Aiken County Farmers Market to take center stage at Monday's Aiken City Council meeting (2024)

The Aiken County Farmers Market will take center stage as the Aiken City Council meets Monday evening.

On the agenda for the 7 p.m. council meeting is the second and final reading of an ordinance amending city code to change how commissioners are appointed to the Farmers Market governing board.

Also on the agenda is a resolution approving a request for proposals seeking developers of the Jackson Petroleum property.

The Jackson Petroleum property is located across the northbound lane of Williamsburg Street from the Farmers Market.

Farmers Market Board

The city's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department wants to make amendments to the city code creating the board to allow the market vendors to have more input and oversight of farmers market's operations, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said in a memorandum to the council.

As part of its effort to provide more input for the vendors, the department decided to create a new committee but then learned city code already authorized a Farmers Market Commission, Tourism Director Eric Gordon told the council June 10.

But, the commission has been inactive for several years if not decades, he added.

So, the department decided to modify the existing code instead of creating a new committee, Gordon continued.

The ordinance would change the name of the commission to Farmers Market Committee.

It would also change how members join the board.

Specifically, the city code calls for the council to appoint members. The amended code would call for an election of members by the registered vendors at the market.

Committee members would be required to be registered vendors.

The amended code calls for four meetings per year and would delete provisions allowing the committee to hire employees and purchase equipment.

And it would also define the department's role.

The Aiken City Council approved first reading of the ordinance June 10. Councilman Ed Woltz voted against approve.

Jackson Petroleum

The request for proposal would seek developers who want to demolish the existing structures– only one of maybe could be saved, Bedenbaugh said in July– and construct a mixed-use development on the site.

Said mixed-use development could be commercial, apartments and/or townhomes and will need to include parking, according to the request for proposal.

The request for proposal calls for the construction of a "cut-through" road connecting Williamsburg Street and Marlboro Street, Bedenbaugh said.

The city is working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to acquire ownership of the 100 block of Marlboro Street, he added.

If the city gets the road, it will convert it to the Pascalis-Dexter grid format of the city's downtown, Bedenbaugh said.

Other Agenda Items

The council is also expected to consider the first reading of an ordinance adding the proceeds from the sale of Newberry Hall to the city's budget and approving plans to build a dentist office in the Village at Woodside.

The city council will determine how to spend the Newberry Hall proceeds later, Bedenbaugh said. The ordinance just adds the money to the budget, he added.

Also on the agenda is the reappointment of Glenn Rush to the General Aviation Commission.

The council also plans to recognize Thomas Watson and the Boy Scouts in Troop 146 for an Eagle Scout project and five USA Boxing medal winners from the Hankinson Boxing Gym.

The council will meet at 5 p.m. for a worksession to discuss USC Aiken's plans for its softball field with Dan Heimmermann, the school's chancellor.

The softball field is being relocated across Robert M. Bell Parkway to accommodate the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative.

Agenda also includes an executive session to take place between the worksession and the regular meeting. The council is expected to conduct its annual review of Bedenbaugh's performance as city manager.

How to attend or watch

The meetings will take place on the third floor of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. S.W.

Parking is available along both sides of Chesterfield Street, in the city lot next to the Municipal Building and along Newberry Street.

A livestream of the meeting will be available on the city's YouTube channel.