Local governments talk business, buildings
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Gloria Hines
Discussion of new schools, restaurants and businesses was on the menu at the April 29 dinner meeting of Darlington County’s local governments.
Hosted by the City of Darlington, the meeting took place at Chianti’s Wings and Things. Mayor Gloria Hines started the night off with updates about stormwater improvements in southwest Darlington (which should be completed in June), the new Sonic Drive-in (set to open in August), the Terrence Carraway Fallen Officers Memorial Park (now under construction), two new city parks (on Siskron Street and Magnolia Street), a planned industrial investment (code named Project Peach), and a ceremony to honor the late Darlington Fire Chief Jim Stone, planned for May 26.
Darlington County Council member Bobby Kilgo said the county is preparing to pass an “indefinite suspension” of the Sunday Blue Laws, which will offer businesses the option to open on Sunday mornings and will also protect workers who choose not to work due to religious observances. County Council is also finalizing the 2019/20 budget, which will include a small millage increase.
Kilgo also noted the county is in the process of renovating the fourth and fifth floors of the courthouse, and the second and third floors will follow. He said the county continues to see growth in the solar farm industry, with a total investment from one recent deal projected at $354 million. He noted that investment will yield improved property tax revenue for the county, but little else.
Bobby Kilgo
“Unfortunately, it’s not jobs,” said Kilgo. “I wish it was jobs.”
Mayor Tommy Bradshaw of Society Hill said that Care South will soon begin renovating the former St. David’s Academy for use as an administrative facility – a project that could bring up to 75 jobs. Bradshaw said the town will still be allowed to use the large academy grounds the Catfish Festival and other town events.
Hartsville City Council member Tre Gammage noted that the city recently received an award recognizing their work on the historic African American Cemetery (near 8th Street). He added that the city is moving away from the “See Click Fix” platform for the reporting of potholes, garbage pickup, and other public works problems.
“We’re moving over to CityBot, which is an artificial intelligence version. Instead of having an app, you can just text your ten-digit phone number and get an automatic response,” said Gammage.
Darlington County School District superintendent Dr. Tim Newman said they are currently working toward getting internet-connected devices for all students in grades 3 through 8 so students can better connect with teachers and study materials. Newman said the district is also working to establish more online hot spots utilizing DCSD’s proprietary ‘dark fiber’ Internet network, which would bring more connectivity to students who otherwise could not get online.
Tim Newman. Photos by Samantha Lyles
Newman also discussed new initiatives for improving elementary school reading skills, and apprenticeship programs to provide high school students with real work experience in local companies, with the goal of keeping the students in the community.
“The goal is to have our students walk across the stage, get their diploma, and be offered a job by the company that they’re interning with or have an apprenticeship with, and then they start paying taxes and taking care of themselves and their families,” said Newman.
State Senator Gerald Malloy discussed a few pieces of recent legislation, including the education bill which, he said, was scrapped for this year. Malloy addressed the teacher walkout planned for May 1 and noted that South Carolina teachers are having “the best year they’ve ever had, financially” due to a 4 percent pay increase and a STEP increase.
“Incoming teachers are going to have a minimum of $35,000, which is about a three or four thousand dollar increase, and obviously that is going to end up meaning a lot for the recruitment of teachers,” said Malloy.