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Sumter County honors public safety officers and sets budget schedule; residents raise infrastructure concerns
Summary
Council honored five public safety employees as the 2024 American Legion Public Safety Officers of the Year, heard county administrator budget and event announcements, and heard public comments about sidewalks, railroad ties, electric meters and a local kite festival.
Sumter County Council recognized the 2024 American Legion Post 15 Public Safety Officers of the Year at its March 25, 2025 meeting. Chairman James T. McCain, Jr. presented gifts of appreciation to the honorees: Deputy Sheriff Dexter Blanding (Sheriff’s Office), Staff Sergeant Theodore Moore (Detention Center), Staff Sergeant Heath Gardner (Police Department), EMS Technician Chris Godfrey, and Firefighter Roy Hancock.
County Administrator Gary Mixon briefed council on recent events and the upcoming budget schedule. Mixon said the March "Stash the Trash" event drew strong public engagement with a variety of activities and food vendors, announced an Employee Trash Pickup Day in April, reminded council members to file their 2024 ethics reports by the end of March, and outlined the 2025 budget calendar: a brief introduction of budget requests at the April 8 meeting, a detailed budget workshop on April 22, and scheduled budget readings on May 13 (first reading), May 27 (second reading) and June 10 (third reading).
During public comment, George Bates raised multiple neighborhood concerns — loosening railroad ties near Spann’s, installation of electric water meters in rural areas, and the financial burden of road improvements for taxpayers who do not use the roads. Desaray Ross and Matthew White announced the free 2nd Annual Kite Festival to benefit Phase Three Center, and Willie Razor asked council to consider installing a sidewalk and street lights near his business to improve pedestrian safety.
The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. after unanimous motion by Vice Chairman James R. Byrd, Jr. and second by Charles T. Edens.
