Bishopville stimulus will replace fixtures, heat pumps

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE — The city of Bishopville is hoping the use of stimulus funding to purchase new light fixtures and heat pumps is going to translate into savings on its energy bills.

City Administrator Gregg McCutchen informed city council at its meeting on Tuesday night that the city will be receiving almost $40,000 in federal funds to replace lighting in five of its buildings and to install new heat pumps at town hall.

New lights will be installed at town hall, the Bishopville Police Department, the Waste Water Treatment Center, the Street Department building and the old Bishopville Fire Station, McCutchen said.

The administrator credited Mayor Tom Alexander, who serves on the board of directors of the Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments, and Municipal Clerk Retta Tindal for their roles in securing the funding.

"We are pleased that we will be able to take part in this program," McCutchen said. "Retta worked hard in getting everything submitted, and the mayor worked on this as a Santee Lynches board member."

Tindal said the implementation of the energy project should begin by February and be completed by the end of 2010.

"Four heat pumps will be installed at town hall," she said. "And 135 light fixtures will be replaced."

In other business, council:

- Recognized Utilities Director Mike Deas for 32 years of service as a city employee;

- Received information from Carrie Gass, a resident of Blue Pond and Harlem, concerning flooding in the community during periods of rain;

- Received an update on staff development activities for city employees;

- Announced that city offices will be closed on Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The city council typically holds meetings or workshops on the first and third Tuesday at the Colclough Building on East Council Street.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.