The City of Georgetown elected a new mayor earlier this month, in a deafening tone may I say. With that, Democratic mayor-elect Jack Scoville has some challenging endeavors proposed, hurdles to jump and people to convince.
I asked Scoville some questions that just might provide insight to what his term may look like.
Let's start with his most appealing, yet controversial goal: Free internet for city residents. I also asked how soon this could become a reality.
"This will not be done immediately. We need to convert our water and electric meters to be read electronically via WiFi. This will result in more efficiencies and allow us to cut five staff positions. The savings from the salaries will cover the costs of implementing this system in about six years," Scoville said.
"We also need a WiFi system for our police, building department, and other departments so staff may carry laptops with them into the field and be online at all times. We have already implemented a city wide fiber optic system that is underused. Adding additional capacity to this system to allow city wide internet service will not cost much more. Hopefully this can be done within about three years."
So, cutting five jobs will allow for funds to implement free internet for city residents. No more human meter readers, I suppose, since reading them could be done virtually, if Scoville's idea becomes reality.
Asked about potential costs to give city residents free internet, Scoville responds with this.
"The big cost is the hardware, i.e., the fiber optic, which is already there, and the receivers, which we will install for the city’s use anyway when we upgrade the meters. Making the system available to the public should not cost much in addition."
Scoville proposed an economic development director for the city during the campaign, so I asked him whether he's found someone or not for that position and how soon we could see someone in that position.
"I have no one in mind. The position will have to be defined by City Council but I would want a college graduate with experience in economic development matters and public relations. I hope we can put that position in place as soon as funds can be found for the salary and a person hired. In reality, we are probably looking at next fiscal year before this can be implemented."
The next item up for discussion was the steel mill. Scoville says he's willing to sit down with labor and corporate officials if the mill is not open by the time he takes office. He also said he's would reach out to mill employees in an attempt to show that the city cares about them as well as tourism.
I would love to see this happen.
Referring to his economic plan in regards to parking, Scoville doesn't say whether or not we'll see parking meters on Front Street specifically, but offers this instead.
"With the opening of the new court house on Cleland Street, a lot of parking pressure was taken off Front Street. The public parking areas on Orange and Screven Street are rarely full now. The biggest problem is signage directing people to these areas. That needs to be upgraded using the banners suggested by the Charette. We also need aggressive ticketing on Front Street and employers need to make sure employees don’t park on Front Street. We need to look at making the maximum time one can park on Front Street three instead of two hours."
I wonder how the businesses will feel about employees not taking up Front Street parking. Even some employers park in those spaces.
And now, government transparency. I have been pressing candidates on the trail before the election for their positions. Few responded. Mayor-elect Scoville finally shares his views on this.
"The City bought and installed cameras in the Council Chamber a couple of years ago but because we lost our information technology director, that project has stalled. I intend to get it back on track so we can broadcast over Channel 12 and other municipal access stations. I intend to have the City be entirely open subject to legal, contractual, personell and other constraints as allowed by the FOIA. I want the City to have its own Facebook Page to post items of interest about the City, and be available for questions and comments by citizens."
Well, with the mayor-elect and Paige Sawyer on record supporting televised meetings, I suggest we as residents push for the others to get on board.
An open-door policy? Scoville thinks the issue has been addressed.
"I think the open door policy has been addressed to a large degree. Someone is supposed to be answering the phone now. Like any business, however, people have to go to lunch, etc., and there is not always someone available to cover for them. That should be a very rare occurrence, though."
Time will tell, I guess.
And finally, Scoville shares his views on Harborwalk.
"Yes but I would like to see some changes. At present there is no focus, no reason to have it other than for a festival. I would like to see become a fundraising event for some worthy cause such as the Winyah Auditorium, Rice Museum, Kaminski House, etc. Also, it needs to be moved to the spring when it is cooler. Now it is held at the peak of tourist season. This made sense when we were using it to educate people about the Harborwalk, but that is no longer necessary. Having it on a weekend when tourists are not already here in full force as they are the week before the Fourth of July would help downtown businesses."
