Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drainage Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents say new Highway 52 drainage work creates safety, maintenance concerns; city says state-led project
Summary
Residents near Florida Avenue told the Lake City Council on Feb. 11 that newly dug, deep ditches from the Highway 52 infrastructure project pose hazards to children and homes. City staff said the project is overseen and funded by the South Carolina Office of Resilience and that adding pipe would require additional funding or change orders.
Residents who live along Florida Avenue told the Lake City City Council on Feb. 11 that the state-led Highway 52 infrastructure drainage work has created large, V-shaped ditches that they say are dangerous and an eyesore.
At the meeting, a representative of the Florida Avenue residents’ committee and a speaker identified as Tracy said the newly excavated ditches behind homes are “deeper and wider” than expected and that one backyard now resembles a “drop off cliff,” posing a hazard to children and pets. The speakers asked the council to pursue piping the ditches and better landscaping or to require construction fencing around excavated areas.
The council asked staff to explain the project. Ricky Sims, who the mayor invited to speak about the Highway 52 work, said the project is a state effort overseen by the South Carolina Office of Resilience and is about 70% complete. Sims said the city has contributed no funding to the project: “This is all by SCOR — South Carolina Office of Resilience — who is doing this project.” He added that piping sections is significantly more costly and that the current contract and design called for V‑shaped ditches that allow for future cutting and cleaning.
Sims described the scope and routing of the work: the project began near Matthews Road and Mercy Street with a large 72‑inch pipe at one outfall, continued toward West Main and Franklin Street, and includes piped sections running to Marsh Street near the former mobile home park property now owned by the housing authority. He said some portions already were piped, other portions remain open ditch, and crews are cleaning open channels behind certain properties and near Robert Deere School. Sims also said the contractor has indicated they will replace fences removed during work.
City staff and council said they have been holding weekly coordination meetings with the contractor and the state via Zoom and will press the state team on safety measures, including temporary construction fencing. Sims said temporary orange mesh construction fencing could be added through a change order if additional funding is secured: “If they decide to fund it…they could actually temporarily put a construction fence up.” He also noted that tree and shrub removal was not currently in the contractor’s scope of work but staff would ask whether that could be accommodated.
Council members emphasized they want residents kept informed about progress and safety steps. The mayor asked staff to continue to press the state for protective measures and to provide updates to council on completion percentages and any change orders.
Residents asked that any long-term solution include piping and landscaping to prevent rodent and snake habitat in the excavated ditches and to reduce the visual blight in yards.
The council did not take a formal vote on the drainage topic; staff described it as an ongoing coordination effort between the city and the state project team.
