Gammage welcomed to Hartsville City Council
Tre Gammage (center) was joined by his family as he took the oath of office on December 12 and became the newest member of Hartsville City Council. Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Hartsville City Council welcomed their newest member as Tre Gammage was sworn in as the new District #1 representative. Gammage won the seat by defeating incumbent Adlena Graham by a vote count of 69 to 47 in the November 21 run-off election.
Mayor Mel Pennington, Gammage, and other members of Council offered words of appreciation about the departing Graham (who was unable to attend), noting her extensive familiarity with residents of her district and the unflagging energy she exhibited while serving as their Council representative for the past twenty-four and a half years.
“She’s been serving as long as I’ve been alive – literally. She was elected in 1993 and I was born in ’93. She held her hands out to me and showed me the ropes, gave me an hour-long tour of the district,” said Gammage. “(Graham) stopped at every building that was dilapidated and she knew the last person who lived there, knew if they had passed away. She knew something about every member of that community…and it’s a humbling privilege to be able to sit in this seat after a woman like that.”
Also, Council unanimously voted to re-appoint Johnny Andrews as Mayor Pro Tempore.
On the regular agenda, Council held a public hearing and final reading for Ordinance 4314, defining regulations and public areas where businesses can sell alcoholic beverages for open consumption. This ordinance legalizes the sale and consumption of beer, wine, and mixed drinks in open containers in a certain area of downtown Hartsville (the “open consumption area”) with the goal of encouraging more downtown dining and activities in the city’s growing commercial district.
Citizens Casey Hancock and Shelley Wilson spoke at the public hearing, and both offered their support for the ordinance, reasoning that responsible sales and consumption of alcohol at downtown events will help Hartsville draw more visitors and will encourage patrons to visit more downtown venues. Hancock expressed confidence that anyone who abused the privilege and behaved poorly would be summarily dealt with by the Hartsville Police Department.
Andrews moved for approval of Ordinance 4314, and Council member Teresa Mack offered a second – with the comment that other areas of town can hold events with public consumption / open container allowances provided they obtain special permits from the city. The measure passed by a vote of 5 to 2, with Council members William Shirley and Bernice Wilson voting against.
Council also approved the purchase of several parcels of land located at 316 Reservoir Street ($65,000), 313 Reservoir Street and the corner of Coker Street ($110,000), 315 Chinaberry Drive and the corner of Reservoir Street ($60,000), and 311 Reservoir Street (up to $70,000). These purchases play into the city’s plans to further develop the Fourth Street corridor.
