Olanta gets Website; celebrates 100 years

The Town of Olanta recently got a new website, offering citizens and others a place to get information about such things as the town’s history and upcoming events.

During the June 3 Olanta Town Council meeting, Mayor Betty Sims thanked Olanta resident Don Pigate and his son Greg for volunteering to implement the new town website and describes it as a “wonderful thing.”

Pigate said the expansion of the website is endless and encouraged citizens to be involved in the new website.

He said his son is a computer programmer based in Columbia and as of the morning of June 5, the website had received 540 hits.

Sims said Pigate was not paid to design the website and soon the town will take on the responsibility of maintaining it.

She said town officials are trying to get caught up on recent tasks after employee turnovers.

To view the website, log on to http://www.olantasc.com/.

In old business, Sims thanked citizens for their support and attendance during the Olanta Centennial Celebration on June 1 in the Olanta Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Sims said the installation for the new playground equipment should be finished on June 4 and will be an asset to area children.

Council member Robert Thompson said the town received a letter granting permission for a six month extension on the sidewalk grant.

Thompson said the next step in the process is putting the engineering part out for bid.

Sims said the letter was from Cathy Rice from the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

Council members approved first reading of an ordinance to adopt a housing element for the Florence County Municipal Comprehensive Plan.

Florence County Planning Services Officer, Scott Park said The Florence County Comprehensive Plan is a vision document for the entire County and includes input from the public, businesses, municipalities and special interest groups.

Park said the main purpose is to establish a baseline status for the particular subject (this element was the Housing Element) represented as counts, summary statistics and trends in the main body of the document.

Specific to the Housing Element, the baseline information includes a wide range of data. The element includes a summary of housing ages and conditions, ownership and utilization (renting or owner-occupied), housing cost and affordability, household trends and projections, and local housing agencies, Park said.

Park said the 11 goals are equally wide ranging and the first five goals focus on affordable housing and exploring opportunities with private investors, removal of barriers to building, encouraging higher density near employment nodes, promote mixed use developments, and providing housing for a wide range of incomes, ages and special needs.

Park said one goal centers on providing specialized housing for the elderly or those with disabilities, while other goals look at studying further the inventory of deteriorating housing, preserving those structures that are considered historic as well as integrating interconnectivity among developments including alternative transportation methods.

The last goal in the document looks to explore the feasibility of a Capital Improvement Program, Park said.

Sims said the Town’s water hydrants have been flushed and recently installed a second meter, in the water report.

During the sewer report, Sims said preventive maintenance needs to be done as soon as possible.

Sims said grass is continuing to be cut during the street report and it was asked if the Town still sprays for mosquitoes.

Sims said they need to check on the matter.

In the police report, Sgt, Robbie Smith said there has been some recent break-ins and asked citizens if they have had items stolen or see any suspicious activity call the police department.

Smith also suggested that citizens should make an effort to secure items such law equipment to prevent these items from be stolen.

Smith said road check points will be conducted in June and July.

Sims said Town Clerk Tara Basye came up with the idea to recognize citizens of Olanta who have served or is serving in the military.

Basye said an old cork bulletin board was found that will be used to display the pictures of persons who have served in the war and the bulletin board will be decorated in patriotic colors.

Council member Dickie Kirby reminded citizens and council members about the Olanta American Legion Auxiliary organizational meeting on July 3 at 6 p.m.
Kirby said on July 4 from 4 p.m. until the town will have Independence-Merchants Day providing balloons, watermelons and a possible water attraction for children.

The next Olanta town council meeting will be July 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Olanta Municipal Services Building.