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First reading for budget, new fire district by county council
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Martin L. Cahn
Updated: May 14, 2019, 1 a.m.

They will be by title only, but Kershaw County Council will take up first readings of five ordinances at its meeting tonight. The first will serve as council’s first step in passing a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins July 1. Another will set the millage rate for the fiscal year. Two will deal with setting up a single fire district for the county’s unincorporated areas, while the remaining ordinance deals with public utilities.

First readings by title only are not an unusual way for councils to take first steps on complex matters. By taking a vote by title only, a council member makes a motion by reading into the record the title of the ordinance. Like all such votes, the motion must be seconded. However, unlike full readings of an ordinance, a reading by title only does not get into the specifics being proposed. Instead, they serve to publicly announce that council will now be working on those details in order to bring back amendments and deeper explanations on second and third readings.

For the FY 2020 budget, the title reads “An Ordinance to Provide Budget Appropriations for County Purposes in the County of Kershaw for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2019 and Ending June 30, 2020 and Adopt and Implement the Charge and Collection of Service and User Rates and Fees; and for Other Tax Purposes and County Appropriation Purposes.”

In addition there will be first reading of “An Ordinance Setting the Millage Rate for Kershaw County for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2019.”

The titles of the twofire district-related ordinances are:

• An Ordinance by Kershaw County Council to Place into Effect Service and User Fees for Rates and Charges for the Furnishing of Fire Protection Services within the Fire Protection District of Kershaw County as Authorized by Ordinance Creating the Fire Protection District of Kershaw County.

• An Ordinance by Kershaw County Council to Establish a Special Tax District for Fire Protection Services within the Entire Unincorporated Area of Kershaw County Pursuant to South Carolina Code of Laws Section 4-9-30(5)(a)(iii) and to Repeal the Ordinance Creating the Fire Protection District of Kershaw County with Said Ordinance Having an Effective Date of July 1, 2020.

The final first reading by title only will be for “…an Ordinance by Kershaw County Council Amending and Restating Chapter 13 Public Utilities of Kershaw County Ordinances, as Amdended.”

In addition, council will take up third and final readings of ordinances granting a zoning change to nearly 30 acres of land to be transformed into an RV park near the Carolina Motorsports Park and authorizing a 10-year extension to the base lease agreement for the S.C. Equine Center. Council will also take up second reading of an ordinance granting a zoning change for 21 acres of land owned by Randy Bock to be used as a wedding venue.

Council will hold a public hearing at the beginning of tonight’s hearing concerning the Equine Center lease, and Jonathan Potter will make a public presentation about the center’s operations.

Council will also:

• recognize May 19-25 as Emergency Medical Services Week;

• discuss and possibly take action on an inmate health and service proposal for the Kershaw County Detention Center;

• discuss and possibly take action on work on roadway and entrance improvements at Governor’s Hill Industrial Park; and

• consider reappointments to the county’s planning commission and zoning board of appeals.

Today’s meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the County Government Center, 515 Walnut St., Camden, and is open to the public.