Florence County Council allocates funds for museum's building

Florence County Council has given $400,000 to enhance the structural integrity of Lake City’s National Bean Market Museum and install geothermal heating and air conditioners at the facility.

The funding came from the county’s 2008 bond issue, approved in March, said County Administrator Richard Starks.

Also at Thursday’s council meeting, state Sen. Yancey McGill of Kingstree presented South Lynches Fire Department’s rural fire academy with $150,000 in Florence County Transportation Committee allocations for infrastructure and paving.

Council also approved $25,000 in contingency funds if the county elections commission needs additional funding before the upcoming election’s expected high turnout. Council Vice Chairman Waymon Mumford made the motion.

Commission Chairman James Tanner said elections staff members are on track to process a backlog of about 3,000 voter applications by the Oct. 24 deadline.

“We’re on target … We feel like we’ll be able to reach that goal,” he told council.

Council also heard options from county Planning Director Bill Hoge regarding air quality improvements. Those included anti-vehicle-idling measures, incentives for buying hybrid vehicles and clean-air campaigns.

“None of them is a silver bullet,” he said.

Council also unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance to change the Florence County Cultural Commission into a 13-member Florence County Museum Board.

The county’s budget passed in June includes a 2 percent hospitality tax on prepared food and beverages, designated to establish the cultural commission. Collections of the tax also would benefit Lake City’s National Bean Market Museum.

In other business, council unanimously approved:

Third and final reading of an update to the county comprehensive plan’s Economic Element, which describes the characteristics and status of the local economy, including its work force and industry. It also offers economic policy goals for the county.

The exchange of property to help Ebenezer Baptist Church access a Florence city sewer main and relocate a driveway along Old Ebenezer Road.

Second reading of an amendment to correct county code deficiencies to help the county remain in good standing with the National Flood Insurance Program so residents can buy flood insurance.

Second reading of an amendment to allow libraries in the densest residential zoning districts — R-4 and R-5 — which will help particularly in building a new Olanta library, to sit on a former home site.

Renewing a contract for InterAct Systems Inc. to perform a $216,215 update of the county’s systems for E-911 Computer Aided Dispatch and the National Crime Information Center.

Acceptance of a $29,604 grant from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to fund equipment and training for Florence County Emergency Medical Services and the Johnsonville, Pamplico and Timmonsville rescue squads. The grant requires $1,723 in local matching funds.

Acceptance of $20,000 of Florence County Transportation Committee funds from SCDOT to pave the Hannah-Salem-Friendfield Fire Station parking ramp for fire trucks and extend the station’s driveway.

Acceptance of $13,245 from Circle Park for the upcoming services of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office in the 12th Judicial Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team, which aims to reduce underage youths’ access to alcohol.

The sheriff’s office’s payment of $30,000 to Poynor Adult/Community Education for educational services to reduce inmate recidivism.

The purchase of three computers for the Pee Dee Community Action Agency’s Weed and Seed Program with the $3,334 balance of a previous $10,000 allocation of county infrastructure funds to replace air conditioners.

$15,060 in county Road System Maintenance Funds for MBC stone and crushed asphalt on Antique Circle in the Florence area.

$5,888 in county Road System Maintenance Funds for crushed asphalt on McDougal Road in the Lake City area.

$1,500 in county infrastructure funds to buy mortar sand to build up areas that hold water after rains American Legion Stadium.

$183.60 of county infrastructure funds to patch potholes in the parking lot of the Disabilities and Special Needs facilities in Lake City.