Batesburg-Leesville council approves rezoning, grants and construction contracts; hears energy program briefing

The Batesburg-Leesville Town Council on a March evening approved a rezoning ordinance for two parcels at 565 West Columbia Avenue, approved a series of vendor selections and grant requests and accepted a proclamation recognizing March 2025 as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. The council also heard a presentation from Dominion Energy about a neighborhood energy-efficiency program coming to the town.

The council opened a public hearing on an ordinance to rezone two parcels at 565 West Columbia Avenue (Lexington County TMS 007021-08-010 and 007021-08-011) from R-2 general residential to C-1 general commercial; no members of the public spoke at the hearing and the council adopted the ordinance on second reading.

Why this matters: The rezoning converts a total of about 0.51 acres to commercial zoning, which allows a broader set of uses than the existing residential designation and may affect future development and permitting for the parcels.

In other formal actions, the council:

- Approved first reading of a rezoning request for property on Pine Tree Lane (Lexington County TMS 0062026-01-011) from R-2 general residential to R-1A single-family and manufactured-home residential; the request was submitted by the property owner and had unanimous planning commission approval.

- Awarded a hospitality tax grant of $3,700 to the Batesburg Business Association for a St. Patrick’s Day festival planned for March 15, 2025.

- Approved a contractor to repair fences damaged by a recent storm; staff recommended and council approved Rotten Fencing (contract amount and split of funding referenced in the council packet).

- Selected Archer Company to perform a townwide compensation and classification study at a cost of $27,350; council debate focused on where the study cost should be charged in the budget (half proposed from general-fund administration salaries and half from the enterprise fund merit pool).

- Selected Grama Construction to build restroom facilities at Leesville College Park and Wilson Street Depot Park with a total project cap of $1,148,643 to be funded from hospitality tax funds invested in the Local Government Investment Pool; the council asked staff for a cash-flow analysis of remaining hospitality tax commitments before additional H‑tax projects are approved.

- Adopted a proclamation designating March 2025 as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month and excused one councilmember’s absence for the meeting.

Several routine procedural items — adoption of the February council meeting minutes and approval of the agenda — were also approved.

Council members and staff who spoke during votes or discussion included Mr. Prowse (mover on several motions), Mr. Bocknight (frequent seconder), Mr. Hall, Miss Hartley, the mayor, and Town Manager Jay Hendricks. Several motions drew questions from council members about budget line items and reporting; for example, the compensation study prompted detailed discussion about how cost-of-living and merit-pool funds had been budgeted and where the study fee should be charged.

Dominion Energy made an informational presentation (see separate article) about a free home‑efficiency program that will run in select neighborhoods; Dominion staff said the company is funding the work.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance (565 W. Columbia Ave.) — Rezoned 0.51 acres from R-2 to C-1 after a public hearing; motion carried on second reading. - Pine Tree Lane rezoning — First reading adopted; planning commission had recommended approval. - Hospitality tax grant (Batesburg Business Association) — $3,700 approved for St. Patrick’s Day festival (March 15, 2025). - Fence repair contractor — Contractor approved; funding split between water plant repairs and sewer plant repairs line items. - Compensation and classification study (Archer Company) — Vendor selected; total cost $27,350 (half general fund/half enterprise fund); council discussed budget source and reporting. - Leesville College Park and Wilson Street Depot restroom construction (Grama Construction) — Vendor selected; total not to exceed $1,148,643 from hospitality tax funds. - Proclamation — Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (March 2025) adopted. - Excused absence — Councilmember Shirley Mitchell excused; motion carried.

What’s next: The council scheduled routine follow-ups including a request for a hospitality-tax cash-flow analysis and anticipated continued discussion of budget reporting and the pending compensation study. Staff listed several upcoming events and project updates in the manager’s report, including Pine Street Corner parking work and progress on water system projects.

No formal contract or lease decisions were announced after executive session, and council reported no executive-session actions when it returned to regular session.

Ending: Council adjourned after setting an April agenda item to consider a no-left-turn restriction at Mitchell and West Church Street (hours to be set by police department) and scheduling interviews for an assistant town manager position.