Aiken Cleans Up After Tropical Storm Helene
The city of Aiken is hard at work cleaning up the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, which swept through the area back in September. With the storm leaving behind lots of debris, city officials have been working tirelessly to get everything cleared away and restore normalcy. Right now, most of the debris is being deposited at Citizens Park, where it will be ground down and transported to a landfill near Blackville.
Costly Cleanup Efforts
City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh provided an update during the Aiken City Council meeting on December 9. He shared that, without even factoring in payroll, the cost of cleaning up after Tropical Storm Helene has already approached $1 million. Can you believe it? As of now, the city has already spent over $961,000 on hurricane-related expenses. However, there is good news on the horizon! FEMA is expected to reimburse the city for these expenses, with President Biden recently issuing an amended disaster declaration that provides for 100% reimbursements for debris removal and cleanup for up to 120 days
Debris Removal Progress
It turns out that city crews have been busy bees since November 25, clearing out areas like Aiken Estates, Barnard Avenue to Price Avenue, and much of Gem Lakes. Bedenbaugh stated that the city staff estimates they’ve cleared an impressive 46,900 cubic yards of debris since Helene made landfall. Wow! That’s a lot of cleanup!
Right now, most of the debris is piled high at Citizens Park, and contractors have just started the grinding and hauling process. In a bit of a twist from previous storms, Aiken won’t be using the ground material as mulch, as city staff have raised concerns about possible contaminants that might harm the ecosystem if mixed into the soil.
A Collaborative Cleanup
The city has also enlisted some help from contractors. One contractor, known as SDR, continues to work diligently in the Woodside area, having removed over 46,500 cubic yards of debris as of December 8. Meanwhile, contractors from the South Carolina Department of Transportation are still hard at work in Kalmia Hills, Banks Mill Road, and Crosland Park. However, they have yet to provide the amount of debris collected.
Future Plans
Bedenbaugh emphasized that the city’s intention is to continue collecting storm debris as long as it’s needed, especially since tree work and other clean-up efforts are ongoing. And the best part? The city will give residents advance notice before they transition back to regular yard debris pickup.
Looking ahead, the city plans to move into Hickory Ridge and will assist the Department of Transportation contractors in Kalmia Hills and Highland Park. Once the initial passes through the city are completed, the city will begin the second passes. Residents can expect an announcement about the final storm debris pickup date soon, and Bedenbaugh promised that it would be highly publicized: “There’ll be plenty of advance notice,” he assured.
City Council Updates
The December 9 meeting was quite eventful. The city council approved not only the cleanup efforts but also the annexing and zoning of a new property on 111 Jefferson Davis Highway, which will become home to a Take 5 oil change establishment. Additionally, they amended the city’s budget to include funds from the sale of Jackson Petroleum property and authorized the purchase of another property near Aiken Regional Airport. Can you say busy?
The council also gave the green light for the first reading of an ordinance accepting the city’s 2023-2024 financial statements and approved resolutions to lease the Old Playhouse to two non-profit organizations. As if that wasn’t enough, they also settled on their meeting dates for 2025!
As Aiken works toward recovery and revitalization, it’s clear that the city isn’t just picking up debris; they’re also setting the stage for future growth and community engagement. Stay tuned for further updates on the cleanup efforts and what’s next for Aiken!
