BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. — The town of Batesburg-Leesville is sending out a call to its residents for community input. Leaders are hosting a community meeting next week about traffic and pedestrian safety in order to potentially get money from the federal government that could mean improvements to the town.
"I think we were one of six municipalities in the state that were in the first round of applications, and now you'll see other, the second round of applications. You see the city of Lexington, Cayce, the County of Lexington, West Columbia. They've all jumped on this, on the bandwagon so to speak," Lancer Shull, Batesburg-Leesville mayor said.
The town tells News19 they're looking to the future. Town leaders explain they want to keep the ball rolling with possible improvements, using $90,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
They are now working on an action plan for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program.
"It really follows on the heels of what we've already been doing with the bike-ability, walkability study, revitalization plans that we've already put in place, and so this would just be another place for us to reach out and try to find the funds," Shull said.
Shull explains the action plan involves lots of players.
"We've invited in SCDOT, the Council of Governments, Safety and Planning to take a look at our town from their angle, along with Mead & Hunt, and they'll come up with cost estimates," Shull said.
The final piece to this plan is getting input from locals.
The mayor explains this community input meeting on Tuesday January 23, 2024 at town hall will be interactive and unlike regular council meetings.
Krista Parrish, a salon owner in the downtown Leesville district, adds she would like to see traffic flow improve at Highway 23 and Mitchell Street near the high school and see the sidewalk evened out.
"When we do see someone fall, it might be an elder person that tends to shuffle when they walk or just looking ahead and not actually looking down, but yeah, sometimes that does happen," Parrish said.
Shull tells News19 he hopes they know this fall if they'll be awarded the funds to make these traffic and pedestrian improvements. If approved, the mayor explains he hopes shovels can be in the ground by spring of 2025.
"We're just looking to improve, we're looking to prepare for the growth that's coming to our town, and Lexington County and just be ready ahead of things instead of behind," Shull said.
Again the meeting is next week on Tuesday at town hall from 5-7pm.
Mayor Shull explains they're hoping for a big turnout, but if they don't have enough people show up, they might host another one.