Hartsville Council Honors Local Legacy, Celebrates Statewide Planning Award
The Hartsville City Council met Tuesday, October 13, for a full agenda that combined tributes to the community, news of a state-level honor, and a series of financial and public safety decisions.
Council opened with proclamations, including a recognition of the late Mr. Carl M. Days Sr. (August 3, 1954 – September 28, 2026), a respected community leader and former Butler High School basketball standout. Days later attended Johnson C. Smith University, Francis Marion, and Coker University. He devoted 43 years to Hines Funeral Home and is lovingly remembered for decades of coaching and mentoring and for his service to Jerusalem Baptist Church.
Council also recognized Hines Funeral Home’s 80th anniversary. Founded in 1946, it is the oldest African-American funeral business in the city and has served the Pee Dee area for eight decades.
Additional proclamations marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, presented to representatives of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse; World Mental Health Day and Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4-10); and 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Representatives of The Boudreaux Group, Director of Planning Irene Dumas Tyson and Tripp Muldrow, FAICP, delivered a video presentation on the city’s Master Plan, “One Hartsville.” The plan sets a vision of excellence in education, entrepreneurship, arts, agriculture, and civic leadership. It was shaped by a July 2024 charrette and a 371-person survey, and it focuses on strengthening the City Center, elevating South Hartsville, and improving connectivity, infrastructure, and regional position.
Key priorities include housing choice, with more than 332 homes needed, mixed-use development at 4th and Railroad, a Complete Streets plan, and zoning reform. Progress to date includes an adopted Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and 139 homes in design.
During the presentation, Tyson announced that Hartsville has received the APA-SC Outstanding Rural Planning Award from the South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association, which recognizes exceptional planning efforts that advance quality of life in rural communities and small towns. “They don’t give this to just anyone,” Tyson said, “but the City of Hartsville was way above exemplary and I want to say ‘Cheers!’ to all of you. It’s wonderful!”
Qiana Cannon, a Hartsville resident and Hartsville High School alumna, addressed council about Homecoming Week (Sept. 20-27). She said “negative events” occurred and that law enforcement, the City, and Darlington County government shut down some planned events. Cannon asked that representatives of the HHS Alumni Association meet with local government to discuss what happened and how to proceed. “We lost a lot of money, and we need answers,” she said, adding, “We want to go forward and include everyone.” City Manager Daniel Moore agreed to meet with her at a later date to discuss the matter and hear her concerns.
Following a public hearing at which no citizen spoke, council gave final approval to Ordinance 4519, authorizing lease-purchase financing of not less than $31,482,514, with a Debt Limit of $2,518,601. The financing covers capital items for public safety, sanitation, streets and grounds, water/sewer services, recreation, the waterpark, and the general fund, all previously approved in the 2026-2027 Budget.
Council also approved first reading of Ordinance 4520, which would lease property at Seventh Street and Marlboro Avenue to the Hartsville Rescue Squad for one year. A second reading is expected at the next meeting.
Council approved six resolutions. Resolution 10-26-01 authorizes an application for a $500,000 Rural Development Initiative Grant from the SC Department of Commerce. Darlington County Habitat for Humanity will partner with the City, which will serve as grant administrator, to build five affordable homes on Habitat-owned lots on Hampton Street. Habitat will provide the required 10% match and has committed to 25%, with another 25% from the Byerly Foundation, bringing total investment to $750,000.
Resolution 10-26-02 authorizes the Hartsville Pickleball Club to seek a Byerly Foundation grant for improvements to the Lawton Park Pickleball Courts and provides a City letter of support.
Two memoranda of understanding strengthen public safety. Resolution 10-26-03 creates a local Task Force between the Hartsville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, bringing additional resources and advanced equipment to disrupt illicit drug traffic. Resolution 10-26-04 establishes a partnership between HPD and Coker University’s Office of Campus Safety and Security for crime prevention and emergency response on campus.
Finally, council approved two equipment bids: $137,227.64 to Bobcat of Florence for a compact truck loader for Utility Services (Resolution 10-26-05), and $391,501.52 to Environmental Products Group for a commercial front loader refuse truck for Sanitation Services (Resolution 10-26-06).