Solar farms consider county

The farm locations and names of the companies involved were not released Monday and will be withheld until third and final reading, county officials said.

In one instance, council gave first reading by title only to fee-in-lieu of taxes and joint county industrial park incentives for a solar company only identified as Project Springfield. The company plans to invest $10 million.

The fee-in-lieu of taxes incentive allows industries to pay a fee based on a lower tax assessment than the standard 10.5 percent.

The joint county industrial park is a mechanism designed to provide an industry with additional incentives. There is no physical park.

Council also gave second reading approval to incentives for solar farm companies identified as Project Peony and Project Magnolia. Peony plans to invest $42.9 million and Magnolia plans to invest $46.2 million.

The companies will also receive traditional fee-in-lieu and joint county industrial park incentives.

Orangeburg County Councilman Harry Wimberly mentioned a solar farm that made plans to enter another county about three years ago.

“It has been three years and nothing has happened on his property,” Wimberly said. “We don’t want property tied up for a long period of time with someone speculating.”

State law gives the companies five years to locate and invest in the county, but this can be extended an additional five years if council desires.

Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said the arrival of the solar farms is “market driven.”

“There are only four solar farms that are at this stage and at this level” of county approval, he said.

“We have had a number of solar farms evaluate the county but I don’t want you to think there is a plethora of solar farms,” he said. “There are a lot of people looking, but to get to this stage in the ordinance and to get to this stage of execution in order for them to go public and announce is a big deal.”

Council was also going to give first reading to a solar farm project identified as Project Palmetto Plains, but Wimberly expressed concerns that he did not know where the nearly 500-acre farm would be located.

The farm would be located off of Highway 210, but that was the only information available for council on Monday.

“I don’t think council has seen this at all,” Wimberly said. “This title-only stuff can get you into trouble. I don’t know where it is coming from.”

Councilman Johnny Ravenell said he was unaware of the project as well.

Council agreed to delay the vote until the next meeting so more information can be obtained.

Robinson did say that the entire 499 acres has been secured, but it does not necessarily mean the entire property will be used for the solar farm.

The company says it would invest $85.5 million.

In other matters:

• Council approved a request to rezone about 5 acres of property owned by Elizabeth Felder at the intersection of Binnicker Bridge Road and Bamberg Road from rural community to commercial general.

The rezoning is intended to allow the placement of a boat, bait and tackle business on the property.

The intersection already has a gasoline station which is zoned commercial general.

Council gave first reading by title only to the rezoning ordinance. The ordinance will become official after third reading.

• Council gave second reading approval to a fee-in-lieu of taxes incentive for Project Leopard. The agreement will be added to the existing fee agreement, which the company received in 2013.

The company is planning to invest a minimum of $69 million to expand its presence in Orangeburg County. It has asked to remain anonymous until third and final reading.

Project Leopard wants to invest $29 million in buildings and $40 million in other items in the county. The investment will be made over the next five to ten years.

The company previously promised a minimum investment of 25 new jobs. This new expansion will not bring any more jobs but will secure the 25.

• Council adopted a resolution to consider the inclusion of property into a multi-county industrial park and to apply a special source revenue credit for a business locating near North.

The incentives would be provided if the company locates in a building at least 10,000 square feet in size, invests at least $250,000 and creates at least five new jobs.

No specific industry or business was mentioned.

* Council approved a three-year contract for waste hauling services to Dorado Services through June 30, 2020. The contract is $56,400 per month for the coming year beginning in July 2017 through June 2018. The contract increases $1,000 for each remaining year.

Council says after the three years, the contract with Dorado will still be less than the second-lowest waste hauling bid the county received two years ago.

The county has engaged the services of Dorado for the past two years.

* Council approved Ohio-based Kucera International to provide aerial photography services to the county, particularly for the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities. The contract is $95,000, with half being paid by DPU.

* Council gave Lexington, South Carolina-based AOS Specialty Contractors, Inc. the contract for $1.8 million to begin the first phase of improvements to the Orangeburg County courthouse complex.

The contract is for the placement of a new street and parking at the courthouse.

Orangeburg County is planning for the relocation of Docket Street, which could open up the area in front of the courthouse for a Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza.

* Armstrong Terrace resident Cynthia Dash requested council remove old houses from her street and clean up the area. She expressed concerns about the impact on her property values. Council said the matter will be looked into.

* Council approved to providing Santee Cooper Country $20,000 to help fund marketing efforts, $7,000 to the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce for billboard advertising and $25,127 for the 2017 Amateur Athletic Union Super Regional basketball championship tournament.

If the county does not get the tournament, the funds will not be provided for it.

* Council read a resolution declaring that the 2016 capital project sales and use tax referendum was approved by county voters in November.

* Council read and approved a resolution declaring that the referendum allowing Sunday alcohol sales was approved by voters. Wimberly, who was opposed to the Sunday alcohol sales, abstained.

The law will begin to take effect after Jan. 1.

* Council entered into executive session to talk about the Orangeburg County Department of Social Services building, receive an economic development update and discuss a Southern Health Services contract.