Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
At its January 17 meeting, the Allendale Town Council discussed upgrades to the water and sewer system, among other topics.
At its January 16 meeting, the Town of Allendale announced that it will be hiring an engineering firm to reconstruct the town’s water system and also discussed understaffing in its tax office.
Water system upgrades
The Town of Allendale’s water and wastewater systems are undergoing repairs funded by a grant received through the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP). SCIIP uses funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help municipalities in the state upgrade their water systems. For the project, the council is seeking an engineering firm.
“The Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) is expecting bids to be out in mid-summer of 2024, with a construction contract to hopefully be signed by October 2024,” said Jackson.
In August 2023, the council voted to use $380,000 funds received through ARPA to match the $4,991,625 that the town received through SCIIP for wastewater and collection system upgrades.
Taxes & executive session
Council member Lee Harley-Fitts said the town is currently struggling to keep pace with tax collecting, and lines of up to 10-15 people have formed at the town’s tax office. This, Harley-Fitts said, has resulted in complaints from town residents.
“We have one person doing several job functions; That is an issue,” said Harley-Fitts. “We’ve been processing as quickly as we can humanly do. … But this is still a process when you have only one person doing it.”
In executive session, the council further discussed a contractual matter regarding the town’s wastewater plant pretreatment program with Beth Thompson of BT Solutions. It then approved Hattie Jackson as a signatory for a contract between the town and BT Solutions.
After executive session, the council also voted to remove the suspension of an employee. Council member Kathy Tharin declined to tell The People-Sentinel the employee’s name, as per executive session laws.
Other News
The town’s general fund is in a $615,000 deficit, a number that Tharin said is normal as tax season is beginning. Additionally, the town’s water and sewer fund is in a $47,000 deficit.
In October 2023, council member Marlon Creech helped the Town of Allendale receive a $25,000 grant to repair the roof of the town’s community center, which fell into a state of repair years ago. Creech said at the January 16 meeting that the repairs for the community center have been held up due to land surveys that must be performed first.
Creech also announced that he will be making a trip to Washington, D.C. at the end of January to discuss housing.
“Between Fairfax and Allendale, we have the chance to get 150 homes built,” Creech said. “It’s a matter I know we need strong attention on.”
