Hartsville to purchase expansion properties, repair intersections
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Hartsville City Council convened their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, December 13, and approved several resolutions and ordinances aimed at streamlining expansion along Fourth Street and repairing damaged downtown intersections.
Council held a public hearing and approved final reading for Ordinance 4273, authorizing the city to purchase the property at Tax Map Number 056-06-02-085 and 056-06-02-056 – amounting to .536 acres – from Deborah W. Gandy for $145,900.00. Purchasing this property will allow for Fourth Street corridor development in the downtown business area.
A number of resolutions appeared on the agenda, and most received unanimous approval.
Resolution 12-16-01 indefinitely waives all business license fees associated with the monthly Hartsville Farmers Market and the weekly Centennial Market events.
Resolution 12-16-02 approved the city’s intention to reimburse itself through general obligation bond funds for the cost of a planned intersection repair project. This project aims to remove damaged bricks from three Fifth Street intersections at Home Avenue, College Avenue, and Carolina Avenue. City manager Natalie Zeigler said these three intersections are in “dire need of help,” and she noted that while there is set figure for final costs, this resolution caps expenses at $650,000. Council member Teresa Mack cast the lone “no” vote on this proposal.
Resolution 12-16-03 reallocated $26,500 in grant match funds to offset vegetation abatement costs at the city’s historic African American cemetery. The funds involved were reallocated from a redundant line item used for demolition of dilapidated houses.
Resolution 12-16-04 approved application for a Juvenile Accountability Block Grant, which would establish alternative sentencing measures for juvenile offenders of minor crimes (such as shoplifting or trespassing), and would allocate salary reimbursement funds to participating businesses that provide jobs to these offenders. Juveniles accepted into this project – an offshoot of the Hartsville Safe Communities program – will be given the opportunity for job placement, mentoring, and job skills training. Estimated costs for this project stand at $59,000, with a 10-percent match of $5,900 required from the city, pending grant approval.
Resolution 12-16-05 permitted the city to annex in three city-owned properties totaling 10.44 acres along Wright and Leesburg Streets for use in constructing a planned new Public Works complex. Council also approved first reading of Ordinance 4274, the first step in formally conducting this annexation.
Ordinance 4275 cleared first reading and, if finalized, this measure will require all professional service contractors to buy $3 decals for their vehicles signifying they have valid city business licenses for the current year.
First reading of Ordinance 4276 passed, and would allow the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics to locate satellite equipment on a tower at the Hartsville Fire Department in exchange for a $250 annual fee.
Ordinance 4277 would authorize the city to pay $160,000 to Jessica Avant, Ginger Avant, and Steven Avant for .17 acres of property located at 219 South Fourth Street to allow for Fourth Street corridor development. Council approved first reading, with council member Mack cast the lone dissenting vote.
Ordinance 4278 also passed first reading, and would allow the city to pay Christopher Todd Heath $110,000 for .76 acres of property located at 346 Coker Avenue. This purchase is also related to the city’s plans for Fourth Street corridor expansion.
Finally, council passed first reading of Ordinance 4279, a ten-year lease agreement to pay $2,000 annually for parking space at 146 West Carolina Avenue to be used by the planned EdVenture Children’s Museum.