[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6096196,"mediaKeyId","2833617-489669188952be180876b3789886aab2","parentId",2833617,"title","Hanahan financial update: ad valorem timing, Tanner Trail delays and Creekside Park opening set for April","audioSeconds",537,"startMs",8831000,"endMs",9368000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833617-489669188952be180876b3789886aab2&start=8831&end=9368","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833617-489669188952be180876b3789886aab2/thumbnail_8831000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096196/Hanahan/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Hanahan-financial-update-ad-valorem-timing-Tanner-Trail-delays-and-Creekside-Park-opening-set-for-April","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096196-2b94163c77649013c76a4153e4589d46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188565&Signature=LIfnp5ORa14zn-LCsvxXZZ1XtNrFc7u1aKY1IPaEWqb0iAsiq2N8uHm5ZA7ng7zISo1gMDbna8gfFkC5MWGKFi~ghbU3WkamHjRFE9TSX4fVJly5AF4IBDO5VVSbdlsfLr2TVxLDCYS963g6bCGR-~HebT2jsF4WT5ScnfKWpMKYG6-bFP2AgpYCAaFynC0CzrVnukrw7DsuM88Djv8bZcRx0an8JPQcuX~By3wBe9qi1p2TYKG15fIQOwiVNmlfHP9V~Rq2--wsJcuOIPPXRofcmBnN-kydcGS4AdXqeLxAuwXMxHDg6pSSK7tB826EmtMO5vCpbR7nJXhzKPMBcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hanahan, SC","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Hanahan’s finance director reported to City Council on Feb. 11 that revenues and expenditures through Dec. 31 were “mostly on target,” but a timing delay in ad valorem tax collections made revenues appear $2 million lower than the prior year; the taxes were received the previous week for $4,579,718, the finance director said.

Nancy Grigsby, the city’s new finance director, said legal expenditures to date were over budget by $35,670 and payroll costs increased about $875,000 year over year, driven by higher headcount. The city had expended $2,452,780 on general obligation bond projects through Dec. 31 and $821,107 on other capital work, Grigsby said.

Phase 3 of the Tanner Trail, a federally funded pedestrian project, continues to face delays tied to design changes, utility relocation issues and federal review. Catherine Bachel and staff described the sequence: the project required a realignment to avoid a state-owned water line, additional easement negotiations, and a supplemental $400,000 allocation to cover inspection and oversight costs. The project is awaiting a final DOT supplemental participation agreement and federal fund obligation; staff said the plan is to release the project for bids after DOT approves final plan pages, which will add at least 30 days for bidding and another period for contract review.

Parks and recreation updates included a formal vote to name Stewart Street Park as “Creekside Park at Stewart Street,” with a grand opening scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 4. Council approved additional safety fencing and a concrete layer for the park pavilion using available funds.

Staff also updated the council on other capital projects: restroom facility quotes for Hawks Nest Park remain above budget and staff said they will explore smaller or prefabricated alternatives and possibly request additional funds; dog-park shade and benches are ordered and installation timing will be coordinated with operations; covered pickleball court estimates exceeded expectations and the project will be re-bid; and athletic-field lighting replacement will be staged to use spring break for conduit and at least four field installs, with remaining fields targeted after the spring season.

Danny Stewart, Hanahan Recreation and Parks director, said the lighting vendor has revised its schedule and will run conduit and panels after permits are issued, then install poles and fixtures during spring break for a phased completion plan. Staff said they hope to have at least four fields ready with new lighting after spring break and to complete remaining fields by the end of the athletic season in May.

Council was asked to carpool to the April 4 park opening because attendance is expected; staff noted the park’s playground will receive additional fencing to improve child safety. No new large capital appropriations were approved at the meeting; staff indicated budget workshop dates and potential future requests would be brought to council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance director reported timing-driven revenue shifts and project updates: Tanner Trail Phase 3 faces federal review delays and added costs, Creekside Park at Stewart Street scheduled to open April 4, and athletic field lighting work targeted during spring break.","taxTitle","Hanahan, Berkeley County, South Carolina","taxId",71070,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096201,"Hanahan council amends city code on outside counsel and votes to retain Haynesworth firm amid complaints",7630,7289000,14919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833617-489669188952be180876b3789886aab2&start=7289&end=14919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833617-489669188952be180876b3789886aab2/thumbnail_7289000.jpg","/articles/6096201/Hanahan/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Hanahan-council-amends-city-code-on-outside-counsel-and-votes-to-retain-Haynesworth-firm-amid-complaints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096201-83a7d3a35c7825ebcca9de21178818fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188565&Signature=M1rAoIfPFm87wChRtHqVs1j0u4NEa7uYBXYB1waJP38skh8579rMSUzUtIhLVBwjV78Spo3QXhthwygOFvPn-MFcfsJaG7RnCaNb1RGXQbbZITWBkrAD814qytgFiedciygB0wijW-o606CsLHKFoP4J0IhOakkHCX3YMsGSkn9KPx8TrrSzBWL2oQaxDsdmw16tVUwblmphUYLLZb8V41BZsxUPJ5ON34FEJdVZ2tgVa2kKM7z6aAejYcLTpBAdsghQfKljmo8DO0oLyZmxnJzyFEH1BWe-Cq2FhgjrGE-41qizvRhqOJurgrHO3YmCID~V6f9Q04GjMQ6Us1-IaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hanahan City Council voted on Feb. 11 to amend city code to clarify that the city may retain an outside law firm to provide legal services, and after returning from executive session the council voted to retain Haynesworth, Sinkler & Boyd, P.A. (HSB) as corporation counsel under terms of an engagement letter provided in January 2025.

The ordinance under second reading, described by City Administrator Courtley Solaire as a modernization of city code sections 2-2-10 and 2-2-11, clarifies that counsel may be hired either as an individual or as a law firm on a contractual basis. The measure passed after extended council debate over whether a single, sworn in-house city attorney or an outside firm better protects the city’s interests.

The public hearing drew a comment from Eric Lakiri, an attorney speaking on behalf of developer Ray Wren, who argued the ordinance could improperly delegate sovereign authority to a private firm. “What this ordinance incorrectly does is it delegates the sovereign authority of an official government position to private enterprise,” Lakiri said during the public comment period.

Several council members raised the competing concern that a dedicated individual city attorney promotes loyalty and institutional knowledge. A council member who opposed changing the long-standing practice said it risks “removing that shield, that intelligent voice that can help us manage difficult situations,” while others said the amended language simply gives the council flexibility to choose the best arrangement on a case-by-case basis.

Amid that debate, the council voted to form an investigation committee pursuant to ordinance 2-25 and South Carolina law, appointing Mayor Rainwater, Councilman Adams Furlough, and Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Hedgebeth (as named in the meeting) to investigate matters brought to the council’s attention and to retain independent legal counsel with authority to issue subpoenas. The motion to form the committee passed on the council floor.

After council members went into executive session to discuss interviews, retention and negotiations on legal representation under South Carolina Code 30-4-78(1) and (2), the council returned to open session and voted to retain Haynesworth, Sinkler & Boyd, P.A. as corporation counsel “pursuant to the terms of the engagement letter provided in January of 2025.” The motion passed with the roll-call recorded as: Spurlock — no; Colvin Shea — no; Sally — aye; Dyson — aye; Mayor Pro Tem Hedgebeth — aye; Crowley — no; Mayor Rainwater — aye (vote recorded on the retention motion at the close of the meeting).

Separately, earlier in the evening council approved an appointment from executive session: the body authorized Brandon Gaskins to represent the city’s VCA matter, a motion moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

The council’s actions leave the city with an established outside firm as its corporation counsel while a separate committee proceeds with an investigation and the committee’s counsel is authorized to subpoena witnesses and documents. Council members repeatedly asked that any specific allegations and investigative steps be handled outside public comment to avoid prejudicing ongoing inquiries.

Councilors and staff indicated the ordinance change was intended to reflect decades of practice: the city has used outside contracted counsel for more than a decade rather than appointing a sworn, in-house city attorney. Proponents said the revised language retains the option to appoint an individual where appropriate; opponents said the city should prioritize an appointed attorney sworn to the municipality.

The council voted on related procedural motions during the meeting and indicated the investigation committee would proceed under the powers the council granted it. No further criminal or disciplinary determinations were announced at the meeting.","Hanahan City Council approved an ordinance clarifying that the city may retain outside law firms and, after an executive session and debate over complaints, voted to retain Haynesworth, Sinkler & Boyd, P.A. as corporation counsel. Council also authorized an investigative committee with subpoena power.","actionData","errors"]

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Hanahan financial update: ad valorem timing, Tanner Trail delays and Creekside Park opening set for April

Hanahan council amends city code on outside counsel and votes to retain Haynesworth firm amid complaints