STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
BRIAN C. DEESE, MAYOR
I would like to take this time to address the citizens of Liberty. Last
year’s response to the State of the City Address was so positive and
people appreciated it very much. I intend to make this address annually
to the citizens to keep everyone updated on how our City is running.
During the last year, the Police Department applied for three different
grants. The first one being a DUI Enforcement Officer. If we receive
this grant, we will hire an officer whose primary responsibilities will
include enforcing DUI laws within the city limits of Liberty. This
officer will also be speaking with Community groups and school children,
educating them on the current DUI laws and the dangers of driving while
intoxicated. The grant will also cover all equipment the officer will
need to carry out his/her duties, including uniforms and vehicle. The
second grant the Police Department applied for is an Equipment grant.
This grant will cover such things as digital in- car cameras and for
every officer, traffic safety vests that comply with OSHA standards and
Stop Sticks. The third grant is for two School Resource Officer
positions. Earlier this summer, the school district of Pickens County
was afraid that due to budget cuts, that they were going to lose the
School Resource Officer positions in all the schools. This grant would
cover the salaries for these two positions to keep an officer in our
Middle and High Schools. Clemson University Police Department has
donated a bicycle to the police department for bike patrol. Sgt. Mike
Constance attended free training on bicycle safety provided by the
University as well. Sgt. Constance utilized the bike during the recent
Liberty Idol competition and around town during the weekdays. Sgt.
Constance has written several seat belt tickets while on bike patrol
throughout the city of Liberty. Detective Adam Gilstrap has attended
Immediate Action Teams Instructor course offered through the South
Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Since his training, he has been able
to return to the department and train our officers in Active Shooter
training in our schools. In order to be more efficient in the event of
an emergency at our schools, the Police Department has made upgrades to
our weapons.
We were awarded a $29,886 V-Safe Grant with no matching funds for the
city, to equip our ladder truck with 1,075 feet of 5” supply hose, all
adapters, wrenches and five (5) SCBA air packs that are NFPA compliant.
All emergency agencies are required to use 800 MHz radios to be able to
communicate with each other and for consideration for future FEMA
grants. We placed 2 walkie-talkies and 2 mobile radios in service in
August 2008. These were through a Belton Fire Department grant, the
radios were valued at $15,493 but the city’s match was only $3,098. We
were awarded a grant thru Anderson County, in which we were issued three
(3) more 800 MHz walkie-talkies. These walkies were valued at $11,970
with no matching funds required. The Liberty Area Fire District has
completed their first substation and we began staffing that station with
three personnel on July 1, 2009. We relocated three pieces of equipment
to that station, which still leaves a ladder truck and a service truck
sitting out in the weather. The city is in the process of extending the
present station by two bays to house this equipment and for any future
equipment that we purchase. The City of Liberty was awarded a grant from
the Department of Commerce to complete this extension. The grant is for
$225,350 of which the City will match $50,350. We are now ready to send
the project out for bids and construction should start in the next
couple of months. We are expecting completion before winter. We also
have an Army surplus generator to replace the present obsolete one that
will not stay on line. It will be placed at the end of the bay extension
near Church Street. We have received several grants during the last 12
months. The above grants totals are $282,999, but the city’s match was
only $53,448. This is a very good investment for the City!
The Liberty Parks & Recreation Department has undergone many changes and
improvements over the past six years and there are new projects on the
horizon that will greatly enhance our facilities. We have definitely
come a long way with all of the upgrades and additions of youth
programs. The City of Liberty Parks & Recreation Department is now one
of the finest in the upstate of South Carolina. Most of the new
projects and renovations have been made possible with the aid of
Hospitality Tax, County Funded allocations, State PARD grants and
through aggressive five year plans. The City Gymnasium, located at 520
Mills Ave., has always been in need of air conditioning, and once again
with the help of county funded allocations, we were able to get the job
done. The cost of this project was $37,500.00 for a great system. Added
in the same year was a new reconstructed lighting system which is 33%
more efficient for $6,000.00, two new basketball goals with height
adjusters complete with installation for $7,500.00. Also added was a new
entrance awning for $2,000.00. These were all made possible with county
funded allocations. A new sidewalk, entrance doors and landscaping were
made possible with the help of hospitality tax. With the growth of our
youth programs continuing to escalate, we have been in need of playing
fields and with a county funded allocation of $20,000.00, we were able
to address some of the need with the construction of a new field at West
Woodside Circle, located just above Iselin and Morris fields. The costs
for the field included irrigation, fencing, dugout benches, 15 ft.
bleacher, and safety poly cap for the fencing. This project was
completed just as the 2009 baseball season started. The new field is
looking better everyday as the grass has grown in nicely. Another need
to our antiquated facilities was restrooms at Woodside Park located at
Park Plaza Rd. and Mills Ave. Councilman Rick Clark applied for and
received a State Grant for $27,000.00. Cost of the project bid was
$42,000.00. The county contributed $7,000.00 towards the cost and the
remainder came from hospitality tax. The new addition is a tremendous
improvement. Also added to Woodside Park was a new batting cage which
was purchased at the same time the two cages that were placed at Iselin
and Morris fields were purchased. Cost of all three batting cages was
$4,500.00 and made possible with county funded allocations. Our newest
project to date, which was approved in August, is the renovation of the
restrooms at the City Gymnasium located at 520 Mills Ave. Both the men
and women’s restrooms are antiquated and have single toilet fixtures. We
are currently taking bids through August 24th for the
project. When completed, each restroom will have 3 stalls, (handicap
included), baby changing tables, mop sink, shower stalls, tile floors,
and new lighting. Each will be handicap code compliant. The cost of this
project will also be funded by county allocations. We have hopes this
project will be completed by the end of October. The old City Gymnasium
has needed these upgrades for some time now and we’re excited about
getting this project started. As you can see, we are very fortunate and
greatly appreciate all of the county funding of over $250,000.00 that we
have received in the past six years. We continue to prepare our five
year capital improvement plans to address our most immediate needs. The
Liberty Recreation Department now has eleven youth sport programs that
the kids of the community can take advantage of. We had four teams make
it to state tournaments through the Dixie Youth baseball and softball
organizations in 2009. We set an all time record for registrations of
over $46,000.00 for fiscal year ’08-’09 and also for concessions/special
events of over $41,000.00. Donations of over $10,000.00 through a wide
variety of businesses were made during June and July for baseball and
softball teams that on their district tournaments. This money offset the
cost of getting the teams to the State Tournaments. We would like to
thank each and everyone who contributed to this cause. Liberty is proud
of the facilities that we have and we should take pride in caring for
them. Vandalism and littering cannot be tolerated at all. Acts of
vandalism should be reported to the police department to help us combat
those who want to destroy what we have.
We have accomplished many things In our Water and Sewer department. The
sewer project on Knollwood was completed by replacing a 6” terracotta
line that was collapsing with a new 8” pvc line. The project consists of
2200 feet of line, seven (7) manholes and fourteen (14) service
connections. The sewer project on Dixie Avenue was completed by
replacing an 8” concrete line that was collapsing with a new 8” pvc
line. The project consists of 100 feet of line and three (3) service
connections. The sewer project on Maplecroft was completed by replacing
an 8” concrete line that was collapsing with a new 8” pvc line. This
line had storm water infiltrations in which storm water would enter the
line and over run the system. The project consists of 500 feet of line.
All the above projects were completed by city employees. This helps to
get more accomplished and keep cost down without outsourcing. We have
our own Storm Water manager. Our storm water program is up and running
well. The city does its own inspections, documentations, permits and
annual reports. Pickens County handles all public education and
outreach. The water project on Quarry Road was completed by replacing a
2” galvanized line with a 2” pvc line due to pin holes in old line. The
project consists of 300 feet of line with two (2) service connections.
The water project on Liberty Blvd. consists of installing 250 feet of 6”
pvc water line with one (1) fire hydrant. The water project on Beattie
Street was completed by replacing a 2” galvanized line with a 3” pvc
line due to serve leaks. The project consisted of 500 feet of line and
eight (8) service connections. All the above projections were completed
by city employees. This helps to get more accomplished, keep cost down
without out sourcing. Our CDBG grant allowed us to upgrade the city’s
water system. The project was completed in two phases. In Phase 1 of the
project, the upgrade connected the city’s water system to improve the
systems water flow and pressure. The upgrade was on the following
streets to tie the system together: Davis Road, Mountain View, Blue
Ridge, Edgemont, Palmetto, West Main, East Main, Carolina, Oak Lane,
Mills Avenue, Peach Tree, Norris Avenue and Willard Street. In Phase
2, the upgrade connected West Front Street to the system to improve
water flow and pressure. Pedestrian Park is located at West Front Street
& Commerce Street. This project is still under construction. We look to
have it completed in late September weather permitting. This park will
house a well, park benches, fountains and a place for the City’s
Christmas tree. The Sidewalk projects were funded by C-Funds. These
projects were completed at Lakeview and West Front Street. Lakeview
received 920 feet of new sidewalks so pedestrians would not have to walk
in the road while traveling to local business. West Front Street
received 120 feet of new sidewalks and 2 handicap accesses which allow
the public to access to the Pedestrian Park. City employees did grading
and installed storm drain for these projects.
The City completed a new Gazebo/Stage downtown in the Sarlin Park and
also completed two new gazebos at Freedom Park using our Hospitality
funds. We also placed a new Volley ball court at Freedom park. Some of
our projects that are on the drawing board are: signage at Freedom Park,
landscaping and signage at the Rosewood Center and some sidewalk
replacement throughout the city. We will be designing our downtown
streetscaping and applying for a grant to complete this project next
year. All of the wonderful additions and project upgrades were completed
by funds received from grants, Hospitality tax and Pickens County
Recreation Fund Allocations. We are very blessed that our City Council
and I have been able to balance our budget with no property tax
increases over the past four years and still accomplish so much for our
wonderful community. We will continue to work together to move our
shared vision of Liberty forward and to be as fiscally conservative
while doing so. Thank you for allowing me to serve Liberty and God Bless
each of you!
