Wedding & Event Venue near Manning, SC

MANNING, S.C. (WIS) - Clarendon County leaders are rushing to pass a temporary halt on new data centers after discovering a glaring loophole in local zoning laws that could allow massive tech developments to bypass public review and build on private land.

Clarendon County Council held a special called meeting Monday night to fast-track a moratorium that temporarily blocks new applications for data centers and battery energy storage systems. The emergency measure, which passed its second reading, comes as the county prepares for its first-ever data center to move into an existing spec building at a local industrial park.

While administrators and residents agree the current project is a good fit, officials realized the county has zero zoning ordinances specifically designed to regulate where future, much larger data centers can set up shop.

‘It’s because we don’t have any’

The vulnerability lies in how local building codes classify data centers. Under current regulations, they are categorized simply as “warehouses” for data storage.

“The problem is, it’s lack of,” Clarendon County Administrator Walt Ackerman said of the county’s zoning rules. “It’s not that our zoning is vulnerable. It’s because we don’t have any. We have zoning that controls your run-of-the-mill industrial facilities, but in the case of these data centers, we don’t have water restrictions, power restrictions.”

Currently, if a property is zoned for general commercial use, a developer can walk into the planning office and obtain a permit to build a data center without county council approval, public hearings, or administrative oversight.

Without the moratorium, officials fear developers could purchase private farmland, wooded areas, or land directly in residential neighborhoods to construct massive data facilities.

“That is the sole purpose of the moratorium, is to allow the county to put the things in place to keep them out of the areas where our folks don’t want them,” Ackerman said. “Nobody wants somebody to come, go to the north end of the county and buy 500 acres of farmland and throw a data center up on it.”

The first data center is coming

The county’s push to rewrite its zoning codes was triggered by a sudden turn of events at a local industrial park.

According to Ackerman, an industrial tenant backed out of a spec building owned by a private group in the park. Santee Electric Co-op remarketed the building and, within two days, secured a contract with a data center operator. The county was legally notified of the project on Aug. 18.

Because the site is located in an established industrial park, the county cannot legally block the project. However, Ackerman noted that Clarendon County “got lucky” with this specific operator.

The facility is relatively small compared to “hyperscale” data centers, requires no additional infrastructure, and will consume roughly 8,000 gallons of water per day—the majority of which will be used for exterior landscaping. Only about 1,400 gallons will return to the City of Manning’s sewer system, representing minimal environmental impact.

The deal is currently awaiting final capacity verification from the power provider. If the utility confirms it can supply the necessary electricity, construction is expected to move forward.

Protecting the rural way of life

While technological advancement brings economic opportunity, residents are demanding a say in how their communities are reshaped.

Jocelyn Walker, a nearby resident, stood with local protesters outside Monday’s meeting. She expressed relief that the county is taking steps to protect local farmland and forests, but emphasized that neighboring rural towns must not be left out of the conversation.

“I’m happy that agriculture is here,” Walker said. “I’m always happy about the advancement of technology, but I also wanted to be balanced with Somerton having some input and a voice in the issue here locally.”

Ackerman, an avid outdoorsman, echoed those sentiments, stating his personal commitment to preserving local lakes, rivers, and fields.

“Legally, we cannot say no to the industrial park,” Ackerman said. “We’re trying our best to stop it from going in your backyard.”

Rushing the timeline

Monday’s special called meeting was originally scheduled to address a deadline for delaying property tax reassessments. Recognizing the immediate risk of developers learning about the zoning gap, council members voted to append the moratorium ordinance to the agenda.

Clarendon County typically holds only one regularly scheduled meeting per month. Under a standard schedule, the three required readings for the moratorium would have stretched from August to October, leaving a wide window of vulnerability. By utilizing the special called meeting for the second reading, council effectively cut a full month off the timeline.

Because the second reading was fast-tracked at a special meeting, a public comment period was not legally required to be on the agenda, and none was held Monday night. However, county officials confirmed that a formal public hearing and comment period will take place during the third and final reading.

The third reading is scheduled for the regularly scheduled September council meeting. If approved, the moratorium will temporarily freeze new applications, giving the planning commission time to draft permanent zoning guidelines.

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MANNING, S.C. (WIS) - Parents at Manning High School claim their children are being told they cannot wear sweatpants or elastic-waist pants to class.

The uproar follows the release of the district’s 2026-2027 Student Discipline Code Book and several recent flyers outlining dress reminders. The flyers highlight restrictions on exposed midriffs, hoodies, and short lengths.

Parents claim enforcement has extended to sweatpants entirely.

“The policy I feel is ridiculous, confusing, and exhausting,” one student said.

A concerned parent, who did not want to be shown on camera, shared this picture of her daughter’s outfit. She says her daughter was reprimanded for wearing sweatpants at school on Monday.

The parents says the situation leaves families uncertain after back-to-school shopping.

“Just very confused, we just went back to school shopping for the children, and we bought clothes to make sure it matches the policy, but it doesn’t mention, no elastic, no drawstring, no sweatpants in their policy, so I’m confused how my daughter wearing elastic pants is in violation of their district policy or their learning process,” the parent said.

Another parent questioned the logic of the restriction.

“I just can’t see how that can be a hazard, especially since most of their athletic uniforms and band uniforms are warm up suits that have elastic pants,” the parent said.

Another parent raised concerns about the financial impact on families.

“That may be all they have and as unfortunate as that is that is the reality for most, a lot of students at that school, so I understand that they’re preparing them for the workplace, however many of us as professional women wear elastic pants to work daily, and it’s permitted in the office, so,” the parent said.

In a statement to WIS, a spokesperson for the Clarendon County School District said the following:

“As the Executive Director of Communications, Safety, and Workforce for Clarendon County School District, I appreciate the opportunity to clarify our current stance on this matter.

Firstly, I would like to clear up any misunderstandings regarding the regulations concerning sweatpants. These guidelines originated from the previous administration. Our new administration is committed to strictly adhering to the district’s dress code policy, which was established to ensure a respectful and conducive learning environment for all students (as outlined in the student discipline code book).

To further clarify, the current conversation around sweatpants is related to a more specific, serious issue that has been addressed according to our district’s discipline procedures.

Regarding Crocs, while we encourage students to wear them in “sport mode” for increased safety, this practice is suggested rather than mandated. However, it remains essential for students to wear appropriate shoes and clothing that align with our dress code policy. Our primary goal is to prioritize the well-being and comfort of our students.

I would also like to note that, to date, not one student has been suspended over dress code violations at Manning High School. Instead, students have received warnings about the importance of following the dress code and the role it plays in our school environment.

Dr. Keisa Karr, Executive Director of Communications, Safety, and Workforce for Clarendon County School District

The district went on to say the new administration remains committed to a conducive learning environment and intends to foster a supportive and communicative space for all students and their families through its dress code policy.

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