Pamplico Town Council awards downtown streetscape bid

Pamplico Town Council has voted unanimously to award a $108,000 bid for streetscape work in the town’s Main Street revitalization program.

The lowest compliant bidder of six received by Sept. 25 was RWF Construction, LLC, of Effingham. Council approved the bid at its Monday meeting.

Pamplico Mayor Gene Gainey said work should begin within the next two weeks. He said the town could receive bids for downtown storefront improvements as soon as next month.

Gainey also asked council members to consider adding a street clock in the downtown, which he said could cost between $4,500 and $13,000.

Pamplico is funding its downtown revitalization with a $443,029 Community Development Block Grant from the S.C. Department of Commerce. The grant was set to expire in January, but Gainey said the town has an extension through April.

Council also unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance to establish a sign-in sheet for town residents wishing to comment at council meetings.

The council sets aside a time early in its meeting agendas for comments. Under the new rules, residents would have about five minutes to speak after being recognized by the mayor, Town Administrator Glenn Lane said.

Gainey said council would table second reading of the requested annexation by Homeaid Housing Solutions, LLC, of 4½ acres for homes on West Sixth Avenue. Council is awaiting the Florence County Planning Commission’s recommendation on the matter.

The developer has agreed to pay for sewage connection to the first house built on the property, Gainey said, adding that the new line could cost about $6,000. The long-range plan includes about 10 houses on the property, Gainey said.

Council also unanimously approved a Red Flag Alert policy, which includes procedures to protect the town against fraud and must be adopted by Nov. 1, as required by state law, Lane said.

The policy deals with measures related to utility services, such as requiring a person to show the town a copy of a lease when requesting water service, Lane said.

“We’re pretty much doing these things already, but we need to formalize it and put it down on paper,” he said.

In other business, council appointed Town Clerk and Treasurer Anne Miles to serve as the town’s liaison for Title VI Civil Rights Act compliance. Miles is the appropriate person for the position because of her dealings with the town’s human resources services, Lane said.

Council also announced this year’s trick-or-treating hours will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. In addition, the town’s Christmas parade will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 13, Gainey said.