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County officials outline $4 million road repaving, accommodations-tax allocations and an EMT training partnership with schools
Summary
County leaders told the McCormick County School Board that a $4 million repavement package will begin in May, accommodations-tax funds of $70,000'$100,000 are available for community events, and the county is launching an EMT training partnership with the district that officials say could yield paid EMT jobs for graduates.
County officials briefed the McCormick County School Board on a series of infrastructure, economic and emergency-services initiatives, including a $4 million road repaving package, steps to allocate accumulated accommodations-tax funds for local events, and plans to create an in-house EMT training pathway for district graduates.
County administrator Mr. Up Church told the meeting that the repaving project will begin in May and that Lost Wilderness and Savannah Lakes-area roads will receive the bulk of the work after the bid process. "In May, we'll start a $4 million repavement plan," he said.
Officials said the county has accumulated several hundred thousand dollars in accommodations-tax revenue and expects to recommend awarding between $70,000 and $100,000 this year to support tourism and community events such as an inaugural barbecue festival and a series of concerts and movies in the downtown park.
The county also described a plan to work with the school district on a paid EMT academy. A county representative said the county recently purchased a new ambulance that is arriving now and that staff are being trained. The county said it will host an EMT academy that can be completed in a few months so graduates can enter the workforce with pay the county described as "between $40,000 and $50,000 plus benefits." Officials said the county will pay trainees while they complete the program.
Public presenters also updated the board on local economic prospects. Officials discussed a sales of a former Georgia-Pacific site (the so-called "Pollard" project) and said developers have requested rezoning toward industrial uses; the board postponed a public hearing because the developer had not yet disclosed details. Economic development staff also cited early activity at Micro Technique, an operation described as preparing for full production and expected to add roughly 28 jobs.
Board members raised the prospect of the Corps of Engineers transferring operation of some parks to the county, which officials said could create revenue opportunities and help boost the accommodations-tax pool.
The county update mixed near-term operational items with longer-term economic-development hopes. Officials emphasized coordination with the school district on training opportunities and said they will publish more details and outreach materials as plans firm up.
What happens next: county staff will proceed with procurement and training timelines; the county will present recommended accommodations-tax awards in a future meeting and follow up about the rezoning and park-transfer timelines.
