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Administrator outlines Travelers Rest progress: parks, public safety, finances and new grants
Summary
Administrator Shannon Herman delivered a comprehensive State of the City: completed projects, park transfers, new parks funding including a $250,000 fitness-court grant, increased fund balances and investments in an emergency operations center and public safety training.
Administrator Shannon Herman presented the council with the city’s annual State of the City report, summarizing strategic-plan progress, capital projects, public-safety staffing and recent fiscal results.
Herman told the council the city has advanced its strategic plan across multiple objectives and highlighted recent capital and programmatic work: transfer of Gateway and Trailblazer parks into the city portfolio, Center Street repaving and added downtown parallel parking, the Trailblazer Park upgrades and an expanded recreational programming effort. She said the city added "about 112 parking spaces this year" and noted a suite of placemaking projects including public art and facade-improvement grants.
On public safety, Herman reported staffing and training changes: a full-time police training coordinator position was added, the city formed a special response team and an EMT is assigned from the fire department on shift coverage. Herman said the city completed more than 500 fire inspections in the year and is pursuing accreditation work and emergency-response training.
Herman gave specific fiscal figures for the year. She reported an increase in government fund balances of $416,000, a general fund increase of $392,000 and an unrestricted fund balance of $5.4 million (about 59% of revenues). She said overall debt decreased by $1 million, general fund revenues exceeded budget by $1.2 million and investment income contributed about $392,000. Herman also said the city recorded $102,000 in grants during fiscal year 2025 and has secured a $250,000 grant for a fitness court slated for installation in late spring or early summer.
Herman described FEMA reimbursements tied to the November storm response, saying the city received a Phase One check of $111,000 and that Phase Two could be an additional roughly $25,000–$50,000 for remaining equipment and staff costs. She outlined steps to strengthen emergency operations including an EOC in the fire training room, new incident-action planning and coordination with Greenville County’s EOC.
Council members praised staff and asked about distribution of the new Glad Tidings report and the orientation guide; Herman said those materials will be posted online and shared with the Chamber of Commerce. Multiple council members singled out staff members Beth and Philip for their work on events, parks and communications.
Herman closed by listing near-term priorities: the Dicey Langston Heritage Garden kickoff, fitness court installation at Gateway Park, park master planning, business recruitment efforts in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce and upcoming civic engagement programming such as a citizens police academy and opioid awareness outreach.
Next steps: staff will post the annual report and orientation materials; council will schedule committee meetings and a February vision-setting session to align strategic priorities.
