09/02/2026
COUNCIL APPROVES LEASE OF BUILDING TO YMCA AT SEPT. 1 MEETING
At their Sept. 1 meeting, members of Bishopville City Council gave second and final reading to a lease agreement with the YMCA of the Upper P*e Dee, the organization that will operate a community health and wellness center located at 238 N. Main St., the old Easy Living Furniture Store. State law requires municipalities to approve the lease of real property by ordinance.
The YMCA will use the property for administrative offices, community programs, health and wellness activities, youth and family services, and other community-serving purposes.
Bishopville City Administrator John Douglas said Council believes the proposed use of the property will promote health, recreation, youth development, family services and the general welfare of the community.
In related business, Council also gave second reading to Ordinance 2026-20 (YMCA Intergovernmental Agreement) The ordinance approves an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Bishopville and Lee County to cover the County’s financial contribution to the project. The County will provide financial assistance to the City for the operation of the YMCA and for memberships for eligible County employees, with any remaining membership funds to be used for need-based scholarships.
In other business, Council:
• heard Police Chief J.D. Delllinger’s monthly report. Officers responded to 246 calls for service in August, resulting in 40 incident reports being filed. There were 56 traffic stops conducted with 41 warning tickets and six citations issued. Six arrests were made. In addition, 1,043 security checks were logged;
• approved a parade permit for Lee Central High School’s annual Homecoming parade that will be held Friday, Oct. 2 in downtown Bishopville, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
• engaged the firm of Cantey, Tiller, Pierce & Green, LLP to audit the City’s financial statements for the 2026-2027 fiscal year;
• awarded AOS Specialty Contractors the contract for the wastewater treatment plant’s electrical and control system improvements project. “This is a Community Development Block Grant funded project that the City applied for,” Douglas said. “We received a $1 million grant, with a match commitment of $86,000;”
• approved terms for members of the Board of Zoning Appeals and Board of Architectural Review as stipulated in the City Code;
• gave first reading to Ordinance 2026-021 (Clarifying Properties for Incentives) This ordinance would clarify the properties eligible for the recently passed ordinance providing developmental incentives, Douglas said. “The ordinance passed, utilizes boundaries of the Bishopville Commercial District National Register Historic District,” he told Council. “However, there are properties on North Main Street between Church Street and Cedar Lane that are not within the historic district that are eligible and should be included.” The properties are located at 100, 102, 103 and 251 North Main Street. The ordinance includes those four properties;
• gave first reading of Ordinance 2026-022 (Election Date Change) State law now requires municipalities to hold elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April or November in odd number years. Currently, the City holds elections in May. The Governmental Affairs Committee met and decided to recommend to Council that the City hold elections in April (April 6, 2027 would be the next election). “State law also requires that the winning candidates assume office no more than 80 days following the election. Currently, the City uses July 1 as the start date,” Douglas said. “To comply with state law, the committee recommends that terms begin on June 1;”
• approved Resolution 2026-04 (Acceptance of property) Council approved a resolution to accept the property where the Veterans Memorial Park is located. Greater Bishopville Inc. offered to donate the property, located at 209 and 211 North Main St., Douglas said. “Council believes accepting these properties will serve a public purpose and promote the welfare and development of the City,” he added;
• Approved a new official City Seal. Recommended by the Governmental Affairs Committee, the new seal features the front of the City Hall and the Town Clock, in color, along with the wording “Bishopville, SC Heritage History Home 1824.”
The resolution adopting a new official seal states that it is “an important symbol of the City’s identity, history, authority and service to its citizens…Council finds that the adoption of the new seal will provide a consistent and recognizable official identity for the City and will serve the public interest;”
• entered into executive session to discuss a contractual matter concerning the City’s water and sewer service.
