Lexington mayor highlights safety gains, wastewater fix and vision-plan refresh in 2026 address

Mayor Hazel Livingston delivered Lexington's 2026 State of the Town address on March 2, saying the town has made progress on public safety, infrastructure and economic vitality and outlining priorities for the year ahead.

"In 2025, the town of Lexington was named the safest city in South Carolina, and that's thanks to the men and women of our police department," Livingston said, crediting declines in property and violent crime and celebrating the department's 100-year anniversary.

The address cited several recent accomplishments: completion of a right-turn lane from Highway 378 onto Min Springs Road to improve traffic flow; the final phase and opening of the Old Mill Trail's lower parking lot, which added 73 parking spaces and direct access from the dam; and downtown growth that included about 10 new restaurants and multiple new retailers. Livingston also noted continued recognition for the finance department's transparency and long-range planning efforts.

On utilities, the mayor said work on the Old Chapman force main and the temporary outfall for the Watergate wastewater treatment plant concluded, ending a discharge the address described as about 290,000 gallons per day into 14-M Creek and ultimately the lower Saluda River. Lexington's utilities director, David Wyman, was referenced in the address as leading the department that serves roughly 11,000 water customers and more than 24,000 sewer customers while maintaining hundreds of miles of water and sewer lines.

Looking ahead, Livingston said updating the town's vision plan is a top 2026 priority to guide future policy, budgeting and capital decisions. The council later authorized a letter of agreement with a consulting firm to lead that refresh.

The mayor closed by recognizing council members and town staff for their service and urging residents to participate in upcoming vision-plan meetings and online surveys.