Sumter County Public Safety Committee flags detention staffing, litter and private-road needs

Councilman Carlton B. Washington, chair of the Public Safety Committee, reported key concerns from the committee at the Feb. 28 Sumter County Council meeting.

Detention Center Director Ray told the committee the facility needs additional beds and continues to struggle to hire detention officers, citing salary levels and applicants failing background checks as the principal challenges. Director Ray said nine inmates qualified to assist with litter pickup will be deployed in March for targeted clean-ups.

The committee discussed broader litter problems around recycling centers and the possibility of contracting with private firms to assist cleanup. Washington said the Public Works Director will provide a report on recycling-center cleanup contracts, identified hot spots for detention-center crews, a Litter Quadrant #2 kickoff, and related budget needs.

Members also addressed private roads that are in poor condition and, in some cases, prevent commercial deliveries and utility access in areas including Rembert, Wedgefield and Pinewood. The committee is reviewing two ordinance approaches: one to grant the county emergency authority to perform road maintenance on private property for public-health or safety reasons, and another that would establish a tax district to fund repairs for residents who live on private roads. Washington presented a draft emergency ordinance for council consideration.

Washington also summarized recent district community meetings on road and right-of-way safety and noted that District 1 contains 137 state roads; he reminded residents that state-maintained roads are the responsibility of the South Carolina Department of Transportation and recommended constituents contact state legislators or SCDOT for state-road issues.

Council did not take formal votes on these committee recommendations at this meeting; staff follow-up and committee discussion were requested.