Council gives reading to two ordinances to join multi-county industrial parks with Aiken County; Edgefield to receive 1% of fee-in-lieu revenues

Edgefield County Council gave reading to two ordinances authorizing development of multi-county industrial and business parks in partnership with Aiken County; both measures passed on first reading.

County Administrator Dean said the ordinances authorize the county to participate procedurally in parks that will be geographically located in Aiken County but structured under multi-county agreements allowed by state law (citing section 4-1-170 of the South Carolina Code). The county will not be required to invest capital in the parks; Edgefield Countyxpects to receive 1% of fee-in-lieu-of-ad-valorem-tax revenues generated by projects located in the parks.

The two items described separate park agreements: one identifying a project by the placeholder name "Project Sunflower" and the other naming DCB North Augusta LLC (and affiliates) as a potential park sponsor. Councilmembers asked no substantive questions on the ordinances and voted to give reading to both measures; both readings passed unanimously. The ordinances create the procedural groundwork for participation should the park agreements be finalized by Aiken County and private project sponsors.