July 2024 Council Highlights

  • The city has been going around town distributing checks from the Community Development Block Grant. Four worthy recipients received various amounts of funds to support their goals. Recipients included:
    • Sumter United Ministries - $44,900 for Construction Projects
    • Sumter HYPE Program - $3,000 for Youth Field Studies
    • Sumter Youth Corps and Co-Op - $49,000 for their employment program
    • Sumter YMCA - $2,500 for Youth Services.
  • Great news! Diamond Prospects has chosen Riley Park in Sumter, SC once again to host their 17th Annual Palmetto Games. The games will be held on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11.
    • This event features the top committed and uncommitted baseball prospects from every corner of South Carolina. Always a scouting bonanza, so many quality players have graced this talent show in previous years -- 208 players recruited and counting, including MLB players Alex Wood, J.P. Sears, and Jordan Montgomery.
    • Admission: $20 Event Pass, $15 Day Pass; Ages 10 and under are FREE (DP VIP & HSL passes accepted). Concessions will be available courtesy of American Legion P-15’s.
  • As a reminder, parking in designated emergency lanes is strictly prohibited and intended for authorized vehicles only. Local businesses are not permitted to allow the use of these lanes for any purpose. We can ticket and tow those that block those areas, but we are asking for the public to be diligent and not do it. Emergency vehicles do not have time to coordinate this once called by 9-1-1.
  • The Sumter Area Transportation Study is reporting that there are currently $239.2 million dollars in transportation projects currently happening around Sumter. These projects are funded through a variety of outlets including SCDOT, Penny for Progress, and the Federal Transit Authority. Projects include:
    • Corridors
    • Intersection Improvements
    • Resurfacing, Reconstruction and Paving
    • Bridges
    • Transit, and
    • Bicycle, pedestrian and other special projects
  • The city is currently working through three (3) funding streams on removing blight, in addition to our own Sumter Pride program. These funding streams are providing more than $1 million dollars for the City to work with home owners in removing structures that are too far gone to renovate. We’ve received money through the Federal HUD program to assist with our current Sumter Pride program, a joint program with the County through Congressman Clyburn’s office that will allow us to remove an additional 150 structures, with additional funds coming from Senator Graham’s office to help us accomplish more in the next year.
  • The City’s annual Water Quality Report is available on our website. This report is designed to provide details and to assure you that the water is both safe and dependable. This report is an evaluation through SC DHEC with third-party testing and the City received a great report with no violations. The City of Sumter is proud that your drinking water meets or exceeds all Federal and State requirements. If you have questions about this report or need to report a problem concerning water utilities, please call City Public Services at 803-436-2558.
  • Family-friendly movies at the Sumter Opera House will be shown every Tuesday at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM running through July 30th. Admission is $2 per person. Bottled water and popcorn will be available for $1 each. Large groups, please call ahead to reserve space! (803) 435-2616 or visit com.
  • Fourth Fridays Concerts Downtown. These free concerts are held on the Sumter County Courthouse Lawn from 6:30 to PM. Food and beverages will be available to purchase. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, but no coolers, please. This year the bands are: 
    • July 26 – Chief Complaint
    • August 23 Second Nature
    • September 27 – Too Much Sylvia
  • For those that live on Shaw AFB, remember you have afree shuttle service available to you for the 4th Friday Concerts. The shuttle will pick up at Carolina Skies and the dorms at 6 PM and approximately 8:30 PM, and then drop off in Downtown Sumter. The shuttle will return to Shaw at approximately 8 PM, 10:30 PM and again at 11 PM. This free shuttle is brought to you by the Santee-Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Sumter Visitors Center. This shuttle is open to all active-duty military and families that live on Shaw AFB. All riders must have a current ID with base access.
  • June 1st was the start of hurricane season in South Carolina. Remember to create or update your emergency kits. Write down your emergency numbers and keep them in your kit. Have enough supplies for your household, include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies ready before a storm hits.
    • Additionally, the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments is updating the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties. The CitizenSurvey needs your responses to understand your personal experiences and perceptions of natural hazards, like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. The survey is also concerned with your planning and preparation in the event a natural hazard occurs. Your feedback will guide the development of strategies to help the community recover from natural hazards more effectively. Please take a few minutes and complete the survey on our website
    • For the full 2024 South Carolina Hurricane Guide and link to the survey visit our website atsumtersc.gov/news.
  • We received reports that several ramps need repair at the skateboard area - located at Veteran’s Park adjacent to Shaw Air Force Base. Upon inspection, the ramps in their current condition have been deemed a safety hazard and the skateboard area has been closed until further notice. The City’s staff is currently searching out material and funding sources to repair the equipment, which is estimated around $8,000.
    • With the exception of South Sumter Park, which is currently closed and undergoing a complete redesign and renovation, the city, county, and state offer a variety of parks in this community for youth and visitors to enjoy. And four Spray Parks are currently open throughout the city and free to use from 7:30 AM to Sunset 7 days per week. Visit our outdoor page for details.
  • For lots more events and activities in Sumter visit com.
  • We invite you to visit and attend a regular City Council meeting, our meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The next meetings will be Tuesday, August 6th at 1:00 PM, and Tuesday, August 20th at 5:30 PM. If you can’t make a meeting public comments may also be submitted online anytime through our website at gov/council/meetings or city residents can contact the Mayor or their Council representative any time before any meeting to discuss a concern or idea.