BACKGROUND

The City of Aiken has long-standing infrastructure issues with its supply and waste lines. A Marion Street resident reported in a recent City Council meeting that she had brown tap water so disgusting she didn’t dare fill her dog’s bowl. This same Marion Street resident reported twice having raw sewage come onto her property — not from her house, but from the City side — to the extent her soil had to be decontaminated. The smell of raw sewage makes it impossible at times to sit outdoors at some downtown businesses, (Mellow Mushroom and Union Park Coffee, to name two). These types of complaints and boil-water alerts are longstanding. They precede the current administration and are only growing in frequency. In May 2023, alone, City records show 6 mainline breaks, 74 leaks, and 28 sewer backups reported on the City side. People are wondering why City leadership is looking to expand the city limits and infrastructure to I-20 and beyond, while existing residents and infrastructure are wanting for solutions.

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Should City residents and downtown business owners be told that there is nothing that can be done for mainline breaks, leaks, and sewer backups because those pipes are just too old? Should our norm be running the faucets until the water clears up, if ever?

TEDDY MILNER: No, and no. Residents and business owners should not hear that message from the city. Everyone deserves clean water.

KATHRYN WADE: Making our infrastructure sound is expensive and perhaps because of the expense, officials have kicked the proverbial can down the road.  So here we are in 2023 and we have water and sewer problems in many areas around our city.  We need to develop a comprehensive plan to methodically address our pipe issues.  Our citizens pay a lot of money for water and sewer services so to have a broken system is unacceptable. Lack of action is no longer the answer.  We need a plan, a budget and the will to execute.  

Why should Aiken’s leadership invest in expanding the city limits to I-20 and beyond, when the existing infrastructure and existing residents are wanting for solutions to problems?

What is your position on addressing and balancing the needs of existing infrastructure and existing residents vs. expanding to bring more residents into the City?

TEDDY MILNER: I support expanding both the City’s service area and municipal footprint (City limits), but only in ways that are consistent with the zoning elements and the goals of a Comprehensive Plan. Given the City’s finite budget — as well as the ever-increasing demands on this region’s natural resources — I place a higher priority on repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure than on bringing more residents into the City.

When citizens pay taxes to the City, they should reasonably expect the City to provide essential services to their own homes and businesses. It is fundamentally unfair to people who have lived in and operated storefronts in the City for years, and who have tolerated persistent infrastructure problems, to have their taxes go toward expansion of the City services rather than maintenance of existing pipes. To put it another way, if the dishwasher breaks in my restaurant, I fix it — I don’t go buy a new one for someone else!

KATHRYN WADE: Our city officials clearly see this speculative investment as an investment for our future and that will remain to be seen.  However, this or any multi-million dollar project should not be prioritized over the needs of our current citizens.  My mama always told me you have to take care of what you have before you can be trusted to have more.  It is fun and exciting to say we are doing this or building that because it looks like progress but we are only progressing to the extent that we are sound.  

Balancing is key because we do not want to stifle growth but if we do not focus on the existing problems we will not be able to sustain the growth we desire.  Growth comes with a price, therefore, it must be managed well with a strong eye focused on keeping our current citizens and businesses a priority.  We can do both if we have strong leadership and a strong team of employees who are engaged with the people and make “keeping Aiken strong” a first place principle.  

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Mayoral Forum Intro
The candidates respond on the issues:
Public Participation in Government
Responsible Development
Infrastructure
Financial Responsibility
Housing and Homelessness