October 2023 Council Highlights

  • We currently have open meetings for residents to attend the annual budget planning for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The purpose of the funds is to improve city neighborhoods and make life more livable for residents; especially those whose income falls within the HUD Income Limits and are considered low-moderate-income citizens. This is the citizens' chance to be part of the planning of our next fiscal and the future of our city. The City of Sumter will satisfy this requirement by holding public meetings prior to preparing the upcoming Annual Action Plan. The schedule for these meetings follows:
    • Wednesday, October 18th
      • 6 PM – North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St.
    • Thursday, October 19th
      • 6 PM – Birnie HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St.
    • Wednesday, October 25th
      • 6 PM – South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Dr.
    • Thursday, October 26th
      • 6 PM – South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave.
    • Tuesday, November 21st
      • 6 PM – City Council Chambers, 4th Floor Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St.

Citizens are invited to come out and participate in these community meetings in preparation of the City of Sumter, Community Development Department fiscal year budget process for the period of April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025. Entry to all meeting places is handicapped accessible. Hearing impaired or deaf persons may call 774-1649 for assistance. Persons needing an interpreter may call the same number for assistance.

  • Another way to help shape your community is to give input into our Sumter 2040 updated engagement survey. Share your opinions with us as we work to develop Sumter’s future land use. We have a 20-minute survey available online at sumtersc.gov. This survey will be available through the end of 2023.
  • As a friendly reminder, please note that residential waste containers should be placed out by the road by 7 AM on your service day and remain by the curb until serviced or 7 PM. You may have seen the City’s new side loading garbage trucks recently. The new trucks are currently running for the city’s Wednesday and Friday routes. These new trucks allow us to run regular schedules even while short-staffed. They also service one side of the street at a time. While most customers are used to our trucks passing down their street once on their service day, these new trucks will pass by twice to service both sides of the street. All service days will remain the same.
  • For almost 20 years, the Fall Feast and its unique atmosphere have helped provide funding for Sumter Green's beautification efforts around our City. This event was created to partner with local businesses and residents to bring you an all-you-can-eat selection of some of the best food Sumter has to offer. From shrimp, crab legs, and oysters to barbecue, greens, chicken, chili's, stews, frog legs, gator bites, and more to an enjoyable array of sweet treats from our local bakeries, the Fall Feast is sure to please! 
    • Held Thursday, October 26 from 5:30-7:30, Sumter Green’s Fall Feast is an adults-only event (18 years and up). Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door and are available at the Swan Lake Visitors Center as well as online through the Sumter Opera House’s website at www.sumteroperahouse.com.
  • Join Team Sumter and the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce in supporting the annual Military Appreciation Picnic on November 3. Sponsors and vendors will host a picnic for all active-duty military on base. For more info contact the Chamber at 803-436-2541.
  • We have several upcoming community parades all along Main Street… These parades bring thousands of guests to the downtown Sumter area over the next month. Please be aware of street closures, increased pedestrians, slow-moving vehicles, and more, now and throughout the holidays:
    • Morris College Homecoming, November 4, starting at 10 AM
    • Veterans Day, November 10, starting at 10 AM
    • Sumter Christmas Parade, December 3, starting at 2 PM
  • We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers for our litter cleanups this year. Our next community clean-up day is scheduled for this Saturday, October 21st. We would like to invite teams or individuals to join us that morning to clean up around your neighborhood or help another neighborhood if you have time. For more info or to participate contact our Codes Department or visit sumtersc.gov/litter.
    • So far this year our volunteers and enforcement efforts have cleaned up 31,606 lbs. of trash, tires, TVs, mattresses, and more.
    • We’ve collected over 995 tires while giving approximately $2000 back to the residents for bringing them into our Tire Buy Back Programs.
    • We’ve partnered with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department on Tarp Campaigns and handed out 46 tarps instead of citations as a warning for those who do not cover their loads in transport on our roads.
    • We’ve been able to get 200 hours of litter pickup community service issued through the court system for violations.
    • The 2nd annual 2024 Love Where You Live Litter Poster Contest is here to help spread the word about our Community Clean-Up Days and to show Sumter a little love by not littering. Our 2024 poster contest is available to any Sumter K-12th grade student - in public, private, and homeschool programs. Three winning pieces will be selected, one from each of the Elementary, Middle, and High school grades. The three (3) winning pieces will become the designs for our 2024 poster, distributed to businesses and other facilities around the entire Sumter community throughout the year. All rules and the application are available on our website at sumtersc.gov/litter. The same is being disseminated throughout all schools now. The Love Where You Live Litter Poster Contest is in partnership with the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and Palmetto Pride.
  • The 36th annual Fantasy of Lights will be held once again this year at Swan Lake Iris Gardens. Residents and visitors are invited to join us for the countdown to Christmas with the opening ceremony starting at 6 PM on Friday. December 1st. The lights will remain on the entire month of December, Sunday through Thursday until 9 PM then Fridays and Saturdays until 10 PM.
    • Additionally, a special treat for the young and young at heart is Santa’s Village. This will be held in conjunction with Fantasy of Lights the first three weekends of the month, including:
      • Saturday, December 2, 2023, 6-8 PM
      • Friday, December 8, 2023, 6-8 PM
      • Saturday, December 9, 2023, 6-8 PM
      • Friday, December 15, 2023, 6-8 PM
      • Saturday, December 16, 2023, 6-8 PM
    • Admission to the Fantasy of Lights and all activities at Santa’s Village are free. Bring your camera and get ready to take your picture with Santa while he visits the Village on these special nights. Christmas music and dancing entertainment will be showcased at Santa’s Village. Food and beverage will be available for purchase too.
  • Our November regularly scheduled City Council meetings will be on Tuesday, November 7th at 1 PM and Tuesday, November 21st at 5:30 PM. If you can’t make a meeting public comments may also be submitted online anytime through our website at sumtersc.gov/council/meetings or city residents can contact the Mayor or their Council Representative any time prior to any meeting to discuss a concern or idea.