Civic Corner: Board of Aldermen Recap
Robert Chapman
By Robert Chapman, Alderman-at-Large
Clinton’s Board of Aldermen meeting for October 21, 2025, opened with the Clinton Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director Anna Nutt giving the Board an overview of the Chamber’s planned programs on their calendar, such as the 2025 Public Service Appreciation Luncheon scheduled for October 28.
Also on the horizon is the Holiday Happening event scheduled for November 9, Small Business Saturday on November 29 and the annual Twelve Days of Christmas giveaways.
She highlighted the Chamber’s annual Yule Run and Christmas Parade scheduled for December 6, and preparations already being made for the Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival scheduled for March 26-28, 2026.
The Board moved into the voting agenda, approving two lease financing proposals to purchase five police vehicles for the police department and a new pumper truck for the fire department. These financing proposals allow for the City to appropriately spread out the previously approved purchases over time.
With the purchase of a new pumper truck, Fire Chief Levius Buckley asked the Board to approve sending the City’s current pumper truck to auction.
The Board approved a renewal with ITI Digital to continue the events page on the City’s website.
The Board approved three site plans proposed, with the first coming from Camp Garaywa. The camp, located on Camp Garaywa Road, is seeking to install a 92,000 square foot pavilion and a pool house on the special use-zoned land.
Mid-State Welding submitted a plan to eliminate the double gables currently constructed, merging these into a single gable.
The final site plan presented was of the Rising Springs Square, which will house the amphitheater and the green space in the center of the development.
A dimensional variance was submitted by Verizon Wireless, who is seeking to purchase the triangular tract of land on Highway 80. City setback ordinances could hinder the store’s footprint, so the dimensional variance will allow the construction of a new building.
The Board acted on four unkempt properties before moving on amending four ordinances.
First, the Board approved the change in language to reinstate the requirement for smoke detectors to be present in all rentals.
Next, the Board amended the zoning ordinance regarding short term rentals. The new language allows short term rentals as a conditional use citywide, whereas previously short-term rentals were confined to the Olde Towne Clinton District. Each short-term rental is still subject to approval by the Board of Aldermen.
Next, the Board addressed a change in language requiring all driveways in areas zoned Agriculture and R-E that are one acre or less to have the first 100 feet to be a solid concrete surface. The language also allows for homes in the Olde Towne Clinton District on a lot one acre or more to have crushed limestone as an appropriate driveway with a defined edge. The language does not apply to lots where protective covenants prohibit such material.
Finally, the Board moved to eliminate certain actions that require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board of Aldermen for homes located in the Olde Towne Clinton District. These certain actions now only require approval from the Historical Preservation Commission but can be referred to the Board of Aldermen when needed.
The Board approved the hiring of Evan Whinchel as the new director of the Clinton Visitor Center before moving into an executive session, where the Board approved the suspension of one employee and the termination of another.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space will be provided in each issue of The Clinton Courier to the Board of Aldermen for a recap of each meeting. Aldermen are asked to volunteer to provide this recap for the Courier.
