Council approves economic development resolution, advances property matters and schedules audit presentation; announces new Wedgefield community center MOU

Sumter County Council on Jan. 14 approved several administrative items, passed a resolution to identify a local project under economic-development rules, advanced property matters and announced a signed memorandum of understanding to use 4.3 acres at Delane Elementary School for a new community center in the Wedgefield area.

Resolution 2501: The council approved Resolution 2501 (first reading/title and subsequent action recorded in the transcript) to identify “Project Kerrigan” under the county’s Economic Development Act. The council chair called for the motion, a second was made and the item passed on the record.

Property and parcel items: The council took first-reading action on several property matters, including a 1.19-acre parcel off Bebo Drive the county has been negotiating to sell; staff said the parcel contains a drainage easement and the sale price was calculated at roughly $5,000 per acre multiplied by 1.19 acres (staff-presented valuation). The county also discussed a parcel needed for Highway 378 improvements tied to a fire station; staff said an offer of $15,200 for 12,286 square feet was submitted and that the sale would not impair the fire station’s function. The council recorded a second-reading action on the Highway 378 parcel and moved it forward.

Delane Elementary/MOU and community center: Councilmember Washington announced that the county has secured a signed memorandum of understanding for 4.3 acres of the Delane Elementary School site to be used for a new community center in Wedgefield. Washington said the site was included in the county’s penny-for-progress funding and that an anchor donor on the MOU had been secured; the council noted a community cookout to introduce the project on March 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Audit presentation scheduled and executive session: County staff distributed the completed external audit by Malden Jenkins and told councilmembers auditors will make a formal presentation at the next meeting (staff asked councilmembers to forward questions in advance so staff or auditors could prepare). The council also reported it had convened an executive session earlier in the day to discuss two contractual economic-development matters; the transcript records no action taken in executive session.

Why it matters: The resolution designating Project Kerrigan initiates local economic-development procedures; property sales and easements support infrastructure and public-safety projects (Highway 378 improvements and a fire station). The Delane Elementary MOU signals a tangible investment in a rural community center that council members said will replace a long-standing manufactured facility.

Next steps: Staff said auditors will present the external audit at the next meeting; staff will process property closings and drainage easements as recorded; council said the community center project team will follow up with the community ahead of the March 8 event.