Aiken County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Aiken County voters to decide wastewater expansion in November referendum

Aiken County Council voted to place a referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot asking voters whether to modify prior authorizations to expand wastewater treatment facilities and services beyond county borders. The ordinance sets voter qualifications, polling-place rules, and the ballot question for the election.

County Council

The referendum ordinance, which takes effect August 4, 2026, modifies the 1976 and 2006 wastewater facility authorizations. The ballot question asks if the county may acquire, construct, and operate wastewater facilities and provide services within and outside Aiken County. Voter registration closes 30 days before the referendum; polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Results will be certified by the Aiken County Election Commission and reported to County Council. The ordinance repeals conflicting rules.

In a separate special called meeting on July 28, council considered a second reading of an ordinance to modify authorization for acquiring, constructing, and operating wastewater treatment facilities, and a resolution authorizing the County Attorney to begin judicial action regarding the Sunday alcohol sales referendum (Ordinance No. 26-04-16). No decisions were reported from that meeting.

Planning Commission

On August 4, the Planning Commission considered a proposed zoning map amendment from RUD to PUD A for 41.58 acres on Keagen Blvd (Sage Mill Residential, Ltd) and preliminary plat approval for Hawthorne at Trolley Run, a 102-lot residential development. The commission also discussed a proposed boundary modification for Trolley Run Station PUD-A, reducing the area by 40.9 acres, and the addition of three residential pods: Hawthorne, Crescent, and North of Catenary. Roadway improvements, including the extension of Catenary Boulevard and addition of Milligan Avenue, were also on the agenda. These items were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

Keep Aiken County Beautiful

The Keep Aiken County Beautiful board met August 5 for a procedural review of litter prevention programs, including Adoption Programs, Report-A-Litterbug, Tarp Campaign, and Love Aiken Hate Litter Caught Green Handed. Committee reports were heard from Public Relations, Youth, Business Relations, and Community Care, along with updates on Community Education & Outreach and grants. No votes on new policies or expenditures were scheduled.

Transportation

The South Carolina Subcommittee of the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Policy Committee met August 6 to consider an amendment to the FY 2024-2033 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Belvedere-Clearwater Road (SC-126) Corridor Improvement Project. The subcommittee also considered approval of the draft FY 2027-2036 TIP update and an amendment to the FY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program for Task 3.5 GIS Development & Applications. Presentations covered the Congestion Management Process and an update on the Ascauga Lake Road Corridor Study. No decisions were reported.

Coming up

The Aiken County Board of Appeals will meet August 13 to consider two variance requests: a minimum lot size variance at 206 Larry Dee Street (Prescott & Sons Construction, LLC) and a variance for a 661 square foot accessory structure increase at 700 Starbuck Drive (Phillip Berley).

Aiken County Council orders November referendum on wastewater system expansion; committees advance road, software, and fire contracts

Aiken County Council voted to place a referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot asking voters whether the county may acquire, construct, and operate wastewater treatment facilities and provide services both within and outside Aiken County. The ordinance, given second reading at a July 28 special called meeting, would modify prior authorizations from 1976 and 2006. Voter registration closes 30 days before the referendum, polling places will be open 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., and results will be certified by the Aiken County Election Commission. The ordinance takes effect August 4, 2026.

Wastewater referendum and Sunday alcohol sales

At the same July 28 meeting, council considered a resolution authorizing the County Attorney to begin judicial action regarding the Sunday alcohol sales referendum under Ordinance No. 26-04-16. That referendum had previously passed on third reading in an 8-1 vote, recorded in earlier council minutes.

Committee recommendations from July 21

The Administrative Committee expressed support for live-streaming County Council meetings via Facebook, starting with the main meeting, and asked staff to bring back pricing options. The committee recommended approval of three resolutions: a document management software contract with Keymark LLC, a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the DOE Savannah River Field Office for Tax Year 2025, and an extension of the employee health program contract with Aiken Regional Medical Centers. A vacancy report covering multiple departments — including Sheriff, EMS, Detention, and Public Works — was received as information.

The Development Committee recommended approval of several items, including procurement of backup parts, a deck crane, belt press refurbishment kit, and vertical turbine pump rebuild for the Aiken County Wastewater Treatment Plant. It also recommended a contract award to Satterfield Construction Company for $896,500 in roadway improvements on Pleasant Oak Drive, Pineland Terrace, Pine Hill Drive, and Bond Court. Road name assignments for Pineda Dr, Quantum Cir, and Scattered Poppy Ln in District 6 and District 2 were also recommended.

The Development Committee additionally discussed naming the wastewater treatment facility as the Aiken County Wastewater Treatment Plant, disclaiming county ownership of the Salley Jail in favor of the Town of Salley's claim, and applying for a State Revolving Fund loan for a sludge dryer at the wastewater plant.

Public safety and fire protection

The Judicial and Public Safety Committee reviewed revised volunteer fire department contracts and an agreement with Lyn-Rich Contracting, LLC for the Wagener EMS Station Addition (Bid 26-15-B). The committee also considered commissioning Jazmyne Vera as an Enforcement Officer and reviewed June 2026 monthly run reports for fire departments and code enforcement.

A separate committee review covered a draft five-year fire protection services contract running August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2031, with automatic renewal. The contract would establish service areas set by County Council, require departments to participate in the South Carolina Mutual Aid Program, and reimburse departments $200 per firefighter for annual physicals upon receipt of bill.

Financial review and new EMS director

A council work session reviewed May 2026 financial reports showing total revenues of $87,552,504 against a budget of $99,146,111, and total expenditures without hurricane costs of $88,720,701. Emergency Services expenditures reached $13,872,583, nearly 99% of its budget. Hurricane Helene expenditures totaled $214,643. The council also introduced new Aiken County EMS Director Amber Woodward and discussed the status of contingency funds and ARPA reports.

Coming up

• **August 4 — Planning Commission:** Zoning map amendment from RUD to PUD-A for 41.58 acres on Keagen Blvd and preliminary plat approval for Hawthorne at Trolley Run (102 lots), including boundary modifications to Trolley Run Station PUD-A.
• **August 5 — Keep Aiken County Beautiful:** Procedural board meeting with updates on litter prevention programs; no votes on new policies or expenditures scheduled.
• **August 6 — ARTS Policy Committee (SC Subcommittee):** Vote on amending the FY 2024-2033 TIP for the Belvedere-Clearwater Road (SC-126) Corridor Improvement Project and approval of the draft FY 2027-2036 TIP update.
• **August 13 — Board of Appeals:** Two variance requests — minimum lot size at 206 Larry Dee Street (Prescott & Sons Construction, LLC) and a 661 square foot accessory structure increase at 700 Starbuck Drive (Phillip Berley).

Aiken County Board of Appeals acts on senior living height variance; Planning Commission sets subdivision hearings

The Aiken County Board of Appeals approved a height increase for a senior living project on Whiskey Road, along with several accessory-structure variances, at its July 9 meeting. Minutes have not yet been published, so the recorded actions below are drawn from the meeting summary.

Board of Appeals: Whiskey Road senior living project

The board approved a request to increase building height from 35 feet to 52 feet 8 inches and to decrease building separation from 20 feet to 15 feet at the Whiskey Road/Hunters Glen Road location. The project was identified as a senior living development.

Board of Appeals: accessory-structure variances

The board also acted on multiple accessory-structure variance requests at the same July 9 meeting:

• **648 Pintail Drive** — approved a 1,018 square foot variance for an accessory structure.
• **1704 Huckleberry Drive** — approved a 127 square foot variance for an accessory structure.
• **1080 Eve Street** — approved a variance for non-residential principal use and a 743 square foot accessory structure variance.
• **636 Victoria Drive** — a 155.5 square foot variance for an accessory structure was proposed. The request sought to allow a 900 square foot accessory structure where the maximum allowed is 744.5 square feet.

All July 9 Board of Appeals items are listed as "agenda only (minutes not yet published)," so final vote tallies are not available in the provided record.

Planning Commission: public hearings on three subdivisions

The Aiken County Planning Commission scheduled public hearings on July 16 for three preliminary plats:

• **Clearwater Preserve** — 109 lots on Jefferson Davis Highway.
• **Hickory Knoll** — 27 lots on Hickory Nut Lodge Road.
• **Hollow Oak** — 36 lots off Sunnybrook Road.

These are preliminary plat applications, meaning the commission was reviewing whether the subdivision layouts meet county requirements. No decisions are recorded in the provided materials.

Planning Commission: manufactured home park and zoning map amendment

Old business on the July 16 agenda included:

• **Hollow Creek manufactured home park** — 47 spaces on Pine Log Road, Beech Island.
• **Hawthorne at Trolley Run** — a zoning map amendment from RUD to PUD A for a 41.58-acre parcel on Keagen Blvd, along with a related preliminary plat for 102 lots.

No outcomes are recorded for these items.

Sub-Committee: Trolley Run Station PUD-A amendments

On July 15, a Planning and Development Sub-Committee discussed proposed amendments to the Trolley Run Station Planned Unit Development (PUD-A). The item was requested by Chief Development Officer Joel Duke and listed under new business. The meeting was a discussion only; no decisions are recorded.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents are encouraged to check the Aiken County official website for newly posted agendas.