LOCKHART — Mayor Ailene Ashe announced at Tuesday’s Lockhart Town Council meeting that the town will buy a new flag for the town hall and a picnic table for the “Gregory’s Kid World” playground with funds received from Union County. The funds totaled $500 and were presented by Union County Council member Joan Little prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
“Joan Little has been very faithful about coming to meetings and giving to us,” Ashe said. “It means a lot to have a representative be at the meetings and show interest in our town. We appreciate it.”
Ashe said town resident Barry Canupp bought two sets of toddler swings that will also be added to “Gregory’s Kid World.”
Feasibility Study
Ashe also mentioned that she will meet with Pacolet Mayor Elaine Harris and Stewart Winslow of Pacolet Milliken Enterprises next week to discuss a master plan for the implementation of the town’s $60,000 USDA Rural Enterprise Grant.
The grant will fund a feasibility study to identify assets of the town and the surrounding area in order to complete a plan for developing tourism and recreation. The intended outcome is redevelopment of the area and enhancement of economic development opportunities.
Ashe enlisted Harris to assist with the master plan because the Town of Pacolet is a past recipient of the same grant.
Since Pacolet’s grant-funded feasibility study was completed, the town has seen revitalization along the Pacolet River, including a lighted river walk and the Pacolet River Paddling Trail — complete with canoe and kayak takeouts and put-ins — which is slated to open this fall. The trail is being funded with a grant of almost $1 million, which Harris said the feasibility study helped acquire.
Infrastructure Upgrade
Ashe also mentioned that the implementation of the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the town received last year is set to begin. The grant will be used to finance the upgrade of sewer lines and a water line in the northwestern part of the town — from North First St. to North Fifth St.
Ashe said she wants to spend as much time as possible working on current and future projects for the town, which is the reason she closed Ashe Insurance Agency at the beginning of this month. The business has relocated to Insurance Plus in Union.
“I will have more time to see these things take place,” Ashe said. “I will have more time to spend at town hall working on projects for the town. As everybody knows, I love my town. God told us to tend our land, and that’s what we need to do. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Advocacy Meeting
Mayor Ashe, as well as council members Connie Porter and Donnie Adams, will attend a Regional Advocacy meeting in Rock Hill on Aug. 29. The meeting is one of 10 being held across the state by the Municipal Association of South Carolina to teach new laws added to the books in 2012, and how they affect individual cities or towns. There will also be a discussion about the 2013-2014 legislative agenda and how attendees can get involved to advocate for legislative changes to give cities and towns more tools to improve quality of life.
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