EASLEY — Last Thursday, Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell presented attendees of an Easley Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Dunburks Premier Events with his state of the city address.
Public Works Director Lamar Hunnicutt, in addition to department representatives from Easley’s Municipal Court and Recreation Department, offered presentations on the community wide services they provide for Easley residents.
Despite nationwide economic turmoil and a loss of approximately $500,000 in revenue over the last two years, Bagwell said the city of Easley is in good financial shape with a $4.5 million budget surplus.
Bagwell also reported that Easley continues to have a positive growth in population. Recent census reports show a population growth of 12 percent in Easley.
The Easley Town Center, on the former Saco-Lowell site, has experienced significant growth and development in the last year. With the successful completion and grand openings of the Wal-Mart Supercenter and Kohl’s, Bagwell said Easley residents can expect the addition of a Sam’s Club and Academy Sports.
Quick Trip, a combination convenience store and gas station, is being constructed across from Easley’s Town Center on the south side of Highway 123.
Bagwell turned the program over to Easley city administrator Fox Simons, who announced the city’s new initiative to beautify and create more green space along Highway 123.
Based on the successful Spots of Pride Program in Spartanburg County, Easley’s Partners in Pride project was organized by Easley Junior Women’s Club President Heidi Roach and President and CEO of Peoples National Bank Andrew Westbrook.
Partners in Pride will begin with landscaping projects in selected road medians, or islands, on the stretch of Highway 123 between Rock Springs Baptist Church and Jimmy’s Restaurant.
Currently eight island segments have been identified for the initial phase of the Partners in Pride project, which will include planting various flowers, shrubs and trees. Local businesses and organizations who decide to sponsor a specific segment will have a sign in their designated area crediting their participation in the city’s beautification initiative.
Easley Combined Utilities will contribute a $100,000 irrigation system to the project so that the landscaping can be maintained once it is completed.
“50,000 cars a day travel through there,” Simons said. “That is a lot of eyeballs put on a promotional effort. It’s advertising and marketing for (businesses and organizations), and we beautify the city. Everybody wins.”
City officials hope that once the Partners in Pride project gets started and builds some momentum, beautification will travel the length of Highway 123 through Easley.
Bagwell, Simons and city council members continue in their diligence to shape Easley into a pedestrian and bicycling friendly environment for its residents and visitors. Toward this end, Simons also announced that construction on a walking/bicycle path, connecting McAllister, Couch and Crestview Roads, will begin shortly.
For more information about the city of Easley, its departments and continuing and upcoming projects, visit http://cityofeasley.net/ or call city hall at (864) 855-7900. Those interested can also find the City of Easley on Facebook.