Your wedding day. Without a doubt, it's one of the most significant events you will ever experience - when you and the love of your life officially seal the deal and get married. On this day, your friends and family will gather to celebrate the next step in your life. Photographers will be running around snapping photos, catering plates delicious food for guests to enjoy, and the DJ sets the mood for a night of fun and libation. You've worked extra hard to make everything look perfect and run smoothly. You have examined every moving part down to the tiniest detail. At the center of all your effort is your wedding venue in Chesterfield, SC.
Your event space can mean the difference between an unforgettable event and an average occasion. Capturing your uniqueness as a couple is paramount to a memorable wedding. But, without the right venue location and staff, your unforgettable event can turn into a painfully average occasion. Fortunately, at Abney Hall, you won't ever have to worry about dingy reception spaces and crummy chow halls.
Constructed in Chesterfield, SC, in 1962, Abney Hall is 15,000 square feet and sits on 500 acres of land, making it a large wedding venue unlike any other. Abney Hall was originally the home of Mrs. Josephine Abney, a Chesterfield native who was a lifelong philanthropist. Mrs. Abney devoted much of her time and effort towards supporting charities, educational institutions, hospitals, and other noble efforts. Today, Abney Hall stands tall as a symbol of love, both in our community and for the couples who choose to get married here.
Abney Hall is an exclusive event experience unlike any other, surrounded by verdant forests and sparkling ponds. Our venue is a natural fit for several occasions, including:
The beginning of your life starts at Abney Hall. With our team by your side, we can create the fairy tale wedding you have dreamed about since childhood. Whether you have 100 guests or 1,000, our waterfront ceremony locations and French-inspired courtyard are perfect for your big day. Celebrate in luxurious style surrounded by shady magnolia trees, a private forest, large ponds, and the beauty of Mother Nature. While our venue location and aesthetic have been praised far and wide, so too have the practical aspects of Abney Hall. Looking for a relaxing, comfortable spot for your bridal party to get ready in? We offer an entire floor in the Abney Hall residence to get the bridal party ready. Want to make your groomsman feel extra-special too? We've got a private, plush house just feet from a sparkling pond that is a proper hangout spot for the guys in your group.
To make life easier on you, we also offer Abney Hall as your go-to spot for rehearsal dinners. Why book an expensive restaurant or travel to another location when unmatched beauty and convenience are right at your fingertips? Abney Hall is just the place for that very important dinner the night before your big day. We are also happy to host your bridal shower at Abney Hall. Our venue makes for one of Chesterfield's most unique bridal shower settings, where your family and friends can gather to give gifts and be merry before you walk down the aisle.
With such a large, magnificent house and a vast property, Abney Hall also makes for an unforgettable location for your bridal portraits and other wedding-related photography needs. Don't take our word for it - book a tour and see for yourself why so many new brides and grooms choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Chesterfield.
You've already found the person you want to spend the rest of your life beside. The next step? Finding the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony, reception, and celebration of your lifelong commitment to one another. Remember, the backdrop for photos, dancing, eating, and all other activities will be at your wedding venue. That's why we work so hard to set Abney Hall apart from our competitors - so you and your guests can focus on love and living your new life while we work with your vendors and photographers to make your magic night a reality.
Here are just a few reasons why guests choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Chesterfield, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:
Choosing the appropriate-sied venue for your desired guest count is a critical decision. A venue's capacity affects the number of people you need to consider having at your ceremony and reception. As you're first starting out, we recommend having a guest count in mind as you're searching for the right venue. Try to stick with that number. You may fall in love with a particular venue, but if its max capacity can't accommodate your guest count, it may be time to cross them off your list.
Keep in mind that this is your big day. You shouldn't feel obligated to invite the college roommate you shared a dorm with for one semester. At the end of the day, your wedding venue should be one that can accommodate those closest to you. Abney Hall is equipped for both small and large weddings, consisting of 500 acres of forest, ponds, and lush natural beauty. Whether you want an intimate wedding with only your best friends or a grand ceremony with hundreds of people, we have the right amount of room to make you comfortable.
On your big day, you're likely to have friends and family traveling in from other parts of the state or country. These folks will need a place to stay during and even after your wedding. Accessibility and ease are important factors when it comes to choosing your wedding venue for both you and your guests.
Located in Chesterfield, SC, Abney Hall is situated in a memorable, natural setting, giving your wedding a private vibe in the midst of Mother Nature. While we pride ourselves on having a secluded wedding event space, our venue is within an easy driving distance of hotels and vacation rentals.
When you contact us for a tour, make sure to speak with our experienced venue manager about nearby hotels and shuttle service options. We understand that your guest's comfort and convenience are important, and we're happy to work with you to figure out the best way to get your guests to Abney Hall.
At Abney Hall, our staff has earned its reputation as one of the industry's most friendly, accessible teams. We will provide you with a purpose-minded point of contact that can help answer questions relating to timelines, preferred vendors, and every aspect of your wedding. When you tour our wedding venue in Chesterfield, SC, for the first time, we want you to feel like you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.
At Abney Hall, our goal is to be your first resource when it comes to setting up and coordinating the details of your wedding day.
When it comes to your wedding's decor, you probably already have a few ideas in mind. We love it when our brides and grooms have a vision in mind because one of our greatest joys is turning that vision into a reality. At Abney Hall, our team is available to help you and your decorator fit, accent, and accommodate your fairy-tale wedding - whatever that may be.
Are you looking to dress up your wedding with decorations galore? Just want to add a few accents that tie into your preferred color palette? Abney Hall is versatile and ready to help however we are able.
If you're thinking about bringing in your own greenery, lighting, floral pieces, and more, we recommend discussing your vision with us on your initial tour of our event space. That way, we can get a head start on making your big day exactly how you envision it.
10 years from now, when you and your spouse are celebrating your anniversary, you will pull out photographs from your wedding and will reminisce about the unforgettable time you spent at Abney Hall. Your wedding photos will be with you forever, and as such, we work closely with you and your photographer to suggest extra-special photo op spots that you can only find on Abney Hall grounds.
From the grand staircase and French-inspired courtyard to our manicured gardens and lovely pond, there is no shortage of photo-op locations for your photographer to choose from. As one of the most popular wedding venues in Chesterfield, SC, we have worked with dozens of photographers over the years.
Our experience has allowed us to cultivate a list of preferred photographers - all of whom have the talent to take your pictures to the next level in a setting they're familiar with. We encourage you to check out our gallery to get a sense of the scope of our wedding venue and gain inspiration from other happy couples.
The gallery on our website is extensive but be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. We keep our social pages updated with recent wedding photographs, giving you an incredible resource that you can use for your own photography purposes.
Abney Hall is known across the United States for our stunning weddings, but we also play host to some of the largest corporate events in South Carolina. Why choose a bland, lifeless meeting space when you can enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature coupled with a professional atmosphere? If you have an important team-building event or corporate conference that you have to coordinate, look no further than Abney Hall.
The epitome of class and style, our corporate event space is large, lavish, and chock-full of onsite amenities for you and your co-workers to enjoy. If your team needs a morale boost, don't bring them to the local Olive Garden for a cheap lunch. Treat them to a refreshing experience in our main dining room, where we can work with you to incorporate your catering options with the goals of your event.
When the hard work is done, and your team needs a breather, what better way to relax than with a quick dip in our pool? To burn off a little steam, head over to our brand-new tennis court - the perfect place to get some exercise in an ultra-private setting while you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Don't forget to bring your fishing poles for a couple of hours of fishing. There's even an opportunity to go hunting if you wish.
If you're ready to learn more about Abney Hall as your wedding venue, don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear more about your plans, your vision, and your needs. We know that planning a wedding isn't easy. It takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. Our goal is to help provide you with all the info you need to learn more about our venue. Once you decide on a date, we'll work closely with you and your vendors to craft a wedding experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life.
Our available dates for your big day are going quick, especially during peak seasons like spring and fall. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Contact us today for a FREE initial consultationGoogle has partnered with US solar energy company Sol Systems to help secure solar power for its campuses in North and South Carolina.The two companies this week announced a “unique renewable energy procurement and investment strategy” that they said enables the development of new solar energy projects while supporting the local communities where the projects are built.Sol said it and Google have structured an 'integrated clean energy investment and procurement strategy' for solar projects being developed by Pine Ga...
Google has partnered with US solar energy company Sol Systems to help secure solar power for its campuses in North and South Carolina.
The two companies this week announced a “unique renewable energy procurement and investment strategy” that they said enables the development of new solar energy projects while supporting the local communities where the projects are built.
Sol said it and Google have structured an 'integrated clean energy investment and procurement strategy' for solar projects being developed by Pine Gate Renewables in North and South Carolina that will enable 225MW of new solar energy projects and 18MW of battery storage resources.
The new projects will reportedly help the search and cloud giant meet its 24/7 carbon-free energy goal and bring more renewable power to a region with a relatively fossil-fuel heavy energy mix.
"We are honored to be working with Google, a pioneer in renewable energy procurement and community investment," said Sol Systems' CEO Yuri Horwitz. "As they have in the past, they continue to provide leadership and innovation for our industry. We look forward to building on this work in the future."
Alongside this investment, Google and Sol Systems said they will deploy capital into regional community organizations serving under-resourced and minority communities.
“The investment will focus on reducing energy burden by enabling critical home pre-weatherization and safety upgrades to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households,” Sol said.
Four regional organizations will receive initial funding from the partnership: Roanoke Electric Cooperative (NC), Santee Electric Cooperative (SC), Aiken Electric Cooperative (SC), and the Sustainability Institute of South Carolina.
"By 2030, we're aiming for every Google data center to operate on clean energy every hour of every day. As we work toward this goal, we are committed to ensuring that the communities where we operate are actively benefiting from the clean energy transition," said Christopher Scott, energy lead at Google. "We're excited to partner with Sol Systems to not only bring new solar projects online to one of the most difficult grids to decarbonize but also work with them to help lower the energy burden in under-resourced communities through the clean energy transition."
Google currently operates a data center campus in Berkeley County, South Carolina in a town called Moncks Corner; and another Lenoir, in North Carolina’s Caldwell County. Both were first announced in 2007 and have seen multiple expansions in the intervening years.
The company previously signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Duke Energy in 2015 to cover its Lenior facility’s power needs.
Pine Gate Renewables is developing a number of solar projects in the US. Its Bowman Solar project in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, went online in 2020 and offers 101MW across 650 acres, while its Centerfield Solar project offers 98MW from Chesterfield. In North Carolina, Pne Gate currently operates the 108MW Trent River Solar and 81MW Sugar Solar projects, as well as the 6.9MW (plus 10MW storage) Grissom Solar project. Which projects Google will be procuring energy from wasn’t disclosed.
Founded in 2008 and focused on working with foundations alongside corporate clients, Sol has also signed solar deals with Microsoft totaling 500MW and 17 rooftop solar projects Amazon totaling 55MW.
FLORENCE, S.C. – Rosters for the 2023 North-South all-star basketball games were announced Wednesday and six area athletes were selected.On the boys’ side, Wilson’s Merel Burgess made the S.C. squad along with Mullins’ Johnell Sindab and Carvers Bay’s Tony Bell. On the girls’ side, South Florence’s Jazmyne Lyde was chosen along with Chesterfield’s Raeleigh Rivers and Marlboro County’s Tysonia Lowe.The games will be played March 18 at Brookland-Cayce High School starting with...
FLORENCE, S.C. – Rosters for the 2023 North-South all-star basketball games were announced Wednesday and six area athletes were selected.
On the boys’ side, Wilson’s Merel Burgess made the S.C. squad along with Mullins’ Johnell Sindab and Carvers Bay’s Tony Bell. On the girls’ side, South Florence’s Jazmyne Lyde was chosen along with Chesterfield’s Raeleigh Rivers and Marlboro County’s Tysonia Lowe.
The games will be played March 18 at Brookland-Cayce High School starting with the girls’ game at 1 p.m. followed by the boys’ game at 3 p.m. Carvers Bay coach Jeff Mezzatesta is serving as an assistant for the boys’ game.
Burgess averaged 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Tigers this past season as they earned the Region 6-4A crown and made the third round of the state playoffs.
Sindab ranked in the top five in the Pee Dee with a 20.5 points-per-game average to go along with 2.5 steals and 6.0 rebounds per contest. He helped the Auctioneers claim the Region 8-2A crown as well.
Bell averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 assists and 4.5 steals per game for the Bears, who were second in Region 5-A and made the second round of the state playoffs.
Lyde was one of the catalysts for the 24-2 Bruins this year as they captured the Region 6-4A title again. She averaged 11.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 steals per contest.
Rivers, the Region 5-2A Player of the Year, surpassed 1,000 points for her career this season in helping the Golden Rams finish second in the region and earn a playoff berth. She averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game.
Lowe led the Pee Dee with an average of 24.6 points per game while dishing out 2.1 assists per contest as well to help the Bulldogs earn a spot in the second round of the state playoffs.
Rosters for the Carolinas Classic all-star basketball games were also announced Wednesday, but no players from the Pee Dee were selected.
The South Carolina girls’ squad does have one connection, however, as former Timmonsville High and current East Clarendon High coach Perry Stokes will be the head coach for the S.C. team.
Both of those games are scheduled to be played on March 25 in Wilmington, N.C.
FRIDAY MARCH 10 League 2 Crewe v SalfordSATURDAY MARCH 11 League 2 Barrow v SuttonColchester v Stockport Crawley v HarrogateDoncaster v AFC WimbledonGillingham v TranmereGrimsby v RochdaleHartlepool v Northampton Mansfield v Leyton OrientNewport v BradfordStevenage v WalsallSwindon v CarlisleFA Trophy Quarter-Final Aldershot v FC HalifaxGateshead v Farsley CelticMaidstone v BarnetYork v AltrinchamNational League Chesterfield v YeovilEastl...
FRIDAY MARCH 10
League 2
Crewe v Salford
SATURDAY MARCH 11
League 2
Barrow v SuttonColchester v Stockport Crawley v HarrogateDoncaster v AFC WimbledonGillingham v TranmereGrimsby v RochdaleHartlepool v Northampton Mansfield v Leyton OrientNewport v BradfordStevenage v WalsallSwindon v Carlisle
FA Trophy Quarter-Final
Aldershot v FC HalifaxGateshead v Farsley CelticMaidstone v BarnetYork v Altrincham
National League
Chesterfield v YeovilEastleigh v OldhamNotts County v Dorking Wanderers (5.20pm)Torquay v WealdstoneWoking v Maidenhead Wrexham v Southend
National League South
Braintree v WeymouthCheshunt v TauntonChippenham v Dover Dartford v FarnboroughDulwich v HavantHampton v Chelmsford Hemel Hempstead v Oxford CitySlough v Hungerford St Albans v Eastbourne Tonbridge v Ebbsfleet Welling v ConcordWorthing v Bath City
Isthmian Premier
Aveley v FolkestoneBillericay v Wingate & FinchleyBishop's Stortford v Hastings Bowers v HaringeyCanvey Island v MargateCorinthian Casuals v CarshaltonCray Wanderers v Potters Bar Herne Bay v BognorHornchurch v BrightlingseaKingstonian v HorshamLewes v Enfield Town
Isthmian South East
Beckenham v Littlehampton TownBurgess Hill v CorinthianChatham v Haywards Heath Cray Valley v Ashford Hythe v Chichester Lancing v FavershamRamsgate v East GrinsteadSheppey v VCD Sittingbourne v Three BridgesWhitehawk v Sevenoaks Town
Southern Counties East Premier Division
Deal v RusthallHollands & Blair v GlebeKennington v Erith TownPhoenix Sports v BearstedStansfeld v Punjab UnitedSutton Athletic v K SportsTunbridge Wells v HolmesdaleWhitstable v Lordswood
Southern Counties East Division 1
Faversham Strike Force v FC ElmsteadForest Hill v Bermondsey TownGreenways v MeridianLarkfield & New Hythe v AFC WhyteleafeRochester v Lewisham SC Thamesmead v Lydd Snodland v CroydonStaplehurst v Tooting Bec
MONDAY MARCH 13
Southern Counties East Premier Division
K Sports v Stansfeld
TUESDAY MARCH 14
League 2
Newport v AFC WimbledonNorthampton v MansfieldStevenage v CreweSutton v Grimsby Walsall v Swindon
National League
Barnet v YeovilBoreham Wood v SouthendFC Halifax v BromleyMaidenhead v AldershotNotts County v EastleighSolihull Moors v Scunthorpe Wealdstone v ChesterfieldYork v Altrincham
National League South
Bath v Dulwich Chippenham v Taunton Concord v Chelmsford Farnborough v Havant Hampton v CheshuntHemel Hempstead v Braintree Weymouth v Hungerford
Isthmian Premier
Bognor v MargateHerne Bay v HaringeyLewes v Brightlingsea Potters Bar v HorshamWingate & Finchley v Hornchurch
Isthmian South East
Corinthian v Three BridgesWhitehawk v Chatham
Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Ebbsfleet v WellingRamsgate v Tonbridge
Southern Counties East Premier Division
Bearsted v Erith TownFisher v DealGlebe v RusthallKennington v Punjab UnitedSutton Athletic v Holmesdale
WEDNESDAY MARCH 15
Southern Counties East Premier Division
Canterbury v Phoenix Sports
Southern Counties East Division 1
Lewisham v LarkfieldTooting Bec v AFC Whyteleafe
Miklos Fridrich, a high school senior is Chesterfield County, has applied to 13 colleges. That might sound like a lot, but he knows classmates who have applied to 20.The more colleges he applies to, he figures, the better chance he'll have of being accepted to a quality school.It's become more difficult to get into the state's best colleges, making it harder for high school students to know where they will be accepted and where they'll be rejected."The target is moving every year," said Jim Jump, a counselor at...
Miklos Fridrich, a high school senior is Chesterfield County, has applied to 13 colleges. That might sound like a lot, but he knows classmates who have applied to 20.
The more colleges he applies to, he figures, the better chance he'll have of being accepted to a quality school.
It's become more difficult to get into the state's best colleges, making it harder for high school students to know where they will be accepted and where they'll be rejected.
"The target is moving every year," said Jim Jump, a counselor at St. Christopher's School.
For the past three years, the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary and Virginia Tech have been flooded with thousands more applications, causing their admission rates to go down.
Colleges are reviewing this year's batch of applications, and most students will hear back by April 1.
At UVa, the number of applications received has almost doubled in 10 years. The university received 57,000 applications this year - an all-time high.
If UVa extends the same number of offers as last year, it will have an admission rate of 17%. Ten years ago, UVa accepted almost 30% of applicants.
No college in the state has transformed like Virginia Tech. A decade ago, it received 21,000 applications and accepted 73% of them.
This year, it took in 47,000 applications and it had an acceptance rate of 57% last year.
At William & Mary, applications rose from 14,000 to 18,000 in two years. The school anticipates accepting between 30 and 33% of applicants, said Suzanne Clavet, a spokesperson for the university.
While William & Mary's acceptance rate is down compared with recent years, it's about equal to where it was a decade ago, the result of growth in enrollment and fewer students accepting the college's offer.
The three colleges charge in-state students between $27,000 and $37,000 a year for tuition, fees, room and board. While UVa and William & Mary are the two most expensive public schools in the state, they are significantly cheaper than the nation's elite private schools.
Private colleges in Virginia such as Washington and Lee University and the University of Richmond have low acceptance rates, too.
There are a number of reasons why applications are up. These schools stopped requiring standardized test scores, encouraging students who wouldn't normally apply for an elite school to throw their hats in the ring.
Virginia Tech has worked to simplify its application process by streamlining how student send transcripts. It now allows students to apply using the Common App.
Another factor is the brand recognition these colleges carry.
"A lot of it is still brand," said Tod Massa, policy analytics director at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. "These are the top-brand schools. Everyone knows who they are."
As admission rates go down, the academic standards necessary for acceptance goes up, Jump said. It's not a dramatic increase, but the bar seems to be raised every year.
Such constantly changing requirements make it harder for counselors like Jump and students like Fridrich to predict where they'll be accepted. Rejection can mess with a kid's confidence, Fridrich said.
Increased interest isn't limited to Virginia's top colleges. What Jump calls the "ESPN schools" — large Southern public universities such as the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina and the University of Tennessee — have seen their application numbers skyrocket.
Those schools have increasingly recruited Virginia students, who are relatively wealthier than graduates of other states and bring more revenue than in-state students. High school grads in Virginia are increasingly more likely to choose an ESPN school, according to state data.
Colleges continue recruiting and searching for more applicants even when they don't need more applicants, Jump said. A college's U.S. News & World Report ranking and its bond rating are affected by the number of applications they receive and their admission rates.
These three schools "aspire to be nationally known universities," Jump added. "Part of the way you do that is by being selective."
Some argue that elite colleges should increase their capacity to keep up with demand. Virginia, William & Mary and Virginia Tech have grown in recent years. But growth requires years of planning and additional resources.
Virginia, William & Mary and Virginia Tech don't aspire to particular admission rates, spokespeople for the colleges said. They focus on attracting the most talented students they can, and they consider the percentage of applicants who accepted the school's offer last year, known as its "yield."
Colleges also must strike the right number of in-state and out-of-state students, and they consider the number of open seats in each department or major.
"It is increasingly tough to predict from year to year," said Brian Coy, a spokesperson for UVa.
While certain colleges can be difficult to gain admission, getting into a four-year college in Virginia isn't hard.
"We have a place for every Virginia student that wants to go to college in Virginia," Massa said.
At most colleges in Virginia, admission rates are going up. James Madison University accepted 86% of applicants in 2021, according to the most recent year available. Virginia Commonwealth University accepted 92%.
Altogether, the number of college students in the state has declined in the past decade as costs have continued to increase. This has created a divergence in Virginia colleges, in which some are booming, and others are fighting over a shrinking pool of applicants.
Higher admission rates do not indicate that colleges are accepting substandard students, Massa said. Fewer students are dropping out from Virginia colleges, and a higher percentage are graduating. The way Massa sees it, colleges are working harder to find students and working harder to keep them. That's a good thing.
"That level of engagement serves students well," Massa said.
VCU doesn't shy away from its admission rate. It embraces its goal of serving low-income and first-generation students. Its board of visitors has discussed modeling itself off Arizona State University, which accepts every student who meets a certain academic threshold.
Admission to an elite college isn't a prerequisite for earning a high-paying job, either. According to earnings data, a student's major is a far greater determinant of income level than a student's college.
Jump tells his students their college experience is more important than the reputation of their college.
"There are lots and lots of good places," he said. "It's a mistake to set your heart on 'I have to go here or I'll be a failure.' "
Of the 13 schools to which Fridrich applied, he's gained acceptance to three and is waiting to hear from the rest. He knows the college he chooses won't define who he is, but he still worries about which schools will accept him.
"It's not a logical thing," Fridrich said.
The Aiken City Council could take three steps to move forward on the city’s newest redevelopment plans Monday evening.The city council is expected to consider approving a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Aiken Corporation for services related to the project at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the city c...
The Aiken City Council could take three steps to move forward on the city’s newest redevelopment plans Monday evening.
The city council is expected to consider approving a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Aiken Corporation for services related to the project at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the city council chambers on the third floor of the Municipal Building located at 111 Chesterfield St. S.W.
The announced plans for the downtown redevelopment project include the demolition of the Warneke Cleaners building and the Holley House, also known as the Hotel Aiken annex, and construction of a T-shaped workforce development center for the Savannah River National Laboratory on the sites.
The buildings fronting Richland Avenue, including the C.C. Johnson Drug Store building, would be rehabilitated to serve as retail space. The plan calls for Warneke Cleaners to move into one of the new retail spaces.
Plans also call for the development of a surface parking lot across from St. John’s United Methodist Church and the possible construction of a parking structure at the Municipal Building.
The agreement calls for the Aiken Corporation to assist the city with engagement and communication with the public and pre-development work on the workforce development center and rehabilitations at a cost not to exceed $250,000.
Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said the city and Aiken Corporation are also using McMillan Pazden Smith for ongoing due diligence on the project.
The council is also expected to consider a resolution authorizing an agreement with Aiken County to facilitate the receipt of $26.2 million in funds from the state’s settlement with the federal government over plutonium stored at the Savannah River Site.
An ordinance amending the city’s budget to spend the funds was included on the agenda for the council’s Feb. 11 meeting but was removed at the beginning of the meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the city council is expected to meet as the Aiken Municipal Development Commission at 5 p.m. to consider approving a resolution asking the city council to approve the Municipal Development Commission transferring the properties to be redeveloped as part of the downtown redevelopment as well as the Hotel Aiken and the Beckman Building to the city.
Also on the agenda for Monday’s city council meeting are the second and final readings of ordinances:
— Annexing and zoning a property located at the intersection of East Pine Log Road and Levels Church Road to allow for the construction of a Parker’s Kitchen; and
— Annexing and zoning single family homes at 19 Russellwood Court, 1107 Williams Drive and 1892 Huckleberry Lane.
On the agenda for first reading are ordinances:
— Approving changes to the boundaries of the city council districts to account for population changes found by the 2020 Census; and
— Authorizing an agreement with the Municipal Association of South Carolina relating to local revenue services.
Other resolutions scheduled to be considered at the meeting are:
— Approving the spending recommendations of the Accommodations Tax Committee and an amendment for the Visit Aiken project proposed by the committee;
— Requesting the South Carolina Arts Commission designate a cultural district within the city; and
— Authorizing Bedenbaugh to serve as project manager for the Powderhouse Connector.
Appointments to be considered at the meeting are Lisa Handy (reappointment) to the Equine Committee.
The council is also expected to recognize Don Moody for receiving the 2022 South Carolina Tennis Coach of the Year award and being certified as a master tennis performance specialist.
A worksession is scheduled for 6 p.m. to discuss mural paintings by the Soil and Water District Commission and to continue discussion of the operation of the pool at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center.