December 2020 Council Highlights

• In celebration of 2020 Arbor Day the City of Sumter planted a Deciduous Flowering Magnolia Tree at Memorial Park earlier this month. This is in support of the City of Sumter’s commitment as a Tree City USA and commemorates our 34th anniversary in the program. The flowering magnolia typically blooms in spring, signifying that winter is over. We plant trees all across the city every year; however, we always take the time to recognize and hold a special ceremony on Arbor Day annually.
• We want to thank everyone who assisted in and donated to the 2020 Shower Shaw with Goodies program. The goal this year was to collect enough pre-packaged food and cleaning supplies to hand out at least 300 goodie bags and with the generous support from the Sumter community they were able to assemble 500 goodie bags.
• Building of the Shot Pouch Greenway started this month! This is a 3.4 mile pedestrian greenway that will connect Sumter via a multi-use trail from Dillon Park to Swan Lake Iris Gardens. This trail will allow walkers, runners and cyclists to connect to people and nature. This is one of 28 projects approved by Sumter voters in 2014 for the Capital Penny Sales Tax Referendum (Penny for Progress) and is expected to be completed within a year. More information on the Sumter Penny for Progress projects is listed on Sumter County’s website, sumtercountysc.org.
• Our Downtown Sumter Business District was once again chosen as a retail destination by a Charleston clothier, Grady Ervin & Co. The new store is located in a beautifully restored 1913 Bank of Sumter building, located at the corner of Liberty and Main Street. Please join us in welcoming them to Sumter.
• Congratulations to the Sumter School District, which has been designated as a Purple Star School District. This designation celebrates the significant commitment that the district has made to welcome and support military families, especially during their transition to and from the community.
• Congratulations to the founding scholars & parents of Sumter’s first public Charter School. The Liberty STEAM Charter School announced their lottery selections last week and we look forward to the positive impact that this school will have on the community.
• Are you prepared for a Winter Storm? The SC Emergency Management Division has prepared a great resource, their Winter Weather Guide. It highlights what to do before a storm, during a storm and after a storm. Full for the full guide see our website at sumtersc.gov.
• We’ve all done so much this year, this holiday season, let restaurants do the cooking so we can focus on what’s important. Remember, when you purchase a gift card, to a local business, not only are you gifting someone a night off from cooking, but you’re helping support much needed jobs here in Sumter. (More tips on supporting businesses on the below).
• City Council meetings are held on the first Tuesday at 1 PM and on the third Tuesday at 5:30 PM. Currently, we are hosting our meetings as hybrid, the first meeting of the month is primarily virtual, while the second is often in-person. Residents may watch our meetings online by visiting youtube.com/cityofsumter. Public comments may be submitted online through our website at www.sumtersc.gov/council/meetings, or citizens can contact the Mayor or Councilmember any time prior to a meeting to discuss any concerns or ideas you may have for the City. For our regularly scheduled meetings, agendas are announced the Friday before each meeting and will include links to agenda item details as well as meetings location, and more.

Next month our regularly scheduled meetings are on January 5 at 1 PM and January 19 at 5:30 PM.