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Council approves juvenile-detention memorandum and several administrative items; manager reports grants and projects
Summary
Batesburg-Leesville council approved a memorandum with the state Department of Juvenile Justice that raises the daily detention rate from $50 to $125; it also approved a police-department HVAC purchase for $33,100 and renamed Crouch Street to Goldman Circle. The manager highlighted project updates, multiple grants including a $444,753 CDBG award for lift-station improvements, and recognized Patricia Gates on her retirement.
Batesburg-Leesville — At its August meeting, the Batesburg-Leesville Town Council approved several administrative items and heard updates on projects and grant awards.
The council voted to accept a memorandum of agreement with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice covering detention of youth. Town staff said the principal change is the state’s budget-driven increase to the daily detention rate: previously $50 per 24-hour day (with a half-day charge for stays under 24 hours), the new rate is $125 per day as set in the 2025–26 state budget. Staff noted the agreement cannot be altered.
Council also approved changing the name of privately owned Crouch Street (behind Custom’s Pizza) to Goldman Circle at the request of property owner Vinnie Goldman; county and planning-commission approvals were on file. The motion carried with one recorded no vote from district eight.
The council approved purchase of a replacement HVAC unit at the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department from Custom Comfort for $33,100, citing unit age (11 years), prior power-surge damage and compressor failure; the purchase includes a 10-year parts and labor warranty and would be paid from the general fund reserve account.
Manager Jay Hendricks recognized Patricia Gates on her retirement after 30 years with the town; Gates served for many years as zoning administrator and led planning and zoning boards. Hendricks also provided project updates: the town’s water main work is near completion and pump-station installation and testing are underway, Pine Street corner parking improvements are nearly complete, park restrooms are under construction, and RFPs were posted for water and sewer replacements on South Oak, Maple and North Peach streets. Hendricks said the town received a CDBG award for sewer lift-station improvements totaling $444,753 and that the town posted RFPs for additional work.
The manager reported account balances in the meeting packet: general fund checking $1,269,721; LGIP general fund $871,147; utility checking $610,485; LGIP utility $3,740,441; capital improvement impact fee $786,635; victims assistance $25,180; fire department 1% $25,976; police donations $15,268; municipal court $62,787; hospitality-tax balances as noted in the packet.
The council entered executive session to discuss a contractual matter related to the North Pine Street lot and returned to regular session with no actions or votes resulting from that closed session. Council also voted to place review of the town’s trailer-park ordinance on the Sept. 8 agenda for further consideration.
