• Sumter County Council passes third reading on two rezonings

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    Sumter County Council Tuesday evening during its regular meeting approved third and final reading on two rezoning requests.

    City-County Planning Director George McGregor spoke to council members about a request to rezone a 46.99 acre parcel at 2320 Beckwood Road from Agricultural Conservation (AC) to Residential-15 (R-15).

    There have been no changes since first or second reading, he said.

    Councilwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney said she had checked with the S.C. Department of Transportation about the resurfacing of Beckwood Road and “it’s nowhere in sight for now,” but it will be considered for later. Councilman Artie Baker said he hopes they’ll consider a traffic light as well. McGhaney said a lot of the actions required will be more at the state level and McGregor’s office will collaborate in the future. Third reading passed unanimously.

    McGregor then spoke about a request from Sumter County to rezone a 15 acre parcel and a 1.39 acre parcel at 160 Jefferson Road from General Residential (GR) to Heavy Industrial (HI). The request would support an economic development initiative, he said, and Planning Commission recommended approval. Third reading passed unanimously.

    Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon spoke about a request for a budget amendment, which is required by ordinance and needs three readings before council. He said there are three items that staff is recommending and the first was a $50,000 request from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter School District to account for after duty work the sheriff’s office performs at sport complexes. Two fire trucks in good shape and costing $50,000 each to be purchased from the City of Sumter would improve the county fleet, he said.

    “We deem it to be a very reasonable cost for those vehicles,” he said.

    The last request concerns a request from the Register of Deeds office to enter into a contract to digitally format old records in multiple phases. The first phase would cost $40,000, he said.

    Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. said all three items were discussed in the Fiscal, Tax and Property Committee meeting. First reading passed unanimously.

    Clerk to Council Mary Blanding said the public hearing for that item would be at third reading and not second reading.

    Council Vice Chairman Jimmy Byrd reported on the Internal Affairs committee meeting, and said a motion and a second to appoint Debbie Durant to the Historical Commission came out of the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

    McCain said there was an executive session during the Fiscal, Tax and Property committee meeting. Information was received and no action was taken, he said.

    Mixon told council members that budget season is approaching, as the Fiscal Year begins in July. Individual departments present requests in March, he said, and in April budget workshops with council will be held. In May, the first meeting of council will include first reading and the second reading will be held during the second meeting of that month. The proposed third and final reading will be held at the first meeting in June, he said.

    Hope Reid Watson spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting, as she bemoaned illegal dumping on Cannery Road.

    The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

    Sumter County Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 on the third floor of the Administration building at 13 East Canal Street.