Public meetings you can attend in Sumter County
Public bodies throughout the Sumter area hold public meetings throughout the month you can attend,some of which have public comment periods.
Sumter School District's Board of Trustees
Sumter school board generally meets twice per month on the second and fourth Mondays at 6 p.m. at the district office, 1345 Wilson Hall Road.
The first meeting of the month serves as the monthly board meeting and includes public participation. Regarding public participation, any member of the public wanting to make a comment to the board on any topic must arrive before the 6 p.m. start time - as early as 5:30 p.m. - and complete a form to speak. The second meeting of the month is the board's monthly work session and does not include public participation.
Upcoming meeting dates are Monday, March 25, and Monday, April 15. Because spring break is in April, there is only one meeting for the month.
For those not physically attending, the district broadcasts meetings live on YouTube.
Anyone wanting to attend the meeting virtually can do so via YouTube Sumter School District Board Meeting and the district's Facebook page, @SumterSCSchools.
Sumter County Council
Sumter County Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month unless stated otherwise. There is a calendar of meetings available on the Sumter County Government website.
Meetings are held in council chambers, which are on the third floor of 13 E. Canal St. in Sumter.
There is a public comment section during each regularly scheduled meeting. Residents are limited to three minutes, and if there are questions, they will be answered after the meeting.
There are Sumter County Council meetings coming up on March 26 and April 9.
Anyone wanting to attend the meeting virtually can do so via YouTube through the Sumter County Government channel. They are not live, and the videos are typically uploaded the following day.
Sumter City Council
Sumter City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month, excluding the first Tuesday in July or unless otherwise stated.
The first meetings of each month are held at 1 p.m., while the second meetings of the month are held at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers on the fourth floor of Sumter Opera House at 21 N. Main St. in Sumter, but you must enter through the back parking lot entrance and take the elevator to the fourth floor.
City council hosts a public comment period at each third Tuesday meeting. Residents who wish to speak have to sign in upon arrival, and comments are limited to three minutes.
There are upcoming Sumter City Council meetings scheduled for March 19 at 5:30 p.m. and April 2 at 1 p.m.
These meetings are not available for viewing online.
Sumter City-County Planning Commission
The planning commission covers both the City of Sumter and Sumter County matters.
The commission generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. in council chambers on the fourth floor of Sumter Opera House at 21 N. Main St. in Sumter, but you must enter through the back parking lot entrance and take the elevator to the fourth floor.
Sumter City-County Board of Zoning Appeals
The board of zoning appeals covers both the City of Sumter and Sumter County matters.
The board generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. in council chambers on the fourth floor of Sumter Opera House at 21 N. Main St. in Sumter, but you must enter through the back parking lot entrance and take the elevator to the fourth floor.
SUATS
SUATS, or the Sumter Area Transportation Study, meets on an as-needed basis in council chambers on the fourth floor of Sumter Opera House at 21 N. Main St. in Sumter, but you must enter through the back parking lot entrance and take the elevator to the fourth floor.
According to the SUATS website, SUATS is the decision-making body of the Sumter Area Transportation Study and is comprised of elected officials representing municipal, county and state governing bodies within the study area.
Meetings are posted online in advance.