Personal Injury Attorney in Georgetown, SC

Published: Nov. 13, 2024 at 2:50 PM PST|

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Work on a massive solar farm in Georgetown County will continue on track after Georgetown County Council voted Tuesday night to allow an additional 1,000 acres of land for the final phase of the solar farm.

The official name of the project is the Lambert Solar Farm located near Walker and Wild Horse Roads with over 2,000 megawatt solar farm systems to supply solar power to the Santee Cooper grid.

The solar farm was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, but delays from permitting issues mean it’s now expected to be finished by early 2025.

The project will create over 200 jobs and bring over 3.5 million dollars in tax revenue over the course of the project. Developer Silicon Ranch said there will be little to no impact to county resources.

Back in 2022, over 150 community members signed a petition against the development with concerns over stormwater drainage, chemicals, wildlife endangerment and property value.

But the development passed through Georgetown County Council.

After Tuesday’s decision, Silicon Ranch stated construction would move seamlessly and minimize any disturbance.

The developer released the following statement:

Thanks to tonight’s decision by the Georgetown County Council, SR Georgetown remains on track so that construction will move seamlessly from the neighboring Lambert Solar Farm immediately to this one, minimizing any disturbance and expanding the economic impact throughout the construction process.

Many people get their first job in solar construction at one of our projects, and as a result receive training that enables them to have long-term careers in this industry. We look forward to those being trained and gaining experience at our Lambert Solar Farm—which is currently under construction—being able to work on SR Georgetown.

As a neighbor and corporate citizen of Georgetown County, our mission is to support this community’s efforts to build a healthier, stronger, and more resilient future for those living here today and for decades to come.

In an effort to create a strong relationship with the community, Silicon Ranch will be participating in a local job fair hosted for former International Paper employees next week.

The event will be held at Howard Gymnasium on Nov. 21 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Nov. 22 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

GEORGETOWN — Georgetown County voters approved one new sales tax on Nov. 5, but they narrowly rejected another.

The capital projects sales tax, which will be used to pay for local infrastructure projects, passed with 51 percent of voters supporting it, according to unofficial results. Now a 1 percent local tax will be tacked on to the state’s 6 percent sales tax, making the sales tax in Georgetown County 7 percent.

Georgetown SC Business News

"This is a significant achievement as it will provide much-needed funding for critical health, safety and infrastructure improvements throughout Georgetown County," Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce President Beth Stedman said in a prepared statement. "We believe this outcome is a strong signal of our collective commitment to investing in the future of our area, ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to support the needs of our residents and communities."

This sales tax is projected to generate $10 million annually for eight years.

There was also a local option sales tax on the ballot. That tax failed to pass by a razor-thin margin, with just over 50 percent of voters opposing it.

Election officials said a recount will be needed because the margin was less than 1 percent. The tax received just 64 more no votes than yes ones, unofficial results showed.

Patrick Hamrick, who lives in Georgetown, said he voted for the capital projects sales tax but not the local option one.

"I'm definitely more inclined to pay more in sales taxes if it's going to benefit the community I'm living in," he said.

He said he voted against the local option sales tax because he didn't understand what it would be used for.

Collected on most retail items (with a few exceptions), a local option sales tax is designed reduce the tax burden for property owners.

Like the capital projects sales tax, it was expected to bring in about $10 million per year. Of that, 71 percent would have been used for property tax rollbacks, while the rest would have been divided between the county and cities based on population.

"Voters ultimately decided against it," Stedman said. "We respect the decision of the community and acknowledge the concerns that may have led to this outcome."

What does the new tax mean for Georgetown?

The capital projects sales tax will not be charged on housing, groceries, fuel, prescription medication or vehicles, said Walt Ackerman, the county's director of administrative services.

Ackerman said much of the tax revenue would be paid by tourists, people passing through the county or those paying for goods produced by local industries.

A commission appointed by Georgetown County Council compiled a priority list and a contingency list of projects to be funded by the capital projects sales tax.

Priority projects will be completed first, and contingency list items will be funded with any money left over after the priority projects are finished.

The priority list includes a new emergency operations center, new fire stations, storm water projects, recreational facility projects and a bus terminal in Georgetown.

"The passage of the Capital Project Sales Tax provides Georgetown County with a clear path to begin the work of meeting community needs," Stedman said. "With this funding source in place, Georgetown County and partners will be able to tackle long-term projects that will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike."

The county last approved a capital projects sales tax in 2014. The tax collected $41 million over four years and funded dredging in Murrells Inlet, road resurfacing and fire service improvements.

Updated: Nov. 7, 2024 at 4:44 PM PST

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) - County and city leaders are working together for what’s next one week after the International Paper mill announced the closure of the Georgetown mill.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon, officials said the shutdown is a corporate decision and did not involve the county, and that the announcement left them in shock.

“This is a different kind of storm than we are used to, but we will weather it as we have so many others and look for the opportunities against the hardship,” Council Chairman Louis Morant said.

The plant will close before the end of the year and leave hundreds out of work.

City and county leaders said they are working to guide those impacted straight into another job that will keep them in Georgetown.

Morant said they are developing a support plan to ease this transition for workers. He also said agencies are already on site at the plant helping them with resume writing and interview preparation.

“This will lead into a job fair on Nov. 21 and 22 at Howard Center, bringing together employers who are ready to offer new positions to those impacted,” Morant said.

There is also a rapid response team made up of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, SC Works and Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments to conduct information meetings with these workers.

“How to file unemployment, how to get on the computer systems at the SC Works systems, services available for them such as career counseling which would include resume writing, interviewing and job searches,” Workforce Development Director of Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments Ayla Dyer said.

Georgetown County School District is assessing the impact this may have on any of their current staff members and students. The district will be at the upcoming job fairs looking to hire.

“We stand as a team in support, as well as a resource for those in need,” Superintendent Dr. Bethany Giles said.

The deadline for employees to sign up for the job fair is on Nov. 15. Over 40 employers will be there.

If you are an employer interested in participating, click here.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

GEORGETOWN — Georgetown County election officials plan to recount votes after a sales tax referendum narrowly failed on Nov. 5.

The proposed local options sales tax received just 64 more no votes than yes ones, according to unofficial results. Since that margin is less than 1 percent, the votes must be recounted, local election officials said.

Before there's a recount, the Board of Voter Registration and Elections will need to officially call for one. That's expected to happen during the board's Nov. 8 meeting, according to a news release from Jackie Broach, the county's public information officer.

Collected on most retail items (with a few exceptions), a local option sales tax is designed reduce the tax burden for property owners.

Officials have estimated this tax would bring in about $10 million per year. Of that, 71 percent would be used for property tax rollbacks, while the rest would be divided between the county and cities based on population.

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Higher property values would lead to higher tax credits, according to Walt Ackerman, the county's director of administrative services.

Another local sales tax did pass on Nov. 5. The capital projects sales tax will be used to fund infrastructure projects such as a new emergency operations center, new fire stations, storm water projects, recreational facility projects and a bus terminal in Georgetown.

That tax is expected to bring in $10 million annually and last for eight years.

Ernie Cooper Sr., who was elected to the District 3 seat on Georgetown County Council this week, said he had expected both of the local sales taxes to pass.

"I am somewhat surprised that one was able to move forward and the other one did not pass," he said.

The recount will likely begin on Nov. 12 and could last until Nov. 13 because of the number of ballots that need to be scanned, Broach said.

The recount must be completed before Nov. 14 when the state certifies the election.

If voters had approved both 1 percent hikes, the sales tax in the county would have increased to 8 percent. If the unofficial results hold, the sales tax would increase to 7 percent.

GEORGETOWN — The closing of International Paper's Georgetown mill could have far-reaching ramifications, including impacts to the city’s water system.

That's because IP maintains a canal that serves as the city's primary water source. It's unclear what will happen to the canal after IP shuts down the mill in the coming months, and city officials said they are hurrying to get answers from the Memphis-based company.

"We will be in discussions about that," Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe said. "Nothing has been resolved on that yet."

The 27-mile canal can be seen from the corner of Church and Reservoir streets behind Georgetown High School. It carries water from the Pee Dee River and supplies 5,413 Georgetown customers, said Pam Gaddy, the city's water and waste treatment manager.

The canal was a creative solution that emerged from a drought in the early 1950s. Needing to get freshwater to the mill, IP dug the zig-zagging canal through the swamp.

Cal Wall, a city employee, helps look after the canal and the equipment that pumps water to the city's water treatment plant. IP uses a separate pumping system and treatment plant to operate its paper mill.

Myrtle Beach News

On Nov. 1, Wall visited the canal to check the meters and make sure things were running smoothly. He’s unsure what will become of the canal when the paper mill shuts down, but for now, nothing has changed.

"It's business as usual until we hear differently," he said.

In the coming months, IP will continue to manage the canal and ensure there's a reliable source of water for the city, IP spokeswoman Amy Simpson said.

But after that, questions remain.

State Sen. Ronnie Sabb, D-Greeleyville, said there’s been minimal discussion about maintenance after the plant closes. Sabb said an IP representative told him there will be cooperation between the company and the city to maintain the canal.

"What I walked away from was the idea that IP wanted to be a good neighbor in terms of making sure things continued to roll smoothly," Sabb said.

City officials said it's too early to know what Georgetown's role in maintaining the canal might be or how much that would cost.

Wall said there are ways to ensure Georgetown will be supplied with water regardless of what happens when IP leaves the area. Residents shouldn't worry about their water suddenly being cut off, he said.

City spokeswoman Cindy Thompson said Jayroe and City Administrator Scott Whittier plan to meet with IP officials to discuss the canal's future. As of Nov. 4, a date for the meeting had not been set.

In addition to concerns about the canal, the planned closure of the paper mill will leave nearly 700 IP employees without jobs and create a ripple effect that residents said makes them anxious about the city's future.

The 87-year-old mill has long been the focal point of the city's economy. Apart from the lost mill jobs, county officials said the shutdown will also affect about 200 contractors and other local businesses.