Florence County Council to hear judicial facility options

Florence County Council on Thursday will hear its options for a proposed new judicial facility that would offer more space as well as security improvements.

Councilman James Schofield said Thursday’s presentation from Southern Management Group’s Tom Baldwin presentation will be an “informational meeting” for council.

“I expect that’s going to be a real question-and-answer session for him,” Schofield said.

Florence County entered a contract last year with Southern Management Group, the company responsible for construction management of the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, to make recommendations for the new facility.

The county commissioned Baldwin to develop concepts and cost estimates for a new judicial facility.

The county’s courtrooms are on the top floors of the 11-floor Florence City-County Complex, and a council committee is studying space needs for the agencies in the building.

The contract was signed at no cost, but if the judicial center project succeeds, the county has agreed to use Southern Management Group for construction management of the center.

Council also will vote Thursday on third and final reading of an ordinance to suspend Sunday work prohibitions for Monster, an online job recruitment and careers resource.

The ordinance would allow an exemption to state law prohibiting work between midnight and 1:30 p.m. Sundays. It aims to ensure Monster can operate its future Florence County customer service center around the clock.

On June 26, Monster announced its plans to invest $28 million and bring 750 jobs to Florence County over five years.

Council also will hold a public hearing and final reading of a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with General Electric Co., which plans to make hardware for a new magnetic resonance scanner in Florence through upgrades that could be worth more than $10 million.

In addition, an amendment that aims to let property owners know whether a parcel of land has passed a soil percolation test is up for second reading Thursday.

The test determines whether a parcel can support a septic tank. Under the amendment, a plat would be stamped to show whether the property has a septic tank permit or whether no test has been performed.

Council previously approved an exemption from soil percolation test requirements for subdividing land in estate settlements and life estates. The amendment essentially would extend that exemption.

Council also will vote Thursday on third and final reading of a rezoning request that would allow a distribution center for OM Ships ministry materials to be shipped worldwide from a local church’s property.

Community Bible Fellowship, on St. Andrews Road near Southborough Road, has donated more than 12 acres for the ministry.

The request is to rezone the land from single-family residential to a Planned Development where future plans include town homes for volunteers at the distribution center.

IF YOU’RE GOING

WHAT: Florence County Council meeting, including public hearing on fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with General Electric Co.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Florence City-County Complex Room 803, 180 N. Irby St.
INFO: Call Clerk to County Council Connie Y. Haselden at (843) 665-3035