York County Council Meeting Summary, October 7, 2024

The meeting took place at 6 PM at the York County Government Center. The session began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member William Roddey.

Key Highlights:

Oath of Office:
- Several newly appointed board and commission members were sworn in, including Richard Roach for the Bethesda Fire Tax District Board, Teresa Steele for York County Forever (District 5), and Janet Clawson for the Employee Grievance Committee.
Recognition and Appearances:
- Tammy Ledford was recognized for her service and retirement from York County Public Safety Communications, with heartfelt remarks from her colleagues highlighting her dedication and impact on the community.
- Beth White from York County Farm Bureau expressed gratitude to the council for its continued support, especially for agriculture during challenging times.
Public Forum:
- The forum was limited to thirty minutes, with each speaker given two minutes. Few people signed up, with discussions focusing primarily on rezoning topics.

Consent Agenda:

The council approved multiple items, including:

Rezoning actions, contract approvals, and authorizations for the acceptance of grants.
Declaration of a 2000 GMC Fire Pumper Vehicle as county surplus.
Sole source purchases for fire hose testing services.
Awarding bids for projects like improvements at Riverview Fire Station and building renovations at York County’s Planning facility.

Public Hearings and Rezoning Actions:

Eight public hearings for rezoning actions were conducted. Key decisions included:

Case #24-40: Rezoning a portion of a 218-acre parcel on Hickory Grove Road from RUD (Rural Development) to AGC (Agricultural Conservation) was approved.
Case #24-41: Rezoning a 1.57-acre parcel on Forest Hills Circle from RSF-40 to RSF-30 was approved.
Case #24-42: Rezoning two parcels totaling 5.24 acres on Herlong Court from RSF-30 to GC (General Commercial) was denied, following both staff and Planning Commission recommendations.
Case #24-45: Rezoning a 4.49-acre parcel on Terrys Road to LI (Light Industrial) was approved.
Case #24-46: Rezoning a 2.5-acre portion of a 5-acre parcel on Burris Road from AGC to RUD was approved with conditions.

Economic Development and Finance & Operations Committee Reports:

The Economic Development Committee discussed a strategic plan to support small businesses, including the creation of a “Small Business Toolkit” website, anticipated to launch in January. The toolkit will provide information and resources to assist entrepreneurs.
The Finance and Operations Committee approved several appointments and financial allocations for local programs, including funds for scholarships and outreach programs.

Executive Session:

Three topics were discussed:

Legal advice on Project Elixir.
An economic development update on Project Universal.
A litigation and legal update.

No actions were taken during the executive session, but upon returning, the council authorized the retention of two outside defense counsel.

Council Member Comments:

Council members took the opportunity to express their gratitude to county staff, emergency responders, and the community for their response to recent challenges, including hurricanes. They also praised the ongoing support from local organizations such as York Electric Cooperative, churches, and Samaritan’s Purse.