Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Sumter County Council on water access, road conditions and food access in public comment
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the county to address a derelict house and rezoning concerns on Camden Highway, requested city water service, an intersection streetlight, repairs to Alabama Lane that impede schoolchildren and emergency access, and asked the county to consider funding to address food deserts in several neighborhoods.
Multiple residents used the April 11 public comment period to press Sumter County Council on local infrastructure and service issues.
Jody Raffield asked that a derelict house on the property subject to the Camden Highway rezoning be demolished, saying the structure is dangerous and could catch fire; she told council, "The house should be taken down." Brian Davis said the property has a troubled history, including a 2015 arrest for marijuana cultivation, and said previous community remediation work and the presence of mobile homes raised compliance questions.
Diane Butler, who said she has lived at 2457 Camden Highway for more than 20 years, asked why she remains without city water while newer subdivisions receive service; she said the cost quoted to connect would be over $2,000 and called that unfair. Ethel Durant asked council for an intersection streetlight at an unnamed intersection where she said wrecks regularly occur; she noted neighbors come to her door at night seeking help because of poor visibility. Multiple residents (including Connie Brown and Brenda Hunter) described the poor condition of Alabama Lane in Rembert, saying schoolchildren get wet walking home after rains and that emergency vehicles sometimes cannot navigate the road.
Dr. Brenda Williams, representing Family Unit, Inc., called attention to food deserts in Hickory Hollow, Spring Hollow and Walnut Hill and requested that the city and county consider appropriating at least $5,000 annually to help address food access in those communities. Chairman McCain and other council members said they would speak to commenters after the meeting and planning staff confirmed site visits had occurred in some cases.
Why it matters: These are direct constituent requests about public safety, basic services and food access. Council members and staff may need to follow up with engineering, utilities and social‑service divisions to determine options and costs.
What’s next: Council members and staff indicated they will continue conversations with residents and explore follow-up actions; several commenters were promised direct discussion with council members after the meeting.
