At its Jan. 6 meeting Jasper County Council approved the third reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of general‑obligation bonds not to exceed $150 million, and separately approved first reading of a change to the county's stormwater management rules.

Staff said most changes to the bond ordinance were grammatical and formatting edits, but highlighted a change adding 'additional proceedings' language to give the county flexibility in certifications and administrative steps related to bond issuance. Bond counsel reviewed the edits; council asked about how interest rates are determined in bond sales and staff explained rates depend on market bids when the bonds are offered.

On stormwater, planning staff presented an amendment to Article 10 (stormwater management) that converts an open exemption for new commercial development in previously approved major subdivisions into a conditional exemption requiring that the existing stormwater infrastructure meet standards adopted Oct. 3, 2011. Staff said the revision responds to drainage problems in older subdivisions that were designed to lower design storms (e.g., 10‑year events) and that some lots are producing drainage issues today. The amendment passed first reading unanimously; the bond ordinance passed third reading unanimously.

Council will proceed with bond issuance procedures and follow the typical schedule for ordinance adoption; the stormwater amendment will return for subsequent readings.