Berkeley County approves multiple grants, contracts, zoning changes and road projects
Loading...
Summary
At its regular meeting the council approved grants for public safety and community events, awarded construction and utility contracts, approved zoning changes and set aside funding for an animal center expansion and road resurfacing program.
Berkeley County Council approved a package of grants, contracts, zoning changes and funding allocations affecting public safety, utilities, roads and county facilities.
Key approvals included the acceptance of a $1,807,154 SCDVA Military Enhancement Fund grant to acquire two firefighting-capable boats and a heavy-duty tow vehicle; awarding a $1,398,193.05 construction contract to DesignBuild LLC for an animal center expansion with up to $700,000 in additional funding from county fund balance for the project; awarding a $662,585.28 contract to Johnson Services LLC to extend approximately 5,250 linear feet of six-inch water main along Sandy Run Circle; and approving a roads resurfacing program of up to 181 roads at a budget not to exceed $26,400,000.
Other actions taken on committee recommendations included awarding $225,700 to Clearwater for a mechanically clean bar screen at the Lower Berkeley wastewater treatment plant, approving a change order of $1,774,683.06 for new signage, pavement markings and resurfacing related to a roundabout and King Bay Boulevard work (to be done at night with a 90-day contract extension), opening a bank account at First Citizens Bank to receive small-claims deposits, and adding a parks and recreation position with an estimated salary-and-benefits cost not to exceed $70,000 for the remaining 17 pay periods of fiscal year 2026.
The council also approved a series of community and discretionary grants: AgSouth’s Growing Our Communities award of $5,000 to purchase farm rescue equipment for specialized grain silo rescues; a fee discretionary allocation of up to $17,000 to Keith’s School Museum for building improvements; $2,000 to Jean's Angels for a driveway project; LATCF allocations of up to $40,000 to Hope Repair for wheelchair ramps and up to $5,000 to the Town of Jamestown for computer equipment; and multiple ATAGS awards to local nonprofits and events as listed by the administrative services committee.
On zoning and ordinances, several bills were advanced or approved on the council floor, including third-reading approvals for bill 25-43 (rezoning in Council District 6) and other district bills read into the record on third reading. The council also read multiple first-reading ordinances, including bill 25-58, an ordinance authorizing issuance and sale of general obligation bonds not to exceed $40,000,000 of 2026 for Berkeley County; that bond ordinance and other first-reading bills were referred to the appropriate committees for further consideration.
All motions shown in the minutes were approved by voice vote where recorded with "Aye" and "Motion carries." Where a roll-call tally was not provided in the record, the minutes show unanimous voice approval or that no opposing votes were recorded.
Votes at a glance (selected items): - Award DesignBuild LLC $1,398,193.05 for animal center expansion and approve up to $700,000 from fund balance for the project — approved. - Accept SCDVA Military Enhancement Fund grant, $1,807,154, for two firefighting-capable boats and a tow vehicle — approved. - Award Johnson Services LLC $662,585.28 to extend 6" water main along Sandy Run Circle — approved. - Approve roads resurfacing package not to exceed $26,400,000 covering ~181 roads — approved. - Approve change order of $1,774,683.06 for roundabout signage/King Bay Boulevard resurfacing with 90-day extension — approved. - Award Clearwater $225,700 for mechanically clean bar screen at Lower Berkeley WWTP — approved. - Approve AgSouth Growing Our Communities grant, $5,000 — approved. - Authorize opening bank account at First Citizens Bank for small claims south — approved. - Add parks and recreation employee with FY26 cost not to exceed $70,000 (17 pay periods) — approved.
Council members said these items came on recommendation of standing committees; most passed on voice vote with the phrase "Motion carries" recorded in the meeting minutes.
