Council approves $15,000 for town sidewalk, extends moratorium and signs several county agreements

Chesterfield County Council voted on several administrative and contractual items at its July meeting, approving local contributions and authorizing county staff to move forward on multiple agreements.

The council voted to provide $15,000 toward a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant match for a town sidewalk project, approved an extension of an emergency moratorium on permits for mobile-home parks/RV parks/subdivisions, authorized the county to enter a contract with the regional council of governments to update the county’s land development and zoning ordinances (not to exceed $40,000), accepted an agreement with the volunteer Patrick Fire Department and approved sending a deadline letter to volunteer rescue and fire organizations to submit contracts by late July. Council also authorized a confidential due-diligence agreement related to a property identified in the meeting as “Property W.”

Votes and motions were carried by voice vote; the minutes record council members answering “aye” and no opposed voices were recorded during the motions. Where motions named a mover or second, that is noted below when available. The meeting’s executive session covered several negotiation and personnel items; the council reported no votes taken in executive session but later recorded actions authorized after the session ended.

Votes at a glance:

- Town sidewalk TAP grant match: Motion to provide $15,000 toward the town’s required 20% match for a DOT TAP award of $482,000 for a sidewalk connecting West Market Street to Chesterfield Highway passed by voice vote; second recorded as Miss Burns. (Mover: not specified by name in the public record.)

- Emergency moratorium extension: Motion to extend the temporary moratorium on issuance of permits for establishment of mobile home parks, RV parks, and subdivisions passed by voice vote (no discussion recorded).

- Planning and zoning ordinance update: Motion to authorize Council Chair Mary Anderson and county administrator to enter an agreement with the regional council of governments (PDCOG) to update the county’s land development ordinance and zoning ordinance for an amount not to exceed $40,000 passed by voice vote (mover: Mr. Smallwood; second: recorded but not named in the transcript excerpt).

- Patrick Volunteer Fire Department contract: After executive session, council accepted the Patrick Volunteer Fire Department’s contract and agreement with the county by voice vote (mover: Mr. Kirkley; second: Miss Burns).

- Deadline letter to rescue/rescue chiefs: Council approved sending a letter to the Rescue Squad Captains Association and Chiefs Association setting a July deadline to submit contracts; motion passed and the clerk was asked to circulate an email copy of the letter to council members.

- Property W due-diligence agreement: Council authorized the chair and clerk to execute an early-due-diligence agreement for “Property W” under an exemption to disclosure in the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act; details and identity of the buyer and property were withheld consistent with the FOIA exception cited.

Council chair Mary Anderson and county attorney Coleman Bryant confirmed that certain negotiation and buyer-identity details for Property W remain confidential while due diligence proceeds. The council instructed staff to circulate contract letters and deadlines to volunteers’ organizations and to follow up with boards as contracts arrive.

Ending note: None of the recorded votes in the public portion of the meeting included a roll-call tally in the transcript excerpt; motions were approved by unanimous voice vote where recorded. Several of the approved items will require follow-up from county staff, including coordination with DOT on the sidewalk project, execution of the PDCOG agreement, and distribution of the deadline letter to volunteer organizations.