Calhoun County Council: Landfill costs going up for county

“We haven’t seen a fee increase in several years and so that is why you see such a substantial jump. We are building that into our budgeting,” Calhoun County Administrator John McLauchlin said.

McLauchlin discussed the issue at Monday’s Calhoun County Council meeting.

The county’s waste is collected from its ten convenience sites. It taken to the Orangeburg County landfill and, from there, to the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority in Aiken County.

The increase, which is being implemented by the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority, will take effect July 1.

“Please use the convenience sies,” McLauchlin said. “That is what it is there for. We do not want trash on the side of the road, but understand it does come with a cost.”

County Council gave unanimous first reading approval to seven 2024-2025 fiscal year budget ordinances covering the general fund, public schools, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, the Calhoun County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, capital improvements, water and wastewater, the Calhoun Hills Golf Complex, the Sandy Run Fire Department and the Calhoun County Rural Fire District.

The ordinances passed without any comments or discussion.

The county will not know if a tax increase will be needed until at least the second reading of the budget, McLauchlin said.

“Things are very fluid right now,” he said.

The ordinance related to the funding of the Sandy Run Fire Department calls for the levy of 4.2 mills of taxes and 2 mills for debt service for the Calhoun County Rural Fire District.

The county’s 2024-2025 fiscal year begins July 1.

Black honored

Council unanimously passed a resolution honoring Pat Black for his service as Calhoun County Economic Development Commission chairman.

Black has served as chairman of the commission since 1982.

The resolution honors Black for his work in attracting industrial and business development, jobs and capital investment into the county over the years.

“I appreciate this honor of recognition more than I can tell you,” Black said.

Serving in the position, “has been and continues to be a great experience. We have done a lot and continue to do well, particularly for a small, rural South Carolina county.”

Black thanked all those who have helped in economic development over the years.

Black related how, years ago, his wife and the late County Council Chairman David Summers’ wife would host industrial prospects in their homes.

“One prospect we had who located in the county confided with me later that one of the factors they considered when they were locating the plant was on how they felt so welcomed when they came into Calhoun County,” Black said.

Black said existing businesses continue to be a source of contact when the county seeks to attract new industries.

“New friends are silver, old friends are gold,” Black said.

Black has been recognized statewide for his contributions to economic development, being named the S.C. Volunteer of the Year in 1995 by the S.C. Economic Developers Association. He was recognized in 1994 by then-Gov. Carroll Campbell with the Individual Initiative Rural Development Award.

Black worked for 25 years at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, where he finished up as vice president of academic affairs and student services.

He also taught agriculture and horticulture at Branchville High School and economics at Claflin University.

He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both from Clemson University.

He has served as the announcer for Orangeburg Preparatory School’s Indians home football games for over 20 years.

Lower Savannah Council of Governments Executive Director Dr. Bill Molnar said the LSCOG has served as a pass-through agency for the town of St. Matthews to receive a $3 million S.C. Infrastructure Investment Program grant for sewer line projects.

About $1.4 billion was awarded to the state as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The funds have been awarded via the SCIIP.

He said the LSCOG is working with the county’s transportation committee and other county leaders to identify transportation projects to be included in the body’s five-year transportation plan.

The LSCOG is required by the S.C. Department of Transportation to update its transportation plan every five years.

In other business, council went into closed session to discuss an economic development matter related to Project CoOp and a personnel matter.