Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hartsville council approves water-assistance renewal, connectivity grant and a string of park and infrastructure contracts
Summary
At its Sept. 10 meeting, Hartsville City Council approved renewals and grant applications to aid utility customers, fund multimodal sidewalks on Washington Street, and advance park, tree, and paving projects, with funding from ARPA, grants and fund balance.
Hartsville City Council on Sept. 10 approved a package of resolutions and contract awards that the manager said will expand utility-assistance tools, pursue a $750,000 state connectivity grant for Washington Street, and fund several park and infrastructure projects.
City Manager presented the first item, a renewal of the city’s agreement with the Darlington County Community Action Agency to provide assistance to utility customers who cannot pay water bills. The manager said the agency accepts applications and issues payment directly to vendors on behalf of eligible residents; council approved the renewal by voice vote.
The council also approved a Community Development Block Grant application (Resolution 092402) to build multimodal sidewalks and improve connectivity on Washington Street from 14th to 4th Streets. The manager described the project as a roughly $750,000 improvement with a 10% local match of about $75,000, and said the match would come from ARPA funds already obligated for South Hartsville improvements. "This is generating the genesis from South Hartsville," the manager said, adding that the council had support from state legislators and a letter of support from Senator Malloy.
Council members voted in favor of a $25,000 application to the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Hometown Economic Development Grant (Resolution 092403) to supplement Pride Park improvements such as seating and lighting; the 10% match is $2,500 from fund balance, the manager said. The manager summarized prior park investments as including $150,000 in ARPA for recreation equipment and a separate $20,000 grant from Duke.
Other approved actions included: authorizing a consulting contract to create a downtown tree-planting, streetscape and lighting plan (ARPA-funded, Resolution 092404); awarding an $81,000 paving contract for the YMCA parking lot with a planned 60/40 cost split with the YMCA (Resolution 09245); and awarding work to repair water-damaged walls and flooring at Lotton Park pavilion (recommended vendor North Industrial, about $188,000 from fund balance, Resolution 092406). The manager said the tree/street plan is intended to address sidewalk and ADA issues caused by root uplift, and the plan will guide longer-term replanting and removals.
Most measures passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The manager’s presentation repeatedly framed the measures as part of a broader effort to improve South Hartsville connectivity, parks and downtown infrastructure.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows council approval by voice vote for resolutions 092401 (DCCAA utility assistance renewal), 092402 (CDBG connectivity grant authorization), 092403 (Hometown Economic Development Grant application for Pride Park), 092404 (consulting firm for tree/streetscape plan), 09245 (YMCA parking lot paving bid award), and 092406 (Lotton Park pavilion repair contract).
