Lamar hears of improvements at apartment complex
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Lamar Town Council’s February 12 meeting included updates on two pressing issues: the town’s water system, and the improving situation at the Cambridge Apartments complex.
Darlington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Josh Edwards spoke to council about the long history of high criminal activity at Cambridge, noting that over an eight-year period, about 2,200 crimes have been reported at the apartments, including murders, shootings, and assault and battery. Edwards said that after Sheriff Tony Chavis took office in January of 2017, the department was alarmed by the number of calls involving drive-by shootings, gang activity and gun crime.
“The community started speaking out, and Sheriff Chavis started hearing it, so we gave the county a couple of options: either we address Cambridge, or we’re going to shut it down as a nuisance,” said Edwards.
As a sort of ‘Hail Mary’ pass, the complex’s owner, Southeastern Management Group, contracted the Housing Authority of the City of Darlington to take over the complex for a year and make a concerted effort to improve conditions. Housing Authority director Jamie Steen told Lamar Council that the changes she made were proven effective in Darlington and she believes they will also have a positive effect at Cambridge.
Steen says these changes include strict enforcement of lease terms and prompt evictions for violators, repairs to non-functioning exterior lighting, installing security cameras, implementing parking permits and towing non-resident vehicles. Steen said the security cameras have online accessibility to allow property managers and law enforcement to check the feeds through a web browser.
She cautioned that the situation will not be fixed overnight, but steady progress can be tracked and she believes that with help from the Sheriff’s Office and residents, Cambridge can get back on track. Steen also noted that Southeastern Management Group has the option to extend the Housing Authority’s management contract by one additional year if they are pleased with their results.
Also at this meeting, council heard the latest on efforts to repair and restore Lamar’s municipal water system from Jannie Lathan of Lathan Consulting Corporation.
Lathan said that the $467,789 SC Department of Commerce grant (obtained with the help of Senator Gerald Malloy) is being used to cover grant match requirements and, in one case, small overages on bid contracts. Lathan said the low bidder for one water project – the DHEC-mandated installation of a control valve – was $8,000 over budget, but Commerce agreed to allow their grant money to bridge that funding gap.
The control valve installation project is set to begin February 21, with completion estimated by March 15, 2018.
Additionally, Lathan gave a summary of grant monies received thus far and the projects for which they are allocated.
This includes a $500,000 Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) grant to rehab the town’s two above-ground water tanks, which requires a $95,000 match from Lamar. Quarterly progress reports on this project will be submitted to RIA, and completion is expected by November of 2018.
Mayor Darnell McPherson queried Lathan about state regulations regarding the distribution of income questionnaires or forms to Lamar residents. McPherson said that updated information on town income levels could help Lamar qualify as low to moderate income (LMI) and open the doors to more grant funding. Lathan agreed to consult with the town and help ensure any such effort observes SC Commerce requirements and procedures.
