Lexington County Council approves ordinances, accepts multiple grants and makes appointments

Lexington County Council on Oct. 28 approved multiple ordinances and resolutions and accepted a series of grant awards and appointments during a regularly scheduled meeting.

Key approvals - Resolution R25O6: Council approved a resolution amending the agreement related to the joint county industrial park of Lexington and Calhoun counties to remove properties from the park. The motion to approve was made, seconded and recorded as passed by roll call.

- Ordinance 25-06 (third reading): Council approved amendments to the Lexington County zoning ordinance covering detached residential development standards, certain board of zoning appeals rules of procedure, and residential density allowances; the ordinance invoked the pending ordinance doctrine and passed on third and final reading.

- Ordinance 25-10 (third reading): Council approved changes to the County Land Development Manual, chapter 10 (road design), section 10.3.13 (street access) on third and final reading.

- Ordinance 25-15 (second reading): Council advanced an ordinance authorizing execution and delivery of a fee agreement and special source revenue credit among Lexington County, Burton Road Partners LLC and YJ Pouches North America Inc. (Project Columbus). This item was on second reading (public hearing held previously) and the council moved to approve the ordinance at the Oct. 28 meeting.

Grant acceptances and budget amendments (committee recommendations) - Airport planning: The Economic Development Committee recommended acceptance of a South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) grant of $8,052 for the Lexington County airport layout plan. Staff said the project’s total cost is $322,090 and it is eligible for Federal Aviation Administration reimbursement (up to 95%). Council approved acceptance of the SCAC award.

- Justice/public safety grants: The Justice Committee recommended acceptance of several awards and council approved them: a body-worn camera grant of $296,574.95 (state Department of Public Safety, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs); an in-car video camera grant of $9,132.31; a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant of $133,063 (state Attorney General’s Office); and a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) continuation grant of $168,614. Council also approved an additional state school resource officer (SRO) grant for Lexington County School District 4 (amount cited by staff as $65,997) transferred from a municipal agency to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department for use at Swansea Freshman Academy and School District 4.

Other committee actions and approvals - Public Works petition: Council approved a petition by a private property owner to legally close a roughly 165-foot portion of Monza Drive (Council District 9). Public works staff reported an average daily traffic count of 49 vehicles and stated they received no objections from Lexington County School District 1, the sheriff’s department, emergency services, community development, planning and GIS. The Public Works Committee recommended approval and council adopted it.

- Committee of the Whole: The Committee recommended approval of the 2026 county council meeting schedule and recommended a letter of support for Dining on the Dam (March 2026). Council approved both recommendations.

- Bids and purchases: Council approved three contract awards/extensions related to EMS rehab services and medical supplies and to uniforms for Lexington County Fire Service after committee review.

Appointments and minutes - Appointments: Council reappointed individuals to boards and commissions, including reappointments to the assessment appeals board and the library board, and appointed Graham Reinhardt to the assessment appeals board (motions and roll-call approvals recorded). The Oct. 14, 2025 meeting minutes were approved.

Public hearings - Ordinance 25-14 (zoning map amendment M25-01) received a public hearing (see separate article). Ordinance 25-16, a proposed conveyance of county-owned property to Cason Development Group at Farmers Market Drive and U.S. 321, was presented for public hearing; no proponents or opponents signed up to speak and no electronic comments were received.

Votes: Most motions and ordinance approvals at the Oct. 28 meeting passed by roll call with affirmative votes recorded from the council members present.

Ending: Council recessed for a public hearing period at 5:30 p.m., then returned to conclude public hearings and other agenda items. Items that received public hearings (for example ordinance 25-14) will require further review or readings where noted.