Irmo leaders approved multiple ordinances and established an agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation at the April 21 town council meeting.

The SCDOT agreement would allow construction on the interchange of Broad River Road and I-26 beginning in February 2027.

SCDOT Director Bradley Reynolds presented a proposal for the Carolina Crossroads Project, requesting a municipal agreement with the town. The construction will extend from the I-26 intersection at Colonial Life Boulevard down the interstate to the connection with Broad River Road. The project would have five phases.

Reynolds asked the council to approve the construction inside Irmo’s town limits and assist SCDOT with any utilities needing to be relocated.

Mayor Bill Danielson asked for clarification on potential road closures and spreading the announcement to the town. Reynolds said there would be no closures of I-26, only detours during low peak traffic times during the construction.

The council voted 5-0 to support the municipal agreement. The construction will begin in February, with no official end date announced yet.

Several new businesses were acknowledged during the meeting, as well: Chipotle Mexican Grill at 1069 Dutch Fork Rd.; Rocket Pediatric Therapy at 1036 Kinley Rd., Suite B; Imprint Esthetics at 7777 St. Andrews Rd., Suite Q; Skhnfrnd at 10071 Broad River Rd.; Dutch Bros Coffee at 1511 Lake Murray Blvd.; Lake Murray Pretzel Company at 7971 N. Woodrow St., Suite 10; and Hair Transformation at 8090 Irmo Dr., Suite 29.

Councilmember Phyllis Coleman said that due to conflicts with their host park, the Sewing and Needlecraft Club meetings will be put off until May when there is space available for the group.

Some ordinances had their second and final readings during the meeting, too.

An ordinance to establish a 3% local accommodations tax was unanimously passed. The tax will be on hotel stays, short-term rentals and other tourist spots with all revenue going to tourism-related expenses in Irmo. Town Administrator Jim Crosland said this is not a tax on local residents.

The annexation of 0.44 acres into town limits at 200 Ministry Dr. was also unanimously approved, along with the annexation of 21.78 acres into town limits at Dreher Shoals Road. Council documents detail that the Ministry Drive annexation is for general commercial use, while the Dreher Shoals annexation is for fringe agricultural usage, along with single family residential zoning.

The first reading of ordinance to adopt an operating and capital budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 was discussed. A general fund operating budget of $13,025,193, including the USDA budget, and an Okra Strut budget of $184,000, were unanimously approved. Councilmember Gabriel Penfield requested a discussion at the upcoming work session regarding the $130,000 in benevolence funds and the creation of a future policy for how to distribute those funds.

The council unanimously approved a fund balance policy created by the staff to set a target reserve of four months of operating expenditure to the general fund for future financial stability.

Council also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Union United Methodist Church to approve the building of a walkway and bridge connecting the church with the nearby Moore Park.

The town council unanimously accepted a quote of $9,585 by Pot Hole Heroes to repair, seal and stripe the town hall parking lot.

An executive session was held at the end of the meeting to discuss legal advice
regarding a private roadway and associated utility improvements.

An Irmo Town Council Workshop is scheduled for May 5.