Georgetown Mayor issues State of the City

On October 1, 2026, the Mayor’s Office issued this State of the City address via social media. 

By Mayor Jay Doyle
City of Georgetown, SC

As we reach the completion of the ninth month of the new administration, I felt it was time to bring the citizens of Georgetown up to date on some of the activities and initiatives that we are working on. This is not a complete list, just a few highlights.

The Steel Mill

River Development Equities came to the city asking for zoning changes.  We allowed them to rewrite their own zoning, known as a REDD (Redevelopment District).  At no time was this affected by the rezoning moratorium.  After they completed the rewrite, city staff reduced the maximum height from ten stories to six stories and took out data centers as an option.  We were then told we had to meet a deadline we could not legally meet.  We do not have access to information regarding dealings between River Development Equities, Liberty River and the Department of Environmental Servies (DES).  Additional developers are now showing strong interest in the property.

International Paper

The International Paper property is predominately in Georgetown County, although parts are within the city limits.  The City of Georgetown draws its water supply from the IP canal and needs to retain this resource.  Data Centers would compete with the city for this water, possibly causing shortages.  Restarting the electrical generation on the property with the existing old equipment should not be an option.

 Jobs

The top priority is jobs. I have been talking and emailing with CEOs of mass timber and cross laminated timber companies.  This is a good first step, but so far, we are just talking.  At the same time, I am talking with potential developers of the steel mill, asking them to consider using mass timber, cross laminated timber and other related products to create the demand we will need to entice manufacturers to the area.

Trolley

Plans for a trolly/bus to circulate through the city are being developed.  The idea would be for the trolley to pass through the city in such a way that stops are easily accessible for all neighborhoods.  We are exploring the option of partnering with one of the other local bus services and expanding other services they provide.

Water Taxi

We are working on a water taxi/ferry system to allow people to access other parts of the city via a water route.  This will not only benefit our citizens, but it will also make it easier for visitors to access other parts of the city.

TIF District

The city will be issuing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds in the current fiscal year to take advantage of funding opportunities to improve to some of our commercial corridors.  The amount for this fiscal year will be approximately 5 million dollars.  Specific projects have not been selected yet but can include; infrastructure improvements, parking, recreation improvements and other improvements to improve the appearance and function of area in the TIF district.  A public hearing will be held to solicit input from the public.  Information relating to this will be placed on the city web site.

Rezoning Moratorium

Progress has been made updating the Unified Development Ordinance.  Fee schedules have been updated to reflect the city’s true cost, so developments are paying their fair share.  The rezoning moratorium is scheduled to expire in November; there are no plans to extend it.  Staff recommended that the rewriting of the comprehensive plan be completed at its next scheduled update.  I have taken the staff’s recommendations.

Grant Writers

We are in the process of hiring two grant writers.  When they are on board, we can pursue revenue sources for electric, water, wastewater, storm water and other infrastructure grants to help take the pressure off our utilities to raise rates and possibly lower them in the future.   We are eligible for hundreds of grant opportunities; we will apply for as many as possible.

Forced Wastewater Main

One area that needs attention is the forced wastewater main running from the new Front St. pump station to the wastewater treatment plant.  This line is old and carries 95% of the city’s waste.  I would like to see that upgraded before the steel mill, seaport and IP properties are brought online.  The cost will be approximately 10 million dollars.

 

Storm Water

Plans are being developed to address flooding in multiple areas of the city, including Hawkins St.  This will include green scaping and retention ponds.  We are looking for FEMA to pay the majority of the costs for these projects.

Fire Engines

Another area of concern is the age of our fire apparatus.  We are currently in the process of ordering four new vehicles that will cost the city approximately 6 million dollars.  I will ask the grant writers to apply for grants to help pay for part, or all of this cost.  Without these grants, we will need to add roughly $600,000 to our annual budget.

Weatherization Program

The weatherization program has begun.  We are off to a slow start but, as all the parties learn to collaborate with each other, we can pick up speed and service more households.

Residential Redevelopment

Funding in the amount of $915,000 is being received from the state thanks to teamwork between our state house officials. This will allow us to redevelop housing and sell back into the community at affordable workforce pricing.  We are looking into a federal mortgage program that will allow qualified individuals to purchase homes with $0 downpayment, further assisting workforce members.  Low interest loans for remodeling homes are also be explored.

Inner Harbor

Following the completion of the harbor dredging, a meeting between the city, the county, the Army Corp of Engineers and a professor from Coastal Carolina was held to discuss ways to prevent the inner harbor from silting back in the future.  The professor had previously completed a study of the harbor in 20?? we are asking him to update his study so we can complete a plan on how to move forward.  Six million dollars of funding will come from the 2014 penny sales tax. We will also be applying for a Federal Grant.  When the proposed plan is farther along, we will hold a public hearing.

Conclusion

In summary, the new administration has hit the ground running.  The city will be going through a major revitalization over the next few years.  We need to do it in a way that preserves our historic past, greets a new wave of manufacturing and puts the needs of our citizens first.  If ever there was a time for the city of Georgetown to unite, it is now. The future is here; it will be what we make of it.