Oconee County Council approves industrial tax deal, zoning changes and park utility upgrades

Oconee County Council voted July 16 in Walhalla to approve a package of development, parks and procurement measures intended to support industrial investment and county recreation improvements.

On third and final reading the council approved Ordinance 2024-16, authorizing a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes and a special source revenue credit agreement with Sandvik Machining Solutions USA (formerly Project Turn). The motion to adopt the ordinance passed 4–0. Council members did not state additional fiscal details in the public minutes beyond the motion and approval.

Council also approved Ordinance 2024-18, amending Chapter 38 of the county code to revise minimum lot-size and maximum lot-density provisions for unincorporated areas. The ordinance passed 4–0 after an extended public hearing that included more than two dozen citizens who spoke in favor and two who spoke in opposition. Chairman Matthew Durham noted 64 emailed comments supporting the ordinance were filed in the meeting backup.

On second reading, Ordinance 2024-19 — a conveyance of easement rights to Duke Energy Carolinas for property owned by Oconee County in Walhalla (Tax Map No. 500-19-01-006) — was approved 3–0. Chairman Durham recused himself from that vote and temporarily turned the meeting over to Vice Chairman Don Mize; a recusal form was noted as filed in the meeting backup.

Council authorized Resolution 2024-15 on a first and final reading to execute an easement agreement with the U.S. Army/Secretary of the Army for Cooper Road on the Lake Hartwell project (Easement No. DACW21-2-24-0018). The motion passed 4–0.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism staff requested and received council support to commit up to $10,000 in matching funds from the county for a South Carolina Parks and Recreation Development (PARD) Fund grant to add three cantilever shade structures at Seneca Creek County Park. The PARD grant is an 80/20 reimbursable program; the grant application requests $25,000 and the county match was approved 4–0. PRT Director Phil Shirley described the proposed shade structures as heavier-duty units with a typical fabric lifespan of about 10–12 years.

Council awarded procurement ITB 23-17 for a countywide gateway signage project to Knight Sign Industries, Inc. (lowest responsive bid $87,837). Council approved a 10% contingency ($8,783.70) and the addition of one airport sign ($6,663.20) for a total project cost of $103,283.90 funded from the PRT Accommodations Tax (ATAX) fund. The motion passed 4–0. Councilman Glenn Hart requested signs be set back farther from the roadway to reduce the chance of collision by large trucks.

Council approved a sole-source contract with Duke Energy for an overhead-to-underground conversion at South Cove County Park, necessary before planned recreation and parking expansions that Duke and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved in June 2024. The conversion work described by staff includes removal of five power poles and installation of underground primary runs, transformers and associated reconnections. The project cost is $140,067.59; council also approved a 10% contingency ($14,006.76) for a total of $154,074.35 to be funded from the PRT Capital Project Millage Fund. Chairman Durham recused himself from that vote; the motion passed 3–0. Clerk Jennifer C. Adams reported 30 emails in support of the project were included with the meeting backup.

Council entered executive session to discuss several matters, including economic development (Project Cherry/Clarios), contractual matters related to Project Galt/Books for Less, opioid litigation and a proposed settlement with Kroger, and potential procurement concerns tied to foreign-government-related entities. After returning to open session, Council directed the County Attorney to draft a revised multi-county industrial park distribution ordinance to allow a fee-in-lieu distribution to the City of Westminster for Project Galt/Books for Less provided it is revenue neutral to the county and the company raises no objection. Council also directed the County Administrator to execute documents consenting to add the proposed Kroger settlement to the South Carolina Opioid Settlement Allocation agreement. Both directives were adopted by recorded motion.

Finally, Council approved Resolution 2024-14, extending by 10 years the phase termination date of an amended fee agreement with Clarios, LLC (formerly Johnson Controls Battery Group) under S.C. Code §12-44-10 et seq. The motion passed 4–0. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

What happens next: staff will proceed with contract execution and project engineering as described in meeting backup; the County Attorney will draft the ordinance changes directed in executive session for future council consideration.