Lake City public meetings in 2025

City Council

The council will consider several final‑reading resolutions, including updates to purchasing and contracting policies, a mutual aid agreement with Williamsburg County, and adoption of organizational values. It will also hold first‑reading ordinances to declare surplus real property and authorize its sale, notably the negotiated sale of surplus property at 106 East Main Street to Greater Lake City Alliance. Routine items such as adopting the agenda, approving September 17 minutes, and a public comment period are also on the agenda.

• Resolution 2025-051 – amend the purchasing and contracting policies manual (Section 14) on disposal of city real property
• Resolution 2025-052 – allow Lake City to enter a mutual aid agreement with Williamsburg County
• Resolution 2025-057 – permit Medical University of SC to paint its logo on the water tower at 3555 N. Williamsburg County Hwy
• Ordinance 2025-015 – authorize the negotiated sale of surplus property at 106 East Main Street to Greater Lake City Alliance
• Ordinance 2025-016 – authorize the sale of surplus real property at 582 Moore Street and 588 Moore Street

City Council

The City Council will review five resolutions for final reading, including a temporary water bill relief policy for residents. The body will also consider agreements for mutual aid with neighboring towns and a logo placement on a water tower.

• Resolution 2025.050: Temporary hardship water bill relief policy for residential customers
• Resolution 2025.048: Mutual Aid Agreements with the Town of Scranton, Town of Coward, and the Town of Olanta
• Resolution 2025.046: Permission for Medical University of SC (MUSC) to paint logo on water tower at 3555 N. Williamsburg County Hwy
• Resolution 2025.047: Engine replacement for a 2019 Ford F-150 police department vehicle
• Resolution 2025.049: Adoption of 2026 Holiday Calendar and City Council Meetings Schedule

City Council

The City Council is holding a special call-in meeting to conduct second readings of two ordinances. These ordinances concern tax anticipation borrowing and the issuance of general obligation bonds.

• Ordinance 2025.012: Tax anticipation borrowing not exceeding $600,000
• Ordinance 2025.013: General obligation bond, series 2025, not exceeding $1,000,000

City Council

The Lake City City Council will hold its regular meeting on October 14, 2025. The primary business includes the second reading of an amended budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and the appointment of a new City Administrator. The Council will also consider a tax anticipation borrowing and the sale of a general obligation bond.

• Second reading of Amended Ordinance 2025.003 (Budget)
• First reading of Ordinance 2025.012 (Tax anticipation borrowing up to $600,000)
• First reading of Ordinance 2025.013 (General obligation bond up to $1,000,000)
• Final reading of Resolution 2025.045 (Sale of city vehicles)
• Final reading of Resolution 2025.046 (Appointment of Malik Whitaker as City Administrator)

City Council

The Lake City City Council will hold a special meeting with an executive session to discuss negotiations for a permanent city administrator contract, a proposed sale or purchase of public property, legal advice related to pending or potential claims, and security personnel or devices. After the executive session, the council may take action on any of these matters in open session.

• Negotiations for a permanent city administrator contract
• Proposed sale or purchase of public property
• Legal advice on pending or potential claims
• Discussion of security personnel or devices

City Council

The City Council is holding a special call meeting to conduct a public hearing regarding the City of Lake City budget for fiscal year 2025-2026.

• Public hearing on the City of Lake City Budget Fiscal Year 2025-2026

City Council

The Lake City City Council will conduct the first reading of Amended Ordinance 2025.003, which proposes to levy taxes and establish the municipal budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The ordinance’s second reading is scheduled for October 14, 2025. Public notice of the budget appeared in the Morning News on September 13, 2025. The meeting also includes routine items such as invocation, pledge of allegiance, and approval of a bill.

• Amended Ordinance 2025.003 – First reading of the FY 2025‑2026 city budget
• Public notice of the budget published in the Morning News on Sep 13, 2025
• Approval of a bill (details not specified in agenda)

City Council

The City Council is reviewing a proposed budget that reduces total staffing by 21 positions across General Fund and Utility departments. The plan includes a shift to a zero-minimum water rate structure and the potential sale of city properties to increase reserves.

• Proposed reduction of 21 employees, including the elimination of the PIO department
• Proposed sale of Cole Road property ($600,000-$800,000 estimate) and 106 E. Main St. ($70,000 or less estimate)
• Proposed zero-minimum water rate structure and annual inflationary increases of 3%-5%
• Proposed $1 per month hydrant rental fees for customers outside city limits
• General Fund revenue proposed at $10,078,534 with expenditures of $9,600,698

City Council

The Lake City City Council will hold a special meeting on September 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 202 Kelley Street. After the opening items, the council will enter an executive session under South Carolina FOIA provisions to discuss personnel matters such as evaluations, compensation, and legal advice. Following the executive session, the council may take action on any issues discussed.

• Executive session to discuss personnel evaluations, employment, compensation, and legal advice (per SC FOIA §§30-4-70(a)(1)(2))
• Potential council action on matters discussed during the executive session

City Council

The City Council is meeting for a special session to discuss personnel matters and receive legal advice. No public action items are listed on the agenda.

• Executive session regarding personnel, evaluations, employment, compensation, or appointments
• Executive session for the receipt of legal advice

City Council

The Lake City City Council convened a special meeting on September 10, 2025. Standard items such as the invocation, pledge of allegiance, polling of members, and agenda adoption were completed. An executive session was held under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, but no action was taken. The meeting was then adjourned.

City Council

The Lake City City Council meeting will consider several second‑reading ordinances, including amendments to the Business License Ordinance, a fund‑balance policy, and a contract with Florence County for a GO Bond. It will also vote on annexation and rezoning of four parcels identified on the Florence County Tax Map. Additionally, the council will consider resolutions to accept a $163,655 public‑safety grant and to match funds for a state problem‑solver grant.

• Ordinance 2025.006 – amendment of the Business License Ordinance
• Ordinance 2025.007, 2025.008, 2025.009 – annex and rezone properties 00196‑31‑187, 00196‑31‑024, and 00196‑31‑001
• Ordinance 2025.010 – adoption of a Fund Balance Policy
• Ordinance 2025.011 – contractual agreement with Florence County for GO Bond
• Resolution 2025.043 – acceptance of South Carolina Public Safety SRO Grant for $163,655

City Council

The Lake City City Council will hold a workshop to review South Carolina forms of government. The session includes a presentation by the Municipal Association of SC and a question-and-answer period with the public.

• Workshop on SC forms of government
• Presentation by Municipal Association of SC
• Public Q&A session

City Council

The Lake City City Council will consider first readings for several ordinances, including amendments to the Business License Ordinance and zoning code, as well as final readings for resolutions regarding loan assistance, appointments to various boards, and the purchase of an ERP system. The council will also approve monthly bills and receive reports from the Police Department.

• First reading to amend Business License Ordinance
• First reading to revise High-Business Zone zoning code
• Final reading to accept loan assistance from Water Quality Revolving Fund
• Final reading to authorize purchase of an ERP system
• Final reading to authorize sale of two Chevrolet Tahoes

City Council

The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the June 10 regular meeting. A motion to approve Ordinance 2025.003, the second reading of the 2025‑2026 municipal budget, was taken; the record notes that not all members voted in favor, but no final outcome is listed. The meeting was then adjourned unanimously.

• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved June 10 minutes (unanimous)
• Voted on Ordinance 2025.003 second reading; not all members voted in favor (outcome not recorded)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

City Council

The council amended and approved Ordinance 2025.003, cutting vacant general‑fund positions by 20% except for the city administrator. It also approved a zoning amendment (Ordinance 2025.004) and rezoned 123 Morris St for a salon/spa (Ordinance 2025.005). Several grant resolutions and a forgivable loan for a sewer project were accepted, while the juvenile curfew amendment was tabled.

• Amended Ordinance 2025.003 to cut vacant general‑fund positions by 20% (all present voted yes)
• Approved Ordinance 2025.004 zoning text amendment (all present voted yes)
• Approved Ordinance 2025.005 rezoning 123 Morris St for salon/spa use (all present voted yes)
• Tabled Ordinance 2025.002 juvenile curfew amendment (all present voted yes)
• Approved Resolution 2025.025 to accept AARP Community Challenge grant for sidewalk repairs (all present voted yes)
• Approved Resolution 2025.026 to accept SC Forestry Commission Urban Food Forest grant (all present voted yes)
• Approved Resolution 2025.027 to accept Duke Energy HERO grant of $6,000 for first‑responder radios (all present voted yes)
• Approved Resolution 2025.028 to accept a 100% forgivable State Revolving Fund loan for the Martha Law Estates sewer rehabilitation project (all present voted yes)

City Council

The council did not enter executive session. After discussion of irregularities, members voted 6‑1 to table Ordinance 2025.003, the first reading of the 2025‑2026 municipal budget. The council also approved Resolution 2025.024 establishing a policy for prior approval of out‑of‑state travel expenses.

• Tabled Ordinance 2025.003 (budget) – vote 6‑1
• Approved Resolution 2025.024 travel‑approval policy – approved
• Approved agenda – unanimous
• Approved minutes of May 13, 2025 meeting – unanimous

City Council

Mayor Yamekia Robinson called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. The finance director and interim city administrator presented a temporary budget for FY 25‑26. Council members and a member of the public offered comments on staffing and budget concerns. The meeting adjourned at 6:01 p.m. with no actions taken.

City Council

The council adopted the agenda and approved the minutes from the April 8 and April 22 meetings. It approved an amendment to Ordinance 2025.002 setting new curfew times for minors, and approved resolutions to rename the administration building, update check‑signing cards, and begin a forensic audit. Ordinance 2025.003 for the FY 2025‑26 municipal budget was tabled. Monthly city bills were also approved.

• Adopted agenda (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from April 8 and April 22 meetings (unanimous)
• Approved amendment to Ordinance 2025.002 (juvenile curfew) (unanimous)
• Tabled Ordinance 2025.003 (FY 2025‑26 budget) (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025.021 to rename the administration building (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025.022 to update check‑signing cards (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 2025.023 to conduct a forensic audit (unanimous)
• Approved monthly city bills (unanimous)

City Council

The Lake City City Council approved the meeting agenda. It then approved Resolution 2025.019 to appoint an interim city administrator and Resolution 2025.020 to appoint a city clerk. The council entered and later exited an executive session, and adjourned the meeting.

• Agenda approved (unanimous)
• Resolution 2025.019 (interim city administrator) approved (unanimous)
• Resolution 2025.020 (city clerk) approved (unanimous)
• Entered executive session at 6:12 pm (unanimous)
• Exited executive session at 6:33 pm (unanimous)
• Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm (unanimous)

City Council

The council amended and adopted the meeting agenda and approved the minutes from prior meetings. It then unanimously approved Ordinance 2025.001 to adopt the new Lake City Tree Ordinance and a series of resolutions covering a downtown walking trail, Fair Housing Month, Architectural Review Board appointments, a Findhelp subscription agreement, a Duke Energy Foundation mini‑grant, rescinding old check‑signature cards, and a traffic‑enforcement mutual‑aid agreement. All actions were recorded as approved by show of hands.

• Approved Ordinance 2025.001 (Lake City Tree Ordinance) – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.011 to recognize the Downtown Walking Trail – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.012 establishing April as Fair Housing Month – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.013 appointing Spencer Player to the Architectural Review Board – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.014 re‑appointing Harley Lee to the Architectural Review Board – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.015 adopting the Findhelp subscription agreement – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.016 accepting a Duke Energy Foundation mini‑grant for Martha Law Park – unanimous
• Approved Resolution 2025.017 to rescind previous check‑signature cards with First Citizen Bank – unanimous

City Council

The council approved the agenda (5-0), moved into executive session (5-0), moved out of executive session (7-0), and adjourned the meeting. No substantive actions were taken; the executive session resulted in no action.

• Adopt agenda – approved (5 Yes, 0 No)
• Move into executive session – approved (5 Yes, 0 No)
• Move out of executive session – approved (7 Yes, 0 No)
• No action taken in executive session
• Adjourn meeting – approved (all in favor)

City Council

The council approved an amendment to Ordinance 2025.001, adding Tree Protection Fencing language that does not apply to city employees or utility workers. The council voted to table Resolution 2025.011 on the Downtown Walking Trail until a clearer map is provided. The agenda and prior meeting minutes were adopted unanimously, and the council moved into and out of executive session with all votes in favor. The meeting was then adjourned.

• Adopted agenda (7 Ayes)
• Approved March 5 minutes (7 Ayes)
• Amended Ordinance 2025.001 with Tree Protection Fencing exemption (6 Ayes, 1 Abstained)
• Tabled Resolution 2025.011 on Downtown Walking Trail (6 Yes to table, 1 opposed)
• Moved into Executive Session (7 Ayes)
• Moved out of Executive Session (7 Ayes)
• Adjourned meeting (7 Ayes)