal grant) that includes engineering work at Fleming Riverwalk Apartments and other pond maintenance projects expected to continue for several months.

Clifford said staff is also coordinating with telecommunications providers to address hanging or damaged cables; the city identified a cable in front of Liquor Inn as belonging to Segra (telecommunications firm) and expected corrective work in the coming weeks. He reported public-works crews are restoring the upper parking area at the soccer complex previously used for debris staging and confirmed the demolition contractor for the Country Club Tennis Building and final fencing work are finishing.

Finally, Clifford asked council for the discretion to discontinue monthly hurricane-lien updates, saying the operation is no longer highly visible though work continues in the background. He said he was \"accountable\" to council for financial reconciliation but believed the monthly briefings were no longer necessary; council members did not object during the meeting and offered thanks for staff work.

Staff provided several operational notes for residents, including that the city is testing hydrants and customers may see temporary yellow or discolored water during the flushing process, that brickpond boardwalk has structural damage and will be closed until further notice, and that demolition and other recovery tasks will continue in the background. Clifford asked staff to follow up with council if outstanding reimbursement or contract reconciliation items require additional action.","Administration reported the utility-billing schedule has stabilized, debris sites cleared to city satisfaction, FEMA/SEMD extension granted through Sept. 29 for overtime reimbursement, and several recovery tasks remain; staff requested the council discontinue monthly hurricane-lien updates.",{"_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},6495038,"Council appoints two to accommodations tax advisory committee; state rules define committee",189,1858000,2047000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd&start=1858&end=2047","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd/thumbnail_1858000.jpg","/articles/6495038/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/Council-appoints-two-to-accommodations-tax-advisory-committee-state-rules-define-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495038-4fffba0d2f52249127ee7be965e0bd6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150867&Signature=HVjVNHZ7pa8ISIExxuLwIzlnrWXoYVymBZ6prEMEldYu8WoIwwikLUJUkbcf-yJH2Xm4FF6I6myTbJ5WdrcCZERFz5f2BgT~qvqvyPz337U~DOJNz~z3dekv4jbjId~RLcxICKLfCsLhz9l3E7ISUSMXtXR14I-Yh9slTIjhaowgtISNT2zPUCAehS15GkUQ6~K0hitzZSH9Vwaq~gqljeG9xc2ONKO7ePyxbktuE7Rt9pqZ6WLBMG2J6s9jKymwfx8hBEYRn6yhOyUCR85T5j83L73r4ZB5iu1HbWfOnfbXXHC-czO-yJuuXGAdUqBPdyCbmHXZa8gh8GG~P4boLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Augusta City Council on Aug. 18 unanimously approved Resolution 2025-27 to fill two vacancies on the city's accommodations tax (A-Tax) advisory committee, nominating Julie McNeely and Sherry Wright to serve on the seven-member advisory body.

\"The rules associated with the accommodations tax are set by the state of South Carolina,\" said a city staff member during the resolution discussion, noting that municipalities or counties receiving more than $50,000 in accommodations tax revenue must appoint an advisory committee and that the majority of committee members must represent the hospitality industry.

Staff said the committee currently includes lodging-sector representation (Tricia Garcia, Holiday Inn Express), a hospitality representative Brandon Green, John Dawkins of Chick-fil-A as an at-large member, Mary Ann Bigger as the cultural organization representative at the Arts and Heritage Center, and other hospitality members. The two nominees would fill openings created in part by a previous chair stepping down when running for council and by a hotel management change.

Julie McNeely, owner of McNeely's Place on Georgia Avenue, and Sherry Wright, director at the Tru by Hilton (nominated to replace the prior lodging representative), were introduced during the meeting; the council voted unanimously to appoint them.

Council did not attach conditions to the appointments. Staff reiterated that the A-Tax committee's rules such as lodging representation and cultural organization representation are defined by state statute (read aloud during the meeting). The committee will continue to make expenditure recommendations on accommodations tax revenue for council consideration.","The City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-27 appointing Julie McNeely and Sherry Wright to the accommodations tax advisory committee; staff noted the state sets committee rules including membership and hospitality-sector majority requirements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495042,"North Augusta council unanimously approves amendment limiting neon tubing in downtown sign rules",101,1733000,1834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd&start=1733&end=1834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595109-d1534bf2e4776c34e1e59473f0da5dbd/thumbnail_1733000.jpg","/articles/6495042/North-Augusta/Aiken-County/South-Carolina/North-Augusta-council-unanimously-approves-amendment-limiting-neon-tubing-in-downtown-sign-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495042-f96c41efdf5132158a684e52c346239c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150867&Signature=dPDV7Vt8PbXrCkGj~jInfZhJAf2IkLLrnGMl1WN1ua8xhadr-R1BFi9Rlg8uX~hSAbhIoDQE3sagy4cczonPuzKYeIb0uFYaiZHFWtmeujmlK9VptL0T9fBikKAyQqaq9NdrYfrRjucH8gmLkdrwo4bL5pFgNWJbTwJs~kjzU8iI9K~ikEVNZe95Zc1Bc6jJCBi5CsdQTeq01fYyozJBTaWoayHljeQZLAt~7YAD8Pphe4tlrRIku8I8iMQIsmgt80~UHQDJlDUf0rAM9RpxmpLqlHUXYb-NVLjS~O9Bkm1T21pkdWCyAatZmt~vZ7bJcOJ7PklYhukRX-TdEfMKzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Augusta City Council on Aug. 18 voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2025-12 on second reading, amending Article 9 (Signs) of the city development code to remove neon tubing as an allowed sign treatment in Downtown Mixed Use 1 and Downtown Mixed Use 2 zones.

City staff said the ordinance permits externally illuminated signs but specifically excludes neon tubing. \"It does allow for externally illuminated signs within development code section 9.6.3.2.c, but does not allow for neon signs per se,\" said Jamie Clifford, a city staff member speaking to council during the second-reading hearing.

The change originated with the Planning Commission on May 21, which asked the planning director to draft an amendment removing neon tubing from the downtown mixed-use districts and to bring the draft to a public hearing. Council members discussed the proposal at a study session and approved the measure on first reading prior to Tuesday's vote.

Council members heard no public comments during the second-reading hearing. After brief council discussion, Mayor Brittney S. Williams called for a vote; council approved the ordinance unanimously.

Council and staff said the amendment responds to requests for updated signage rules in the Downtown/Riverside Village corridor and aims to allow modern externally lit signs while excluding neon tubing specifically. The ordinance will be codified as an amendment to chapter 18 of the City of North Augusta Code of Ordinances.

The council did not attach additional conditions or amendments during the second-reading vote. Staff did not announce an effective date during the meeting; implementation details and any necessary administrative steps will be handled by city planning staff and updated in the city code.","The City Council approved Ordinance 2025-12 on second reading, amending the North Augusta development code to allow externally illuminated signage while removing neon tubing from Downtown Mixed Use 1 and 2 districts; the vote was unanimous.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter urges city help as Meals on Wheels program faces shortfall serving North Augusta seniors

City staff reports utility-billing stabilization and hurricane recovery progress; requests end to monthly recovery briefings

Council appoints two to accommodations tax advisory committee; state rules define committee

North Augusta council unanimously approves amendment limiting neon tubing in downtown sign rules