By Natalie M. Zeigler, City Manager
2012 has nearly ended, and what a year it has been for Hartsville. Our
city has seen advancements in its organizations, physical improvements and even
in its laws in the past year. Before 2013 brings new opportunities and
challenges, this year’s accomplishments are worth reviewing.The City of Hartsville has been working to update and adapt our community in the past year. In the historic Oakdale neighborhood, a $500,000 grant was received for sidewalk and lighting upgrades, security cameras and housing for a resident police officer. In South Hartsville, an attractive new stage, new landscaping and other refurbishments came to Pride Park. Downtown, renovations began for the new City Hall, bringing a new use to the historic building which housed the Bank of Hartsville and Bank of America before becoming vacant.
City government has also implemented the ordinance prohibiting smoking
in businesses, while allowing it on sidewalks and on outdoor decks. With the law,
Hartsville joins many other South Carolina cities in providing for attractive
and inviting restaurants and bars.
This year has brought the creation of the Hartsville Community
Development Foundation, a collaboration of businesses, academic institutions,
churches and many other local organizations for the purpose of initiating and
funding community development projects. Already, a grant has been provided to
fund a Hartsville Master Plan, which will give direction to the city’s future
development. Along with the city government, the foundation will contribute
next year to the creation of a Clemson University Technology Village. This business
incubator program, which aims to foster tech companies within communities, is
already established in other cities around the state.
The Hartsville Young Professionals have also been formed this year, and
have begun to provide business and social networking opportunities for the
young people who call Hartsville home.
In 2013, more projects will continue to transform Hartsville for the
better. A deal to bring a major hotel to 4th Street and Carolina
Avenue will come before City Council in January. The empty Food Lion structure
on South 5th Street will be repurposed and opened as a Tractor
Supply store. The Piratesville splash pad, a water play area at Byerly Park,
will be completed in time for summer vacation. Nuisance structure demolition,
which has removed dozens of blighted, dangerous empty houses in the last two
years, will continue. Fox sculptures will be placed throughout downtown as part
of the Red Fox Hunt, an art installation which will serve as a scavenger hunt
for visitors and residents.
I’m very proud of what we have accomplished in our city in the last
year. We always strive for improvement, however, in our services and the
standard of living here in the best small city in South Carolina. This time
next year, we will be able to boast of greater achievements yet.
