Aiken City Council looking at funding for major city projects

Monday, Nov. 7, 2016 News 12 NBC 26 at 11 O'Clock

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Fixing Whiskey Road, upgrading Public Safety headquarters and adding a downtown parking garage all ideas Aiken wants to see happen.

"There all projects that have been talked about continuously throughout Aiken over the last ten to twelve years and this is an opportunity to finally address those needs," Mayor Rick Osbon.

But at what cost? City Council is calling on a financial advisor to help figure out a long term plan to pay for these projects.

"Basically help council stay within our means, live within our means, but get some of this work done instead of waiting 30 years down the road," Osbon said.

First Tryon is helping by breaking down the money the city already has and where the money can go. Councilman Dick Dewar says it also helps identify the projects with the most need.

"Well you have to find a way to pay for them, but you also have to find a way to identify them," Dewar, "As I mentioned in the meeting two years ago Hotel Aiken wasn't even mentioned and now it's one of the hottest projects in the city."

Council has several sources of funding from the Hospitality Tax to the Capital Project Sales Tax to help pay for the list of projects. One project collecting enough dust without funding is improving Whiskey Road. Dewar says it needs funding soon.

"Powderhouse Connector Road, there's a lot of land that can be developed there. Anything that can take traffic off of Whiskey Road is important," Dewar said.