Aiken City Council approves annexations, rezonings, opioid funds and historic tax assessment update

The Aiken City Council on April 14 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering annexations and rezonings, a historic-property tax assessment amendment, a $396,170 opioid-recovery budget adjustment, and several routine permits and contracts.

The council held public hearings and took final votes on multiple land-use items, adopted a change to the city code governing special assessments for rehabilitated historic properties, approved the opioid-recovery budget increase to fund two non‑sworn response positions, authorized the city to apply for Safe Streets for All implementation funds, and selected an auditing firm for the next three fiscal years.

Why it matters: the land-use decisions reshape development options for multiple parcels in Aiken; the opioid funding adds staff capacity for outreach and prevention; and the tax-assessment change is intended to make the city's historic-rehab incentive align more closely with state programs.

Votes at a glance

- Annexation and zoning: 122 Vivian Drive — approved (second/final reading). The council approved annexation of approximately 0.6 acre at 122 Vivian Drive and zoned it RS-15, consistent with surrounding residential lots. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 2981.63; action concluded at 3031.255.)

- Rezoning: 724 Richland Avenue West from Limited Professional (LP) to Office (O) — approved (second/final reading). The rezoning will allow office/institutional and retail/service uses; planning commission and council had recommended approval. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3064.891; action concluded with unanimous voice vote.)

- Rezoning: ~40.25 acres (Kershaw St / York St / Rudy Mason Pkwy / Buford St) from RS-10 to Planned Residential with an approved concept plan (202 lots) and an approved waiver of building-separation requirements for portions of the project — approved (second/final reading). Planning Commission recommended approval 3–1; council approved amended condition language at second reading. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3183.1301/3202.945; discussion and vote concluded at 3390.595–3398.4482.)

- Annexation and concept plan: ~51.61 acres on May Royal Drive and Osmond Drive, rezoned to Planned Residential with a concept plan (maximum density amended to allow up to 189 lots) — approved (second/final reading). Council amended paragraph 7 of the conditions to remove a requirement that a privacy fence be installed along entrance right-of-way; the final conditions retain perimeter buffers and other landscaping standards. (Transcript: ordinance introduced at 3802.2998–3814.1748; amendment and vote concluded at 4818.17–4896.91.)

- Historic rehabilitation tax assessment (City Code §38-8) — approved (second/final reading). Council expanded the special real-property tax assessment option for qualifying rehabilitated historic properties from a 10‑year freeze to a 20‑year special assessment in order to align local incentives with state historic‑preservation practices and support projects such as the Hotel Aiken and the old hospital redevelopment. (Transcript: item introduced at 6031.205; vote recorded at 6165.665–6185.)

- Budget amendment: opioid-recovery funds ($396,170) — approved (second/final reading). The funds will add two non‑sworn response/prevention positions and pay training, vehicles, supplies and equipment for an expanded response program in partnership with the Aiken Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the coroner and regional partners. (Transcript: item introduced at 6200.2847–6210.04; vote recorded at 6292.21–6313.85.)

- Budget amendment (first reading): amend FY2024–25 budget to cover increased sewer rates charged by Aiken County Public Service Authority — passed first reading. The PSA increased O&M and pretreatment rates effective July 1, 2024; council approved first reading of a fund adjustment for wastewater operations. (Transcript: item introduced at 6313.85–6320.41; discussion and first reading at 6320.41–6397.51.)

- Fireworks permit: Reserve Club of Woodside July 4 display — approved. State Fire Marshal rules and city code require council approval; the organizers agreed to provide additional public-safety support for traffic control. (Transcript: petition introduced at 6420.305–6432.5396; vote recorded at 6487.8896–6527.845.)

- Resolution: application for Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant — approved. Council authorized applying for up to $10 million with a required 20% local match to implement improvements outlined in the city's SS4A action plan. (Transcript: item introduced at 6541.1–6551.785; discussion and vote at 6551.785–6623.7.)

- Professional services: selection of auditing firm Malden & Jenkins for fiscal years 2025–2027 (three-year engagement, $192,000) — approved. The city received a single proposal and recommended awarding the contract based on experience with governmental audits and the city's GFOA reporting requirements. (Transcript: item introduced at 6654.5703–6665.105; discussion and vote at 6712.115–6793.19.)

Appointments and routine business

- Appointments approved: Lizzie Boyer to the Arts Commission; reappointments of Kenna Black to the Accommodations Tax Committee and Laura Thomas to the Senior Commission. (Transcript: appointments introduced at 2877.3801–2895.805; voice vote recorded.)

How the council voted: most items were approved by unanimous voice vote; where Planning Commission votes were referenced, that body's recommendation (including a 3–1 Planning Commission vote on one rezoning) was noted in staff reports. Council recorded amendments to several planning conditions during second readings (see May Royal/Osmond Drive amendment removing entrance‑fence language). The council did not adopt any item that failed final reading at this meeting.

What the council did not decide: no final relocation or long-term lease decision was made during public comment for a downtown restaurant (see separate article), and several public‑comment requests were referred to staff for follow-up.

Details and provenance (transcript evidence)

- Annexation 122 Vivian Drive — topic intro excerpt: "The ordinance is entitled an ordinance to annex property located at 122 Vivian Drive and to zone the same residential single family, RS 15" (transcript s=2981.63). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Unanimous." (motion second/voice vote recorded near s=3031.255–3059.2852).

- Rezoning 724 Richland Avenue West — topic intro excerpt: "an ordinance to amending the zoning of real estate owned by Richland Office LLC from Limited Professional LP to Office O" (transcript s=3064.891–3070.19). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Unanimous." (s=3171.2449–3183.1301).

- Planned-residential rezoning (Kershaw/York/Rudy Mason/Buford) — topic intro excerpt: "an ordinance to rezone property located on Kershaw Street Northeast York Street Northeast Rudy Mason Parkway and Buford Street" (transcript s=3183.1301–3202.945). Topic finish excerpt (vote and condition discussion): "All those in favor? Motion passed." (s=3732.185–3760.735).

- May Royal/Osmond annexation & concept plan — topic intro excerpt: "an ordinance to annex the corporate limits ... property located on May Royal Drive and Osmond Drive and to zone the same PR Plan Residential and approve the Proposed Concept Plan" (transcript s=3802.2998–3814.1748). Topic finish excerpt (amendment and vote): discussion and amendment deleting part of condition 7, then unanimous approval (s=4818.17–4904.81).

- Historic-rehab special assessment — topic intro excerpt: "an ordinance amending section 38 dash 8 of the Aiken City Code regarding special real property tax assessments for rehabilitated properties" (transcript s=6031.205). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Motion passed, unanimously." (s=6165.665–6185).

- Opioid funds budget amendment ($396,170) — topic intro excerpt: "We've recently received $396,170 of opioid money to add 2 non sworn response and prevention positions" (transcript s=6200.2847–6210.04). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Motion passed unanimously." (s=6292.21–6313.85).

- Sewer-rate budget amendment (first reading) — topic intro excerpt: "amend the budget to cover increased sewer rates from Aiken County Public Service Authority" (transcript s=6313.85–6320.41). Topic finish excerpt (first reading vote): "All those in favor? Motion passed unanimously." (s=6401.97–6417.825).

- Safe Streets for All grant application — topic intro excerpt: "approval of a resolution approving application for the Safe Streets for All Implementation Grant" (transcript s=6541.1–6551.785). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Motion passed." (s=6623.7–6635.5747).

- Auditing firm selection — topic intro excerpt: "we received 1 proposal from Malden and Jenkins, and we recommend that we engage them" (transcript s=6654.5703–6665.105). Topic finish excerpt (vote): "All those in favor? Thank you. It's unanimous." (s=6766.0503–6793.19).

Speakers (selected, attribution whitelist)

- Teddy Milner, Mayor (government). First reference: "Mayor Teddy Milner" (transcript proclamation). Subsequent references: Milner. - Ed Gerardo, Mayor Pro Tem / Council member (government). First referenced as "Mayor Pro Tem Ed Gerardo" (s=570.07495). - Councilwoman Bridal (government). - Councilwoman Diggs (government). - Councilwoman Gregory (government). - Councilman Waltz (government). - Councilwoman Price (government). - Mr. Biedenboe (staff member, government) — planning presentations. - City Manager / staff (generic: "City Manager" or "staff member") where transcript did not give a full name.

Topics and tagging

Primary topic: city-government-decisions Topics: [{"name":"zoning","justification":"Multiple annexations and rezonings decided; concept plans approved","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.75,"opinionatedness":0.00,"controversy":0.40,"civic_salience":0.90,"impactfulness":0.85,"geo_relevance":1.00}},{"name":"budget","justification":"Opioid funds and sewer-rate budget amendments considered/approved","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.85,"depth_score":0.65,"opinionatedness":0.00,"controversy":0.20,"civic_salience":0.80,"impactfulness":0.70,"geo_relevance":1.00}},{"name":"public-safety","justification":"Funding for opioid response positions; Safe Streets for All grant application","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.75,"depth_score":0.55,"opinionatedness":0.00,"controversy":0.10,"civic_salience":0.80,"impactfulness":0.70,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]

Searchable tags: ["annexation","rezoning","opioid-funds","historic-tax-assessment","safe-streets","auditor-contract","aiken-city-council"]