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Abbeville City Council approves multiple ordinances, adopts civility resolution and sets new meeting time
Summary
City Council approved six second‑reading ordinances, several first readings (including bicycle regulations and ethics measures), accepted a loan agreement, adopted the MASC Civility Initiative and voted to move regular meetings to the second Monday at 6:00 p.m.
Abbeville’s City Council approved a package of ordinances and resolutions at its Jan. 14 meeting and voted to change the regular meeting time to the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Trey Edwards called the meeting to order. On the legislative calendar councilmembers unanimously approved six second‑reading ordinances including Ordinance No. 14‑2025 (establishing Chapter 22 – Code Enforcement), Ordinance No. 15‑2025 (repealing the Beautification Commission division), Ordinance No. 16‑2025 (repealing the Square Parking District stopping/parking rules), Ordinance No. 17‑2025 (amending administration sections on vacancy advertisement and current/former council members seeking city employment), Ordinance No. 18‑2025 (establishing a Capital Improvement Fund for the Abbeville Public Utilities Electric System), and Ordinance No. 19‑2025 (amending the FY2025‑2026 budget to add Purchase Power Cost Adjustment definitions and formulas to enable creation of the electric fund). Each of those motions passed “with no objections,” according to the minutes.
On first reading council approved several new ordinances. Ordinance No. 1‑2026, regulating the use of bicycles and electric bicycles within the City of Abbeville, passed its first reading 7–2; Councilmember Christopher R. Crawford and Mayor Pro Tem A. Faye Thomas were recorded as opposing. Ordinance No. 2‑2026, establishing ethical parameters for texting and electronic communication boundaries by members of City Council, passed first reading 8–1 with Mayor Trey Edwards opposing. Ordinance No. 3‑2026, amending the Code of Ethics (Ordinance No. 1‑2019) to update procedural and ethical standards for elected officials, also passed first reading 8–1 with Mayor Trey Edwards opposing. Ordinance No. 4‑2026 (amendment to the business license delinquent fee schedule) passed unanimously on first reading.
Council also approved Resolution No. 1‑2026 authorizing acceptance of loan assistance monies from the South Carolina Water Quality Revolving Fund Authority and authorized the City Manager to execute the loan assistance agreement. Council adopted Resolution No. 2‑2026 to join the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Civility Initiative. Both resolutions passed unanimously.
After an executive session for discussions related to contracts, property and legal matters, the council considered changing its regular meeting schedule. Councilmember Matthew H. Gambrell initially moved to set meetings to the second Monday at 6:30 p.m., then rescinded that motion and moved to set meetings to the second Monday at 6:00 p.m.; the second motion carried 7–2 with Councilmembers Christopher R. Crawford and Jason Edwards recorded as opposing.
City Manager R. Blake Stone provided staff reports (including an ACTS apartment construction update and a Faye Thomas Park corrective action update). Council approved Report No. 2‑2026 (a Cultural Resources Survey) by unanimous vote during the meeting. A proclamation honoring Henry Green was approved, the council approved holding the 2026 Christmas Parade in the evening with council participation, and the meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m.
The minutes included no public comments during the recorded public comment period.
