Georgetown County Residents seek help from state officials on drainage issues

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)–Residents living in rural Georgetown County communities are raising concerns about trees growing in ditches and trash left behind and how it might impact proper drainage from heavy rainfall.

Neighbors in the Sampit and North Santee communities are pressing leaders to help maintain and clean the ditches along state roadways, which they claim have not been correctly serviced for years.

A church and many homes along Powell Street in the North Santee community are hit hard during heavy rainfall, and many believe it comes from the clogged drainage in the ditches.

“ I probably had 2 feet of water on the elevated area, and I’m grateful it didn’t get into this main sanctuary, but I think if we got the proper service, it would help us. It would be less of a problem,” said Jimmie Smith, a Bishop of the House of Prayer.

Residents are concerned about many ditches connected to state roads, meaning the South Carolina Department of Transportation maintains the areas.

Georgetown County Council member Everett Carolina told News 2 that he agrees that state officials should do their part and clean up what they leave behind. Still, he mentioned residents should also do their part and help keep their community clean.

“The people in the community must maintain and have pride in the community. We have every fast-food restaurant in Georgetown represented here in the rural community, so that means that people come to a stop sign over the community’s areas and pitch out the trash. We must change that,” said Councilman Carolina.

News 2 did reach out to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for a statement, and we are still waiting to hear back.

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