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Residents urge action on park safety and animal-control enforcement
Summary
At public comment, a BrightSphere Park commissioner warned of dangerous access and petitioned for road and signage changes before spring youth sports; another resident pressed the council to enforce animal-control ordinances and address a growing stray population.
Two public commentators told the Marlboro County Council that local safety issues require immediate attention.
Deacon Willie Bright, a long-time commissioner of BrightSphere Park and youth coach, told the council that the park has only one way in and out and that heavy, high-speed traffic on Highway 38 makes ingress and egress dangerous. Bright said volunteers and staff had for years worked to improve the park (new dugouts and a basketball court) but that signage and road widening remain unresolved. He reported a 150-name petition and urged the council to put warning signage higher on the hill and to widen the approach road before T-ball season begins.
Pamela Best described a widespread stray-dog and feral-cat problem in and around McColl and other areas. She said she performs trap-neuter-release work herself and alleged the county is not enforcing existing ordinances (she cited an ordinance she referred to as "6 72"). Best said residents and merchants are facing aggressive packs and that petitions and calls to animal control often go unanswered. No county staff provided an immediate enforcement timeline in response during public comment; the chair acknowledged the submissions and said the council would take the information under advisement.
What’s next: Council staff noted petition and public concerns; the chair said the information would be reviewed and that staff would follow up. Councilmembers asked staff to prioritize traffic signage and to explore enforcement and community-based solutions for animal control.
