December 2024 Council Highlights

• Earlier this month, the City of Sumter proudly opened our newest addition, the South Sumter Art Park, with a celebratory ribbon cutting! This vibrant space is a welcoming hub for creativity, culture, and community, designed to bring people together and inspire connections through art. The park offers something for everyone, featuring a beautiful pavilion, convenient restrooms, an inclusive children’s playground, and two full-size basketball courts adorned with a stunning mural wall created by local artists. We invite you to come experience this inspiring space and celebrate all it has to offer!
• 2024 Sumter Keepsake ornaments are here! This year's ornament features the Tuskegee Airmen Monument, which is located at Veterans Park, just outside the Sumter Gate at Shaw Air Force Base. Ornaments can be purchased at the Sumter Visitors Center or Simpson's Hardware and are $20.
• The City of Sumter administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, through Thursday, December 26, for the Christmas holiday and Wednesday, January 1, 2025, on New Year’s Day.
• Fantasy of Lights is open nightly through the end of the month, Sunday - Thursday until 9 PM, Fridays & Saturdays until 10 PM. The last weekend to visit with Santa at Swan Lake Iris Gardens Santa’s Village is this weekend, 6-8 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Heath Pavilion… Photos with Santa, letters to Santa, holiday entertainment and it’s all free admission! There will be Food trucks and holiday sweets available for purchase.
• Sumter County and the City of Sumter are giving residents an opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees at the annual "Grinding of the Greens.” Donated Christmas trees will be made into mulch. It allows residents to be 'green' with their discarded trees. Before donating your tree to the “Grinding of the Greens,” please note the following: Only live Christmas trees will be accepted - no wreaths, garland, greenery, or tree stands. Please remove all tinsel, lights, and decorations. You can donate your tree at the following locations:
  • County Recycling Centers: Rainaire Boulevard, Stamey Livestock Road, Cane Savannah Road, Pinewood Road, Queen Chapel Road, Bethel Church Road, Alligator Branch Road, Pleasant Grove Road and Spencer Road
  • At the entrance to Dillon Park (off Frontage Road)
  • City residents may place their tree curbside. The city will collect the trees January 6th – 16th.

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at Dillon Park, FREE MULCH made from Christmas trees will be distributed to residents on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you want to have some mulch, bring containers or bags, tools to pick it up, and a way to haul it.  Even those who do not donate a tree can receive mulch.

For more information on Grinding of the Greens, call the City’s Public Services office at 803-436-2558.

• The City of Sumter Sanitation Department has new side-loading garbage trucks that will be working on all routes after the new year. These trucks will allow garbage to be picked up during regular hours even while short-staffed. For more information, you can also visit our website at gov. For our new trucks, your roll cart:
  • Should be placed at least 3 feet from the mailbox or any obstruction.
  • Should be placed with arrows facing the street.
  • Should be placed at most 2 feet from the curb.
  • Should not be blocked by vehicles.
  • Should not have contents that extend above the rim of the container.
  • Should have the lid closed for service.
• This year marks the 10th anniversary of the City of Sumter Mayor’s Christmas Card Contest, where students from Kindergarten through 8th grade in public schools submit artwork. One winner per grade is selected, and two students are chosen from the winners to be featured on the annual City of Sumter Christmas Card.

Top 2 Winners of the 2024 Contest:

• Aryan Patel, Kindergarten (Cherryvale Elementary)
• Sydney Faddis, 6th Grade (Alice Drive Middle)

Their artwork was featured on the 2024 City Christmas Card, displayed as permanent light installations at Swan Lake Iris Gardens’ Fantasy of Lights, and they each received a framed image, an Apple iPad courtesy of Farmers Telephone Cooperative.

2024 Honorable Mention Winners:

• Sophia Phaysith, 1st Grade (Manchester Elementary)
• Joyann Johnson, 2nd Grade (Liberty STEAM Charter)
• Lucas Weeks, 3rd Grade (Millwood Elementary)
• Ameree Turner, 4th Grade (High Hills Elementary)
• Jaxson Ritcher, 5th Grade (Wilder Elementary)
• Hannah Messinger, 7th Grade (Alice Drive Middle)
• Elaura Havener, 8th Grade (R.E. Davis College Prep Academy)

Each student received a gift card and a framed image of their artwork.

Congratulations to all participants and these talented artists for their contributions!

• The City Council will hold one regular meeting in January on Tuesday, January 7th at 1:00 PM. The 3rd Tuesday meeting is canceled due to the state-wide Legislative Action Day in Columbia, where officials will discuss key issues like court cases affecting local government and the federal earmark process. Public concerns can be submitted online at gov or by contacting the Mayor or Council representatives anytime.