Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walhalla mayor highlights $15 million in water and sewer upgrades, new police station and community center in State of the City address
Summary
Mayor Tim Hall on the State of the City said the city secured millions in grants and completed major utility upgrades, with a new police station and community center nearing completion and additional long-term water system needs estimated at $25 million over 10 years.
Mayor Tim Hall used Walhalla’s third annual State of the City address to detail major infrastructure investments and the city’s fiscal outlook, saying staff and volunteers have completed system upgrades while new projects move toward completion.
"Infrastructure is also invisible when it works well," Mayor Tim Hall said, describing work to rebuild finished-water pumps and strengthen cross-connection prevention after operational failures last year that led to a low state rating for the water plant. He said those operational shortcomings — not water quality — were addressed and that the city now has the highest rating available from the state agency overseeing the plant.
Why it matters: The city reported more than $15 million in combined investment in water and sewer projects funded through a state infrastructure program, federal ARPA funds and a partnership with Okone County, plus $4 million in newly awarded grants and more than $30 million in ongoing projects. The mayor said the city also secured about $400,000 in FEMA reimbursements and hazard-mitigation funds related to Hurricane Helen.
Key facts and near-term projects: Hall said the new police station is under construction and is expected to be complete by Christmas, and a new $5 million community center is slated to open this summer. He repeated staff estimates that another $25 million will be required over the next decade to replace aging water lines, and mentioned a planned grant of roughly $3 million to stabilize sewer lines in the Cane Creek Basin.
Council finance chair Lynn Mlan framed the city’s approach to the budget as deliberately conservative. "Fiscal year 2526 ended in the black," she told the audience, while warning that statemandated costs — she cited a recent backflow meter project — and staffing shortages continue to strain operations.
Parks and tourism: Mayor Hall and PRT chair Jesse Bunning emphasized recreation and tourism as economic drivers for the small city. Hall noted Walhalla’s designation as a trail town by the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, new signage at Stumphouse Mountain Park and investments in amenities at Sertoma Park to support athletes and visitors.
What was not decided: The address was a report and did not include formal votes or ordinance proposals. Several speakers described funding targets and grant applications but did not present final contracts or bond measures for approval.
Next steps: Officials said grant work and construction will continue through the year; the mayor invited residents to stay engaged and watch for project updates as the police station and community center reach completion.
