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Residents tell Colleton County Council nightclub activity threatens neighborhood safety and health
Summary
Several residents told the council about noise, gunfire, trash and alleged unlicensed alcohol and food service at a nearby club, and urged enforcement; council members cited the business registration ordinance as a potential tool and promised follow-up within legal limits.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period at the Sept. 6 Colleton County Council meeting to describe ongoing safety and health problems tied to a nearby club they say operates without necessary permissions.
"I am disabled...they are still not talking justice," said resident Felicia Johnson, who described repeated late‑night noise, reported gunfire during a neighbors' event, food‑related illness in her family and alleged unlicensed alcohol and gambling at the club. Johnson said she had contacted DEHEC and law enforcement and asked for help; she told the council she will escalate the matter to higher officials if necessary.
Neighbor Linda Singleton backed Johnson, saying: "It is constant noise, and something needs to be done. We need peace in our neighborhood." Councilman Art Williams acknowledged the concerns and told residents the recently advanced registration ordinance is "the first sign of progress in trying to solve some of the issues you are having," while stressing the need to follow proper legal processes.
Resident Kevin Williams linked the local safety problems to broader community needs, urging the council and school board to coordinate on youth programming and to invest in rural community centers in Smoaks and Jacksonboro to reduce violence over time.
What council said it would do: Council responses on the record emphasized that the registration ordinance is an initial administrative tool and that enforcement actions must align with state law to avoid legal exposure. Council scheduled a joint meeting with municipalities and the school board for Oct. 3 and invited the sheriff's office to participate, directing staff to secure a venue and provide notice to partners.
Next steps: The council asked staff to prepare statutory guidance about the registration ordinance for the next reading and to coordinate intergovernmental discussion at the Oct. 3 joint meeting.
