Aiken council authorizes settlement execution in Blake et al. v. City of Aiken; several routine ordinances and contract awards approved

The Aiken City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 29 to finalize steps needed to implement a mediated settlement in the case captioned Blake et al. v. City of Aiken.

City counsel (Daniel Plyler) explained the council had mediated the case on Jan. 14 and reached settlement terms; the resolution before council authorizes the city manager to sign the settlement agreement and related documents, effectuate dismissal of the lawsuit and associated appeals, and make the agreed payment for a portion of attorney fees and expenses. "This is essentially a resolution to finalize some of the legal documents and provide authority to have the city manager execute those documents," Plyler said.

The council also approved a consent agenda that included three annexation ordinances for properties on Silver Bluff Road and East Pine Log Road, approved a range of appointments to city boards and commissions, and adopted a second‑reading budget amendment for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.

On infrastructure and contract matters, council approved a resolution to award a professional services contract to Alfred Benesch and Company for the Croft Mill Sewer Improvement Project. Staff said the Croft Mill effort is a roughly $4.5 million project with an EPA grant award of $3,000,000; the recommended contract for engineering and design services is a not‑to‑exceed $1,400,000 scope.

Votes at a glance: the settlement authorization, consent agenda, appointments, budget amendment and the Croft Mill contract award all passed by voice vote with no recorded dissents reported in the meeting transcript.

Ending: Staff said the settlement documents will be executed as authorized and that federally‑funded sewer work will proceed with design services provided under the Benesch contract; no council member requested further public debate on the settlement at the meeting.