Lamar makes progress on water leaks
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Lamar Town Council received some good news at their March 13 meeting: a water leak that cost the town between 15,000 and 20,000 gallons per day has been located and repaired.
“We’re still working on water leaks, and we found one major one,” said Council member Mike Lloyd. “A citizen came by and told us we had water pouring in a ditch.”
Lloyd said three or four other smaller water loss sites were located and repaired by town workers, and six to ten non-functioning water meters have also been replaced within the past month. These efforts should greatly reduce the town’s monthly water billing losses, which result from a negative balance between gallons purchased from Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority (DCWSA) and gallons billed to Lamar water customers.
“We’ve made a big headway. Last month, we purchased three and a half million gallons and we billed for two-point-two (million gallons)” said Lloyd, adding that this 38 percent loss rate showed a 7 percent decrease over the previous month.
Tracking for March indicates those losses should decrease again by 600,000 gallons over the previous billing period. Lloyd said that should translate to a $1,600 reduction in Lamar’s monthly bill from DCWSA.
Also at this meeting, citizen Barbara Stanley voiced concerns about speeding motorists near Lamar Elementary School. Stanley said she has witnessed vehicles traveling very fast while passing the school, and she asked Lamar Police Chief Jason Chaney to increase traffic patrols in that area. Chaney said he would speak with his officers and possibly change up patrol positions during pick-up and drop-off hours to address the problem.
Stanley also noted there are no flashing lights warning motorists of the presence of children near the school. Lloyd said that last year, the Town of Lamar asked the Darlington County School District and the S.C. Department of Transportation to install flashing lights there, but their requests were denied.
Chaney spoke briefly spoke about several initiatives aimed at fostering better community relations between police and local citizens – specifically, Lamar High School students. He said new LPD patrol car striping schemes will include graphics of Lamar High’s Silver Fox mascot, and he has approached the school administration about the possibility of a student-painted mural in the LPD squad room.
Chief Chaney added that the LPD now has a Facebook page with regularly updated information about community programs, and he plans to establish a citizen’s police academy where attendees can learn about proper police procedure and be better informed and safer during their interactions with all law enforcement officers.
Stanley asked for the addition of a community bulletin board at Lamar Town Hall to serve as a physical information kiosk where local residents can learn about town happenings and post their own announcements.
“We need to be a community that’s in the know,” said Stanley.