Hartsville Idol wants to expand to 12 weeks

Hartsville City Council heard from Hartsville Idol organizers that the group wants to expand the event from eight to 12 weeks during council’s monthly work session on Tuesday.

Hartsville Idol organizers Jeff Martin, Judi Elvington and Hartsville Downtown Development Association (HDDA) Executive Director Lenora Lefew requested use of the city’s mobile stage free of charge for an additional four weeks this summer. The city allowed Hartsville Idol to use the stage free of charge for eight weeks last summer.

The event drew crowds of 500 in its first week and ended with 5,000 in week eight, Martin said. He added that they hope to bring an additional 25,000 people into the city with the additional events.

“There is a concern that the size of the crowd may have exceeded the capacity of Burry Park,” Mayor Mel Pennington said.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Andrews said.

“The purpose in adding additional weeks is revenue, but also to lessen the time of the event,” Martin said. This would allow staff to start cleanup at 9:30 or 10 p.m. instead of after 11 p.m.

Beyond the safety issue of large crowds, the budget strain of overtime pay for crowd control plus the 12 weeks of lost revenue from stage rental all need to be overcome. The mayor said council already has to cut 20 percent from the upcoming budget.

Police Chief Tim Kemp said the cost of crowd control was $500 to $600 per night. Martin said the organizers had several ideas to raise funds to cover that cost.

Pennington suggested all parties meet at a separate time to figure out a specific solution.

Martin also suggested the Hartsville Idol events could collect donations for downtown beautification or the Veterans Memorial.

The funds to erect the Veterans Memorial in Burry Park still do not exist. The shortfall is close to $87,000. The monument has been created and is waiting in Atlanta.

Interim City Manager Vern Myers said he would try to bring together the main players in the memorial’s design to develop ideas for funding sources.

The mayor also wanted to address the vacant lot beside the police station on Carolina Avenue. The Design Review Board had several objections to the city’s plans for the property: the color, the tar on the wall and the fencing.

The mayor asked HDDA and Parks & Leisure Services Director Phil Gardner to meet with him at a later date to hash out the details to get something, even just sod, done on the property.

Director of Environmental, Engineering and Planning Services James Clemons reported that the city is finally caught up with leaf collection.

“When leaf season comes, we’re going to get behind,” Clemons said.

Management and structural changes in the department during the last two months will have matters such as leaf collection under control for next season. The addition of new equipment and a manager with supervisory skills, newly hired Kevin Gray, have helped the situation.

Another item on the agenda, a PRT Land & Water Conservation Grant, would allow the city to move forward on plans to rehabilitate Pride Park, including adding restroom facilities.

The grant of up to $250,000 requires 50 percent matching funds. The plans for Pride Park would cost $100,000, so the city would have to come up with $50,000 during the next two budget cycles.

“We need to get commitments from neighbors to help clean (the neighborhood) up,” Myers said. He suggested the plan still needed work since no additional playground equipment was included.

Pennington said that if the city is able to bring in a city planner and grant writer, the city could find funds to address the project this year without dipping into the city coffers.

Council asked Gardner to work on the grant proposal since the deadline is in March. The grant comes around each year, so if the city misses the deadline this year it can file for the funds again.

The mayor also encouraged council to thank Darlington County Council Chair Billy Baldwin, Darlington County Administrator and Judge Thomas for giving them back city hall. Court has been relocated from city hall to the magistrate’s court through cooperation among the city, the magistrate’s court and the county.