Sumter County Council passes 2nd resolution encouraging mask use

After voting down a second emergency mask ordinance in November, Sumter County Council created another resolution urging Sumter County residents to wear face coverings.

During the November meeting, council had a split vote on the emergency mask ordinance, which mirrored the City of Sumter's ordinance that has been in effect since this summer and requires people to wear face coverings in food and retail establishments.

The resolution does not require masks be worn, but it does encourage Sumter County residents to wear them in county food and retail establishments.

Councilman Eugene Baten was upset that council couldn't agree on a mask mandate. He did not think the resolution is enough.

Baten and Councilman Charles Edens bantered back and forth about the matter, arguing whether a mask mandate would decrease COVID-19 case numbers.

Multiple studies from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control have indicated jurisdictions where masks are mandated see greater decreases in coronavirus cases when compared to areas that don't have a mask rule.

According to the S.C. Emergency Management Division, nine counties of the state's 46 have mask mandates, as do 55 municipalities, including Sumter and Bishopville. Manning also has had a mandate, though it is not listed on SCEMD's interactive map. Mayor Julia Nelson confirmed the city has a mask requirement.

The two continued to banter and talk over each other for several minutes.

The resolution was passed 6-1 with Baten voting against.

Dollar General to be built on Pinewood Road

The third and final reading of a request to rezone 4.13 acres at 1810 Pinewood Road from agricultural conservation to neighborhood commercial to house a future Dollar General was approved.

Applicant CDP Sumter LLC plans to build the store just off the intersection with Kolb Road.

The company leased the lot even though it only needs half of it for the store. The rest of the undeveloped acreage will serve as a buffer between the business and nearby houses.

There were no changes since the last meeting, and council approved the request 6-0 with Edens recused.

Other

Also during Tuesday's meeting:

- Council unanimously approved several appointments to the Internal Affairs Committee. Councilman Chris Sumpter was recused from one of those appointments because he was the appointee;

- The Fiscal, Tax and Property Committee motioned for council to approve two authorizations. The first was to authorize staff to negotiate and purchase a piece of land that was presented in an executive session. The second was to authorize use of $50,000 from the infrastructure fund to match funds to build a structure at the Sumter County Airport. Council unanimously approved both authorizations; and

- County Administrator Gary Mixon announced that Helen Roodman was named the county's official planning director. Roodman filled in for the position for the past year since George McGregor resigned in January.

"I accepted a planning job 15 years ago and thought I was only going to be here for two (years)," Roodman said. "Thank you guys for the opportunity."

Tuesday's meeting was the last Sumter County Council meeting of 2020. There is no meeting on Dec. 22.