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Council advances Project Panama fee agreement and approves joint industrial park; first reading held on county property sale
Summary
Union County Council accepted second readings of ordinances tied to Project Panama and a joint industrial park with Spartanburg County and gave first reading to a property sale to the Union Laurens Commission on Higher Education (one abstention recorded on the latter). Council also approved termination of a prior joint-park agreement under state law.
Union County Council on Jan. 14 moved forward with multiple economic-development ordinances, including a second-reading acceptance of a fee agreement for a prospective employer called Project Panama and approval to form a joint county industrial and business park with Spartanburg County.
Council dispensed with committee referral and accepted second reading in title-only of the ordinance authorizing execution and delivery of a fee agreement between Union County and Project Panama; the vote was unanimous. Supervisor and Council materials noted Project Panama as a major prospect with a cited capital investment of $340 million and an estimated 700 jobs, figures presented as project-prospect estimates rather than finalized commitments.
Council also approved second reading of an ordinance authorizing development of a joint county industrial and business park geographically located in Union County and authorized execution of a park agreement with Spartanburg County covering FILOT requirements and revenue distributions; the motion passed unanimously. Separately, Council approved third and final reading to terminate an earlier written agreement for a jointly owned industrial park located in Spartanburg County and the City of Spartanburg, referencing S.C. Code Ann. a7 4-1-170.
Council gave first reading in title-only to an ordinance authorizing sale and conveyance of certain county-owned real property to the Union Laurens Commission on Higher Education; Councilwoman Annie Smith abstained from that vote because of her employment relationship. Councilman David Sinclair noted a reversion clause requiring that, if the property is not used for USC Union purposes, it would revert to Union County.
The Council did not take additional public action on financing or incentives in the hearing record; materials related to the Project Panama prospect were described by Council members as limited in the packet and to be developed before final actions.
