Newberry County Council postpones fee-in-lieu vote on Project NOVA 2025 after resident raises transparency concerns

The Newberry County Council voted unanimously to postpone the second reading of an ordinance authorizing a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes for "Project NOVA 2025" until July 1 to allow more information and conversation with the developer.

Tyler Johnson, who identified himself by name and address during the public hearing, told the council the agenda listed only the project code name and a few metrics — a stated minimum creation value of $15,290,000 and 16 new full‑time jobs — while the promised Exhibit A was blank. "With such little information provided, I find it hard for a fee in lieu of tax to be beneficial for the county on only 16 new jobs," Johnson said, urging another public comment opportunity at third reading and asking for details such as business type, site, land size, estimated returns to the county, the timeframe for the tax agreement, and any clawback protections.

A council member moved to postpone the second reading pending further communication with the developer; the motion was seconded by the vice chair and approved unanimously. The motion as adopted set a target date of July 1 for the council to revisit the item.

The ordinance on the agenda would have authorized a fee-in-lieu agreement tied to Project NOVA 2025 and referenced infrastructure credits and related matters; the agenda entry listed the project as part of the Greenwood–Newberry Industrial Park. No council member offered substantive debate on the record beyond scheduling the postponement, and no additional public speakers were recorded at the hearing.

Next steps: the county clerk will place the item on the agenda for a future meeting after further communication with the prospective developer and (per the request on the record) with additional public disclosure at third reading.