With the promise of “important news at our next meeting” concerning economic development, Orangeburg County Council agreed Tuesday to the next step of an unrelated infrastructure financing agreement for a $6 million convenience store/service station.

After a public hearing, at which no one spoke, council gave second reading to the agreement with Henry’s SOC station. The $6 million business, located on U.S. 301, will employ at least 50 people, a figure the county administrator said has already been surpassed.

County Administrator Bill Clark said after the session that the agreement calls for a special source revenue credit for infrastructure at a rate of 12 percent, which will generate some $230,000 as a credit toward future taxes.

In other development news, after the scheduled executive session to discuss unspecified economic development issues was canceled, Council Chairman Harry Wimberly added the teaser about “important news” that will be divulged at the Sept. 15 session.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the council authorized an agreement with the Town of Branchville regarding gap funding on a temporary basis in connection with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant and loan for water projects.

According to Clark, the agreement is necessary to pay the outstanding $220,000 due contractors who have been working on the town’s water projects. Once the Rural Development grant and loan funds are received, the money will be paid back. The $5 million water project, which is part of the one-cent capital sales tax, serves the surrounding area of Branchville and the rural community.

In other business, as recommended by the Tax and Tourism Advisory Committee, the council approved appropriations for tourism-related projects totalling all of the available $39,766.52.

Although the recommendation was for the Town of Springfield to receive $3,000 of the $5,000 request for its museum, council later agreed to add the remaining $1,766.52 in the Accommodations Tax Fund for a total of $4,766.52.

Also, Santee-Cooper Country will receive the entire $20,000 it requested. The Grand American Hunt will get the $7,000 it requested. The Town of Elloree will receive $5,000 of the $9,600 it requested for the Fall Festival. The city of Orangeburg’s Hillcrest Golf Club will get $3,000 of the $5,000 it requested.

After concerns were raised by Councilman Johnny Ravenell as to how municipalities were notified of the available tax money, council asked that a list of all committee members and their attendance records be provided.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@times anddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545. Discuss this and other stories at TheTandD.com.

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