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Aiken City Council approves consent items, appointments, zoning first readings and multiple contracts
Summary
The Aiken City Council approved a consent item accepting a deed of dedication, reappointed and appointed members to city boards, authorized several first-reading rezoning and annexation ordinances, passed a second-reading budget amendment with one abstention, and awarded contracts for aquatic maintenance and a compliance consultant for a sewer project.
The Aiken City Council met for its regular session and approved a package of routine and substantive items, including a deed acceptance, board appointments, multiple land-use first readings, budget adjustments and contract awards.
During the consent portion, the council accepted a deed of dedication for Danbrook Village Section 1 after Miss Hilton read the item into the record; Councilwoman Price moved approval and a councilmember seconded, and the action carried unanimously. The council also voted to reappoint Bonnie Ann Folgium to the Arts Commission and to appoint Kathy Heath to the Senior Commission; a nomination for Megan Morgan Adams to the Planning Commission was made.
On budget business, the council approved a second-reading amendment to the FY2025–26 budget to cover large meter replacements ($125,000) and $100,000 for Aiken Horse Park. The motion passed with one abstention recorded and the remainder of the council voting to approve.
The council handled multiple land-use matters on first reading: an ordinance to rezone 1305 Silver Bluff Road from Planned Residential (PR) to Residential Single-Family (RS-10) was presented by staff, who noted the parcel is about one acre, lacks sanitary sewer access (the applicant has pursued an HOA easement), and was recommended for RS-10 by the planning commission. Councilmembers discussed neighbor concerns about potential subdivision and were told the rezone would allow a single home only; council approved first reading.
First-reading annexations and zoning ordinances were also advanced without recorded opposition: 1620 Richland Avenue East (about 2.1 acres; applicant Aiken Community Theater) to General Business; 1886 Huckleberry Drive (1.38 acres) to RS-15; and 1125 Conger Drive (0.69 acres) to RS-15. Planning staff said the planning commission recommended approval for each item.
On procurement, parks staff reported three bids for aquatic maintenance and recommended the lowest bidder, ASP America, at $26,715 for a three-year contract; council approved the award. Staff also presented a sole-source proposal for Sam Cargill to provide compliance consulting for the Northside Sewer Improvement Project; council approved a lump-sum contract not to exceed $34,000 with up to $5,000 in expenses.
The meeting concluded with public comment urging improved downtown bridge and alley cleanup and staff updates noting that a state subcommittee hearing on House Bill 5321 (transfer of the Horse Creek wastewater treatment plant) was postponed and that the public safety department earned its ninth CALEA reaccreditation.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda (deed acceptance) — approved; appointments (Arts, Senior commissions) — approved; backflow ordinance (second reading) — advanced/considered (see separate article); FY25–26 budget amendment (meter replacements and Aiken Horse Park) — approved with one abstention; rezoning 1305 Silver Bluff Road (first reading) — approved; annexations 1620 Richland Ave, 1886 Huckleberry, 1125 Conger (first readings) — approved; aquatic maintenance contract (ASP America, $26,715) — approved; Northside Sewer compliance consultant (Sam Cargill, ≤$34,000 + $5,000 expenses) — approved.
The council adjourned following a final motion to end the meeting.
