Irmo Town Council moved to go into Executive Session early in their Tuesday, May 20th town council meeting to discuss a contractual matter related to the hiring of a new town administrator.
When council returned from Executive Session they voted to hire Jim Crosland, formerly the Cayce City Manager, to serve as Irmo Town Administrator beginning on July 7. irmo Town Administrator Courtney Dennis is leaving July 3 to take a position in the private sector. Crosland’s contract was signed and ratified during the meeting.
Council raised their base salaries from $7,200 to $10,000 for Council members and the Mayor’s from $9,600 to $13,500. The last raise for council was thirteen years ago and according to a recent independent study, the Town of Irmo pays below what other municipalities compensate their representatives. They also passed a salary incentive structure that, after completion of professional development courses, a council member could see an increase above their base salaries.
Second and final reading of the capital budget for 2025-26 passed with a general fund operating budget of $10,744,074 and the town’s festival, the Okra Strut, with a budget of $134,000 at the Irmo Town Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 20,
Nearly 12 acres were added to expand the town limits along Broad River Rd. as the town annexed property which includes East Lake Community Church and a lot adjacent to it.
The town amended the starting time for town council meetings moving them from 6:30pm to 6pm saying that the move makes for a shorter work day for staff.
An easement was granted to the City of Columbia to move a water main under Broad River Rd. as part of the Broad River Road Widening Project.
A contract was approved for $15,000 to Will & Kris Amusements to provide rides at the 2025 Okra Strut festival.
Josh Eyler of Eyler Piano was awarded the May 2025 Small Business of the Month. Located at 7512 Woodrow Street, Eyler Piano provides tuning, professional moving and high quality used piano sales and rentals.
Scholarships totaling $4,000 were presented by the Okra Strut Commission to Alexander Townley of Dutch Fork High School and Mathew Blocker of Irmo High School. Okra Strut Chairman Mike Ward presented each student with a check for $2,000. Blocker will attend Newberry College and Townley is goin to Clemson.
Council recognized the major sponsor of ‘The Boardr Skate Park Event’ which was held in Rawls Creek Park on March 28. Bluetile Skateboards gave away more than 100 skateboards to any children that showed up for the event without one and Palmetto Citizens was recognized as the presenting partner for the event.
William Bowman summarized the events happening at the Juneteenth Celebration on Thursday, June 19 in Moore Park. Line dancing, dance groups, spoken word, food and beverage and an R&B concert are part of the line-up.
Students from the Irmo Elementary School student council presented a slide show and talked about the school’s virtues. Principal Shannon Fincannon introduced the students.
