Batesburg-Leesville is still in search of a town manager after the previous manager was let go by council this past May. After executive session during the Aug. 12 regular council meeting, council extended the employment post for town manager for 30 days. Additionally, the interim town attorney Parker Poe will continue to assist the town. 
Jay Hendrix serves as the interim town manager. He previously held the title of assistant town manager.  
In financial news, the council discussed the audit for the fiscal year 2022-23 as presented by McGregor and Company. Council and mayor approved the audit and recommendations except for council members Steve Cain, Betty Hartley and Shirley Mitchell. 
Cain said he didn’t “trust the raw data in the audit” and “internal controls” need to be better.  
Setbacks were pointed out by the audit company pointing out numerous manual errors and reconciliations needing to be made. No missing funds were found and personnel has and continues to correct their mistakes.  
The ledger needed to be corrected and followed up on. It was recommended the town be subject to a single annual audit which a skip grant will help with.  
Three ordinances pass second reading  
In other news, council passed three second readings of several different ordinances with all in agreement. Council passed a second read of a rezoning property for 532 West Columbia Ave. The property is general commercial and will become office and institutional commercial.  
Another second reading passed for property at 361 and 347 Highland Ave. to allow for manufactured housing. With a little over two acres for both properties, the ordinance was met with one opposition during public hearing who disagreed with the type of housing the property was being rezoned for. The other second reading was for 226 Bobcat Rd. allowing property to be annexed.  
Grant 
The town will partake in an $8.7 million grant for solar paneling, announced by Hendrix. The program is a pilot and will also work with Columbia. The grant is through the Central Midlands Council of Governments is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant for solar and smart surface projects.  
As of now, Hendrix has no further information relevant to the town. However, according to the Central Midlands Council on Governments, the EPA grant will implement municipal solar and smart surface projects including urban forestry or cool pavements. The award was one of 25 selected projects from almost 300 applications across the country.  
The program encompasses not only Batesburg-Leesville but the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, City of Cayce and other Midlands cities and counties.  
Pine Street lot 
Council accepted the lowest bid from J&H for $320,000 to complete the parking lot of the Pine Street corner. The funds come from the hospitality tax and according to interim manager Hendrix, the town has worked with the company before. 
Resolutions 
Council recognized achievements of Batesburg-Leesville High School’s winter guard as well as country singer Linda Martell who hails from Leesville.  
The winter color guard, coached by Dynisha Thompson, won first place out of 37 other bands at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association back in April. Council recognized their work and awarded them with the resolution. 
Council also proclaimed Aug. 17 as Linda Martell Day. Martell is from Leesville and a graduate of Twin-City High School. The African-American country singer was the first Black female artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and her latest musical note was performing on Beyonce’s country album, Cowboy Carter.