I. Planning, Development, and Building Committee Meeting
Call to Order: 5:34 p.m.
Ordinance 25-3: Public hearing and recommendation for the third reading
Purpose: Amending the Dorchester County zoning and Land Development standards ordinance
Subject: Updating the impervious surface section of the ordinance
Impervious Surface: Defined as the area of a lot that is covered by buildings or other surfaces that prevent water from filtering through
Amendments:
Updating standards for residential districts, townhomes, and cluster subdivisions
Allowing greater impervious surface in R3, R4, and MU districts specifically for townhomes
Recognizing smaller lot sizes in cluster subdivisions
Clarifying language in all other zoning districts to improve readability without changing standards
Updating references from South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Controls (SCDHEC) to South Carolina Department of Environmental System (SCDES)
Planning Commission: Recommended approval of the amendment
Public Hearing:
No public comments were made
The public hearing was closed
Motion to Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned after a motion, a second, and a unanimous vote
II. Dorchester County Water and Sewer Meeting
Call to Order: February 18th
New Sewer Service: Request for approval by Lennar Carolina's LLC for a mixed-use development
Location: Dorchester Road, Summerville
Motion to Postpone:
A motion was made to postpone the decision to the next meeting for a more detailed review
Reason: Concerns were raised about buffering the development from the adjacent 102-acre county-owned green space
Second: The motion was seconded
Vote: The motion to postpone carried unanimously
Motion to Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned with a motion, a second, and a unanimous vote
III. Dorchester County Council Meeting
Call to Order
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
Adoption of Minutes: Approval of minutes from the February 3rd, 2025, meeting
Motion: A motion to accept the minutes was made and seconded
Vote: The motion carried unanimously
Proclamation 25-01: Black History Month
Purpose: Recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month in Dorchester County
Reader: Councilwoman Rank read the proclamation
Motion: A motion to adopt the proclamation was made and seconded
Vote: The motion carried unanimously
Employee Recognition: Julie Freix Buyers
Years of Service: Recognized for 35 years of service with Dorchester County
Positions Held:
Secretary in the Economic Development Department (1989)
Grants Coordinator in the Finance Department (1993)
Grants and Special Projects Coordinator (1996-present)
Requests to Address Council
Brian Jordan:
Occupation: Family physician in St. George
Question: Why the shift from seeking an after-hours clinic to a primary care clinic in St. George
George H. Bailey:
Topics:
Sewer issues with the town of Harleyville
Requested an open meeting with Harleyville officials
Expressed support for an urgent care facility in the area
Correspondence
Clayfield Trail Project: Connection to SC Highway 165
Preconstruction Meeting: Scheduled for February 28th
Permits: All other permits are secured
Presentation: Dorchester County Historic Heritage Tourism Plan
Presenters: Robert Sherman and Libby Embody
Heritage Tourism: Focuses on authentic community places, artifacts, and events
Key Aspects:
Visitors stay longer and support local businesses
Top Tier Sites: Middleton, Colonial Dorchester, Somerville Museum, Dorchester Heritage Center, and Bacon Bridge at Ashley River Park
Logo: Developed based on a REV War District Rev War Trail and the Liberty flag
Six Identified Goals:
Engage residents
Increase awareness of Dorchester County's history and identity
Attract tourists and visitors
Encourage investment and preservation of historic assets
Serve as a foundation for planning the 250th commemoration
Support heritage tourism
Four Marketing Strategies:
Maps and trails
Interpretations and exhibits
Itineraries and day trips
Communication and advertising
County Administrator Time: Mr. Ward
Green Belt Funds: Request to use $4,125,000 for the acquisition of 1,644 acres on Old Beach Hill Road near Ridgeville
Partnerships:
Owner agreed to reduce the price by approximately $1 million
South Carolina Conservation Bank committed $3.1 million
SC Forestry Commission agreed to contribute at least $4.55 million
Presenters: James Douglas and Justin Park
Forestry Commission's Interest:
Conserving working forests
Maintaining economic, environmental, and social benefits
Permanent protection from development
25% of revenue goes back to the county for the school district
Open for public recreation
Opportunity for law enforcement training shooting ranges
Opportunity to plant switch grass and run dog training trials
Potential to expand to 6,000 acres
Motion: A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried unanimously
Stormwater Utility Fee: First reading of an ordinance to amend the code of ordinances
Purpose: Clarifying the applicability of the fee to parcels with one or more single-family homes
Motion: A motion to approve the first reading was made, seconded, and carried unanimously
Procurement Software: Request to authorize a contract with OpenGov
Reason: Current software is ending its life
Benefits: OpenGov is on a South Carolina state contract and will allow e-procurement and vendor registry
Motion: A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried unanimously
Committee Reports
Planning, Development, and Building Committee:
Public hearing held for the third reading of ordinance number 25-3
Vote was unanimous in favor
Water and Sewer Committee:
Request for approval of a sewer service was deferred to the next meeting
Appointments to Boards and Commissions:
No appointments were made
The senior center needs appointments
County Attorney's Time:
Public Hearing: Request to open a public hearing regarding leasing a county-owned building
Location: Sears Street and Northwest Railroad Avenue, St. George
Proposed Tenants: Carolina Family Care Inc. and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center
Presentation:
MUSC (Carolina Family Care Inc.) will occupy 5,600+ sq ft
SC Department of Mental Health will occupy 400 sq ft
300 sq ft mothballed for future expansion
36 parking spaces available
MUSC can host community events
Funded by $2.9 million in federal grants
Primary care facility with telehealth and behavioral health services
Will revisit the possibility of growing into an urgent care
Department of Mental Health will focus on wellness checks and counseling
Public Hearing:
Betty Walker Collins (St. George Town Council) asked about population thresholds for an urgent care and the timeline for revisiting the decision
Quinton Tomkins (MUSC) responded that thresholds vary by service line and MUSC is dedicated to rural healthcare
Kevin Hart (Mayor of St. George) expressed concerns about competition with local doctors and pharmacists, emphasizing the need for urgent care
Public hearing closed
Authorization: The County Administrator was authorized to execute the proposed leases with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and Carolina Family Healthcare (MUSC)
Motion: A motion was made to approve, including potential amendments and modifications in the county's best interest
Councilmember Recusal: One council member recused himself due to a family member working for MUSC
Vote: The motion carried
Resolution 25-4:
Purpose: Authorizing the addition of property in Orangeburg County to the Orangeburg-Dorchester County multi-county park
Motion: A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried unanimously
Executive Session:
Topics: Intergovernmental agreement between Dorchester County and the town of St. George for water support and an agreement and transfer of water/wastewater sewer territory with the town of Harleyville
Motion: A motion to enter executive session was made, seconded, and carried
Action After Executive Session:
Intergovernmental Agreement: Authorization for the County Administrator to execute the intergovernmental agreement between Dorchester County and the town of St. George for an operator of record for water support
Motion: A motion to approve, seconded, and carried
Adjournment:
Motion: A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried
*meeting auto transcribed, please excuse any typos & misspellings
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