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Marlboro County Council holds first readings to authorize sale or conveyance of two county properties tied to economic development
Summary
At a called meeting July 29, 2025, the Marlboro County Council approved first readings (title only) for two ordinances to transfer county-owned properties to private prospects—one involving the former Marlboro Park Hospital and the North Cook Development and the other conveying property to Project Lunchbox. The council scheduled community outreach on healthcare restoration.
The Marlboro County Council on July 29 held a called meeting and approved first readings (title only) of two ordinances that would transfer county-owned properties to private development prospects as part of an economic development effort.
County Administrator Wilson A. Clyburn (identified in the minutes as “Tony Clyburn”) briefed the council on Ordinance No. 872, which would authorize the sale of the former Marlboro Park Hospital and the North Cook Development to a prospect called “Project Fountain.” Clyburn said the hospital closed in 2015 and that “without the County getting involved in trying to bring healthcare back to the County, nothing is going to change.” He also said several community meetings will be scheduled to answer public questions about healthcare access.
Councilmember Charles P. Midgley Jr. moved to approve the first reading (title only) of Ordinance No. 872; Steve Blackmon seconded the motion. The meeting minutes record the motion and second but do not provide a roll-call tally for that item in the published minutes.
The council then considered Ordinance No. 873, which would authorize a purchase-and-sale agreement conveying county property to a prospect identified as Project Lunchbox under conditions set out in the agreement. Dr. Damien Johnson moved first reading (title only); Charles P. Midgley Jr. seconded. The minutes record the vote on Ordinance No. 873 as six in favor (Charles P. Midgley Jr., Dr. Damien Johnson, Anthony Woods, Lafayette Jackson, Steve Blackmon and Verd Odom) with one abstention (Pearly Lawson), recorded as 6–0–1 in favor of first reading.
Both items were taken as first readings (title only), meaning formal debate and final votes would occur at later meetings if advanced. The meeting minutes note that minutes going forward will summarize discussions and decisions of agenda items rather than provide verbatim transcripts. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
The county posted the regular meeting notice and agenda on the Marlboro County website and on the front door of the William P. Wallace, Sr. Administration Building, according to the minutes. The county did not include additional ordinance text or vote tallies for Ordinance No. 872 in the published minutes; staff follow-up or the next council meeting agenda is likely to show whether the item advances to a second reading or a final vote.
