By Valerie Sliker, Courtesy Wagener Monthly
The Wagener town hall, although in temporary housing, is busy and full of hope for the new decade. “There’s a lot of good going on,” Mayor Mike Miller said, “But we’ve had a lot of negative interference and I pay too much attention to it.”
The recent election for two town council seats got a little heated and both the mayor and council have been under fire from a few disgruntled people, but Councilman George Smith has put it all behind him. “We don’t have to worry about who said this or that. That’s all on my back list for 2019, it has nothing to do with 2020. The town is on an upswing, positive things are expected for the new year. One of the best things we have going is a new town complex.”
Plans are well under way to move the town hall to a complex that will house the town hall, police and fire departments and a heliport all at one site. Land has been donated, grants have been received and the architect is on board. The town hall should be able to relocate to the new complex by Summer.
The town complex, Ponder Municipal Park will be located around the current fire department on land donated by Henry Ponder. Senator Nikki Setzler and Representative Bill Taylor combined efforts to get a grant for a playground for this park. The Aiken County Council awarded a grant for the restoration of a couple of historic buildings that currently sit on the Ponder Park property, one of which will house the town hall; the other, a visitor and parks center for Wagener and Aiken County in general.
Another project for 2020 is the beautification of the town. Town ordinances have been updated and will be implemented, one of which requires that abandoned properties be cleaned up. The property ordinance was mailed out to all property owners in Wagener and it can also be read at the town hall.
“Cleaning up the properties is going to be an on-going issue.” Police Chief Scott Titus said. “We’re taking steps to try to move forward. If we can get ten properties cleaned up, I think that’s a big step forward.”
The town, mayor and council hired two police officers full time. The force now consists of the Chief, Quentin Wright, David Byerly, Jeremy Hill and Gerald Taylor.
The complaints on speeding have become an issue. In 2020, the police department plans to purchase radar signs that will display your speed as a reminder to slow down coming into town on Highway 39 where we have the biggest issue with speeding. The signs will also record data that will allow our police department to learn when we have the heaviest speeding so we can efficiently utilize our officers.
The police department will lose a cherished member of the force in 2020: Xantos. Xantos is getting too old for the aggressive track of the K-9 program. The career span for the canines is usually 8 – 9 years. Xantos is 10 or 11. He will most likely be retired this year.
“We have some opportunity to do some positive things in the town in 2020.” Smith said. “When we implement the plans we’ve already made, you’ll see a big difference in the town. I think sometimes people want a lot of things, but they don’t know what it takes to get those things.
“We have more than the complex construction going on in the new year, but the complex is the main thing. The people that live here love this town. Just like anything, you’re going to have that group that doesn’t want to change. Some people don’t want to see the town grow.”
Miller commented, “We had a down period with our police department where it was minimal, but we have a few more working now, they’re doing a good job and I’m proud of them. Daryl Cooper is meticulous and doing a good job with the water department. Now the fire department is ready for reorganization.”
According to town ordinance, the mayor and the town council are to appoint the officers at the fire department. The town will start enforcing this and other town ordinances that have been overlooked in recent years.
For more information or to voice your opinion, please attend a town council meeting. The meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month at 6:30. The agenda is posted at town hall the day of the meeting. If the meeting is cancelled, it is rescheduled for later in the month and a notice is placed on the town electronic sign.