May 2005 Vol. XII, Number 2 CITY COUNCIL Lark Jones, Mayor Jimmy Adams Carolyn Baggott Pat Carpenter Ken McDowell Arthur Shealy Jason Whinghter CITY COUNCIL CONSTRUCTION ON THE MEETINGS Greeneway are held every first & third Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers on the sec- ond floor of the Municipal Building, 400 East Buena Vista Avenue. Citizens are encouraged to attend these meetings. A one mile section of the Greeneway Trail will be closed through midsummer. A one mile section of the North Augusta Bridge installed in 1999 over Martintown CONTENTS Greeneway, from the Greeneway tunnel at Road. Construction on the Riverside Boulevard to its intersection with Greeneway continued . .2 Hammond’s Ferry Road, has been closed to Construction of the Crystal Lake Drive exten- Citizen Survey to Finalize allow for the relocation of an existing 24” sion into Hammond’s Ferry and the new Comprehensive Plan . .2 water line located under the Greeneway and Greeneway Bridge over Crystal Lake Drive is for the construction of Crystal Lake Drive expected to be complete by August. Palmetto Parkway into the Hammond’s Ferry riverfront devel- Progresses . .2 opment. The project marks the first phase of construc- Celebrating a Century tion for the long planned Hammond’s Ferry of Excellence . .3 In addition to the roadway construction, the traditional neighborhood development and Centennial Logo and project will include the installation of a is being funded by the North Augusta Seal Unveiled . .3 Greeneway pedestrian bridge over the Riverfront Company, the developers of Crystal Lake Drive extension. The bridge will Hammond’s Ferry. Safe and Secure be a smaller version of the Greeneway continued on page 2 in the Parking Lot . .4 CONSTRUCTION ON THE GREENEWAY continued GREENEWAY EXTENSION NEARING COMPLETION The construction of the Riverfront Greeneway extension is nearing completion and should be open to Greeneway users in mid-June. As reported in previous issues of North Augusta Forward, the 1.5 mile Riverfront Greeneway extension begins near Crystal Lake Drive and extends along the riverfront and to the Greeneway tunnel at Riverside Boulevard. When the river- front extension is complete, the currently closed main section of the Greeneway will be reopened from Hammond’s Ferry road to the new extension. Greeneway users will have a river- front detour route around the Crystal Lake Drive construction Construction is nearing completion on the Riverfront Greeneway and the opportunity to enjoy a great new section of the extension. Users will enjoy close proximity to the Savannah River, Greeneway Trail. seen here to the right of the trail. CITIZENComprehensive SURVEY TO Plan FINALIZE PALMETTOProgresses PARKWAY The last issue of North Augusta Forward included an article on In continuing support of Interstate 520 the South Carolina the Comprehensive Plan being developed by the Planning Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SCTIB) recently granted an Commission. The Commission’s draft of the next ten year plan additional $95 million to Aiken County to construct the final is available for review in the offices of the Department of segment of the Palmetto Parkway. The SCTIB action was in Economic and Community Development on the second floor recognition of the significant work over the last two years by of the Municipal Building, 400 East Buena Vista Avenue and the City of North Augusta, Aiken County, the South Carolina on the city’s website at www.northaugusta.net. Citizen com- Department of Transportation, the Aiken County Legislative ments are welcome. Delegation and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to generate an additional $14 million in local and federal Prior to finalizing the draft and forwarding it to the City funding for the project. Council for adoption, the Planning Commission decided to provide an additional opportunity for citizen input. To verify The final five mile section from US 1/Aiken-Augusta Highway that the policies recommended in the plan reflect the desires to Interstate 20 will complete the 21 mile Interstate 520 loop of North Augusta citizens the Commission will complete a sur- around the Aiken-Augusta Metropolitan Area. I-520 will con- vey of North Augusta residents. To insure that a valid cross sec- nect with I-20 at a new Exit 6 interchange, a mile east of the tion of the community participates, a random sample of North existing Exit 5 (Highway 25/Edgefield Road). New I-520 inter- Augusta residents will be selected using the city’s geographic changes will also be located at Belvedere-Clearwater Road information system (GIS) database. Each household selected to and on the Blanchard property south of Ascauga Lake Road participate will be notified in May that it will receive the sur- and east of US 25. Construction on the final segment will vey. Each participant in the survey will also be reminded if the begin in early 2006 and should be complete in late 2008 or completed survey is not returned on schedule. The survey early 2009. should be completed in June and the results tabulated shortly thereafter. The Planning Commission will then compare the In addition to improving traffic circulation within and around results with the draft of the plan and make any corrections or the metropolitan area the completed Palmetto Parkway will adjustments in the policy recommendations accordingly. After help to substantially decrease heavy truck traffic through the survey and plan validation process is complete the North Augusta on Martintown Road, Knox Avenue and Planning Commission will forward the final plan and recom- Edgefield Road. mendation to the City Council. 2 certs and parades aswellastreetdance,picnic,birth- certs andparades includedtours,con- celebration Suggestions fortheyear-long a lifetimeanniversary. thisoncein tocommemorate andevents gestions foractivities numeroussug- wellattendedandgenerated meetingwas The upcoming Centennialcelebration. m apublic InMarch Augusta. oftheCityNorth incorporation A ebr Carolina statelogo. thepalmettoandmoonsymbolsthatmakeupSouth centennial logoandsealalsoincorporate The area. Augusta from theNorth thatemanate logoiconwith thestylizedSouthCarolinastateoutlinesurroundingrays here.Bothimagescontainthecity’s show ofthenewCentenniallogoandseal, publicmeetingwitnessedtheunveiling Attendees attheCentennialcelebration pril 11, 2006, will mark the 100 year anniversary ofthe anniversary pril 11,2006,willmarkthe100year 803-441-4224. pleasecall information ortosubmitanitem orphotograph more For tion. Submitted itemswillbescannedand returned. foruseintheCentennial celebra- Augusta ofNorth andmemorabilia CentennialCommitteeis seekingoldphotographs The eeting was heldtosolicitcitizeninputandsupportforthe eeting was ation. James U. Jackson, the founder of North Augusta thefounderofNorth Jackson, U. James (front row, center),andofficersoftheNorth row, (front The logo and seal will be imprinted on stationery, bannersandothermementosdesignedfor theCentennialcel- logoandsealwillbeimprintedonstationery, The Augusta LandCompany. Augusta CENTENNIAL LOGO AND SEAL CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF Excellence Unveiled Photo Credit: “History of North Augusta, South Carolina”, 1980. Corner ofEastSpringGr www.northaugusta.net planswillbepostedonthecitywebsite, bration tocall441-4224.Centennialcele- capacity areencouraged sponsoringorassistinginany interestedinvolunteering, Those 2005. August inplaceby festivities i CentennialSteeringCommitteeiscurrently reviewingthe The more. ofhistoricartifactsandmuch displays d deas generated and hopes to have itsplanfortheyear-long andhopestohave deas generated ay party and cake walk, agolftournament,timecapsule, partyandcakewalk, ay o v e and Georgia Avenues, circa 1951. circa Avenues, e andGeorgia , assoontheyareavailable. Photo Credit: Courtesy Tom W. Greene 3 POLICE & FIRE EMERGENCY 911 SAFE AND SECURE IN THE Y PUBLIC SAFETY Parking Lot Non Emergency 279-2121 Administration 441-4251 R Records/Court Services 441-4271 Investigations 441-4274 New shopping areas and the popularity of the city’s recreational facilities are result- O ing in an increase in the size, number and use of parking lots in North Augusta. Most PARKS, RECREATION & LEISURE SERVICES Riverview Park Activities Center 441-4300 people don’t give much thought to the safety of a car after it’s parked, especially in T Activities Coordinator 441-4311 broad daylight and where there are others nearby. Unfortunately, day or night, Community Center 441-4290 C parked cars and full parking lots often attract opportunistic criminals in search of GENERAL SERVICES & FINANCE property to steal or vandalize. Taxes 441-4215 E Utility - New Service/Disconnects 441-4219 Utility Billing Services 441-4212 By taking some common-sense security steps, individuals can greatly increase safe- Business Licenses (Non-Contractor) 441-4214 R ty in a parking lot and reduce the risk of theft and property damage. Human Resources 441-4205 I ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS Here are some helpful tips that may reduce the risk of parking lot vehicle theft: After-Hours Emergencies 279-2121 D Engineering 441-4223 • Lock your vehicle at all times. Building Standards 441-4227 Permits 441-4227 • Make sure windows are rolled all the way up. Business Licenses (Contractors) 441-4227 Animal Control 441-4227 • Park in highly visible, well-lit areas. E Sanitation Services 441-4223 • Mark stereo and other electronic equipment with personal identification Sanitation - New Service 441-4219 Stormwater Management 441-4295 markings. N • Remove valuable items from the vehicle