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Abbeville approves multiple ordinances, amends meeting schedule and urges state action on prejudice-motivated crimes
Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting, Abbeville City Council approved a package of ordinances including updates to ethics rules and bicycle regulations, amended its regular meeting schedule, and unanimously passed a resolution urging the state to adopt a uniform punishment for prejudice-motivated crimes.
Abbeville City Council convened Feb. 9, 2026, and approved several ordinances and a resolution urging statewide, uniform penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice. The meeting was led by Mayor Pro Tem A. Faye Thomas and took place at Abbeville City Hall.
Council approved Ordinance No. 1-2026, regulating the use of bicycles and electric bicycles within the city, on its second reading after a motion by Councilmember Jason Edwards and a second by Councilmember Christopher R. Crawford. Ordinance No. 2-2026, establishing ethical parameters for texting and electronic communications by council members, and Ordinance No. 3-2026, amending the Code of Ethics (Ordinance No. 1-2019) to update procedural and ethical standards, were each approved unanimously on second reading.
The council moved Ordinance No. 4-2026 (business license delinquent fee schedule) to second reading and approved that motion unanimously. Ordinance No. 5-2026 (hospitality tax delinquent fee schedule) and Ordinance No. 8-2026 (downtown business-hour parking regulations) were introduced but received no action during the meeting. Ordinance No. 6-2026 (amending the FY 2025–2026 budget ordinance to expand gravel sales eligibility to commercial businesses) and Ordinance No. 7-2026 (adding a civil-infraction section for Criminal Conduct Because of Prejudice) were approved on first reading.
Council considered Ordinance No. 9-2026, amending Section 2-51 to move the monthly regular City Council meeting time. After an amendment offered on the floor, councilmembers voted to move the monthly meeting to the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.; the amended ordinance passed unanimously.
On a separate motion introduced by Councilmember Matthew H. Gambrell, the council unanimously approved Resolution No. 3-2026 urging the South Carolina Legislature to adopt a statewide, uniform punishment for criminal conduct motivated by prejudice.
The actions taken at the meeting were procedural and regulatory in nature; no direct policy funding changes were enacted beyond the budget-related first-reading amendment for gravel sales eligibility. No votes were recorded as failing on legislative items.
