Simpsonville City Council held a regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole* meeting on Oct. 28, 2025 in Council Chambers a.k.a. “The Ellipse.” Results of votes taken are not final decisions of the Council but have the status of recommendations or declarations of intent to be further considered by Council in succeeding meetings. Below is a recap of the meeting:
1. Call to Order: Mayor Paul Shewmaker called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
2. Roll Call: All members of City Council and Mayor Shewmaker were present.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Approval of Minutes: The minutes were approved as submitted without objection.
5. Citizen Comments: Brianne Shaffer, owner of cat rescue Fixing the Ferals, gave comments about the importance of humanely addressing the problem of the growing feral cat population in Simpsonville city limits. Joyce Todd gave comments about what she described as “loud and intrusive” music from the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park and asked Council to address concerns about “disruptions” to residents during weekdays and selecting acts that play genres of music that reflect the residents.
6. Staff Reports
Planning: Planning Director Jon Derby discussed land development rules and regulations and zoning as it relates to businesses or nonprofits seeking to remedy the problem of the growing feral cat population.
Finance: Finance Director and City Treasurer Maria Tooley gave a brief overview of figures from the Monthly Financial Report.
Community Relations: Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell talked about the addition of routes to the City’s delivery schedule for Meals on Wheels and attendance of a Communications Workshop by the Municipal Association of South Carolina.
City Administrator: City Administrator Tee Coker reported on the downtown streetscape and improvements project regarding communications with CoTransCo and an expectation of construction documents going out for bid by the end of the year. Mr. Coker updated Council about the removal of islands on North East Main Street; intentions to update the City’s emergency operations plan in concert with Greenville County Emergency Management Division; consultation with an acoustician regarding the acoustics in Council Chambers; and a memorandum of understanding by Upstate Greenways & Trails Alliance regarding taking the lead on exploring options for the extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Simpsonville.
7.A. Council voted 7-0 to move to the November business meeting agenda Ordinance O-2025-11 to amend of Sec. 8-41 and Sec. 8-42 in the Simpsonville Code of Ordinances regarding Technical Codes. Planning Director Jon Derby said the amendment allows the City to adopt technical codes that the state of South Carolina adopts without having to pass ordinances or hold readings of ordinances, thereby streamlining the process. Councilmember Sherry Roche (Ward 4) made the motion, and Councilmember Lou Hutchings (Ward 6) made the second.
7.B. Council voted 7-0 to move to the November business meeting agenda AXZ-2025-03 to annex and rezoning the property at 320 Tearose Lane. Ms. Roche made the motion, and Mr. Hutchings made the second.
7.C. Council voted 7-0 to move to the November business meeting agenda AXZ-2025-04 to annex and rezoning a property on West Georgia Road. Councilmember Aaron Rupel (Ward 2) made the motion, and Councilmember Shannon Williams (Ward 3) made the second.
7.D. Council voted 7-0 to move to the November business meeting agenda amending Sec. 16-4 in the Simpsonville Code of Ordinances to clarify that the boundaries of Council wards are based on the 2020 census, not the 2010 census. Councilmember Tim Pinkerton (Ward 5) made the motion, and Ms. Roche made the second.
8.D. After meeting in executive session to discuss a contractual matter pertaining to Heritage Park, Council voted 7-0 to terminate the contract with TRZ Live to manage the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park effective Jan. 31, 2026. Mr. Pinkerton made the motion, and Mr. Rupe made the second.
9.Adjournment: Mayor Shewmaker adjourned the meeting without objection.
*Committee of the Whole meetings allows City Council to receive information concerning issues that are anticipated to come before Council at upcoming regularly scheduled business meetings. The purpose of Committee of the Whole meetings is to provide a forum for thorough and detailed discussions and considerations of current or prospective Council agenda items.