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Gov. Sanford expected to
attend Maize Days street dance
By CHASITY SANDERS CANADAY,
T&D Santee Correspondent
SANTEE -- Plans for Santee's
Maize Days festival next weekend are well underway, and
the event is shaping up to be a fun-filled, family
event. The town is also expecting a very important VIP
to add to the excitement this year.
The festival,
which is scheduled for May 14-16, will include a parade,
a street dance featuring The Catalinas and a delicious
"Taste of Santee."
Gov. Mark Sanford will be
paying a visit to the town next weekend as he continues
his statewide bike tour, and he is scheduled to attend
the Maize Days street dance on Saturday. Sanford will be
accompanied by his wife and four sons and plans to dine
and stay in Santee on May 15.
Santee Tourism and
Special Events Coordinator Joanie Schneider during
Wednesday's town council meeting encouraged residents to
come out to the festival to show their support for the
town and for the governor. Advertisements are running on
the radio and in local newspapers, and rack cards have
been placed throughout the state to bring visitors to
the event.
Schneider also noted that the
town placed a full page ad with AAA's World Magazine,
inviting people across the country to visit Santee.
Visitors will soon have a new reason to come to Santee.
The town's Cultural Arts Center will be a stop on the
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.
Also
during the meeting, Police Chief Robert Williams advised
council members that the police department is stepping
up its security efforts for the governor's visit and
plans to seek help from neighboring departments to
guarantee the proper protection and VIP treatment.
Members of the governor's security staff have been in
contact with Williams to ensure a smooth, safe trip for
all involved.
Williams also reported that the
police department's mock trial was a success. Students
from Holly Hill-Roberts, Elloree, Bowman, and Calhoun
County high schools participated as well as local
attorneys Glenn Walters and Thomas Sims. Former South
Carolina Supreme Court justice Ernest Finney presided
over the trial, which ended with a hung
jury.
Santee Municipal Judge Frank Quattlebaum
swore in newly reelected council members Sheryl Patrick
and John Gilmore. Both pledged to exercise the trust
placed in them by town citizens and to act in the best
interests of the town.
In other business, council
members approved a steering committee as recommended by
the town's Planning Board. The steering committee will
development a master plan for the development of Santee,
and will include William Clark, William Dendy, William
Larson, Margaret Smalls, Donnie Hilliard, Silas
Seabrooks and Sheryl Patrick.
Council members
also approved the acceptance of a qualifications package
for Phase IV of Santee's ongoing sidewalk project. Six
companies submitted proposals, and council members
agreed to negotiate with them for the most
cost-efficient service.
Phase IV will encompass
Bass Drive from the stoplight down to Bonner Avenue.
Phase I was completed by W. K. Dickson, while Phases II
and III were completed by Seamon, Whiteside and
Associates. Both companies submitted proposals for Phase
IV.
Town Administrator Donnie Hilliard also
advised council members that the Gateway Project planned
for Exit 98 on I-95 is under way. The initial plans have
been completed, and the state will begin accepting bids
for the project on May 11.
Also during the
meeting:
-- Council discussed a proposal for
Phase I of the town's Voice Data and Network
Infrastructure upgrade that will provide Internet
service for the Town Hall Complex as well as upgrade the
phone lines and install fiber optic network links. Two
bids were received for the project from IST II and
Universal Solutions. The council tabled the proposal for
further research and discussion.
-- Local
business owner Javed Khan appealed to the council for
relief in his water bill this month due to circumstances
beyond his control. Khan owns the Swamp Fox Motel on
Highway 15 in Santee. A home fire adjacent to his
property occurred earlier this month, and during the
mayhem of putting it out, a main water line on his
property ruptured, spilling approximately 38,000 gallons
of water onto the property.
Khan said his
property uses an average of 3,000 gallons of water per
week, with an average monthly water bill of $225
dollars. His bill this month was $703 dollars, due
partially to the massive water spill that occurred the
night of the fire. He asked council members to consider
his circumstances and to adjust his bill. The council
agreed and asked Hilliard to help them reach a fair
resolution to the issue.
T&D Correspondent
Chasity Sanders Canaday can be reached by e-mail at sereneconfusion@hotmail.com
or by phone at 803-854-4657.
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