Oliver joins Society Hill council
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
Carolyn Oliver was officially sworn into office at the March meeting of Society Hill Town Council, replacing the seat vacated by former council member Chuck Spring.
Oliver, a familiar face to the town as a volunteer for many events and activities including the Catfish Festival and recent beauty pageants, told council, “I am proud to serve.”
Former councilman Spring resigned earlier this year due to work constraints.
No election was held, as Oliver was the lone community member to file for office.
Council members Deborah Harrell, Denise Douglas, and Michelle Steen joined Mayor Tommy Bradshaw and part time town clerk Brenda Nettles in welcoming Oliver to the council, along with many community members in attendance.
Council received an update on the pending lease agreements for the rental properties, and heard Second Reading on Ordinance 2014/2015-04 to transfer elections from Society Hill to Darlington County Board of Elections and Registration, following suit with Lamar.
The financial report was shared, and Mayor Bradshaw thanked the council and community for working so diligently to “dig us out of the hole.”
Certified public accounting firm Burch Oxner Seale, Co. of Florence completed the town’s annual audit, for the fiscal year that runs annually from July 1 to June 30.
Bradshaw said their was a significant change from the first six months under the previous town administration – July 1, 2013 to January 2014; Bradshaw had requested a mini-audit done when he took office in January of 2014, and from information gleaned from that report, was swift to make changes to the town to trim costs and work towards paying past due state assessments.
“We’ve made major strides,” said Bradshaw. “We are finally living within our means as a town.”
The Depot restoration project is moving along, with builder Bill Segars; Bradshaw said despite some weather delays, the project is moving along well and should be completed by September.
In new business, Bradshaw discussed plans to upgrade the streetlights, and said he had received a visit from Duke Energy to look at the existing lights that include every bulb in existence, resulting in a varying degree of brightness at many areas in the town.
“I like the thought of LED’s,” said Bradshaw.
Council voted to entertain further exploration into future changes to the lighting in town.
Council also approved a plan to restore electricity to the two RV campsites at the Boat Landing on the Great Pee Dee River, to make it more attractive for renting, and raise the fee for the campground from the existing $5 a night fee to $15 for one night, and $10 for more than one night.
A padlock would be placed on the breaker box, and the power could also be used if the town wished to have a function on the popular site on the river.
No dumping stations for RVs will be constructed.
The next meeting will be held on April 14 at 6:30 p.m.
