By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Council voted to use $686,184.59 in capital sales tax project funds to assist the Town of Latta with infrastructure issues.
The money is from the line item for the Highway 38 Industrial Park Infrastructure Improvement in the capital sales tax.
County Administrator Clay Young said that he, Councilman Buzzy Finklea, and Latta Mayor Nancy Brigman had met to discuss the infrastructure issues facing the town and came up with some projects. Young said this was a way to assist the town with the remaining funds for the capital projects sales tax. The town will be required to send requests to the town for final approval.
Councilman Finklea said that the infrastructure in Latta is “pretty well shot,” and the area towards I-95 depends on the Town of Latta for sewer service. He named several businesses in the area of I-95 that depends on Latta for sewer service. He said the town gets no taxes from these businesses and only gets the fee for sewer services. Finklea said it costs more than what the town is making just to keep up the infrastructure.
Finklea said by using this money they will be able to help the town, help the Highway 38 area and the area towards I-95.
Finklea said if the Town of Latta can’t handle the sewer then they will not be able to expand out towards Highway 38 and I-95. He said he thought that this would be a wise use of the money and that it could be used as matching money for grants to get a great deal done.
County Council Chairman Archie Scott asked attorney Ken Dubose if this was a legal use of the money. Dubose said that it was legal as long as it was used in accordance with the ordinance.
The council passed the motion to use the money to assist the Town of Latta upon a motion by Councilman Finklea and a second by Councilman Joe Johnson. All approved of the motion.
Mayor Nancy Brigman told The Herald, “We’re pleased these funds will be available for infrastructure improvements in the area of the Hwy. 38 Industrial Park.”
“We are pleased to be able to assist the Town of Latta in this way,” said Councilman Finklea. “This will not only help the Town of Latta, but will help with future expansion in the Highway 38 and I-95 areas.”
