HOLLY HILL, S.C. — Since August of 2022, the Orangeburg County Town of Holly Hill has purchased six new police cars, and last month they purchased two pick up trucks for their sanitation department.
Prior to this purchase Melvin Fogle, the town’s sanitation supervisor, was driving around a 1997 pick up truck that had no air conditioning nor heat. Fogle says this is a improvement.
“Oh, a whole lot. I can pull, haul, do anything I need now," said Fogle. "With the old truck, we couldn’t do none of that. It’s a whole lot better.”
Mayor Billy Chavis says although Holly Hill is limited with resources, they care about their employees.
“We may not be able to pay you what the Summervilles and the Charlestons and the North Charlestons pay you, but the people here care about you, and that’s the reason why we try to make sure that we get you the best equipment possible.”
The Town of Holly Hill responded to three water rescues last year when the remnants of Hurricane Idalia moved through the state.
Mayor Chavis says safety is a priority for not only residents, but also town staff.
“I don’t want those employees out trying to save someone and become a casualty," said Chavis. "I want to make sure if anybody that is responding to any kind of inclement weather, first and foremost, that the employees of the town are safe so that we can render any kind of assistance to the citizens.”
Fogle says the new capability allows them to safely provide rescue services.
“Well, the first time our old trucks cant go through flood and stuff and that trees and that," said Chavis. "But our trucks now can go through water, mud, pull down branches, go over branches, so it’s a good choice now.”
Mayor Chavis says as Holly Hill continues to grow, the police department must grow as well.
“As you're annexing property, the police force has to expand so you can meet the calls that are coming across the police band," said Chavis "And if you stay with the same vehicles that you have, we’re not expanding the police force, and we’re not expanding the fleet of vehicles that we have. We’re going to go back to having vehicles that are running 24/7, 365, and we’re not going to get the most bang for our buck.”
On Monday, the town council passed a resolution to be able to buy two more pick up trucks for the police department.