Dillon County Council adopts 2025–26 budget, enacts waste-tire and nuisance ordinances; proposed business-license ordinance dies

Dillon County Council unanimously approved its fiscal 2025–26 budget and several ordinances during a special called meeting on May 28, 2025, in Dillon County Council Chambers.

The meeting opened with routine procedural business before the council took votes on a string of ordinances. Councilman Robbie Coward moved to approve Ordinance No. 25-01 — which establishes rules and regulations regarding waste tires — on second reading; Councilman Brad Coward seconded, and "all were in favor," the minutes record. Ordinance No. 2025-03, establishing a nuisance ordinance and procedures for abatement and enforcement, passed its second reading after a motion by Councilman Kenny Cook Jr. and a second by Councilman Robbie Coward. Councilman Dennis Townsend moved approval of Ordinance No. 25-04, the county budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025; Robbie Coward seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

A separate proposal, Ordinance No. 25-02, which would have created a local business-license ordinance requiring annual license taxes for persons engaged in business in Dillon County, failed to advance after no motion was made on second reading and therefore died without a vote.

Council also approved first readings by title only on several items with limited discussion: Ordinance No. 25-06, authorizing issuance and sale of a general obligation bond not to exceed $2,200,000 (Series 2025); Ordinance No. 25-07, to transfer custody and control of the Dillon County Detention Center from the sheriff’s office to Dillon County; Ordinance No. 25-08, to transfer the county public safety communications center (the 911 system) to the sheriff’s office; and Ordinance No. 25-09, to transfer custody and control of the county animal shelter to the sheriff’s office. Motions for first reading were made and seconded and recorded as unanimous.

After an executive session in which no action was taken, the council also approved Ordinance No. 25-05 on first reading, authorizing a fee-in-lieu of tax and special source credit agreement with a company identified as "Project Evergreen" for specified economic development property.

The council recorded multiple personal and council donations to local organizations and approved the listed recreation requests. The meeting adjourned following the completion of business.

What the record shows: motions, seconders and recorded unanimous approvals are noted in the official minutes for each adopted ordinance. The budget ordinance text, department appropriations and any amendments were included as agenda materials but the minutes do not specify the dollar totals within the motion text other than references to the ordinance itself.