Sumter County Council approves zoning fixes, business-license changes and appointments

Sumter County Council on March 12 approved several ordinances and appointments and received a recognition for a county emergency alert app.

Helen Roodman, the county planning director, presented OA-23-04 (Ordinance 24-997), a zoning-code amendment to correct North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) references in Article 3 and Exhibit 5. Roodman said the corrections realign Pet Boarding and Residential Care uses with how they were treated prior to the county’s SIC-to-NAICS transition; Council approved the ordinance on first reading unanimously.

Council also approved OA-23-05 (Ordinance 24-995) on third reading, which permits Used Motor Vehicle Parts Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 42314) with on-site vehicle dismantling and/or storage in the Light Industrial–Warehouse district as a special-exception use subject to special-design criteria. Roodman said there were no changes since the last reading; Council adopted the ordinance unanimously.

County Attorney Johnathan Bryan presented Ordinance 24-996, an amendment to sections 26-36 and 26-37 of the Sumter County Business License Ordinance. The changes include shortening the criminal conviction "look back" period for license applicants from 10 years to three years and adding language tying certain nuisance activities to business licensure and potential suspension or revocation. After a public hearing with no speakers in opposition, Council approved second reading unanimously.

On other actions, Council adopted Resolution R-24-01 proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month. In a separate special meeting on proposed capital projects, Council appointed Herb McClary, David Bagwell and Traci Nelson as County Council representatives to the 2024 Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission; the transcript notes Councilmen Washington and Baten were not present for that vote. The meeting also included recognition from the South Carolina Department of Insurance for the county’s "Brave Panic App," introduced by Emergency Management Director Donna Dew and presented by Robert E. BenField.

Why it matters: The NAICS corrections clarify how certain uses are classified in the county zoning code and could affect permitting and compliance; the business-license amendment shortens the period during which prior convictions may affect licensing eligibility. The appointments will staff the local commission that helps propose capital-sales-tax projects for a voter referendum.

Votes at a glance

- OA-23-04 (Ordinance 24-997) — NAICS code corrections — first reading approved (mover: Artie Baker; seconder: James R. Byrd, Jr.; outcome: approved on first reading). - OA-23-05 (Ordinance 24-995) — Used motor vehicle parts wholesalers with on-site dismantling — third reading adopted (mover: Artie Baker; seconder: James R. Byrd, Jr.; outcome: adopted). - Ordinance 24-996 — Business License Ordinance amendments (sections 26-36 and 26-37) — second reading approved (mover: Charles T. Edens; seconder: Artie Baker; outcome: approved). - R-24-01 — Proclaim April as Fair Housing Month — adopted (mover: Artie Baker; seconder: James R. Byrd, Jr.; outcome: adopted). - Appointments — Herb McClary, David Bagwell, Traci Nelson to the Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission (mover: James R. Byrd, Jr.; seconder: Artie Baker; outcome: carried; transcript notes two council members were not in the room for the vote).

What’s next: OA-23-04 will proceed through subsequent readings as required by ordinance procedure; the business-license amendment will continue through its legislative schedule. The county budget process was announced and department-head meetings will continue ahead of a first reading expected in May.