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Did you know the Saluda County Council quietly sold 4.12 acres of prime commercial/industrial land on Hwy 178—right across from the new EMS building—for just $15,000?
Yes, you read that correctly.
Four acres. Commercial land. With water and sewer. For $15,000.
And during all three public hearings, not one council member offered any explanation, justification, or even basic discussion. No Councilmen commented except for Chairman Moore saying who the property was being sold to and that they couldn’t divulge the acreage or the price until after the sale was finalized. (see exact minutes below).
But that follow-up disclosure?
It never happened.
What else didn’t happen?
No appraisal. No market valuation. No evidence they even tried to determine what the property was worth.
Now contrast that with something the county did disclose:
In 2024, Saluda County sold 4.9 acres to Tractor Supply for $375,000.
So let’s be honest — does that comparison make sense to you? Because it looks like the county just undersold public land by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And here’s the part that really stings: at the recent County Council workshop about extending the Penny Tax, the Recreation Department said they need more land, especially for a future gym.
The very same 4.12-acre tract — now gone — would have been perfect.
But the county sold it instead… for the price of a used car.
A local realtor who sells property in that area said he would have listed the land for around $425,000. That means the county may have thrown away over $400,000 of taxpayer value.
So here’s the real question every taxpayer needs to ask:
Why should we trust this council with more of our money — or support any tax increase or extension — when they can’t even protect the assets we already own?
If county leadership won’t safeguard public property, then it’s up to the public to demand answers, accountability, and transparency.
Below are the minutes from all three readings of the Ordinance to sell this land and the Councilmen’s comments, if any.
March 10, 2025 — NEW BUSINESS — On motion of Councilman Daniel, seconded by Councilman Atkinson, Council unanimously approved first reading on Ordinance No. 01-25, “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HWY 178 SALUDA, SOUTH CAROLINA TO INDUSTRIAL MECHANICAL SERVICES, INC.”. Chairman Moore stated that this was a metal fabricating company that will be locating just past Southland Log Homes.
April 14, 2025 — PUBLIC HEARING — Chairman Moore opened the Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 01-25, “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HWY 178 SALUDA, SOUTH CAROLINA TO INDUSTRIAL MECHANICAL SERVICES, INC.”. No one signed up to speak.
May 12, 2025 — OLD BUSINESS — On motion of Councilman Atkinson, seconded by Councilman Daniel, Council unanimously approved third reading on Ordinance No. 01-25, “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HWY 178 SALUDA, SOUTH CAROLINA TO INDUSTRIAL MECHANICAL SERVICES, INC.”. Chairman Moore reminded everyone that the price and exact acreage can be announced after the agreement is final.
Written by Gail Meyer, a concerned citizen of Saluda County.
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Sounds like the York county deal that was made here in Fort Mill to open a foreign company, SILFAB, to open a very TOXIC BUSINESS to operate in a BUSINESS PARK instead of the proper HEAVY INDUSTRY PARK where the ZONING BOARD voted UNANIMOUSLY it belonged. With two new Public Schools just 1,200 feet away that will be housing over 2,000 students and faculty and the playground a mere 800 feet from it, they will be breathing the air being spewed out of only a 50 foot high smoke stake 24/7/365 with a mix of chemicals much more destructive than a nuclear plant explosion. York County has ignored the law AND the voices oof thousands upon thousands of Fort Mill/Tega Cay’s residents.