LOCKHART — Lockhart Town Council had several important agenda items to discuss when members met Monday night for a special council work session.

At the beginning of the meeting, Union County Councilman Joey English presented the Town of Lockhart with a check for $1,000. The money will go toward the purchase of a fountain to be placed in the town’s park. At the last meeting, Lockhart’s other county council member — Joan Little — also presented a check for $1,000.

The council then discussed the Roy Bratton Memorial Project. Bratton was a Lockhart native who died when his F-4 Fighter crashed due to enemy fire during his tour in Vietnam.

Everyone who knew Bratton knew he loved race cars and when town council member Glenn Stein learned the Automotive Technology Classes at Union County High School were turning a 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme into a drag car, he met with Bill Price at UCHS about having Bratton’s name printed on the car.

Funds are needed for this idea to come to fruition and Stein and Lockhart Town Council are asking for contributions for the project. Donations can be mailed to Lockhart Town Hall, P.O. Box 250, Lockhart, SC 29364. Checks should be made payable to Union County High School with “FOR DRAG CAR” in the memo section. Questions can be directed to Stein at (864) 545-6512.

Next, Mayor Ailene Ashe read a letter the town received from Dollar General which thanked the town for their support during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Dollar General store located just on the outskirts of town on SC Highway 9. The new 12,680 square foot Lockhart store is scheduled to open later this summer.

The next order of business was the SC-9 Bridge replacement. The South Carolina Department of Transportation has proposed the project, which consists of replacing four “structurally deficient” bridges along SC Highway 9 in Union and Chester Counties.

The bridges that take the highway over the Broad River, the Broad River Canal, Canal Road and Lockhart Drive are proposed for replacement.

The existing bridges were designed and constructed between 1938-1947. Benefits of the replacement will include better visibility from improved vertical and horizontal geometry, wider lanes and increased shoulder widths. Improved pedestrian facilities will also be included.

The SCDOT hosted a community meeting Tuesday night at Lockhart Middle School to inform Lockhart residents about the project. Mayor Ashe stressed the importance of everyone’s attendance at the meeting.

There are five different proposed detours that would be created during the bridge replacement, some of which affect several houses and businesses. One proposed detour would be 33 miles long. The SCDOT assures the council the town will have the ultimate voice.

The meeting ended after Mayor Ashe went over the budget and expenses of the town, including maintenance, DHEC and advertising.

Lockhart Town Council will meet for its regluar monthly meeting Tuesday, May 25, at 7 p.m. at town hall.