Year-end Update from City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe

As 2019 closes and 2020 begins, I wanted to share an update with the Citizens about the City and what we have planned for the upcoming year.

In 2019, the City was able to complete a variety of projects around the City. Probably the most time and labor intensive project was the update to the dewatering press at the WWTP; ensuring that the facility will keep running and meet the needs of the City for the foreseeable future. We were able to get all the street lights changed over to LED bulbs, saving the City electricity and money on its street lighting needs. In an effort to slow down traffic entering the City, solar speed warning signs were installed at the three main entrances to the City. The road base was placed along a planned extension of Taggart Road in preparation for paving in 2020. Through a large effort by City Staff and the Planning Commission, the City completed an update to its Comprehensive Plan that is designed to guide the City’s growth and development over the next 20 years.

For 2020, the City has plans and funding in place to complete several large scale infrastructure projects. In the works for many years now, Millrace road from Main Street to the eastern City Limits has been designed as a full reconstruction where it will be widened and flattened out at the approaches to the grade crossing with some needed safety improvements included like sidewalk and guard rails. The largest expansion the City’s water system will take place as means to improve quantity and quality to the eastern portion of the City. The extension to Taggart Road will be completed with an asphalt top and road naming. Several thousand feet of new sidewalk will be installed around the City; closing gaps in the sidewalk system as a means to provide pedestrians with safe areas to walk along outside of the roadway. An electric vehicle charging station will be installed at the City shop for locals and people traveling through to have a place to stop and charge their cars. Lastly, the City’s Well field location will be updated with a backup generator in order to provide emergency power should the electricity go out in the City and something happens to the City’s spring system and the City needs to provide water to the its residents or provide additional water pressure for fire suppression.

After 15 years of service to the City, Deputy City Clerk Kelly Steinhoff has taken a new position with Columbia County in Dayton. We at the City thank her for her dedication to the City and wish her the best. With her resignation, it brings the number of new hires at the City in the last year or so to three with turnover accounting for half of the City staff and crew.

Should anyone have any questions regarding the City, please feel free to contact me at City Hall. Additional information about the City can also be found on the City’s website at http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com.

Randy Hinchliffe

City Administrator