DHEC says Lamar making ‘really good progress’ on water system
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
At Lamar Town Council’s Nov. 11 regular meeting, another update for the town’s ongoing water and sewer issues produced more positive news.
Buck Graham with S.C. DHEC/Office of Rural Water spoke briefly on the matter, and noted that Lamar has made steady progress toward repairing and reviving its water system.
“We’ve been working on the drinking water and wastewater projects over here, and I’ve got to be honest … when we first started, I was very skeptical that we were going to make it,” Graham said. “But through council’s leadership, they’ve been making some really good progress.”
Graham observed that partnerships with Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority and engineering firm Davis & Brown have greatly aided the town’s efforts.
Since DHEC put Lamar under a consent order in February 2016, the town has purchased its drinking water from DCWSA, but they are working toward re-establishing the municipal water system by repairing water tanks, sinking a new well, replacing old water meters and rectifying longstanding problems with record- keeping.
Working with Davis & Brown, Lamar has used grant money from S.C. Department of Commerce and the Rural Infrastructure Authority to replace key components of its wastewater processing system.
Greg McCutcheon with Davis & Brown and North American Construction added that a new wastewater chlorinator has been installed, and new aerators were in place and scheduled to go online later that week. Bids for a new effluent pump system are set to be opened on Nov. 21.
“We’re progressing along. Things look well,” said McCutcheon.
Graham advised city leaders to continue adjusting water/sewer rates as needed, assuring there are adequate funds to properly maintain the system as these new components age.
“It’s just like any other business, where the ones that remain successful pass it along and fund what they need to do their projects with,” said Graham.
Mayor Darnell Byrd McPherson notified all present that the City of Darlington would no longer be able to handle building inspections for Lamar since Darlington’s Building and Codes director Alex Gainey recently took on additional duties as the city’s stormwater director.
McPherson said she has asked Darlington County administrator Charles Stewart if the county could carry out inspections for Lamar as they do for Society Hill. McPherson gave Council members a schedule of inspection fees used by the county and suggested they study the information and be prepared to vote at the next Town Council meeting on how to proceed.
Also at this meeting, Council unanimously passed a measure approving Mayor Pro Tem Lang Howell as the second signatory (along with Mayor McPherson) on all of the town’s bank accounts.
