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Newberry commission approves seven voluntary annexations; mayor urges action on nearby grinding operation
Summary
The City of Newberry voted unanimously on first reading to annex seven applicants covering 11 parcels as part of Annexation No. 40. During public comment Mayor Joe Hoffman urged the city to pursue legal action and seek a change to a proposed state bill to prevent mulch/grinding operations from bypassing local ordinances.
The City of Newberry commission on Dec. 8 unanimously approved on first reading seven voluntary annexation ordinances (Annexation No. 40) covering 11 parcels, staff said.
Staff stated the annexations — filed as ordinances 2025-76, 2025-77, 2025-78, 2025-79, 2025-81, 2025-82 and 2025-83 — together involve roughly 227 acres and aim to strengthen contiguity and compactness of the municipal boundary. Each ordinance was read by title and passed on a voice vote with no public opposition. "These ordinance[s] make certain findings, provide for land use, zoning and land development regulations, and provide an effective date," the reading stated.
During the public-comment period, Mayor Joe Hoffman told the commission residents are disturbed that a nearby grinding and dumping operation (identified in discussion as Gaston) has resumed early-morning grinding and increased dumping. Hoffman said the property-appraiser had denied the operator an agricultural-exemption request and urged the commission to resume the city’s lawsuit to enforce local ordinances. "They're not using best management practices," Hoffman said, adding that the operator has been "bringing in more dumping" rather than replanting harvested land.
Hoffman also discussed a bill filed in the state Senate by "Senator McLean" that, as described in his remarks, would create a process for companies to seek designation as an agricultural entity that could limit the city's local land-use authority. He asked the commission to ask Representative Johnson to seek an amendment that would explicitly exclude grinding or mulch operations from that process so they could not avoid city ordinances.
City staff indicated they would search for any companion House bill and review the legislation. The commission did not take immediate formal action on the request during the meeting; public comment concluded and the meeting proceeded to other business.
City Manager announcements at the meeting included holiday sanitation schedule changes and three grant awards the manager described as newly received: a $2,900,000 grant for septic-to-sewer work, a $240,000 grant to move a lift station in preparation for a roadway project, and a previously announced $5,600,000 jobs-growth grant. The manager also announced a new resident-notification "Text My Gov" platform launched that day.
The commission closed by offering seasonal greetings and adjourned the City Commission meeting before convening the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting.
