July 2018 Council Highlights

• Council held two public hearings this month, to receive public comments on the following:
  • Rezoning 0.30 acres at the corner of Main Street and Pine Street from residential to general commercial. The request is for a new beauty salon at 702 N. Main Street. This request was denied.

 

• Council also voted against a final reading on a rezoning request of 0.99 acres of property, located at 835 South Harvin Street from residential to general commercial, so the applicant can operate an auto repair business.

 

• Council approved an amendment to the city’s zoning and development standards to allow Food Trucks a temporary use, which are subject to annual review and expand the districts in which mobile vendors may operate. It also expands the types of vehicles permitted to be used as mobile vending units.

• Council approved a sewer rehab project along Manning Avenue and North Main Street. We wanted to get ahead of the new streetscape project starting soon. This doesn’t the City to dig up all the roads in the area to complete the project, but there will be crews along the roads, so we ask residents to please be mindful of our crews along and in the roads during this process.

 

• Council approved the acquisition of a temporary construction easement in the town of Mayesville for an upcoming sewer project which will tie their sewer into the city’s system. This is temporary and required by federal government due to the funding sources, which we are using community development block grant and rural infrastructure grant programs.

 

• Council approved the first reading of a 10-year lease agreement, with South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) Foundation for the use of the facility located at the corner of Harvin and Hampton Streets. They have been the tenants of this facility for many years and this lease just strengthens their presence and coverage in the Sumter area.

 

• City Council had to name a new Municipal Court Judge, the Honorable Bryan Keith Griffin was appointed at our July 17^th meeting.

 

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

• The Health and Human Resources Department of Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments presented their programs to council this month. Specifically, this department of the COG works with one of our most vulnerable populations – senior citizens. They perform needs assessments, provide legal and insurance, meal service, family caregiver assistance counseling, disaster relief and many other programs in their service area of Sumter, Lee, Clarendon and Kershaw Counties. If you have family members who could benefit from these programs and more call Connie Munn at 803-774-1376.

 

• Filing for City Council Wards 1, 3 and 5 opened at noon Monday, July 16, 2018. If you live in one of these three wards and would like to run for City Council, contact the City Clerk's office at (803) 436-2578 or on the fourth floor of the Sumter Opera House at 21 North Main Street. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Filing closes at noon on August 15, 2018. You can view maps of the these wards and contact current city council members on our website.

 

• City Community Development division has been working with the youth corps program throughout this summer through our continued employment-mentor program. This program is funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant. Students this year have been working along with city staff to help maintain 14 city parks. During this seven-week program students have also participated in career development sessions that focus on topics such as safety, organizational skills, financial responsibilities, positive mental attitude, going the extra mile, personal initiative, self-discipline and teamwork. Our goal is not to just provide a job, but teach life-long skills that will help these youth well into the future.

 

• This week, the Sumter Police Department is working with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and other state, regional and local agencies during Operation Southern Shield. The operation, which ends July 21, is intended to discourage dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, impaired and distracted driving as well as drivers and passengers not buckling up. The goal is to reduce and end driving-related deaths. In 2017, there were 45,156 speed-related collisions on South Carolina roadways, and nearly 38 percent of all fatal roadway collisions in South Carolina were speed-related. During last year's operation (July 17-23), 16 people died on South Carolina roads, compared to 21 in 2016. There was also a reduction in speed-related fatalities, from nine to six, during the same period. Other states participating include Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee. Let's all work together to Make Driving Safety a Personal Priority.

 

• If you haven't had the opportunity, please fill out the Sumter 2040 survey, takes about 10 minutes to complete, but the feedback could impact the community through the year 2040 and beyond. A link to that survey is available online at www.sumter2040.com or through the city’s main website. Planning staff have started attending meetings and setting up information booths at social gathering places across the county. If you would like the planning staff to provide updates and what’s happening with the plan, please call 803-774-1660 to schedule a guest speaker.

 

• There are three seasonal farmer’s markets in and around Sumter this Summer! Each one hosts a variety of vendors that feature food, arts & crafts and much more.
  • Friday’s from 1 PM – 6 PM – USC Sumter, off Miller Road
  • Friday’s from 2 PM – 6 PM – South Sumter, beside the Resource Center, off Manning Avenue
  • Saturday’s from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Downtown Sumter at the Corner of Main and Liberty Streets

 

• Beat the summer heat at any one of the City’s five (5) spray parks. The five locations for our spray parks are Crosswell Park, North HOPE Park, South Sumter Park, Birnie HOPE Park and Palmetto Park. Use of the spray parks is free all summer long, so bring the whole family. The Aquatics Center, located at 1115 S. Lafayette Drive, has plenty of programs and open swim, admission for youth (ages 3-12) is $2, adults are $3 (non-swimmer, $1), family passes and military discounts are available. For more info, visit www.sumterswim.com.

 

• Sumter Green is hosting a Food Truck Rally on Saturday, July 21. The event will begin at 12 Noon and end at 7 PM. Admission is $5 (cash only at the gate), with food and beverage available for purchase throughout. There will be over 15 trucks from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

 

• Downtown Fourth Fridays begins on July 27 at 6:30. Next Friday, JD and The Breeze! Held every fourth Friday, through September, these live concerts are on Main Street in Downtown Sumter and admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs, but no coolers allowed. Food and beverages available for purchase. For more information, visit www.DigItDowntown.com.

 

• The Sumter Opera House Summer Cinema Series is back with an all-new lineup of movies sure to please! We have show times at 10am, 1pm and 7pm (unless otherwise noted) and admission is just $1. We will also have concessions available for purchase. For more information, visit www.sumteroperahouse.com. The remaining summer movie schedule is:

• July 19 – Lego Ninjago Movie
• July 26 – Paddington 2
• August 2 – Cars 3
• August 9 – Wonder