City breaks ground on drainage retention pond

Plans for the city’s storm water continued to progress Thursday morning as city officials gathered to break ground on a new drainage retention pond on the former site of Red Fox Apparel on East Carolina Avenue.

Mayor Michael Holt was joined by State Sen. Gerald Malloy, Rep. Jay Lucas and city councilmembers Bernice Wilson, Adlena Graham and Mayor Pro Tem David McFarland at the site.

The pond is another part of the drainage work that was done in the downtown area over the summer. Work on the drainage in southside Hartsville area is also slated.
Malloy said the project is a culmination of the efforts of he and Lucas in the state’s political arena as well as efforts from members of the city. He added this is a great help now to merchants in Hartsville.

Lucas quoted Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities as he spoke to the crowd in attendance. “The book began, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,’” he said. It was the best of times because this drainage project was badly needed in Hartsville, he said. “We’ve been through so many of these groundbreakings, what can you tell people they haven’t already heard,” Lucas jokingly asked. He concluded saying this will greatly benefit citizens and merchants in the downtown area.

Sonoco Staff Vice President for Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs Roger Schrum was also present at the event. Schrum thanked everyone for their efforts in accomplishing the task and added it is a great help to Sonoco. “These efforts to improve affect everyone in Hartsville, and this is very important to us.”

The project used $200,000 from a state grant that Malloy and Lucas helped obtain and nearly $300,000 from a FEMA grant.