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Briefing reports were submitted to Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram and council members last Tuesday evening that ranged in subject matter from the latest news on the possibility of closing Cheraw’s historic post office to suggestions on how to improve the town’s Christmas parade.

“We don’t know what our status is yet,” said Ingram. “Our next meeting with postal officials will take place in early or mid-December.” That meeting has not yet been scheduled.

When Ingram and other council members met in mid-October with Harry Spratlin, the spokesman for the United States Postal Service, they were told his office would be busy most of November visiting post offices that are on the “Post Plan.” According to Ingram, those are post offices that have already been marked for closing.

“The decision for Cheraw now rests with the Post Master General,” said Ingram. “Thank goodness, we are not on the Post Plan.”

Some changes in delivery services for the Cheraw area were, however, announced last month, said Ingram. “We were told the carriers for Patrick and Wallace will be working out of the Cheraw Highway 9 facility.” Other than that, “we’re still waiting to hear,” said Ingram.

Town officials also are waiting for new plans and cost estimates for the Cheraw Complex. Mike Smith, administrator for the Town of Cheraw, said Gary Brown, of Goforth, Brown and Associates of Florence, is the architect working on the project.

“Maurice Banks did a lot of leg work for us; with measurements and so forth. He probably saved us close to $30,000,” said Smith, following the initial purchase of the building on Powe Street, which formerly served as warehouse and office space for B.C. Moore’s.

“Brown has met with all of the department heads,” said Smith, to talk about the needs of each department to be housed in the building. “Right now, we’re waiting on cost estimates,” said Smith.

A new street sweeper will take the place of two old ones, said Smith. “It should be here before the end of the month,” said Smith. The $108,000 sweeper was included in this year’s budget, along with an additional part-time employee to operate it.

“Having the part-time position in place will actually enable us to do a lot more sweeping,” Smith said, “which will be done at night.”

The paving project recently approved for the parking lot at Riverside Park will not take place until January. However, progress is being made at the Cheraw Municipal Airport and “paving is nearing,” said Smith.

Few specific suggestions or criticisms were made, but Smith told council he had received quite a few complaints about the “long gaps” in the Christmas Parade this year. It was mentioned that the Town of Chesterfield offers monetary compensation for homemade floats and that Cheraw should consider doing that as well.

— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@heartlandpublications.com.