Lee voters approve sewer collection system

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE – Enough Lee County voters turned out Tuesday to support Lee County Council's plans to establish a sewer collection system near Interstate 20.

Only 442 of about 12,000 registered voters voted, with 274 in favor and 168 against the measure.

The election results will be certified on Friday.

The referendum was necessary for the county to apply for federal grants to establish the sewer system near I-20 between Bishopville and Camden, officials said.

"There just wasn't a lot of interest," said Lee County Election Commission Chairman Sidney Broadway.

"There wasn't a lot of publicity on this. There were no candidates involved. The more candidates you have the more interest you usually have. We haven't had a referendum like this before. The other referendums – the prison, landfill and the high school – all had a lot of people for and a lot of people against."

Lee County Council Chairman Charles Arthur Beasley said the election was important for the county's future.

"It is important in that it gives us the right to move forward to acquire the grants," Beasley said. "It's important to create jobs, increase the tax base and to help the schools. The few that did turn out to vote today, we want to thank them for their vote."

The election was all about doing something proactive to grow the economy, said County Administrator Bobby Boland

"Business and industry won't locate without the infrastructure – sewer and water," Boland said.

Cassatt Water provides water to rural areas of the county, including near I-20, however public or private sewer collection is not available, Boland said.

Officials say that the project will be carried out using federal and state funding rather than local tax revenue.

County council and the Bishopville City Council have entered into a contractual agreement that will enable the county to tie into the city's wastewater treatment facility. The county will be responsible for construction of a sewer collection system and will extend sewer lines that will connect with the city's wastewater treatment facility.

Several precincts voted overwhelmingly yes including Spring Hill (19-1), Ionia (18-1) and Elliott (34-3). On the other hand, Rattlesnake Springs voted no by a 16 to 2 count.