Chesterfield County Council approves budget and procurement items, orders fire-rescue spending reports and enters executive session

Chesterfield County Council on Dec. 4 approved a series of budget and procurement measures, moved to increase transparency for volunteer fire and rescue spending and went into an executive session to discuss personnel matters.

The council approved a supplemental budget ordinance for the sheriff’s department to replace expired grant funding and help retain deputies. The item was considered as a public hearing and then approved on third reading. No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript; the motion carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: Council members said the appropriation would cover deputies whose positions were previously supported by grant funds; the transcript does not specify the number of deputies or the exact supplemental amount.

Council members also approved multiple ordinance readings and other routine items by voice vote. Items carried included an amendment to the Alligator Fire District ordinance, a fee-in-lieu ordinance tied to “Project Seaboard” (noted as a solar project in the meeting), and a second reading of the master MCP Park ordinance. A first reading title-only sale and several property-purchase ordinances also passed on voice votes.

The council awarded several contracts and procurement items during the meeting. County staff recommended awarding the library reroof bid to Michael Jordan Construction for $29,875, to be paid from ARPA funds; the council approved the award. County staff also recommended retaining the current inmate-food vendor and lowest bidder, Skillet Kitchen, for the renewed contract; the council approved that contract award. In both cases staff said they received three bids before making the recommendations.

The council approved a surplus declaration for four sheriff’s department computers and one Dodge Caravan from the detention center, with staff saying the vehicle had reached the end of its useful life and would cost more to repair than to sell.

On oversight of volunteer emergency services, the council approved staff’s plan to request annual expenditure reports from volunteer fire and rescue departments for the county funds they receive. "This request would begin this fiscal year ending June of '25, and they would have until July of 2025 to submit it to us," County staff said. The staff clarified: "We're only requesting the expenditures of the money that we collect for these departments, not any other 1% money or... fundraisers," and the council approved moving forward. Staff said the request was made in response to the county’s independent auditor and is limited to county-collected funds.

The meeting also included ceremonial remarks and recognition. The council presented a retirement appreciation for the Hon. William Butler, who served as Chesterfield County Council District 9 representative from Jan. 4, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2024, and as chair for 2023–2024. Several speakers, including residents and fellow council members, offered thanks and tributes during member comments and public comment.

Before adjourning to executive session, the county attorney explained the legal basis: "That would be pursuant to South Carolina Code section 30-4-70 subsection A(1). That is for the discussion of employment, appointment, compensation, promotion, discipline, or release of employees," Mister Ruffler said. The council took a break, went into executive session and later returned to open session; the transcript records no votes taken while in executive session.

The council approved its 2025 meeting calendar (with the exception of moving August to the second Wednesday for a conference) and adopted the county’s 2025 holiday schedule. Several other routine agenda items and ordinance readings carried on unanimous or voice votes as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Budget ordinance amendment (Sheriff’s Department supplemental appropriation) — public hearing opened and closed; approved on third reading by voice vote; motion and second noted; specific tally not recorded in the transcript.

- Alligator Fire District ordinance amendment — public hearing opened/closed; approved on third reading by voice vote.

- Project Seaboard fee-in-lieu ordinance (second reading; solar project acknowledged) — motion carried on second reading by voice vote.

- Master MCP Park ordinance (second reading) — motion carried.

- Ordinances approving purchase or sale of property (several items, first readings/title-only where noted) — motions carried by voice vote.

- Flood prevention program ordinance amendment (first reading; wording change) — motion carried.

- Library reroof bid award — Michael Jordan Construction, $29,875 (ARPA funds); motion carried.

- Inmate food service contract award — Skillet Kitchen (current vendor; lowest bidder); motion carried.

- Surplus property declaration — four computers and one Dodge Caravan (detention center); motion carried.

- Fire department/rescue expenditure reporting (staff directive) — council approved sending letters requesting county-expenditure reports for the fiscal year ending June 2025, with submissions due July 2025.

- Executive session pursuant to South Carolina Code §30-4-70(a)(1) for personnel matters — council entered executive session; no votes were taken in executive session per the transcript.

Speakers (as identified in the transcript)

- William Butler — Chairman; Chesterfield County Council, District 9 (retiring) (government) - Mister Conklin — Council member (government) - Miss Burns — Council member (government) - Mister Eubanks — Council member (government) - Mister Stanley — County staff (government) - Mister Ruffler — County attorney (government) - County staff — County staff member presenting bids and procurement recommendations (government) - Jane — Resident / public commenter (citizen) - Mayor (unnamed) — Mayor present during public comment (government)

Authorities

- statute: South Carolina Code section 30-4-70(a)(1) — referenced by Mister Ruffler regarding executive-session justification. - ordinance: Alligator Fire District ordinance amendment — referenced by item title and public hearing. - ordinance: Flood prevention program ordinance amendment — referenced by item title and first reading. - ordinance: fee-in-lieu (Project Seaboard) — referenced by item title and discussion (solar project).

Actions

- motion: "Open public hearing" / "Close public hearing" for budget ordinance amendment (Sheriff’s Department supplemental appropriation). Mover/second: motions recorded; outcome: approved. Notes: No vote tally recorded; action carried by voice vote.

- motion: Approve budget ordinance amendment (Item 10a) — third reading; mover/second recorded generally; outcome: approved (motion carries by voice vote). Notes: Amount for supplemental appropriation not specified in transcript.

- motion: Approve Alligator Fire District ordinance amendment (Item 10b) — third reading; mover: Mister Conklin; second: Miss Burns; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- motion: Approve Project Seaboard fee-in-lieu ordinance (Item 10c) — second reading; mover/second noted; outcome: approved by voice vote. Transcript includes confirmation that the item relates to a solar project.

- motion: Approve Master MCP Park ordinance (Item 10d) — second reading; mover: Mister Conklin; second: Miss Burns; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- motion: Approve purchase of property ordinances (Items 10f, 10g, 10h — various readings/title-only as noted); mover/second recorded where noted; outcome: carried by voice vote.

- motion: Approve flood prevention program ordinance amendment (Item 10i) — first reading (single-word change); outcome: motion carries by voice vote.

- motion: Award library reroof bid to Michael Jordan Construction in the amount of $29,875 (ARPA funds). Mover/second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote. Staff stated three bids were received.

- motion: Award inmate food service contract to Skillet Kitchen (current vendor; lowest bidder). Mover/second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote. Staff stated three bids were received.

- motion: Surplus four computers and one Dodge Caravan (sheriff/detention center) — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote. Staff cited vehicle at end of useful life and cost of repair exceeding value.

- motion: Send letters requesting expenditure reports from volunteer fire and rescue departments for county-collected funds (beginning fiscal year ending June 2025; due July 2025). Mover/second recorded; outcome: approved by voice vote. Staff emphasized request is limited to county-collected funds and was prompted by the independent auditor.

- motion: Enter executive session pursuant to South Carolina Code §30-4-70(a)(1) to discuss personnel matters. Mover/second recorded; council entered executive session after a 10-minute break. Upon return, no votes or actions taken in executive session were recorded in the transcript.

Discussion vs. decisions

- Discussion-only items included public comments praising council support for Northeastern Technical College and expressing thanks to departing members. - Direction/assignment: staff was directed/authorized to send letters requesting expenditure reports from volunteer fire/rescue departments and to proceed with procurement/awards as presented. - Formal actions: the ordinance readings, bid awards, surplus declaration and the directive to request fire/rescue expenditure reports were approved by council voice votes.

Clarifying details

- Reroofing bids received: 3; recommended award: Michael Jordan Construction; amount: $29,875; funding source: ARPA. - Inmate food service bids received: 3; recommended award: Skillet Kitchen (current vendor); recommended as lowest bidder. - Surplus property: four computers (sheriff’s department) and one Dodge Caravan (detention center). - Fire/rescue reporting: request covers county-collected funds only; reporting period begins with fiscal year ending June 2025, with submissions due July 2025. - Executive-session authority cited: South Carolina Code section 30-4-70(a)(1).

Proper names

[{"name":"Chesterfield County","type":"other"},{"name":"William Butler","type":"person"},{"name":"Michael Jordan Construction","type":"business"},{"name":"Skillet Kitchen","type":"business"},{"name":"Northeastern Technical College","type":"school"},{"name":"Alligator Fire District","type":"agency"},{"name":"Project Seaboard","type":"project"},{"name":"MCP Park","type":"location"},{"name":"South Carolina Code section 30-4-70(a)(1)","type":"statute"}]

Community relevance

- Geographies: Chesterfield County (countywide); specific references to district 9 (retirement recognition). - Funding sources: ARPA funds (library reroof); unspecified supplemental funds to cover sheriff deputies after grant expiration; county-collected funds to volunteer fire/rescue departments. - Impact groups: county law-enforcement personnel (deputies), volunteer fire and rescue departments, library users, incarcerated individuals (food service contractor), county taxpayers.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: multiple routine agenda motions carried largely by voice vote; public comment included several speakers praising council and support for local institutions; staff presented procurement and administrative items; standing-committee reports minimal. - Implementation risk: low-to-medium for procurement items (standard bid awards); the fire/rescue reporting directive depends on compliance by volunteer departments. - History: fire/rescue expenditure request originated with the independent auditor and had been discussed in prior cycles; staff noted earlier pushback from some departments when first proposed.

Searchable tags

["budget","sheriff","ARPA","procurement","bids","fire-department","rescue","surplus","executive_session","council-meeting","Chesterfield County"]

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block-77","local_start":0,"local_end":233,"evidence_excerpt":"Hey, Jake. Okay. We'll move down to item 9 a, public hearings. This is a budget ordinance amendment. This is a supplemental appropriation, for the Sheriff's Department to help maintain or retain a few deputies, when some grant funds had expired.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-90","local_start":0,"local_end":85,"evidence_excerpt":"Item 10 a, budget ordinance amendment. 3rd reading.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block-129","local_start":0,"local_end":263,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes, sir. A request for proposal was sent out for the reroofing of the library, and we received 3 bridal. And staff would like to recommend for the, bid to be awarded to Michael Jordan Construction in the amount of 29,875. And as you remember, this is gonna be part of the ARPA funds. It'll come from that money.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-134","local_start":0,"local_end":88,"evidence_excerpt":"So it's therefore requested that council award the bid to Michael Jordan Construction in the amount of 29,875. Is that a motion to accept this bid? So moved. Motion and second. And you're good. Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block-135","local_start":0,"local_end":236,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes, sir. We were sent out our request for proposal for the inmate food service cause it was an expired December and we received 3 bids and staff would like to recommend the bid to be awarded to Skillet Kitchen, which is the current vendor and they were again the lowest bidder. So, therefore, it's requesting that council award the bid to Skillet Kitchen.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-139","local_start":0,"local_end":78,"evidence_excerpt":"And second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carries.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block-140","local_start":0,"local_end":254,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes, sir. The sheriff's department has submitted 4, and you've got it in your packet, 4 computers that they like to surplus. As I always tell you, they pretty much take everything, strip it everything that they can take off of the computer and reuse it so it's not used for life anymore. And then they also have 1 vehicle that is a Dodge Caravan, with the detention center and it's pretty much at his use useful life. It it would cost more to fix it than to keep it.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-145","local_start":0,"local_end":86,"evidence_excerpt":"So that would be better to sell it. So we request that council would, surplus these items. Okay. Is that a motion to approve? A motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carries.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block-146","local_start":0,"local_end":375,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes, sir. November of 2022, council passed staff to request from the fire departments and rescues the expenditure reports for the physical year. After the request was passed, there was pushback from some of the departments, so the letter was never sent out. So, with this past or this fiscal year, the 2 new departments had, new fee changes for the fiscal year and there's been questions from the citizens about these funds, you know, that we collect for these departments. So, therefore, effective this week, staff would like to proceed with sending out the letters requesting the expenditures for each fiscal year to be sent out to be sent in to us to the finance department with council's approval.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-165","local_start":0,"local_end":190,"evidence_excerpt":"Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, the motion carries.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block-177","local_start":0,"local_end":215,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes, sir. Thank you, mister chairman. That would be pursuant to South Carolina code section 30 dash 4 dash 70 subsection A 1. That is for the discussion of employment, appointment, compensation, promotion to motion, discipline, or release of employees. And as noted on the agenda, council may take action by voting upon this matter after exiting executive session.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block-191","local_start":0,"local_end":70,"evidence_excerpt":"We're back in regular session while we're in Xavier. No motion for me. No votes were taken. Is there a motion to adjourn?","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}]}]}]}]}]}