South Hartsville residents identify needs
By JIM FAILE
A small group of South Hartsville residents voiced concerns about the need for better water and sewer infrastructure, more police patrols and security improvements, dilapidated and abandoned structures and poor storm water drainage among other issues during a public hearing in support of a grant application for community improvements.
The April 7 hearing was conducted by the city Planning Department and the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments (COG) as part of a needs assessment in support of the city’s efforts to seek Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
The city is seeking a $474,000 CDBG Community Infrastructure Grant to upgrade and enlarge water lines in the South Hartsville area.
If the city is successful in obtaining the grant from the S.C. Department of Commerce, the city will provide a 10 percent funding match, bringing the total funding for the project to more than $521,000.
The funding will be used to upgrade about 6,500 linear feet of 2-inch undersized water lines to 6-inch PVC water lines on Brewer, James, Marion, Chaplin, Pitt and Lincoln streets. It will also allow the installation of 10 fire hydrants in the area, according to city officials.
The project will benefit about 246 people, 93 percent of whom are low- to moderate-income, according to officials.
Tuesday’s hearing was not limited to just water line upgrades but covered a wide range of topics.
Brenda Kelley, planning and zoning administrator for the city, said the needs assessment is a requirement and is necessary because more than a year has passed since the last one.
Shannon Munoz, community development director for Pee Dee COG, said CDBG funding can provide resources for a variety of neighborhood improvements but a needs assessment prioritizing the needs is required.
CDBG funding is primarily directed toward low- to moderate-income areas, Munoz said.
“This is an opportunity for you to tell us what the needs are,” she said.
In addition to Munoz and Kelley, only four neighborhood residents participated in the hearing. Teresa Mack, president of the South Hartsville Neighborhood Association, and three others representing Marion, Sumter and Brewer avenues.
Residents cited concerns about low water pressure and rusty or cloudy drinking water in their homes. Two people said they are frequently afraid to drink water from the system. Another said she has a problem with the sewer system at her home backing up.
Another said that when it rains water is often left standing in the neighborhood around her home because of poor drainage.
“The residential community is suffering badly,” Mack said. “For what we pay for city water and storm drainage, we should get better.”
Several residents complained that water and sewer rates are rising in the city but said they see no improvement in service.
“It’s ridiculous,” one woman said.
Public safety was another concern raised during the hearing. Residents said they would like to see a greater police presence along with better street lighting in neighborhoods in the area. Munoz also said CDBG funding can be used to help purchase security cameras and other equipment for police.
CDBG funding can also help pay for police substations, she said.
Greater access to health facilities, expanded library access with greater access to computers and more opportunities for retraining unemployed workers also made the list of concerns.
Participants filled out survey forms indicating the needs they think most need addressing in the area.
Another public hearing on the city’s grant application will be held at noon Friday at Hartsville City Hall in city council chambers.