Council hears about upcoming census meeting

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County Manager Kevin Griffin reported at Colleton County Council’s March 3 meeting that Larry Lightsey, Census Complete County coordinator for Colleton, will have a census kickoff on Wednesday April 1 at the Colleton Farmer’s Market. The event will feature food and music, as well as information regarding the federal census.
Griffin also reported that the county was excited and looking forward to the Walterboro History, Arts, and Music festival at the Colleton Museum on the weekend of March 27. More information will be coming on the city and museum websites, as well as their Facebook pages.
The council passed ordinances related to federal guidelines involving codes for building, fire, fuel and gas, mechanical, plumbing, residential, swimming pools and spas, and electricity.
The following employees were appointed to the County Safety Committee: Laura Clark, Animal and Environmental Control; Robbie Williams, facilities maintenance; Darryl Wilcox, Magistrate’s Office; Sierra DeFoor, library; Helen Bowers, roads and bridges; Jack Wright, fleet management; Roger Johnson, Fire-Rescue; Donna Lamb, sheriff’s office; Janet Dillard-Smith, coroner’s office; Kaye Syfrett, finance; Johnny Bartley, solid waste; Deagdrea Sadler, human resources; and George Welch, risk management.
The engineering contract for water and wastewater design at Colleton’s Venture Park was awarded to Thomas and Hutton. Three proposals were received and scored on qualifications and bids. Thomas and Hutton met all of the requirements and qualifications for the contract pending final approval of the county attorney and EDA grant administrator.
A contract was awarded to Mitchell Construction company for the installation of a sewer pump station and force main at the Colleton County Career Skills Center. Two bids were received, but Mitchell Construction met all of the requirements for the contract. The amount of $76,749 will be for the installation of the pump station and force main.
As part of the comprehensive plan to improve Colleton County and increase tourism, bids were advertised in January for the construction of a pathway, or greenway for hikers and bicyclists, connecting Walterboro to the ACE Basin.
Three bids were submitted by various companies with Palmetto Sitework Services, LLC winning the contract at $118,437.50.

Funding for this project is provided by the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Grant in the amount of $100,000 with the match to come from the Planning and Development 2019-2020 fiscal year budget in the amount of $25,000.
The ACE Basin Greenway is a 1.8-mile nature path along S.C. Highway 303 that follows an old Atlantic Coast Railroad bed and runs underneath a pine wood canopy. The trail is excellent for hiking, biking or dog walking, and is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
The railroad was abandoned by CSX in the 1980s and was later sold to the county and City of Walterboro jointly. The 13-mile right-of-way extends from Green Pond to Walterboro.
Colleton’s future goal is to link the trail directly to the East Coast Greenway, which lies to the north along Ritter Road and then on to the Donnelly Wildlife Refuge and Bennetts Point.
To date, federal and state grants have been obtained by Colleton County to undertake most of the work.
Friends of the ACE Trail, private and corporate donors, and sponsors are assisting with more funding.
The filling of several board vacancies was also approved by Council: Board of Assessment Appeals, Calvin Bailey; Colleton County Recreation Commission, Gregory Kinsey, Mark Tomedolskey, Billy Chambers and Rodney Colson; Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail Commission, Alta Mae Marvin; Colleton County Fire-Rescue Commission, Scooter Drew and Clyde Capers.
The council also authorized the designation of appropriate general ledger accounts for revenue and expenditures for the S.C. Department of Commerce Site Enhancement Initiative Grant for Rural Infrastructure for site preparation and building construction at the Commerce Center for $1,600,000.