Sumter County delays "Project Peanut" second reading involving potential PILOT and land sale

Sumter County Council voted unanimously Nov. 11 to defer second reading of Ordinance 25-1036, named "Project Peanut," postponing action on a proposed fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes (PILOT) and related incentives and a potential sale of county-owned property in the Pocotaligo Industrial Park.

County Attorney Johnathan Bryan presented the ordinance as authorizing (1) a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes and incentive agreement between Sumter County and "Project Peanut" sponsors; (2) certain infrastructure credits; (3) the availability of multicounty industrial park benefits to the project; and (4) the sale of approximately 47.02 acres of county-owned Parcel #3 within the Pocotaligo Industrial Park. The ordinance summary in the meeting minutes lists those elements and says the sponsor may include affiliates or other project sponsors.

Vice Chairman James R. Byrd, Jr. moved to defer second reading; Councilmember Artie Baker seconded the motion, which the council carried unanimously. The minutes do not state a reason for the deferral, nor do they record a public comment or timeline for when the council will revisit the ordinance.

Next steps: the deferral leaves the proposal pending; the minutes indicate the matter will return for future consideration but provide no date or staff directive in the public record. The county’s legal authority to enter into a PILOT or sell county property would require further council action and any required statutory or administrative approvals prior to implementation.