Howard Garland of Darlington has been hired by the Latta Town Council as the interim town administrator for Town of Latta.
Garland is highly experienced in local government. From April 2021 to present, Garland has been a partner in G&G Local Government Solutions with Wayne George. They have worked with six South Carolina towns on a variety of issues including grant writing, mentoring new city administrators, comprehensive plans, and downtown revitalization projects. He previously served as town administrator of Pamplico. He currently works as town administrator in Jefferson and Turbeville.
From January 2010 to March 2021, Garland served as city manager of Darlington, where he had numerous accomplishments.
Among these accomplishments are:
–Water/Sewer Department- Goal: Update aging infrastructure
* Secured EDA (Economic Development Administration) funding for a sewer expansion for Georgia Pacific, Nucor, and Poly-Quest of $1.8 million dollars
* Secured funding for four Community Development Block Grants totaling $2,000,000 for water/sewer improvements in West Darlington (Mill Hill) and South Darlington
* Secured funding for sewer grant for Darlington Hwy-52 by-pass to help grow business on the by-pass
* Convinced Darlington City Council to pass $1,800,000 Water Bond for new telemetric water meters. Now the City of Darlington can read all water meters in 90 seconds and address water loss issues to customers instantly
* Development of a comprehensive storm water plan for City of Darlington setting a framework for a ten-year storm water improvement plan. We currently are making storm water improvements in southeast Darlington. We have received two Village Renaissance grants totaling $1,000,000
* Updated aging water lines on public square with a South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Grant totaling $239,000
* Worked with Georgia-Pacific to secure $142-million dollar upgrade to Dixie Cup Plate Plant. The single largest investment in the history of the City of Darlington.
–Street/Sanitation Department- Goal: Move to new building and root out problem employees
* In 2011, the Street/Sanitation department moved to a modern two-story brick building. This property was donated to the City of Darlington by a local family. We received a grant from the State of South Carolina Energy Office for updating the infrastructure of the facility
* Since January 2010, we have changed the work culture of the street/sanitation department moving out problem employees that would work slow (or not at all). Today trash routes operate in a much more efficient manner.
* They have updated old equipment with two USDA Community facility grants replacing an old trash truck and old cherry picker. The two grants saved the City of Darlington $100,000.
* The Street/Sanitation Department has received many compliments from the community for their crisis management from the April 2010 tornado, February 2015 ice storm, great flood of October 2015, and 2016 Hurricane Matthew.
–Fire Department- Goal: Replace aging equipment and lower ISO rating.
* The Darlington Fire Department has received 5 FEMA fire grants totaling more than $550,000 to add more personnel and replace old SCBA air packs and other equipment.
* They have hired a younger staff replacing a fire chief that had been in office for 27 years. I did not hire my brother (then Assistant Fire Chief) due to state nepotism laws as the fire chief. They have recruited new volunteers and full-time personnel, improving overall incident response rate and increase volunteer/employee retention.
* Lowered the City of Darlington’s ISO rating from a 4 to a 3. This is the lowest rating of any fire department in Darlington County.
* The Darlington Fire Department replaced their old ladder truck with a refurbished truck from College Station Texas. The truck cost $69,000 and had very low miles.
* The Darlington Fire department has placed more than 400 fire alarms in the homes of low-to-moderate income people in the City of Darlington.
–Police Department- Goal: Lower crime stats in the City of Darlington and add Axon body cameras.
* In March 2010 Darlington became part of a pilot program that allowed all Darlington Police Department police officers to receive Axon body cameras. DPD was among the first in the state of South Carolina to adopt the use of body cameras. Complaints against DPD officers have dropped by more than 90 percent.
* The Darlington Police Department has received more than $400,000 in traffic safety grants from the state of South Carolina. The funds were used to update in-car equipment and we haven’t had a traffic fatality in Darlington in five years.
* The five-year and ten-year crime statistics are lower for major crimes have steadily decreased.
* They have received a Federal grant to add more police officers to City of Darlington Police department.
* The City of Darlington Police Department has prioritized increasing minority hires. In the last year they have added four black officers and two Hispanic officers.
* In March 2018 the City of Darlington hired Kelvin C. Washington as the new Chief of Police. Washington was formerly United States Marshal for the South Carolina District and Sheriff of Williamsburg County for 20 years.
–Recreation Department- Goal: Add more services and update facilities.
* The Darlington Recreation Department has made more than $600,000 in improvements to facilities. Funding came from a local hospitality tax enacted in 2009.
* After the drowning of two young boys at the City of Darlington swimming pool in 2010, the City of Darlington has overhauled the operation of the City pool. Swimming tests are given when children enter the pool and an adult must accompany each child. Three lifeguards are also on duty at all times.
* Darlington Recreation Department maintains the 70-acre Williamson Park. The woodland preserve has over two-miles of boardwalks and is a popular attraction.
* In September 2015, the Darlington Recreation Department resurrected the Southern 500 parade. More than 40,000 attended the night parade.
* They have added more youth programs in basketball and boxing.
* They have made more than $380,000 in improvements to our two gyms and are updating Virgil Wells Stadium for youth football in 2018.
–Planning Department- Goal: Revive Planning Commission and add more attractions to Darlington Public Square.
* The Darlington Planning Commission was restarted in 2013 allowing the city to move ahead with policy development on several fronts including a comprehensive plan update and new sign ordinance.
* The Market Place on the Square was added as a monthly event. Now more than 40 vendors take part bring people take part bringing traffic to downtown Darlington.
* A new Blue Sky mural was added to downtown Darlington. Completed in 2014, the mural depicts the early years of the Southern 500.
* In October 2014, the City of Darlington absorbed the Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association (DDRA) as part of city staff. They now manage all aspects of DDRA, including the Taste of Darlington, held at Darlington Raceway.
* Worked with a local developer to bring a Wal-Mart Supercenter to the City of Darlington. The new Wal-Mart has brought more than 270 jobs to the City of Darlington.
–Finance: Goal: Keep costs low and do not raise millage.
* Presented eleven balanced budgets to Darlington City Council (2009-2021)
* Whenever possible seek ways to refinance old water/sewer bonds to lower rates and save money
* No millage increase for ten years (2008-2018)
* Seek grant funding from all available sources. Since 2010 The City of Darlington has received more than $10,000,000 in state and federal grants
From October 199 to April 2005, Garland served as planning director for the City of Mullins. While there, he:
–Spearheaded the rebuilding of downtown Mullins with the Anderson Center Project bringing 25 loft-style apartments and three new retail spaces to Mullins
–Worked with Mullins Mayor Wayne George to bring Florence-Darlington Technical College to Mullins with the “Mullins Technology Center” which now brings more than 400 students daily to downtown Mullins
–Wrote grant for Marion County Hospital for Duke Endowment “Program for The Rural Carolinas”. This grant totaled one million dollars and was the basis for the founding Marion County Collaborative Action Network (MCCAN) a group that exists today
–Helped found Mullins Activation Committee (MAC) that brought new businesses to downtown Mullins. In 1999 Mullins had 25 empty stores on Main Street. By 2004 Mullins had only 3 empty stores on Main Street
–Author of City of Mullins Commercial Downtown National Register Historic District application. When completed the City of Mullins had a National Register Historic District that encompassed 44 buildings in the heart of downtown
–Wrote grant application for Mullins Spray field Project. This sewer project was funded from the State of South Carolina tobacco settlement and totaled 1.8-million dollars
–Named “2004 Employee of The Year” By City of Mullins
–Received “Key to The City” from Mullins Mayor Kenneth McDonald
–Featured in 2003 SCETV documentary “The Last Auction” about the dying tobacco industry in the Palmetto state.
His other honors and awards include:
–Served as President of the South Carolina Community Development Association (SCCDA) for 2007-2008.
–Served on the Darlington County Habitat for Humanity Board for five years.
–A 2009 graduate of Leadership South Carolina
–Served as Chairman of the South Carolina Cotton Trail and South Carolina Tobacco Trail
–Named 2015 “Citizen of The Year” by Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce
–Received “Key to The City” from Darlington Mayor Tony Watkins
Garland is a 1998 graduate of Coker College with a BA degree in communications. In the past he has worked 18 years in media for 11 radio stations, six newspapers, and two televisions stations.
