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Orangeburg County approves lease of 920 Willington Drive to Council on Aging after questions about value and rent
Summary
County council passed a four-year lease making Orangeburg County landlord and Orangeburg Council on Aging tenant at 920 Willington Drive after a resident questioned the property's purchase price; county attorney said fair-market rent was researched and in‑kind services offset charges.
Orangeburg County Council voted July 20 to approve a four-year lease allowing the Orangeburg Council on Aging (OCAB) to occupy 920 Willington Drive (TMS# 0150-19-02-009.000). The ordinance passed on a second-reading motion by Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith and was seconded by Councilwoman Deloris Frazier; the vote was 6-0-0.
At a public hearing, resident Sid Goff asked about the county's purchase price and the lease value, saying, "on March 8th, 2024, three-quarters of $1,000.000 was paid for that property to OCAB and I don't know what the lease value is." County Attorney D'Anne Haydel responded that the county had researched fair-market rent and explained the historical context, noting that the building on the site was constructed after the former Future Farmers camp closed and that the building's value exceeds the original land purchase price. Haydel said the researched rent equates to about "$8,379 a month or $100,542 per year," and explained the county would not charge OCAB rent because "the Council on Aging is providing to senior citizens" in-kind services — meals, recreation and educational opportunities — that exceed the rent value.
The ordinance makes Orangeburg County the landlord and OCAB the tenant. Council records show the motion to pass the ordinance for second reading carried unanimously.
The council did not specify additional lease terms in the public record beyond the four-year duration and the stated in-kind services arrangement. The measure moves toward formalizing OCAB's use of the property while relying on the stated community services as consideration in lieu of a cash rental payment.
