Berkeley County Council approves multiple funding requests, contract renewals and zoning ordinances

Berkeley County Council on Feb. 24 approved a package of budgetary requests, discretionary grants from accommodations-fee funds, two contract renewals for county software and equipment maintenance and multiple zoning ordinances following committee recommendations.

The council approved $20,000 for overtime in the coroner’s office, and approved $25,000 in supplemental personnel funding to cover salary and benefits for a three‑month transition period after the county assessor becomes the county auditor. The coroner had initially requested $30,000 for overtime during committee discussion; the council approved a smaller amount at final vote.

Why it matters: The actions allocate county resources for public‑safety staffing and community programs, commit county funds to multi‑year vendor arrangements for core systems, and adopt zoning changes that will affect property use in several council districts.

On personnel and staffing: Colonel Hartwell (Coroner) asked the council for overtime funding for deputy coroners. County staff member Milburn described the supplemental personnel request as a three‑month overlap for the assessor‑to‑auditor transition. Finance Committee Chairwoman Amy Stern moved the funding items on the committee recommendation and the motions carried by voice vote.

Accommodations‑fee discretionary funding: The council approved multiple AFE allocations from committee recommendations, including: - Up to $50,000 to Pimlico Civic Club (via the Palmetto Special Tax District) for a floating dock and repairs for water patrols and rescues. - Up to $10,000 to Goose Creek Rural Fire Department to replace helmets. - Up to $15,000 for the Wassa Nassau tribe annual powwow (mover: Councilman Tommy Newell). - Up to $20,000 to Forgotten Paws of the South for spay and neuter services. - $12,364.82 to Roads and Bridges for two radar message signs. - $2,000 to the City of Goose Creek to place a goose at Carolyn Lewis School. The council also approved a LATCF allocation of $4,500 to the town of Jamestown funded $2,250 each from Supervisor Cribb and Councilman Davis.

Contracts and grants: Committee reports and motions approved: - Renewal of a Ferguson Waterworks maintenance contract for $123,928.05 for water‑meter hardware/software. - Renewal of a CentralSquare financial software contract for $132,607.25. - Award of a five‑year water maintenance contract (RFP BCWS-10/24/25) to Utility Services Company LLC as the low responsive bidder (award amount not specified in the record). - Acceptance of a $10,000 grant described in the record as a Palmetto "Bridal Grama, keep birthday beautiful" agreement with no local match required (grant name recorded as stated in the minutes).

Zoning and ordinances: The council held public hearings on several zoning map amendments (bills 24‑72, 24‑74, 24‑86 and 24‑87). No speakers registered for those hearings, and the council approved those ordinances on third reading. A set of first‑reading bills (25‑05 through 25‑13) were read into the record and referred to committees, including an ordinance to create a nonprofit related to the development of the Berkeley County Administration and Judicial Center (bill 25‑13).

Other business: The council approved proclamations designating February 2025 as Black History Month, Feb. 12, 2025 as NAACP Founders Day, and Feb. 7, 2025 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The council also confirmed a nomination to the Planning Commission for Lisa Kearns; the motion carried after a voice vote in which one member vocalized a dissenting "nay." No roll‑call counts were recorded in the minutes.

Votes at a glance (motions carried unless otherwise noted): - Coroner overtime funding: request and final approval for $20,000 (voice vote; original request was $30,000). Mover: Chairwoman Amy Stern. Outcome: approved. - Supplemental personnel funding: $25,000 from contingency for a three‑month transition. Mover: Chairwoman Amy Stern. Outcome: approved. - AFE discretionary grants: Pimlico Civic Club ($50,000), Goose Creek Rural Fire Dept. ($10,000), Wassa Nassau tribe powwow ($15,000), Forgotten Paws of the South ($20,000), Roads & Bridges radar signs ($12,364.82), City of Goose Creek ($2,000). Mover: Chairwoman Amy Stern (committee recommendation). Outcome: approved (voice votes). - LATCF allocation: Jamestown $4,500 ($2,250 each from Supervisor Cribb and Councilman Davis). Outcome: approved. - Contract renewals: Ferguson Waterworks $123,928.05; CentralSquare $132,607.25. Mover: Jared Brooks (committee recommendation). Outcome: approved. - Water maintenance award: 5‑year contract to Utility Services Company LLC (low responsive bidder). Mover: Philip Obi (committee recommendation). Outcome: approved. - Zoning ordinances (24‑72, 24‑86, 24‑87): Approved on third reading after public hearings with no speakers. Outcome: approved. - Planning Commission nomination (Lisa Kearns): Approved (voice vote; one vocalized nay).

What the record does not show: Most motions were adopted by voice vote; the transcript and minutes do not include roll‑call tallies or named yea/nay votes for the listed items. For the water maintenance award and some AFE items the record does not state contract dollar totals or specific vendor contract numbers beyond what is noted above.

Next steps: Bills read on first reading will be considered by the appropriate standing committees. The council announced its next regular meeting for March 24, 2025.

Ending: The actions allocate county funds for staffing, community programs and system maintenance and adopt zoning changes that will proceed to implementation steps in county departments; many approvals were by committee recommendation and voice vote.