Orangeburg County Council has approved incentives to help attract a $28 million solar farm to the region.
While the details have not yet been released, council gave third reading last week to two ordinances regarding the solar farm, which is being called “Project Olive” for now.
The first ordinance allows for a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement with the business developing the solar farm. The county typically enters into such agreements with larger industries, which allow them to pay a reduced tax rate as a fee over a set amount of time.
The second ordinance allows the project to be placed into a joint county industrial park, which allows the project to receive additional incentives.
In other business:
• Council approved phase two of the Edisto River debris removal project.
Phase two will cover 30 miles of the river, starting at the Brothers Street landing and going to an area below Branchville.
The second phase will cost $138,000 and will be completed by Zulu Marine Services of Savannah, Georgia.
The first phase covered 10 miles of the river from Shillings Bridge Road to Glover Street and was completed in December 2017.
• Council authorized the county to replace its finance and enterprise resource planning system.
The system gathers financial data for the county. The county elected to replace the current system’s software with software from Tyler Technologies. County Administrator Harold Young stated that the new system will save the county $300,000 a year.
• Council approved first reading of an ordinance providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds not to exceed $5.5 million to purchase county vehicles.
• Council approved second reading of an ordinance that will change the zoning of property at 123 Gregg Street from residential general to commercial general. The property will be used by Robert Jackson to sell and repair vehicles.
• Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith gave a report on the litter control and pickup for June and July. Cooper-Smith reported that a total of 32,920 pounds of litter were collected over the two-month span, with 18,340 pounds collected in June and 14,580 pounds in July.
