What was supposed to be a third and final reading of an ordinance to amend the current Quad-County park agreement between Barnwell, Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton counties, hit a curve in its progress forward.
Barnwell County Council voted to have it re-worded to protect the county down the road – particularly regarding county schools’ share of taxes collected and inflationary factors.
Michael Kozlarek, with Parker, Poe, Adams and Bernstein, had explained the newly revised agreement.
The revised agreement was to change what is considered a project for the purposes of determining the monetary split for the counties involved.
In the current agreement, he said, if an industry plans to spend up to $20 million on a project, the “host” county will receive 97 percent of the tax revenue collected. The other counties will each collect 1 percent.
If a project tops $20 million, the host county will receive 40 percent with the other counties receiving 20 percent each.
If the same company decides to spend an additional $19 million in five years, it would be considered two separate projects.
The revised agreement would allow a longer look back period for what is considered “a project.”
Councilman Keith Sloan said if an industry plans to spend $19 million for a planned project and in five years decides to add another project for an additional $19 million, that would that change the split for the counties.
Kozlarek said if the new revision is passed, it may adjust the split for the counties.
He said “it would be as if the company was planning a $38 million project from the beginning.
Councilman Freddie Houston said he thought council ought to look at other parks in the future to locate industries in, not just the Quad-park.
County council members heard an update from the Economic Development Director, Marty Martin.
Martin said currently the EDC has eight buildings with four of those being rented or leased. Of the other four, two are being considered by firms who may want to expand or develop in this area, he said. Those decisions could be as long as six months away, he said.
Martin said he had seen a “trend for manufacturing jobs returning to the United States” and he hoped “Barnwell County would be able to take advantage of those returning jobs.”
Council members approved a motion to keep the current board members for the Barnwell County Nursing Home. These members will become the advisory board for the nursing home. Council will also keep the current health care committee members.