Greenwood County Council dissolves seven inactive tax districts, advances multiple budget and personnel measures

Greenwood County Council voted Dec. 16 to dissolve multiple inactive special tax districts, approve several funding and personnel measures, and authorize a timber harvest at the county landfill.

Council members approved ordinances 2025-33 through 2025-38 to dissolve seven special tax districts the county identified as inactive. Planning/finance staff told the council they mailed roughly 1,000 letters to property owners and have fielded numerous calls from residents who did not recognize their parcels as being in a tax district. “We have about 12 special tax districts that are inactive,” staff said, and noted that most owners were unfamiliar with the tax-district boundaries. Kimbrook was identified as the only subdivision in the group with a meaningful balance (about $2,400); staff advised Kimbrook residents they must nominate three tax commissioners so the funds can be spent in accordance with county policy and state statute.

On new business, the council accepted a high bid for timber harvesting at the landfill on Siloam Church Road. Jamie Smith, public works assistant director, told the council the consultant recommended harvesting roughly 181 acres while timber markets remain favorable; the highest bid cited in staff materials was $284,874 from Charles K. Doolittle, Inc. The contract requires completion by Jan. 1, 2027, and proceeds will be deposited to the landfill fund with a planned replanting in a future budget year.

The council also approved Resolution 2025-29 to amend the FY2026 budget and advance funds for roof replacement at the Federal Building. Staff said the Arts Council secured a $200,000 grant from the Department of Archives and History toward the flat roof replacement, and the city agreed to cover up to $105,000 of the remaining cost. The county was asked to advance the other $105,000 and to front the $200,000 grant reimbursement (using hospitality funds) so the county could pay vendors and later be reimbursed; staff estimated a $410,000 maximum project cost and said the county’s maximum advance could be $305,000 until reimbursement.

On personnel, council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-30, the FY2026 merit-pay plan. The adopted plan uses $329,607 in the budget for merit increases (no cost-of-living adjustment); raises range from 3% to 5% depending on evaluation scores. Staff said a projected shortfall of $31,471 will be covered by vacancies in EMS, landfill and road-department budgets.

Council also approved Ordinance 2025-39 rezoning about 21.96 acres at 425 Cobb Road from R1 to R3 after staff noted the developer reduced density from an original request of 128 townhomes to 65 patio/atrium homes; planning commission had recommended approval 6–0. A resident asked whether a traffic study had been done; Planning Director Miss Coleman said DOT approved the proposed access point but that a formal traffic study had not yet been completed and invited the resident to speak at third reading on Jan. 6, 2026.

For each ordinance and resolution the chair called for the motion, recorded a second, asked “all in favor,” and declared the motion carried. The council repeatedly indicated these votes were formal actions recorded on the meeting’s minutes; no roll-call tallies were read aloud.

The council closed the meeting by moving back into executive session to discuss additional economic- and legal-development matters.