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Clinton council authorizes city manager to sign three-year DSS lease with Laurens County; renovation overage covers first years
Summary
Council approved a three-year lease allowing Laurens County to occupy the SCDSS portion of a city building through Oct. 28, 2028, at $70,000 per year; City Manager Meadors said renovation costs of $1.769 million were partially covered by a $1.5 million state grant and the city will absorb initial overages so Laurens County makes no payments for the first three years.
The Clinton City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 5 to authorize the city manager to sign a three-year lease with Laurens County for the portion of a city-owned building occupied by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS).
City Manager Meadors told councilors the lease would run through Oct. 28, 2028, at a rate of $70,000 per year. He said the city will offset the county’s payments for the initial term because the city covered renovation overages: "The first three years of this would be 'eaten up' by the overage that was spent on the building when the building was remodeled and refurbished," Meadors said. He noted SCDSS moved into the space on Nov. 1, 2025.
Meadors provided a renovation cost figure of $1.769 million and said the State of South Carolina provided approximately $1.5 million toward that total; the remaining increase stemmed from cost increases that occurred before construction began. He said the agreement had been negotiated previously among city and county staff and attorneys and that, if DSS left after three years, the newly renovated space could be repurposed.
Councilmember Williams questioned the cost of the renovations; Meadors confirmed the $1.769 million figure and the state contribution of $1.5 million. Councilmember Walsh moved to approve the manager signing the contract; Councilmember Smith seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Context and implications: The lease formalizes Laurens County’s occupancy of municipal space used by SCDSS and offsets the county’s initial cash payments while the city accounts for renovation overages. The council’s vote authorized only the manager to sign the lease; the contract will be returned to Laurens County as described by Meadors. No further financial commitments or implementation dates beyond those stated were recorded in the meeting minutes.
