2013 State of the Town Address

LEXINGTON, SC – February 4, 2013 – Good evening. Welcome to the State of the Town Address…a report to you on our Town’s accomplishments and progress in 2012. I want to touch on the more notable accomplishments of 2012 and address projects and issues I feel we need to focus on in 2013 and beyond. 2012 was a phenomenal year for the Town of Lexington. I believe it will go down as the BEST in our 152 year history and I would like to share with you WHY…

First, I want to express my appreciation for the opportunity to serve as your Mayor. It is truly an honor for me to have the privilege to serve you.

I also want to thank my fellow Council members for their commitment and dedication to our Town. Through cooperation and our hard work, we have and will continue to achieve really good stuff for the Town we all love so much. I would also like to thank my wife Angela and my family and the families of my fellow Council members for their support and sacrifices in allowing us to fulfill our elected duties to you, our citizens. Now, let me highlight a few of the top accomplishments from the past year:

First and foremost, the Town is proud of our Vison Plan… VisionLexington. Since it was adopted last May to help guide our future, we have implemented a number of Town Center projects. Our beautiful Lexington Square Park, which was a public/private partnership between the Town, County, Lexington County Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, Lexington Beautification Foundation, Lexington County Bar Association, and the Dennis Corporation.

The Town revamped our Christmas Celebration by hosting the inaugural Snowball Festival. The SNOWBALL Dance, a popular community event in our history was revived along with the addition of a 5K race, Christmas parade, concert and tree lighting at the Square on Main St.

In 2012, we also awarded five grants of $5,000 each to businesses along Main St. The Commercial Façade Improvement Grant will stimulate additional private investment along the downtown corridor. We estimated this façade program will result in a 17 to 1 return on investment, aside from the benefits of improving building aesthetic along Main St.

This brings me to the most beneficial and significant public/private partnership for downtown revitalization … the purchase of Project Icehouse in late December. The project, which was suggested in our VisionLexington Plan, includes the former Shirey’s on Main, Palmetto Propane and Ice, Inc. and the Johnson Family property at 113 S. Church St. The land will be transformed into a destination plaza with retail and public green space. Plans include boutique retail and eateries along with plans to construct a permanent Farmers Market and an amphitheatre. However, we want to create the best use of this property in meeting the needs of our citizens, so I would like to set up several brainstorming charrettes to get your ideas and input. In addition, we plan to extend Lexington’s downtown connectivity through a proposed 1.1. mile walking/jogging trail, providing citizens an opportunity to experience nature from our commercial Main St corridor through our scenic Virginia Hylton Park.

The Town was once again honored at the National League of Cities Annual Conference this past November for our Vision Plan, where we were one of just 21 municipalities, out of 19,000 members of the National League of Cities, selected to participate in the City Showcase AWARD Program. Winning this esteemed Showcase Award, two years running, speaks volumes of how our proactive, progressive forward-looking vision and planning is continuing to create a wonderful, vibrant livable community, not only for today, but for future generations… our children and our grandchildren.
We are also continuing to make strides with economic development by providing a significant catalyst for job creation with the relocation and annexation of Avtec Inc. This advanced manufacturing MISSION CRITICAL communications technology company will invest more than $6 million and is expected to generate 25plus NEW, high paying jobs with a payroll in excess of $1million… much of which will be spent right here in our local community. The new 46,000 square-foot Class A office Building is currently under construction near South Lake Drive and Glassmaster Road in a new technology based park. Along with Avtec Inc., there is an additional 35 acres in the technology park, which we hope to expand working with the land owner and other economic development organizations in attracting other high tech companies. This will allow the creation of a full-fledged high technology industry corridor within our Town boarders. A business park of this nature is rare in municipalities in South Carolina. We thank Avtec’s President and CEO Michael Branning and the Harman family for the partnership allowing this to happen.

The Town continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The last Census shows the Town of Lexington has grown by 83% since 2000 with population of approximately 17,900 in 2010. Today, I would venture to say we have surpassed 20,000 citizens. We have become the second largest municipality in the Midlands. With this growth, comes an increased demand for water and wastewater infrastructure.

This brings me to the biggest infrastructure project and financial investment in our Town’s history – the Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves more than 11,000 of our customers and is a partnership with the City of Cayce and the Lexington County Joint Water and Sewer Commission. The plant went online in late 2012 and will be a driving force to our town and county’s future economic growth. This additional major infrastructure investment will allow the Town to grow responsibly and efficiently for many years to come.

Public and Traffic Safety is a top priority in our Town. We are excited that the Police Department was once again awarded a Department of Public Safety Traffic Grant, which dedicates two additional officers on our congested roads for traffic safety. The grant is 100% funded, which this year will provide $155,000 for salary, vehicle gas and maintenance. This is quite significant to our taxpayers as no additional funding will be required from the Town’s General Fund, which you support with you with local taxes from your hard earned wages.

Our fiscal responsibility and transparency has also led to national recognition. The Finance Department recently received – for the 14th consecutive year – the Governmental Finance Officers Association Comprehensive Annual Finance Report Award and now for the fourth straight year, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. Through our dedicated staff in our Finance Department, the Town remains rock-solid and financially sound, staying ever so mindful of how we spend, or invest, your tax dollars.

In fact, last year we were able to save $1 million in our combined waterworks/wastewater operations through the refinancing of bonds previously issued to build and expand the infrastructure system.
Over the years, through our steadfast and frugal management of the Enterprise Operation, we have earned the investment grade credit rating of AA- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) and A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service (Moody’s). These ratings are the highest that can be achieved in municipal finance. While many local governments throughout the country are in severe financial crisis, struggling to meet their budgets, increasing taxes or even facing bankruptcy, we are taking advantage our earned financial position to capture refunding opportunities in the current, low interest rate environment. Along with this savings, the Town has also saved taxpayers more than $130,000 by refinancing General Obligations bonds, originally issued in 2002. We have not raised taxes in more than 25 years and I will recommend we continue this path in the upcoming 2013/14 fiscal year. Actually, we have reduced your millage rate twice during this period, an unheard of accom
plishment in municipal government.

The Town also responded to our citizen’s call to provide additional quality of life amenities by completing the George Street Sidewalks. This project was 100% grant funded through a Community Development Block Grant of $126,500. The project extends from W. Main St. to Gibson Rd. and provides further safety to our citizens walking these busy roads in the Western Lexington area. We continue our partnership with Lexington Sertoma Club in providing additional amenities at Gibson Pond Park. Thank you Sertomians!!!

Finally, the most critical and pressing project that I, Council and all of you are excited to see begin is Phase I of the Unified Traffic Improvement Plan. Addressing our traffic congestion has been the greatest need for our Town after decades of failure by former political leaders in Lexington to do so. We must ensure the safety and allow better mobility of the motoring public and to continue its economic viability. I am extremely pleased to say that after eight long, difficult and trying years of working with federal and state governments, especially SCDOT, we have secured more than $14million for our road project. Phase I is currently underway, as I’m sure you have noticed, with construction on Butler St. and Columbia Ave. Hallelujah! The entire project will take up to 24 months and includes major intersection expansion turning lanes and road widening on Reed St., Main St., Old Chapin Rd. and Park Rd.

While measured growth is a good thing, I will never stop trying to get our traffic problems under control and pledge my best efforts to do so. We must forge ahead on securing and identifying additional funding
sources. I solicit your ideas, thoughts and support on how this might be accomplished.

As you can see, we’ve had some amazing accomplishments this past year, but there’s always more work to be done…much more. Here are a few of the challenging issues we will focus on in 2013 and beyond:
Front and center will be our continuing focus on the VisionLexington Plan and traffic congestion. We are proud of the many projects that have come to fruition already this past year, but that is only the beginning. Several projects will launch this year including the Interstate 20/Sunset Blvd Interchange Beautification Project. The Town was fortunate to receive a SC DOT Interchange and Gateway Beautification grant, which will transform the corridor into an attractive front porch entrance into Lexington. The project was awarded $620,000, collectively, and will include landscaping and signage welcoming travelers to our wonderful Town as they come off I-20 onto Sunset Blvd. This project is also in partnership with Lexington County and the Lexington Beautification Foundation and is currently in the final design approval phase. We hope to break ground this spring. We will begin working on other gateway front porch entrances with projected construction in 2014 and 2015.

The opening of the new River Bluff High School this fall will create major traffic congestion challenges on Corley Mill Rd. and Sunset Blvd. at I-20. We are working with the School District, County, SCDOT, business in the area and the Harman family in an effort to mitigate the tremendous traffic congestion that will occur, but our joint forces will not result in a solution before its opening. We are confident however it will be resolved in 2014. This must be resolved, funds must be found as we are all committed to finding a solution to this most urgent and pressing traffic bottleneck.

Another exciting traffic congestion mitigation initiative will be putting in place is an Adaptive Computerized Signalization System. This high tech traffic management system will help alleviate traffic congestion by monitoring and synchronizing traffic signals to balance traffic flow in real time conditions. We estimate the cost to be between $2 and $4 million to link all lights within the Town limits. Staff is currently working with SCDOT to look at possible funding options to help place Lexington at the forefront of traffic management through the latest, innovative computer technology. We would be the first municipality in the state to implement this new technology, targeted for completion at 2014, at all traffic signal intersections Town wide. Another first for our Town!

In coming months, we will form a public/private partnership with the Old Mill Partners and begin the design of a walking trail around the Old Mill’s 27 acre pond. Plans also call for a boardwalk to be built as part of this amenity in 2014 and 2015. This most recent partnership and exciting project gives the Town an unprecedented opportunity to create something very, very special for our citizens, visitors and tourists alike in our downtown footprint.

History is a major component that makes Lexington unique to not only the Midlands but to the entire state. To best promote these efforts, we continue to foster and encourage partnerships. Our most recent collaboration is with the Lexington County Museum,
which together we have launched the Historic Downtown Lexington Cell Phone Tour. This innovative tour allows both residents and visitors to learn more about historic sites at the touch of their smart phone. We have an amazing history here in Lexington! You can learn more about the tour and download the brochure on the Town’s website. Plans are to expand these historical tours using this innovative and advanced technology.

I would also like to see us re-focus our attention on the Arts and again look into the feasibility of creating a performing arts venture or partner with another organization on a shared use arrangement.
Speaking of walking, we still haven’t forgotten about our four-legged friends. Staff is working with the Advisory Committee on site design and rules and regulations for our upcoming Dog Park. That’s right, a Doggie Park! We can accomplish so much more when we work together to leverage our talent and resources. The County has graciously deeded us property for FREE. The new park will be located on the back side of the soccer complex on Hendrix St. Throughout the next several months, the final proposal will be modified, ensuring that we construct the best amenity possible for our residents and their furry family members. We hope to open the park in 2014.

It is our job as the Town to actively engage the public through various communication efforts. Stay informed with Town news through our website, our social media pages of Facebook, Twitter and On Demand and our Time Warner Cable, Ch.2, which is airing my State of the Town Address right now. Also, I’m fortunate to host a half-hour radio program Monday with the Mayor at High Noon each Monday at noon on community radio 107.9 WLXM, who is also broadcasting tonight’s State of the Town Address live on the air. The weekly show allows me the opportunity to bring you community guests who can share with you the current events and happenings in the Town.
I hope from this State of the Town Address you take from my remarks the message of sustainable, efficient and effective growth through partnership and quality of life initiatives. Growth can be managed responsibly. It was the goal of Council to be proactive in our willingness to plan, manage and facilitate growth, HENCE, the creation of our VisionLexington Plan.

Lexington prides itself on Building Partnerships. As you heard tonight, we truly invest in our projects by finding partners, leveraging resources and building teams to accomplish what many others only think about. We are here to serve and we hope that we demonstrate that customer service attitude daily by making Lexington a place you want to live, work, learn, play, worship and raise your family.
None of this can be done without you, our citizens and businesses, through your support and involvement. One way you can help your Town is through participating on one of our various boards and commissions. We currently have several spots open and ask that if you have a de
sire to serve, make a difference through your talents that you apply. Talent bank applications are available online at our website at lexsc.com or you may call Town Hall for more information. Your commitment will be valuable as we strive to preserve our character, along with promoting recreation and the arts and supporting excellence in education –all keys to a vibrant quality of life for our Town.

In closing, my door is always open for your input and comments. You can certainly reach me by email, cell phone and other social media. I trust you will join me, Council and staff and we work together to make our wonderful Town of Lexington shine.

On a personal note, my plans are to run for reelection this coming November. I feel through my leadership as your Mayor we have made significant progress in moving our Town forward and to the forefront of towns and cities in our state. However, there are many initiatives, as I have presented tonight, I want to see completed before I leave office. Should I be successful in my reelection bid, I plan for it to be my last term as your Mayor. I feel it will be time to step aside and let new leadership lead. I want to spend as much times as possible with my wife and family, especially my grandchildren!

I wish that all of you have a continued healthy, happy and prosperous 2013. God bless you, your family, our Town, the State of South Carolina and our great nation, the United States of America.

Thank you.