OLANTA — Olanta Town Council during its most recent regular meeting gave an update on projects to replace the town’s sewer pump stations and its two wells.
Site preparation has begun on the well replacement following a preconstruction meeting, according to a report from Terry Floyd, owner of S&T Water Utilities.
Olanta is set to receive $600,000 in federal stimulus money to replace the wells.
The town is waiting, meanwhile, for engineers to schedule a preconstruction meeting for the new pump stations, the report states.
The meeting, held Tuesday, was the last one led by outgoing Mayor Betty Sims. Jimmy McCutcheon is scheduled to be sworn in this coming Tuesday as the town’s new mayor.
During citizens’ comments, Olanta resident Mary Jane Powers commended Sims for her tenure as mayor and said she hopes McCutcheon will receive “more support and cooperation” than she thought Sims had.
“Betty has done her best,” Powers told the crowd at the meeting. “Let her go on, and give your cooperation to Jimmy.”
Town resident Woodrow Lawhon told council he thinks Shelly Strickland, wife of Olanta Police Chief Mark Strickland, should be paid for writing two successful grants for the police department.
The town has received a $116,595 U.S. Justice Department grant for a new police officer as well as a $36,000 Justice Assistance Grant.
“It takes a super person to do that for people,” Lawhon said.
Sims and councilwoman Sondra Holt thanked everyone who decorated the town’s gazebo for Christmas. Sims said town residents have decorated the gazebo for about 18 years now, and Holt said that this year it looks better than it ever has.
Olanta also has placed its Christmas decorations on utility poles throughout town.

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