Lamar to raise water, sewer, garbage rates

Lamar Mayor Darnell Byrd McPherson (left) and Lamar Town Council member Inez Lee. Photo by Samantha Lyles

By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net

Lamar residents will soon see increases on their monthly municipal services. Town Council met May 13 and moved toward raising rates for garbage pickup and water and sewer service.

Council member / Mayor Pro Tem Lang Howell said that currently, residents receive garbage pickup service eight times per month for $10, and he observed that there is “no way in the world” the town can meet expenses this way.

He proposed raising garbage pickup rates to $18 per month, with no changes in services. Council agreed and passed first reading of this increase; second and final reading should take place at their June 10 meeting.

Howell said that since Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority (which provides water to the town) is raising rates by 5 percent, the town needed to raise rates to keep pace. Following a brief discussion, council agreed to levy a 10 percent increase on municipal water and sewer service. Second and final reading of this change will take place in June.

Also, council member Angele White Bradley proposed raising the wastewater acceptance rate Lamar charges Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority. She noted that for every 1,000 gallons of wastewater the county pushes into Lamar’s oxidation pond, Lamar charges only $1.95. After some debate, Mayor Darnell Byrd McPherson asked Bradley to compile figures and propose a reasonable increase, which will be considered at council’s June meeting.

Citizen volunteer Janie Howell announced that Lamar has asked S.C. DHEC to allow some restructuring in the way the town spends the remaining $254,500 in grant money. Lamar received $350,000 from DHEC in February to help make necessary repairs to the water system, and several of the required projects have already been completed, including replacing and repairing fire hydrants, cleaning out sewer lines at manholes and abandoning one of the old wells contaminated by trace radium.

Among the requested expenditures, Howell said the town wants to use $30,000 to purchase a pickup truck for the (yet to be hired) water and sewer system operator, $10,000 for an industrial lawn mower to properly clear and maintain the oxidation pond and treatment facility and $10,436 for engineering fees and planning sewer upgrades. $138,690 has been earmarked for executing those sewer repairs and upgrades.

Howell said she expected an answer from DHEC within a few days.

Finally, Council member / Mayor Pro Tem Lang Howell said he is optimistic that the town will soon have a qualified, certified, and reputable police officer working full time. Currently, the Lamar Police Department is without a chief or any officers at all, and police protection is being provided by the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. Howell said that for himself and others on the police department search committee, sorting through applicants has been a challenge. He noted that many potential hires either lack experience and good references, or sport a spotty employment record, but he felt confident this latest candidate would fit the bill.

“And if the good Lord is willing, maybe by the first of (June) we’ll have him on board,” said Howell.

Author: Stephan Drew

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