Council approves Columbia Avenue supplemental agreement and funds Bagpipe Road construction; members flag capital needs

Council members on July 15 approved a supplemental local agency participation agreement (LPA) related to Columbia Avenue that increases the Part 2 federal funds allocation for right‑of‑way from $4,900,000 to $5,100,000 so South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) can continue right‑of‑way acquisition and utility relocation for the project. Councilman Hudson reported the supplemental agreement was brought forward after multiple parcels were subdivided and staff recommended approval. Council voted unanimously to accept the supplemental agreement.

Council also approved construction work on Bagpipe Road, a dirt road in a county district that requires substantial stormwater and roadway rebuilding. Councilman Brigham, speaking during the motion to approve, highlighted the project cost and the broader capital‑funding implications: "You're looking at $3,968,000 — so $4,000,000 for roughly a mile worth of road to be paved is quite expensive and those funds have to be pulled out of somewhere. So the capital projects is staring us in the face for the ballot next year." The motion to award the Bagpipe Road construction passed unanimously.

County leaders noted the state awarded the county $6.2 million in CTC funding earlier and discussed that single high‑cost projects can consume large shares of available state funds. Council members emphasized the need to identify funding sources — including capital projects planning and potential ballot measures — to address multiple high‑cost road projects across the county. No further appropriation action was taken at the meeting beyond approving the contract award and the LPA supplemental agreement; staff will pursue execution of the agreements and return with procurement and funding details as required.