Oconee ag board reaffirms hiring recommendation, urges council to cost-share Farm Center sewer

At its April meeting the Oconee County Agricultural Advisory Board unanimously voted to reaffirm and send a letter to county officials recommending the hiring of an agricultural development and administrative assistant and to request county cost‑share support for a sewer system at the Farm Center.

The letter, prepared by Miss Kim and shown to the board during the meeting, requests that the county provide a cost share toward a sewer project the board says will replace an existing temporary holding tank and reduce recurring pumping costs. Board members discussed project estimates and agreed to forward the request to county council before the council’s next budget hearings.

The board said the Farm Center plan, completed in 2023, estimates total completion costs between $300,000 and $400,000; the board proposed asking the county for roughly half that amount as a cost share (about $200,000). Members discussed asking for a percentage match rather than a fixed number in case final bids differ. The Farm Center currently uses a portable tank that must be pumped regularly; one speaker said pumping costs are expensive and unsustainable.

Board members also discussed a separate recommendation to house the new agricultural position at the NRCS office to coordinate agricultural information and outreach. The motion to reaffirm the letter and transmit it to council was made, seconded and approved unanimously.

The board reviewed draft sign wording to advertise agriculture’s economic role in Oconee County. Members cited a county economic impact figure of roughly $192 million in agricultural sales used in previous materials and suggested wording such as "Oconee impact: $192 million (and growing)" or similar text with periodic updates. Members agreed to collect wording ideas and vote on final sign text at a future meeting.

Discussion and next steps: board members asked staff to send the letter to the county clerk the morning after the meeting so it could be considered during upcoming budget meetings. Several members asked staff to obtain additional cost estimates and to prepare a plan B (for example, upgraded septic or gray‑water pump solutions subject to DHEC rules) in case the council declines a sewer cost‑share. The board also asked staff to attach the Farm Center event calendar and supporting footnotes when the letter is distributed.

Votes at the meeting included approval of March minutes and the unanimous vote to reaffirm and send the hiring/cost‑share letter to council; board members agreed to follow up with additional cost estimates and possible alternative systems if county funding is not immediately available.