By Betsy Finklea
The Town of Latta is facing some serious decisions created by the state requiring them to relocate water and sewer lines at Highways 301 and 501 at a cost of approximately $700,000.
These lines service the areas at Latta Arms Apartments, Southside Apartments, the Baker Woods, and Rock-Tenn (formerly Smurfit Stone).  Since these areas are out of town limits, Mayor Nancy Brigman explained that the town receives no revenue from taxes or any other special income. 
The only income that is received is for water and sewer fees, which are nearly double the rate that in-town customers pay.
When the town agreed to accept these areas years ago, Brigman said, it was to try and help the community by providing service to residents in housing projects placed there by the Federal Government.
This isn’t the first time that the town has stepped forward to help the county.  The Town also provides sewer service to commercial businesses at the 181 mile marker on I-95.
Brigman said she went to Congressman Mick Mulvaney, who referred the town to USDA. 
The relocation of the lines is a secondary project that must be completed before the state moves forward with I-73.  So why doesn’t the state pay for the relocation? 
Latta Town Attorney Glenn Greene, Jr. says there is a statute that lets the state let a town put pipes on the road: but when the state says you have to move them, you have to do it.  However, Greene noted that there has been no signed paperwork found by the town or DOT where the town ever agreed to move the lines.
Greene said the DOT has been very nice in trying to help the town, but the deadline to begin work was last week.  The trouble is that USDA has protocol that has to be followed.  Brigman says that USDA officials have told them that they can likely qualify for a loan, but this funding would not be available until July.  USDA will not obligate themselves until they approve the loan.  “It’s a Catch 22,” Brigman said.
Brigman went to the County Administrator to see if the Dillon County Council would be willing to help, but the response was unclear.  “Right now everybody wants somebody else to pay for it,” said Brigman, who says this will place an immense burden on the taxpayers and water and sewer customers of the town.  Brigman and Greene hope that the county will step up to the plate and help provide the town some assistance.
Brigman said the town already has well-known problems with the lines and leaks being repaired almost daily.  This is really what needs to be addressed.
If they get the USDA loan, the citizens of Latta are going to have to pay off a 30 year loan and a water bill increase of about 22 percent is inevitable. To make matters more complicated, Phase Two of this project will require moving lines for the new water plant on Highway 917 at a higher cost.  Latta citizens will have to assume the cost for this in the next year or two.
“Our approximately 1,400 citizens are going to be paying for something to benefit the county and Myrtle Beach,” said Brigman.  “I-73 is needed, but not at the expense of Latta citizens.”
SCDOT will pay for the situation up to a point if the town would agree to take over, maintain, and assume liability for the Class C roads in the town except for Highways 917 and 301.
Greene said that if the town took over every road in the limits of Latta, it would still only pay 2/3 of the cost associated with relocating the lines.
Brigman said she feels it is important that the Latta citizens be aware of what is happening and how it will affect them.  She urges them to contact their Congressman, Senators, state and county officials to ask them to help the town with this important issue.