July 2016 Council Highlights

  • Council approved an ordinance to rezone approximately 3.26 acres of property, across from the Clyburn Transportation Center, from general commercial and light industrial to the Central Business District. This piece of property is owned by the City and the planned location of our new Utility Finance offices.

 

  • At Monday’s massive fire at Sumter Casket Company, located at 209 South Magnolia St, the fire department pulled a considerable amount of water from the City’s hydrants. Residents and businesses in the downtown and surrounding areas may continue to experience discolored water for a period of time. The City will be doing all that we can to clear up the discolored water as soon as possible. If you continue to experience discolored water please contact our Public Services Department at 803-436-2558.

 

  • At the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s annual meeting this past weekend. The City of Sumter was awarded the 2016 Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Economic Development Achievement Award for the City’s leadership in support of the capital penny sales tax. This is the second award this year that the City has won for our support on the Penny for Progress. In June, the city won a “Livability” award through the U.S. Conference of Mayors as well. For more information, visit the City’s website at www.sumtersc.gov or a list of the Projects on the capital penny sales tax list can be found at www.pennyforprogress.com.

 

  • Also, at the same event, the Municipal Association of South Carolina awarded Greg and Danielle Thompson the 2016 Main Street Master Merchant Inspiration Award. The Thompson’s were chosen for bringing their strong business sense and creative thinking to the downtown revitalization efforts. Only Cities who participate in the state’s Main Street program are eligible to win and of course Sumter is one of those cities. The Thompson’s not only actively recruit new businesses for downtown, but they also invest their own time and resources as devoted supporters of downtown Sumter.

 

  • The City’s Palmetto Tennis Center has been named one of the 11 Top-Tier American Tennis Facilities by a US publication, named Sports Planning Guide. Touting Sumter’s beautiful weather and delicious Southern cuisine, they highlight the centers 24 state-of-the-art court play, three tennis professionals, clinics for all skill levels, pro shop and more, Palmetto has all the tools necessary to be considered an elite facility. The also noted the well planned out park with children’s playground and spray park next door.

 

  • Downtown Sumter Development Updates:
    • East Liberty Street streetscape should be complete by mid August. This project is streamlining street parking and installing a crosswalk, developing downtown into a safe walking destination.
    • Hyatt Place hotel should be set to break ground within the next 60 days in the lot across from the Sumter Opera House
    • Old Burns Hardware location is currently under construction to become an outdoor dining location for the new location of Hamptons restuarant.
    • A new women’s boutique is shop coming to the corner of Sumter and Liberty Street.
    • Berenyi (Ba-ree-nee), Inc., a Charleston based engineering firm, who just opened their doors in downtown this year, will be rehabbing an old vacant building and opening shop, showing additional commitment to downtown and City of Sumter.

 

  • We also want to remind citizens that SC DOT will begin improvements along Broad Street soon, from Wesmark Boulevard to Bultman Drive. This section of Broad Street has been on the top of the list in Sumter as having the most congestion and the most accidents, so beginning with this area the state will perform intersection improvements as well as resurfacing. Once this project starts please give yourself plenty of time for travel.