Lamar progressing on town’s police and water issues
<em>By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, <a href=”mailto:slyles@newsandpress.net”>slyles@newsandpress.net</a></em>
At their Oct. 14 regular meeting, Lamar Town Council heard two largely positive updates indicating the town’s police department and water/sewer issues are resolving themselves.
Lamar Police Chief Carl Scott
Chief Carl Scott introduced newly hired full-time police officer Christopher Williamson, who has local experience working as a deputy with Darlington County and Chesterfield County. Scott said that Williamson may soon be joined by another full-time officer and one part-time officer, but noted that he is exercising a high degree of caution during the hiring process.
“We’ve had a lot of applications come through and we’ve interviewed quite a few people. We’re still having good applications and bad applications,” said Scott. “Hopefully in the first part of November, we’ll have another full-time and possibly a part-time (officer).”
Regarding the department’s four aged patrol cars, Scott said that all vehicles and radar systems have been repaired and are road ready, though their high mileage (ranging from 137,800 to 190,000) doesn’t promise long usage.
“We have done as much as we could to make all vehicles operational. … We know that revenue is not allowing us to purchase new vehicles, so we’re going to do the best we can with what we have,” said Scott.
Public works director Mike McDonald reported that earlier in the day an S.C. DHEC inspector checked the town’s sewer lift station and indicated that while some small issues still existed, the station “looked good” and the inspector was “impressed.”
Rotarian Charles Saverance Photos by samantha lyles
Dickie Jacobs from Davis and Brown, the town’s contracted water/sewer operator, reported that the new wastewater chlorination system was installed the previous Friday and would begin operation later in the week. Also, installation of a new aeration system for the town’s water treatment plant is scheduled for early November, and DHEC’s earlier concerns about water system record keeping and logbooks have been addressed.
McDonald added that crews are out replacing faulty water meters around town to ensure they accurately read flow rates.
Also at this meeting, local resident Charles Saverance pitched the idea of forming a Lamar satellite chapter of the Rotary Club. Saverance recounted instances of the service club’s good works through its Hartsville chapter, including providing 100 kids from Darlington County Schools with new shoes through the “Happy Feet” program. Through grants and a partnership with Shoe Show, Hartsville Rotary was able to distribute $6,000 worth of shoes to children in need.
Saverance explained that the time investment would not be too demanding, with members only required to meet for about one hour every other week. Anyone interested in forming a Lamar Rotary chapter can contact Saverance at 843-260-4780 to learn more.
“If we can get 8 or 10 people who are interested, we’ll try to put it together and make it happen, and do some of these wonderful things in Lamar,” said Saverance.