May 2019 Council Highlights

Council held three public hearings last night, to receive public comments on the following: 

  • Our community development entitlement funds report on how the City utilized $297,301, which included:
    • Sewer improvements for two (2) LMI homeowners
    • Demolition of twelve (12) structures
    • Historic preservation for four (4) business façades
    • Housing repairs on five (5) LMI occupants
    • United Ministries nine (9) housing repairs
    • Employed 68 youth with summer jobs
    • YMCA provided various services for 24 LMI youth 
  • Staff and council will continue to work on the 2019-20 budget numbers to bring a full balanced city budget to our citizens by July 1. 
  • To amend a current ordinance to allow Art studios and Art Schools in a residential-6 district.
  • Council also approved the allocation of our entire 2019-20 Community Development Block Grant, $306,499, to support the same programs mentioned above with the entitlement funds. The fund as slightly higher, by about $9,000 this year, but those extra dollars supporting primarily housing repair and youth employment. 
  • Council approved a $125,000 replacement project of sewer lines on Nottingham Drive, in Sherwood Forest Subdivision in East Sumter.
  • Council also approved the purchase of a new forestry bucket truck. This will replace an older model truck, and of course helps with tree and limb removal from city right-of-ways, hurricane and storm relief, among other day-to-day operations and assists in preparing for special events like the fantasy of lights.
  • The Downtown Sumter Master Plan final public Open House will be held on Monday, June 3 at 6PM in the Sumter Opera House. The design team will present recommendations and concept plans to help build the Central Business District and some of the surrounding areas. These recommendations were based upon the series of public and stakeholder meetings held throughout March and April. The public is invited to attend and the final presentation will be made available online at www.downtownsumter.org. 
  • The new parking area, walking trail and flag area at the Veteran’s Park, located along Highway 378/76 and adjacent to Shaw AFB, is in the midst of construction, with an anticipated completed date by the end of July 2019. The Tuskegee Memorial, which includes a full size model the Red Tail Squadron’s P-51C Mustang is expected to be completed and this summer as well. Sumter will have the only outside full-size red tail available for free for patrons to enjoy. This memorial will also highlight the four known Sumter residents who were part of the Tuskegee Airmen. Another significant change to the park includes the main entrance, which has already been relocated from Highway 378 to Oleander Drive.
  • The new Meeting House at Memorial Park is nearing completion. Both the new facility and the renovations to the exiting facility are expected to be completed by mid-July.
  • The Downtown Development department, in partnership with the Main Street Society, is excited to announce the plans for an art installation for the Central Business District of downtown Sumter featuring original art by local artists on fiberglass butterflies. The butteries represent the revitalization and transformation that has taken place downtown and celebrate the growing partnerships between citizens, artists, businesses and local government. Currently, they are calling for artist to submit their ideas and/or proposals. More information can be downloaded from our website at www.sumtersc.gov. 
  • The Taste of the Gardens kicks off the annual Iris Festival on Thursday, May 23 at 6 PM. The longest consecutive festival in South Carolina, this year the Iris Festival is celebrating 79 years. All your family favorites will return -local and regional artist, crafts, food, car shows, music and plenty of activities for youth of all ages. The Shriner’s Day Parade returns this year on Saturday, May 25 at 10 AM, starting at the Civic Center and ending at USC Sumter. Admission to The Taste is $5, which helps to support the festival each year and admission to the festival Friday-Sunday is free. Ample parking available at the end of Garden Street and at the Sumter County Civic Center, with Santee-Wateree RTA shuttle busses running all day Saturday and Sunday between gates and parking. For more information, visit www.irisfestival.org. 
  • The City’s five (5) spray parks will open on Friday, May 24. The five locations for our spray parks are Crosswell Park, North HOPE Park, South Sumter Park, Birnie HOPE Park and Palmetto Park. Admission is free all summer long, so bring the whole family.
  • Downtown Fourth Fridays begins this Friday, May 24 at 6:30. Every fourth Friday, through September, a live concert will be held on Main Street in Downtown Sumter and admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs, but no coolers allowed. Food and beverages available for purchase. The May’s band is Too Much Sylvia – who play beach, Motown, Funky 70's, Retro 80's a few of the top current hits. For more information, visit www.DigItDowntown.com. 
  • The Downtown Market has begun again, held every Saturday at Centennial Rotary Plaza, at the corner of Liberty and Main Streets, 8:30-12:30. Fresh produce, grilled ribs, chicken, and baked goods.
  • The City Aquatics Center will officially open for the season Saturday, May 25. The Aquatics Center is located 1115 S. Lafayette Drive. Admission is $2 for youth and $3 for adults, family passes and military discount are available as well as many swim classes and programs throughout the summer. For more information, call 803-774-3998 or visit www.sumterswim.com 
  • The annual Memorial Day ceremony this year will be held at the American Legion Post 15 on Artillery Drive at 11 AM. General Zobrist from the 9th Air Force will be the guest speaker. This will be followed by a community Appreciation picnic at South Sumter Park.
  • 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 11 – Incredibles 2 (no 10 am showing) 
    • June 18 – Hotel Transylvania 3
    • June 25 – Christopher Robin
    • July 2 – Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
    • July 9 – Ralph Breaks the Internet
    • July 16 – Smallfoot
    • July 23 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
    • July 30 – The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
    • August 6 – Mary Poppins Returns
    • August 13 – Dumbo (2019)
  • Regular City Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 4th floor of the Opera House. City residents are encouraged to attend. Next month our meetings will be on April 2 at 1 PM and April 16 at 5:30 PM.

For more information on these events and more, visit our online calendar of events at www.sumtersc.gov.