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Description
Aiken, SC October 25, 2020 –The City of Aiken acknowledged community residents of Kennedy Kolony for their hard work and contributions during the recently completed Hampton Ave Sidewalk Project.
The Six residents acknowledged for their efforts were Mr. Leroy Bates, Ms. Richard Parks, Mr. Willie J. Parks, Ms. Barbara Thomas, Mr. John Henry Winfield Lindsey Williams, and Gwen Williams.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on October 25th in the parking lot of Hampton Avenue Church of Christ. Attending the ceremony were Mayor Rick Osbon, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh, Councilwoman Gail Diggs, and Councilman Ed Girardeau, all in support of Mayor Protem Lessie Price, whose district the project exists in. Also in attendance were SC House Rep Bill Clyburn, SC Senator Nikki Setzler, County Councilman Willar Hightower.
The sidewalk achievement was a combined effort from the City of Aiken and Aiken County. Stretching from Greenville Ave to the Dollar General on Hampton Avenue, it will provide additional safety to community pedestrians.
A
Before
I
introduce
the
mayor,
I
quickly
want
to
thank
city
staff,
specifically
in
our
engineering
and
utilities
department
led
by
director
mike
presbylowitz
and
city
engineer,
john
poole
and
joe
yates,
who
helped
pro
with
the
project
management
and
also
banish
out
of
augusta
georgia.
Rick
toole
is
the
vice
president.
He
could
not
be
here
from
bennish,
but
oliver
weston,
who
was
on
the
ground.
A
lot
is
here,
so
I
want
to
acknowledge
them
at
the
very
beginning
because
they
were
the
boots
on
the
ground
that
made
this
wonderful
project
happen.
A
B
I
was
walking
in
the
woods
and
two
roads
diverged
and
I
I
chose
the
one
less
traveled
and
that
made
all
the
difference,
and
sometimes
you
can
find
a
sidewalk
even
when
you're
not
lost
that
path.
To
get
you
on
the
way
for
all
of
us
here.
We
know
that
this
path
represents
connection
between
family
connections
between
friends
connections
and
places
to
worship
like
this
building,
which
I
will
just
take
a
moment.
If
I
could
and
let
you
know
in
1978,
I
made
the
most
important
decision
in
my
life
in
this
building
right
here.
B
So
so
it's
special
to
be
standing
here
today.
It
really
is,
you
know,
we
know
that
walking
certainly
is
exercise
it's
a
way
of
connectivity.
It's
also
for
a
lot
of
folks,
the
way
they
get
to
a
store
and
do
commerce,
it's
also
a
way
that
they
get
to
transportation,
to
work
or
maybe
even
use
for
transportation
to
work
so
so
important,
and
I
just
want
to
say
it
was
shortly
after
I
was
elected
as
I
was
meeting
with
with
council
members.
B
B
C
C
Lord,
as
he
said,
sidewalk
may
not
be
much,
but
we
thank
you
for
being
able
to
improve
the
quality
of
life
for
our
community
and
to
promote
healthy
living
in
our
community,
and
for
that
we're
grateful.
We
are
grateful
for
our
leaders,
both
nationally
and
locally,
that
made
this
come
to
pass,
but
most
of
all,
god
we're
grateful
also
for
our
community
that
stand
today
together
to
celebrate
this
project
coming
to
pass.
C
B
Thank
you
pastor,
I'd
like
to
introduce
first
of
all,
our
our
city
council,
if
I
might,
and
we're
going
to
have
words
later
on
from
our
mayor
pro
tem.
But
this
is
a
project.
That's
meant
a
lot
to
all
of
council
and-
and
I
would
like
to
say
that
that
we're
blessed
to
have
a
city
council
that
does
see
the
city
as
a
whole,
even
though
we're
elected
by
districts,
I
think
you
would
find
that
every
every
council
member
cares
about
about
the
city
as
a
whole
and
we're
very
lucky
to
have
that.
B
B
D
Yes,
it's
been
said:
I'm
willing,
hightower.
This
is
part
of
my
district
and
I'm
just
very
pleased
to
see
the
sidewalk
here
I
saw
someone
the
other
day
riding
on
the
sidewalk
with
their
with
their
scooter,
and
I
was
very
very
pleased
to
see
that
they
didn't
have
to
travel
in
in
the
grass.
So
thank
you
all
for
coming
out.
Thank
you
all
for
allowing
me
to
serve
you
and
as
it's
going
right
now,
I'll
get
another
four
years.
Thank
you.
We're.
E
Thank
you,
mr
mayor,
just
want
to
say
to
all
of
you:
it's
really
a
joy
to
have
you
here,
and
I
know
the
weather
is
not
that
good,
but
you're
here,
because
you
care-
or
you
know
I
don't
want
to
be
redundant,
but
we
cannot
thank
city,
folks
and
and
contributors
enough.
You
know
we
cannot.
Thank
you
enough
for
putting
the
sidewalks
here.
You
know
sidewalks
started
over
4
000
years
ago,
so
it's
not
anything
new,
but
it's
new
for
here
and
I
just
want
to
to
thank
those
who
contribute.
E
It
was
a
long
time
coming,
but
it's
here.
I
certainly
want
to
thank
the
city
officials.
We
have
a
good
city
council
who
work
very
closely.
We
had
cooperation
from
the
county
and,
of
course
you
know,
we
really
truly
appreciate
our
mayor
just
want
to
say
charles,
I
know
senator
sessler
will
be
coming
up
and
he
can
very
well
speak
for
himself,
but
celsa
has
been
such
a
contributor
not
only
to
us
but
to
this
whole
community,
and
we
really
appreciate
that
and
I'm
not
going
to
say
very
much
about
mrs
price.
E
You
know
we
are
lucky.
We
are
fortunate
to
have
her.
I
don't
her
agree
with
her
all
the
time
only
about
about
about
95
percent
of
the
time
and
the
other
five
percent.
I
wish
I
did
so,
but
really
we
truly
appreciate
your
chief,
we're
glad
to
see
you,
my
friend,
and
we're
going
to
enjoy
this
the
sidewalk,
because
it
does
improve
the
quality
of
life
in
this
area.
It
helps
people
to
get
out
and
exercise
a
little
more
to
walk
and
it
builds
them
up
psychologically.
E
B
We
also
are
lucky
to
have
with
us
today
senator
nikki
setzler.
There
were
some
things
to
make
this
sidewalk
work
that
we
had
to
work
with
d.o.t
on
maybe
bending
some
of
some
of
the
the
norms,
if
you
would,
as
far
as
setbacks
and
things
to
make
sure
that
it
didn't
affect
individuals,
properties
that
much
and
I'm
going
to
say
without
representative
clyburn
and
without
senator
setzler,
who
made
numerous
calls,
stayed
on
top
of
this
project,
we're
so
involved
in
it
to
make
sure
what
do
we
need
to
do?
B
F
This
project
is
an
incredible
tremendous
project
to
get
completed.
It's
not
about
yesterday
it's
about
today
and
today
the
project
is
done
and
that's
what's
the
important
thing
to
me.
This
project
represents
several
things.
First
of
all,
it
represents
the
important
concept
of
governmental
officials
at
all
levels,
working
together,
city,
county
state,
working
together
to
get
something
done,
and
I
want
to
say
to
the
mayor,
the
city
council,
who
are
here
to
the
county
council
representative.
F
Thank
you
thank
you
for
working
with
us,
as
we
do
on
a
daily
basis.
Second,
this
project
represents
doing
something
for
the
people
that
you
represent
and
that's
what
we're
in
office
for
is
to
serve
you
and
help
you
and
do
something
for
you,
and
this
project
represents
that.
The
third
thing
it
represents
to
me
is
lifting
everybody
up,
taking
care
of
and
lifting
all
citizens
that
you
represent
again.
Thank
you
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
serve
you,
and
I
look
forward
to
continuing
to
do
so.
B
Thank
you
senator
at
this
time.
I
would
like
to
ask
our
mayor
pro
tim,
miss
leslie
price
to
come
up,
and
I'm
going
to
tell
you
she's,
really
championed
this
project
and
fostered
it
through
city
council
and
built
a
lot
of
the
collaborations
that
made
it
happen
today.
So
without
further
ado
mayor
pro
tim.
G
G
I
don't
know
where
they
came
from,
because
we
can
not
do
anything
alone,
as
the
senator
said,
so,
with
self-esteem,
it
takes
working
together
and
with
bill
cliver,
and
I
talked
to
bill
pretty
frequently
and
when
we
get
on
the
phone,
it's
like
okay.
I
only
want
a
minute
of
your
time
and
that
minute
may
turn
into
15
20
minutes,
because
we
find
out,
we've
got
so
much
to
share
and
to
say,
and
then
I
go
to
him,
because
bill
is
considered
the
dean
and
being
the
dean.
G
G
G
Bill
was
was
present
here
in
aitkin,
and
certainly
as
soon
as
we
mentioned
our
issues,
the
two
of
them
went
to
work,
and
let
me
tell
you
you
all
once
they
knew
the
full
details.
It
did
not
take
long
to
resolve
the
issues,
so
those
two
individuals
represent
us
and
I
want
to
keep
them
where
they
are
and
continue
to
represent
us.
Let's
give
it
applause
for
that.
G
Please,
the
great
man
willa
hightower
we
could
not
have
done
it
without
ruler
at
the
county
support
the
city
put
in
600
thousand
dollars
the
county
put
in
50
grand
to
make
this
complete.
So
we
are
so
thrilled
before
we
move
on
with
some
special
things.
I
want
to
ask
two
of
two
community
people
to
come
forward
to
make
some
comments
and
I
am
going
to
call
on
miss
richard
parks.
G
Who
is,
I
consider
the
dean
of
this
neighborhood
because
she
knows
the
ends
and
she
and
john
winfield
and
several
others,
but
she's
lived
in
this
area
for
about
50
years
she
and
her
husband.
So
I'm
going
to
ask
her
to
come
forward
to
make
a
statement
along
with
lindsay
lindsay,
come
on
up
here
as
well
lindsey
williams,
to
make
some
comments.
Please
come
forward
for
a
few
minutes
to
make
some
statement
about
the
sidewalk.
H
Good
afternoon,
first,
given
honor
to
god
and
to
all
our
city,
our
local
officials,
our
county
and
to
our
state
representatives-
and
we
just
want
to
thank
you-
because
this
has
really
been
a
blessing
to
all
of
us-
it's
taken
a
long
time,
but
anyway
it's
worth
it
for
the
safety
of
our
community
and
the
community
is
very
happy.
You
know
I
I
became
a
little
dogmatic,
I
knew
I
did,
but
when
they
was
calling
had
y'all
on
zoom,
I
was
standing
there
by
dollar
general.
H
H
J
We
have
always
worked
together.
We
want
to
thank
our
leaders,
city
and
county,
the
mayor
city
manager,
state
representatives,
as
well
as
the
crew
and
company
who
did
the
sidewalks.
Every
day.
Every
day
someone
was
present
to
answer
any
questions
or
concerns
that
anybody
may
have
had
everything
that
they
said
or
stated
in.
The
meeting
will
follow
through
and
follow
through
in
a
timely
manner,
special
thanks
to
also
to
hampton
avenue
church
of
christ,
for
allowing
the
kennedy
college
to
sign
be
placed
where
it's
located,
which
is
right
down
there.
J
I
I
E
G
G
We
did
not
like
the
fact
that
people
were
walking
in
the
highway
babies.
The
parents
were
strollers
in
the
highway
to
avoid
the
the
soil
wetness
and
the
grass.
That
was
with
the
overgrowth
that
was
taking
place,
and
I
think
that
we
can
all
say
that
the
sidewalk
has
not
only
has
added
value
to
property
and
beautification,
but
it
is
a
blessing
to
this
community
we'd
like
to
present
some
awards
to
some
of
these
individuals
that
have
been
champions
of
this
sidewalk.