June 2018 Council Highlights

• Council held two public hearingsthis month, to receive public comments on the following:
  • Rezoning 0.99 acre of property, located at 835 South Harvin Streetfrom residential to general commercial, so the applicant can operate an auto repair business.
  • Amend zoning and development standards to allow Food Trucks a temporary use, subject to annual review, expand the districts in which mobile vendors may operate and expand the types of vehicles permitted to be used as mobile vending units.

• Council has adopted a balanced budget for the upcoming 2018-19 fiscal year budget. The budget is slightly higher than last year, but this increase does not require a tax increase to accomplish. Our greatest annual appropriation in the budget is Public Safety and Law Enforcement.

 

• Council has adopted a budget for the federal HUD 2018-19 community development entitlement funds, which have been increased slightly that expected by approximately $5,400. Allocated amounts for the year will focus on:

• demolition, 
• historic preservation, 
• housing repair, 
• youth employment, 
• YMCA Youth Services, and 
• United Ministries

• This month Council approved a lease-purchase agreement, totaling over 1.4 million, so that the city can replace aging equipment, including a street sweeper, fire (pumper) truck, front loader garbage truck, recycling truck, trash trailers and a rear load garbage truck.

 

• Council approved a mutual aid agreementbetween the city police department and the City of Bishopville.These types of agreements are required to be proactive, and provide our Police Department with additional aid, as needed, for various public safety situations, including transportation, pursuits, investigations, natural disasters, and many other situations.

 

• Final approval was given to 2810-2850 Broad Street, to rezone from planned development to general commercial, with a plan of mixed uses including a gas station/convenience store, professional offices and residential apartments.

 

• Final approval was given to 1501 Camden Highway, annexation and rezoning request, from agriculture to general commercial, to allow for better marketing of the undeveloped portion of the lot and bring the property into compliance of a Supreme Court ruling on planned developments in general.

 

• Final approval was given to amend a planned development and site plan request for a mini-warehouse storage unit located at 430 Constitution Drive. This amendment to planned development would permit a development site that exceeds the 4-acre maximum size limitation. Currently the site plans for this project call for an 80,400 square foot mini-storage unit along with an 800 square foot office space.

 

• Council approved the West Hampton Avenue Water and Sewer Replacement Project. Work on this project will, begin soon and reach from Salem Avenue to Purdy Street, all along Memorial Park, and it will cause intermittent delays on Hampton Street, Salem Avenue, Purdy Street as well as Park Avenue.

 

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

• Every 10 years the City and County are required to reevaluate our comprehensive plan. The time has come again for public input into that plan. We are hosting an online survey, open to all to complete to provide feedback into what you feel the future of the Sumter community should look like. Questions cover growth and development, from what issues the community should consider a priority, to what you like most about our community as well as those we should improve on. Visit www.Sumter2040.com for more info and a link to complete our survey. For those without computer access we also have copies of the survey available at City Hall, the Liberty Center Planning Office, County Administration Office, all three HOPE Centers, South Sumter Resource Center, the Sumter County Library and Swan Lake Visitors Center.

 

• The City won an Outstanding Achievement Award, from the U.S. Conference of Mayors organization, for placing in the top five projects in the country, in cities under 100k population. The award was for the Youth Education Scholarship (YES) program at the Sumter Opera House. The YES program was created to make it possible for underserved students to attend Sumter Opera House concert programming. Scholarships, made possible by grants and private donors, cover the cost of admission and are available to students on a free or reduced lunch program. Teachers must provide verification of the number of students in the group that are eligible for funds (form provided) and must fully complete the application to be considered for funding approval. Any public K-12 school can apply. For more information, call 803-436-2616.

 

• The City opened our newest water treatment plant on June 6. This is plant number six for the city’s system and was made possible by in part by the Penny for Progress. This plant is a primary economic development driver for the southern part of the city.

 

• 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 or the Aquatics Center. 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. 

 

• Downtown Fourth Fridays begins on June 22 at 6:30. This Friday, it’s the Front Porch Junkies! 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. Movie schedule is:

 

• June 21 – Kung Fu Panda 3
• June 28 – The Emoji Movie
• July 5 – The Book of Life
• July 12 – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• July 19 – Lego Ninjago Movie
• July 26 – Paddington 2
• August 2 – Cars 3
• August 9 – Wonder