Darlington narrows proposed recreation complex down to two sites
Darlington Mayor Gloria C. Hines presents a Key to the City of Darlington to Brendan Johnson, Director of the Darlington High School Marching Band after leading his band to Grand Champion of the Dillon Band Competition.
Photo by Jana E. Pye
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
Residents of Darlington that have been hoping for a recreational complex in the city may get an answer by the end of the month, as city council members and the mayor met in executive session on October 4 to narrow the list to two potential sites: Lawson Road, and Phillips Street.
Earlier in the evening, Darlington County Recreation and Tourism Director Lee Andrews shared an image projected on the large screen to the council members and attendees of the monthly meeting.
According to Andrews, the site is 37 ½ acres, with an additional 7 acres that is currently in probate. “We will have to get with those individuals to make sure we can purchase the seven acres,” said Andrews.
The property lies off Smith Avenue at the Darlington County waste site, approximately a half-mile from North Main Street, at the Brunson Dargan area.
“That is the layout that we came up with,” said Andrews. “It’s just a preliminary thing. We have it appraised at 37.5 acres comes in at about $125,000.”
The location was already close to property earmarked as a green space, and had already earmarked that as a green space for a walking trail. “This ties directly into the creek and some of the stuff we’ve talked about could go outside,” he continued. “We could actually connect Williamson Park to this property, if you choose too.”
“The drawbacks to this one; it’s not as much land as Lawson Road, it’s not even as much land as Old Florence, but it does put you in a diverse neighborhood,” said Andrews. “It is easier to get to, if we do end up somehow inheriting some property over at Brunson Dargan we could connect them. There are already sidewalks to the Brunson Dargan area, and if we do a walking track- we are connected. …Now, will we get as much on this as we will on Lawson Road? Well, I mean we just don’t have the land that we have at Lawson road but at the same time, this is not a bad piece of property.”
Council deliberated in executive session, and came out to vote to remove the Old Florence Highway site from consideration. After they learn more details on the acquisition of the additional seven acres with the Phillips Street site, they will vote between that location and the Lawson Road site by special meeting.
Mayor Hines reminded audience that the council cannot make a decision in haste; “The citizens of Darlington who put us in place to make sound decisions. Not necessarily what you want but what’s best for the citizens of Darlington. And that is what we are trying to do.”
Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association: Director Lisa Chalian-Rock
Rock reported that the Chili Cookoff at the last Market on Darlington Square of the year was well attended on October 1, with Kimberly Padgett and daughter Kelsey named winner of Best Chili in Town. She noted that Hurricane Matthew might preempt the Yam Jam and the S.C. Sweet Potato Festival. She plans to partner with the Darlington Area Recreation Department again for the popular Scare on the Square downtown trick or treating event on Thursday, October 27 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. downtown. On December 1, DDRA will hold a Shop Small event, a downtown Open House with music and pictures with Santa.
Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce: Norm Steadman
Steadman shared that he was chosen as a judge for the recent Darlington County District Teacher of the Year, and has volunteered the use of his office for the City Clean Up Day held by the City Beautification Board and the Kalmia Garden Study Club on October 22 from 8 a.m. to noon. He planned to hold the Toast of the Coast event as scheduled Thursday Oct. 6, and reminded council to save the date for the chambers Annual Membership Banquet on February 9. He thanked the members of council and mayor for their support of the July 4th Freedom Fest, and presented each with a commemorative plaque in thanks.
Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway Track President:
Mayor Gloria C. Hines introduced new track president of the Darlington Raceway, Kerry Tharp.
“I can’t tell you how excited, how blessed that I’ve been, and my family has been, since we came here July 18th,” said Tharp. “I have lived in South Carolina for 31 years and worked for NASCAR for 11 years, and I knew that Darlington Raceway was a special place before I got here; let me tell you something, it didn’t take me very long to see it is a very, very special place. And this is a very special community.”
He thanked the community for their support; “The people of this area support this racetrack, and that means a lot to us, it means a lot to the sport, and the state.” He shared that many visitors come to the track year round, including a family that day visiting Charlotte from Alabama recently. “My dream and my passion are for this track to be more than just a Labor Day event, but a year ‘round opportunity for the community, to have an ownership in this racetrack. This is a great facility… I can pledge to you that we are committed to this community, we are going to do all we can to embrace this community. I cannot tell you the warm welcome we have received. Come Friday, Lord willing, I will be a homeowner in the City of Darlington. I look forward to being a part of this community.”
2014-2015 Audit Presentation: Rob Jordan
Mr. Rob Jordan approached council to share the status of the 2014-2015 audit.
“Mayor Hines, and members of council, I will share the status of the audit,” said Jordan. “It is late, and it is not ready yet. I have about two to three more days of tying down balances and it will take a week to two weeks to write it. I’ve done this successfully for a number of years, my problem is I lost two employees and it’s taken me longer to get a handle on it than I anticipated; I would say that it is not the fault of this administration.”
City manager Howard Garland asked if they could expect an audit back in three weeks, and Jordan said that it would be close to that.
Garland suggested to mayor and council to schedule a special meeting to handle the audit presentation when it is available. Rob Jordan said, “I appreciate your understanding, and I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Selection of Company for 2015-2016 Audit:
City manager Garland directed Mayor and council to look at their packet for a print out of information about Webster and Rogers firm; “They have an office in Florence, they have worked with many counties, technical colleges, and cities in South Carolina. They come recommended by our internal accountant Holly Scoefield, who says they have the highest recommendation in the industry.” He asked that council approve he and the city clerk/treasurer to pursue mitigation for a three-year contract with Webster Rogers to provide the audit.
“We are already behind the ball with the audit, …we need to clear the books on the 2014- 2015 budget and our internal accountant will not start work on last year’s books until we get them completed. We are ready to go without any other delay.”
Elaine Reed asked if they had any indication when they could finish it; Garland said they are waiting on Mr. Jordan to finish; they can’t start until he finishes.
Mayor Hines said they needed to make a move; she had already received a letter from the state. Milling, who stated that he had dealt with the firm previously for forensic audits, made a motion to authorize manager and clerk/treasurer to begin mitigation to enter into contract; “Save us as much money as you can,” said Milling. All council members voted in favor, and the motion carried.
Lawson Road Recreation Site Environmental Report: Chuck Oates.
Mr. Oates did not attend, item struck from agenda.
Presentation of Key to City to DHS Band Director Brendan Johnson
Mayor Gloria C. Hines shared with council that the Darlington High School marching band traveled to Dillon to participate in the Dillon band competition, and the marching band received: Superior Rating and Class4A; Best Drum Major in Class 4A; First Place in Class 4A; and out of 23 bands, they were awarded Grand Champions. The band has a total of 115 members under the direction of Brendan Johnson, who has been with Darlington High School since 2015.
Hines remarked, “We as a city want to present this Key to the City of Darlington to you to show how much we appreciate you and how much you do for the students.”
Lee Andrews told the audience that the Darlington Raceway didn’t want to hold the Southern 500 Parade if the DHS band couldn’t be there.
Water/Sewer Cost Estimate Update Lawson Road Site: Howard Garland
Garland shared that the Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority has a water main to that site, so here is no cost for a water line. The city could tie into the water if it were chosen as a location for the proposed recreation park. “The Lawson site sewer estimate remains at $129,550 also for comparison, the projected cost for the Old Florence Highway site is $74,700 for sewer, and $20,460 for water.”
He asked if Ms Rock had estimates for Phillips Street site, and she said that she did not; she estimated that the prices would be the same as the Old Florence Site “But, the water tower is right there on North Main Street, water and sewer is available, and so it wouldn’t be far.”
First Reading Ordinance 2016-10 General Obligation Bond (Amendment)
Mayor told council that the city needs to add the first year’s interest to the bond and this is because the first year’s interest cannot be used because the ordinance is late.
Garland said that the city’s bond attorney Mr. Ben Zeigler suggested the city have a first and second reading on this and take the interest payment into the capital bond. “He expects it to be between $17,000 and $19,000,” said Garland. “This is necessary, according to Mr. Zeigler, to move forward.”
The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Selection of Company for Roofing Bid Plans
Garland shared with mayor and council that he worked from a list from the S.C. Department of Archives and History for approved contractors to work on these historic buildings, and also called Historic Architect Ben Whitener who is a native of Darlington and is with Cummings and McCrady Architects in Charleston who provided an additional list; out of that, approximately seven vendors were available right now to do the work. “Several are still really busy repairing roofs from the flood from last year. The one who could work was Rick Cook from ADC in Charleston. His related experience includes Clemson University, The Citadel, College of Charleston, Bluffton and Berkley County Schools, University of South Carolina, also MUSC, Greenville Health Systems, they have worked on numerous projects.”
The six buildings that need roofs replaced would be the historic Administration Building, and the McCullough house, A.W. “Man” Stanley Gym, Baldwin Gym, City Hall, Street Department. The firm is ready for the job.
“I talked with the bond attorney.” Continued Garland. “They are willing to let us go ahead and do this, and we have to pay out anything before the bond is improved we can be reimbursed for any funds for it.”
Council voted to approve.
New Lights for Tennis Courts
Mayor Hines told council that they received an estimate of $9, 235 to replace the lights at the city tennis courts, and that city manager Howard Garland will speak with the superintendant of the Darlington County School District the following day.
Garland said, “I want to remind council and staff, in the past the school district has paid for half the cost of maintenance on those courts, so that goes back to an agreement we worked out in 2002. The courts were resurfaced several times over the years, they’ve helped us out there.”
Councilwoman Elaine Reed said that since the topic of the tennis courts had come up, she wondered why the tennis courts in her area – Magnolia Street – were not kept up.
“I would like to at least consider that there are other tennis courts that might be useful by our citizens, children or anyone want to use them – if they are kept up.”
Lee Andrews said that the courts had not been used since he had been in Darlington County, and to his knowledge no one had asked to have the nets put back up. He added that the courts were in “not very good shape” and would need to be re-asphalted, new lights and nets.
By request of the Mayor, Andrews will provide an estimate for the courts.
Councilman Bryant Gardner made a motion for the city to go forward with the light replacement at the existing city tennis courts if the superintendent approves the school district paying half. Council voted in favor.
Anyone Wishing to Appear Before Council:
Ronda Brown of the Beautification Board shared the group’s report drafted on February 2016 for each council member to have their own copy.
She said that the new benches along the square are available for purchase, a donation much like the pots with a plaque in honor or memory, for a cost of approximately $1000. “We have some of the things on this plan,” said Brown. It’s small steps, a little bit at a time but if we have a master plan we’ll slowly get there. We may not get there tomorrow, we may not get there next year, but it gives us a goal to shoot for.”
Mayor Hines commended them for having a plan.
Mrs. Weatherford spoke next, urging council to consider the comments of previous people speaking in favor of the recreation complex. “We hope to have a new sports complex where we can let our children play.”
The next regular monthly meeting for Darlington City Council will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.