Projects will begin soon

By JASON WERMERS
Item Staff Writer
jwermers@theitem.com

Sumter County residents should soon begin to see the fruits of the local option sales tax that voters approved in November.

The penny sales tax increase is expected to pay for a number of projects, including $2.5 million in new community centers and renovations, $3 million in new fire stations and renovations and a $20 million judicial center.

The bidding process has already begun on a renovation project for the Mayesville Community Center, and bids will soon go out on renovations for the Cherryvale Community Center.

"Mayesville is a top priority," Deputy County Administrator Gary Mixon said to County Council's Fiscal, Tax and Property Committee Tuesday afternoon. "They have a pool they would like to open up this summer, so we moved that one to the front."

Three new community centers also are scheduled to be built, in Pinewood, Salterstown and Concord. The Salterstown center would go near Chestnut Oaks Middle School. A site has not yet been determined for Concord, but it would be in the southern portion of the county.

The Sumter Fire Department will soon begin work on four new stations to replace existing ones: Cherryvale Station 1, Wedgefield Station 7, Bethel Station 13 and Dabbs Station 19. Three more fire stations — Pinewood Station 2, Concord Station 10 and Horatio Station 11 — will receive additions.

Already, the bid process has begun on a renovation project at DuBose Station 12, with the process soon to begin at Graham Station 3, Mayesville Station 5 and Byrd Station 18. All of those should be finished by this summer, Fire Chief Karl Ford said.

Meanwhile, the biggest project funded by the sales tax increase, the judicial center, is moving a little bit slowly for Sumter County Clerk of Court James Campbell. He expressed that concern to the fiscal committee.

Councilman Charles Edens said it had been council's understanding for some time that the project wouldn't even begin until at least next year.

"That's news to me," Campbell said.

Council Chairwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney said the idea was to get the smaller projects under way first so taxpayers will see a quick return on their investment.

Contact Staff Writer Jason Wermers at jwermers@theitem. com or (803) 774-1295.