Abbeville City Council authorizes city manager to pursue warming-shelter partnerships

At a Feb. 2 workshop, the Abbeville City Council authorized City Manager R. Blake Stone to pursue partnerships with Abbeville County and local organizations to explore options for a warming or homeless shelter.

Councilmember Matthew H. Gambrell moved to give the city manager authority to "partner and stay engaged with Abbeville County and other local organizations and aid, such as volunteering or providing other needs." Councilmember Benji Greeson seconded the motion; with no objections the motion passed unanimously.

The discussion that preceded the motion focused on code-compliance requirements and which locations in Abbeville might be suitable for a temporary warming shelter or a longer-term homeless shelter. City Manager R. Blake Stone showed council members photographs of the Opera House jail cells after unsafe weather prevented an in-person site tour.

No formal site was selected at the workshop, and council did not record a roll-call vote tally in the minutes beyond noting the motion passed without objection. Councilmember John Sutherland was recorded as not present for the earlier agenda vote; the minutes do not say whether he participated in later votes.

There were no public comments during the public-comment period. The workshop adjourned at 6:27 p.m. after a motion by Gambrell, seconded by Councilmember Christopher R. Crawford.

Next steps documented in the minutes direct the city manager to continue engagement with Abbeville County and local partners to identify needs and potential assistance related to warming- or homeless-shelter operations.