Cayce Faces Deadline to Secure $10 Million Flood Relief Grant
The city of Cayce, located just across the river from downtown Columbia, is working against the clock to finalize a significant deal that could drastically help alleviate flooding issues in one of its primary neighborhoods. With a looming deadline, tensions are rising between the city’s mayor and some City Council members.
City Council Takes Action
In a special meeting held on Wednesday, the Cayce City Council approved an agreement to purchase an easement from the Congaree Bluff subdivision. This step is part of a much larger stormwater and drainage project aimed at tackling persistent flooding problems in the city’s Avenues neighborhood. Time is of the essence, as city staff have until September 19th to finalize the agreement with the subdivision’s homeowners’ association.
Back in June 2023, Cayce received a $10 million grant through the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Plan, which is managed by the state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority. Mayor <>Elise Partin stressed the importance of providing an update about this project by Thursday, ensuring that the city was on track in order to secure the funds. “We had to hold a special meeting to get this approval for the Congaree Bluff agreement,” she explained.
Engineering and Infrastructure Challenges
According to Deputy City Manager Michael Conley, the city has made substantial progress, with around 60% of the engineering already completed. “We need to secure some right-of-way and easements to ensure proper drainage infrastructure can connect to the river,” he noted. Time is critical as the grant specifies that all funds must be utilized by December 2026, and any changes to the original project plan will require further approvals.
There are other easements that have been secured, but the one through Congaree Bluff is essential. Conley pointed out, “This easement goes through their common space next to their neighborhood, and it is a critical piece to the puzzle.”
A Long-Standing Issue
The city has been grappling with drainage and stormwater challenges in Avenues for some time. Conley emphasized that localized flooding has become a frequent issue, and a previous $750,000 grant addressed a small part of the problem last year. Now, with the assistance from the $10 million grant, the city hopes to enact much-needed changes throughout the entire neighborhood.
Mayor Partin expressed the necessity of addressing decades of infrastructure challenges, mentioning, “We’ve got to really figure out how to navigate these long-standing issues.” However, a significant struggle for the city has been funding, especially given that Cayce is the lowest-taxing entity compared to county and state roads.
Tensions Rise Among Council Members
In recent discussions, frustration has surfaced between Partin and some members of the City Council, particularly Mayor Pro Tem Tim James. During the meeting, she openly expressed her lack of respect for James, noting that these feelings complicate negotiations. Partin alleged that the need for consensus may hinder the progress needed to secure the necessary easements.
James, who also serves as the president of the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, responded by asserting that he has been cautious against any government overreach. He indicated that he doesn’t want to force the subdivision’s compliance through eminent domain. “We must ensure that we have exhausted all efforts to work with the residents before considering any drastic measures,” James said.
City Council member Hunter Sox echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the council has been proactive in addressing drainage concerns with residents. Sox mentioned how he and James had previously engaged with neighborhood associations, noting that good communication is pivotal in ensuring understanding and cooperation between the city and its residents.
Looking Ahead
As the clock ticks down to the September 19 deadline for securing the easement, the focus remains on uniting efforts to improve the overall infrastructure in Cayce. Sox pointed out the significance of initiating these discussions much earlier in the process to avoid last-minute crunches that put pressure on all involved parties.
With the potential of this $10 million grant, there is hope on the horizon that Cayce can finally tackle the flooding issues that have long plagued the Avenues neighborhood. As the city navigates these challenges, cooperation, communication, and creativity will undoubtedly be key elements in steering these crucial projects to success.
