Sumter County Council passed first reading of a $2.8 million general obligation bond as discussions of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget continued during a Tuesday evening workshop.

Council members also voted to increase the Road User Fee from $15 to $30 per vehicle to fund road maintenance.

Tuesday’s meeting saw Third Circuit Solicitor Ernest A. “Chip” Finney III speak to Council regarding his request for a funding increase for his office to hire four new non-attorney positions totaling $280,000.

Sumter County Veterans Affairs Director Valerie Brunson also spoke to Council about her request for one new full-time position totaling $40,000.

Both requests were denied by County Council.

Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon gave a recap of prior budget workshops and proposed budgets, noting that the May 21 version shows estimated revenue of $51,908,042 matching with total operating expenditures of $51,908,042.

In discussing the Road User Fee, Mixon touched on how material costs have risen since the fee was implemented in the mid-1990s. Crush and run gravel for instance, costs $7.50 a ton back in the 90s and now goes for $24 a ton, he said.

“So that just multiplies out on the cost of doing a road,” he said.

A fund balance was built up over the last few years but that balance has been used to cover annual costs of maintaining the program, he said. To maintain the maintenance program for the Road User Fee, the costs needs to increase from $15 to $22.50 per vehicle.

Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. noted that the average of surrounding counties is $30 a vehicle and Mixon agreed. The highest statewide Road User Fees are Horry and Georgetown counties at $50 per vehicle and Lee and Sumter counties are the lowest at $15 per vehicle, he said.

Finance Director Jamie Michaelson said that Sumter County has 144.98 miles of dirt roads and 71 miles of crush and run roads for a total of non-paved roads of 216 miles. Most of the dirt roads are short and therefore it’s not easy to maintain or repair large stretches of dirt roads efficiently, he said.

When the weather is decent, it takes the county’s Public Works Department about three weeks to make a maintenance circuit around the county’s dirt roads, Mixon said.

Mixon said it would take $22.50 (per vehicle) to maintain the existing level of maintenance.

Sumpter made a motion to increase the Road User Fee from $15 to $30. The motion passed.

Mixon said the budget schedule would see second reading on the bond and budget on May 28 with a Sumter School District workshop on June 4.

Third and final reading of the budget is scheduled for June 11.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

Sumter County has a new Master in Equity.

Michael M. Jordan was sworn in as the new Master in Equity for Sumter County on Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Sumter County Judicial Center.

After Clerk to Court Jamie Campbell issued the call to order for the Investiture ceremony, Circuit Court Judge George McFaddin Jr. welcomed the crowd. Former Third Circuit Solicitor and former Third Circuit Public Defender Arthur Wilder Jr. offered an invocation.

South Carolina Supreme Court Justice George C. “Buck” James Jr. spoke briefly and Garryl Deas gave remarks as well.

McFaddin swore in Judge Jordan, who thanked his family, colleagues and friends.

Circuit Court Judge Howard King served as Interim Master in Equity prior to Jordan assuming the duties.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

Sumter County Council Tuesday evening passed two first readings for rezoning requests, a third reading for rezoning and first reading of the budget ordinance.

Council also passed third reading on a tethering ordinance.

City-County Planning Director George McGregor spoke about a request to rezone 4.98 acres at 526 Godwin Street from Residential-15 (R-15) to Agricultural Conservation (AC).

The property owners, the Jollys, want to rezone the land to continue operating a repair business. It’s in the Rural Development Area, he said.

The Planning Commission recommended approval, as does planning staff, he said.

First reading passed unanimously.

McGregor then spoke about a request to rezone 45.78 acres of land at 1449 Camden Highway from AC to R-15.

The property is essentially farmland at the intersection of Alice Drive and U.S. 521, which would see residential development.

Rocky Knowlton plans to develop the property into low density, 20,000-square-foot lots with water and sewer already in place. A preliminary subdivision plan was submitted, he said.

Under the Comprehensive Plan, it’s a Priority Development Area, he said, which could use higher density as there’s two five lane roads intersecting with a stoplight, and potential for more commercial development.

Both the Planning Commission and planning staff recommend approval, he said.

Next on the agenda was third reading of a request to rezone 74.69 acres on Beulah Cuttino Road from R-15 to AC.

There have been no changes since first and second reading, McGregor said.

Third reading passed unanimously.

Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon spoke about first reading of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020 budget ordinance, in title only.

There is proposed revenues of $51,612,920, he said, with proposed expenditures of $51,882,002 for a proposed deficit of $268,082.

“Of course this is a working number; we will continue to work with Council,” he said, referring to an upcoming budget workshop on May 21.

Of the proposed budget, he said, “we will continue to work this number as we work through the budget process.”

County Attorney Johnathan Bryan spoke about third reading of a tethering of dogs ordinance.

Language was clarified and a provision was added that a dog under the auspice of Animal Control can be made available for adoption or fostering if no positive ID is made in six days, he said.

Third reading passed unanimously.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

Sumter County Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. received the Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award on May 9, 2019, during the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Celebration at the Patriot Park Pavilion.

Photos courtesy of the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.

The Sumter County Auditor, Assessor and Treasurer's offices are located at 20 North Magnolia Street, now known as Magnolia Place. It is across the street from the Health Department and behind Wendy's. Handicapped parking is available in front of the building, and there's a ramp into the building.
Normal business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

*See PDF for information and scheduling.