Hartsville honors Sonoco, peace officers, and forwards budget
Mayor Mel Pennington presents a proclamation to the Hartsville Police Department for Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Photos by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
At their May 14 regular meeting, Hartsville City Council took a few moments to acknowledge the contributions of two key pillars of the community: the Hartsville Police Department and Sonoco Products Co.
Mayor Mel Pennington presented Hartsville Police Department Chief Jerry Thompson with a proclamation recognizing May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in the City of Hartsville. This day, along with Police Week, are national observances paying tribute to the local, state and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty.
Mayor Mel Pennington presents a proclamation to the Hartsville Police Department for Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Pennington also presented Sonoco VP of Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Roger Schrum with a framed certificate recognizing the company’s 120th anniversary, and expressed thanks for the company’s history as a good corporate citizen, valued employer and active participant in community life.
On the regular agenda, council passed first reading of the 2019/20 fiscal year budgets, including a General Fund budget of $10,293,878, a Water, Sewer and Waterpark Enterprise Fund budget of $6,662,259, an Infrastructure Fund budget of $521,000, a Solid Waste Fund budget of $1,499,290, a Hospitality Fee Fund budget of $995,500, an Accommodations Tax Fund budget of $200,000, a Debt Service Fund budget of $165,000, a Storm Water Fund budget of $122,354 and a Recreations Concessions Fund budget of $65,000. Second and final reading should take place in June, and the budgets will take effect July 1, 2019.
Council also approved second and final reading of Ordinance 4364, which will continue leasing city-owned property at 149 W. Carolina Avenue to the Darlington County Humane Society. The ordinance states that the Humane Society has leased this property since 2016 at a rate of $500 per month. The lease is a one year term.
Mayor Mel Pennington (left) and Sonoco VP Roger Schrum.
No one spoke at the public hearing for this ordinance.
Finally, Council passed Resolution 05-19-02 waiving all business license fees for Main Street Hartsville Downtown events. Since Main Street now functions as a city agency, this change will streamline the permitting process and prevent vendors from being charged twice to participate in Main Street events. The resolution states that an expected increase in vendor participation will offset any decrease in business license revenues.
