August 2017 Council Highlights

  • The City has a new police training range and back-up 911 center going in at our public works facility down on the Pocataligo, off 521 South. This facility will allow our police officers to experience enhanced training to continue their professional development.

 

  • The City is purchasing a new dryer system for our wastewater facility. This new dryer system will replace an old antiquated system and allow for better more consistent production of our product line, Poconite, which recycles all city wastewater into a soil enhancer used by many golf courses around the southeast.

 

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

  • Sumter’s Total Eclipse Watch Party at Dillon Park continues to progress, with numerous partners, including Palmetto Health Tuomey, State Farm – Tammy Kelley, Let’s Party, FTC, Palmetto Optimists Club, Sumter Disc Golf Club, American Legion, SAFE Kids and many vendors with food, face painting, balloons, bouncy houses and more.
    • The Event is Monday, August 21, 2017 from 12 Noon to 4 PM at Dillon Park. Parking will be open and available at 10 AM. All I-95 traffic will be directed onto 521 North or 378 West, with flow proceeding to the 521 exit, then turn right onto N. Pike. For local traffic, both entrances of Dillon Park will be open.
    • Personal tents or umbrellas, coolers, glass containers, BBQ grills, alcohol or tailgating are not allowed at the event. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.
    • Solar viewing glasses provided to event attendees (while supplies last) are made by American Symphony, an approved NASA manufacturer and they do meet the ISO 12231-2 requirements. For additional viewing safety, please see attached flyer.
    • Both the Palmetto Tennis Center and the Aquatics Center will close on Monday, August 21 at Noon.
    • Sumter County Schools are now closed for the entire day on Monday, August 21.
    • Morris College hosting Solar Eclipse event from 1-3 pm, featuring guest speaker, Dr. Jason Best, Astrophysicist.
    • Sumter County Library hosting a “Experiencing the Eclipse” from 1-3 pm on Monday, they will discuss the science behind a solar eclipse and learn important safety information about viewing the eclipse.

 

  • October 11-13 a video crew from New York, working for the City of Sumter, will be heading into town to record events, activities and more about our City. The topics for the videos include Healthcare, Education, Economic Development, Arts and Culture and Parks & Recreation and more. Once complete the videos will be made available on the City’s YouTube channel as well as linked to from our website. Staff, along with representatives from the contract company, CGI Communications, will be in touch with many community partners to discuss their role and assistance in the video production. If you have any questions, please contact Shelley Kile, Communications Director, at 803-774-1661.

 

  • Manning Avenue design updates: Engineers are currently working on survey and environmental work for both North Main Street and Manning Avenue Streetscape Project. The project is at least 18 months out, but moving forward. SCDOT is working on plans for the bridge, but that project is separate and there is no current timeline for bridge work.

 

  • Additional projects around the city include: Memorial Park abatement and demolition project, several Sumter Pride Demolition Projects, Lemira Elementary School – Boulevard Road Streetscape Renovations, and Sumter-Shaw Farm project. If you are a vendor and would like to be considered for an upcoming contract, please visit our website at www.sumtersc.gov/purchasing to register.