Irmo council ratifies new town administrator and approves budget, pay increases and annexation in unanimous votes
Loading...
Summary
At its May 20, 2025 meeting, the Town of Irmo Council voted unanimously to ratify an appointment for town administrator, adopt next fiscal year budget as read at the hearing, approve a council salary increase tied to professional development, and approve annexation and other measures.
The Town of Irmo Council unanimously ratified Jim Crossland as its new town administrator and approved a package of ordinances and measures at its May 20, 2025, meeting at Irmo Town Hall.
Council members voted to ratify the appointment of Jim Crossland as town administrator, effective July 7. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call with all members voting yes (Mr. Pemfield; Ms. Coleman; Dr. Waltman; Mayor Danielson). No votes were recorded against the appointment.
The council also completed second and final readings and approved several ordinances and resolutions. During the public hearing the council read an operating general fund budget described on the record as $10,744,074 with a separate line item of $134,000; later in the meeting the clerk read a different figure (reported in the roll-call reading as $754,074). The transcript contains this discrepancy; the council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budget as presented on the record. The council voted unanimously on the budget.
Council members approved an ordinance to amend council salaries to create an increased base pay tied to professional-development incentives. The measure raises the base annual salary for council members from $7,200 to $10,000 and for the mayor from $9,600 to $13,500, with additional incentives for completion of Municipal Elected Officials Institute training; the ordinance takes effect after the next election cycle (November–December 2025). The vote was unanimous.
The council approved second and final reading of an ordinance to annex two parcels totaling approximately 11.92 acres (including 1057 Broad River Road, TMSR 040000-01-13 and 040000-01-14) into the town and to rezone the property from Richland County Homestead to Irmo General Commercial (CG). The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Other approved items included a permanent easement granted to the City of Columbia to relocate a water main at 7815 Broad River Road as part of the Broad River Road widening project, and a $15,000 contract with Will & Chris Amusements to provide rides for the 2025 Okra Strut (the council confirmed the contract is within the already-approved Okra Strut budget). Both measures passed on unanimous roll-call votes.
On unfinished business the council approved second and final reading of Ordinance 2505 changing the start time of regular council meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The council also held first reading (and approved an amendment on the enforcement date) of Ordinance 2509 to amend off-street parking regulations in Appendix A of Irmo’s municipal code; the ordinance was advanced as amended and will return for further consideration.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Appointment: Jim Crossland as town administrator, effective July 7 — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2506: Adopt FY2025–26 operating and capital budget (figures on record include $10,744,074 general fund and $134,000 other line; a differing figure was later read as $754,074) — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2507: Amend council salaries, incentive structure (effective after next election cycle) — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2508: Annex two properties (approx. 11.92 acres) including 1057 Broad River Road — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2505: Change council meeting start time to 6:00 p.m. — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance 2509: First reading to amend off-street parking (Appendix A), amended to set enforcement date to 07/01/2026 — outcome: advanced as amended (vote recorded as yes by all members present). - Resolution (per meeting): Permanent easement for City of Columbia for water main relocation at 7815 Broad River Road — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Contract award: Will & Chris Amusements, $15,000 for Okra Strut rides — outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
Discussion vs. decision: Most votes were taken with brief staff presentation or as part of second/final readings and little debate on the council floor. The council went into an executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss a personnel matter and contractual matters related to the appointment of a town administrator; the clerk reported no votes were taken in executive session and the subsequent public motion implemented the appointment.
The council did not provide further budget line-item detail during the public meeting beyond the figures read on the record; the transcript records differing budget numbers at separate points in the meeting, which is noted here rather than reconciled.
The meeting concluded after presentation of community updates and event planning items. The council adjourned following a unanimous vote to close the meeting.
