Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services Nonprofits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County recognizes risk-management awards; animal-shelter and opioid-response groups outline services and funds
Summary
SCAC presented risk-management awards to Colleton County; Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter detailed $268,906 in 2025 major expenditures and upcoming fundraiser; local opioid-response provider described use of opioid-reduction funds for Narcan distribution, training and prevention outreach.
Colleton County’s Feb. 9 meeting opened with recognition of county risk-management work and nonprofit presentations describing community services and spending.
Robert Benfield of the South Carolina Association of Counties presented risk-management awards to the county and credited a culture of safety for low workers’-comp reporting times and an experience modifier of 0.71 — a figure the presenter said produced an estimated $280,000 savings on insurance premiums. "The most important asset a county has is its employees," Benfield said in explaining the awards.
Phoebe Barr, speaking for Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter (FOCUS), described FOCUS as a 501(c)(3) formed to supplement shelter resources and listed major 2025 expenditures: $103,111 on outside veterinary care; $38,005 on shelter food; $33,500 for building/floor replacement; $25,170 on medications and supplies; and $14,415 on surgeries — totaling $268,906 for the listed categories. Barr also said FOCUS funded monthly preventatives and an active spay/neuter program and invited the public to a March 14 fundraiser to support shelter operations.
Nikia Hammond, introduced as an executive director for a Colleton County alcohol/drug services provider, thanked council for awarding opioid-reduction funds to the organization and said those funds would expand prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. Hammond introduced the organization’s opioid coordinator, Billy Smith, and described planned community training (including a September training with a Charleston-based doctor) and ongoing distribution of drug-deactivation kits and free Narcan.
Council members publicly thanked the organizations and recognized the awards and community services; no county action was required for the presentations. The county administrator later provided an update on CPST-funded capital projects — including a Veterans Park groundbreaking and design progress for the animal shelter, recreation center and pool — and said staff are planning for long-term operations costs before construction.
