Florence’s museum in Florence County Council members’ hands Thursday

On Thursday, we expect the matter of funding for the new Florence museum to come before Florence County Council.

The museum board has taken all the steps it can to give the operation of the museum and its future to the county.

The state of South Carolina, through the efforts of Sen. Hugh Leatherman, has committed almost $4 million to the project if it’s matched locally.

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation is ready to commit almost $4 million to the new museum.

The Florence City Council has done its part to get the county a piece of property downtown, where the museum can be a part of the growing “cultural” complex.

It’s next to where the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center will be located.

This museum will be a huge boon for all of Florence County.

It will be a resource for citizens and school children not just from Florence County but all over the Pee Dee.

It will be another attraction for tourists.

It fits in perfectly with the performing arts center, the Florence Little Theatre, the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library and the private investment and development those have brought and will bring to downtown.

Part of the background is that county council several months ago approved an ordinance that creates a county museum board to operate the museum in Florence and the Bean Market Museum in Lake City.

The ordinance also approved collection of a 1 cent tax on prepared foods (it was already in place in the city) to help pay for both facilities.

And so when council meets Thursday, we urge all members to move forward on this issue.

It’s in their hands.

This is not something for just the “city.”

This isn’t something that council members need to play politics with when they vote.

Each member of county council represents a “single member” district.

But this is way more important than individual districts.

This is important not only for Florence County, but also it plays a part in overall development efforts and industry recruitment.

Two recently re-elected members of Florence County Council, Mitchell Kirby and Johnnie Rodgers, talked about the need in their campaigns to see the big picture beyond just their own districts.

They and other members of council get a chance to stand up for an issue that goes beyond just the people who elected them.

This isn’t about lower Florence County versus the rest of the county.

This is too important an issue to put that narrow of a spin on it.

We stand the chance to lose out on almost $8 million in funds for the museum.

The door is open as County Councilman James Schofield said.

We need to walk through that door because it will be a long time before it’s opened again.

Let’s see which council members want to stand up for progress or close the door.

And in the process lose $8 million.