Cayce city officials said some have issues with potential Guignard Park improvements that are part of the Cayce Avenues Drainage Project.

During the Aug. 5 city council meeting, Councilman Tim James said some citizens are concerned about the potential effects on the park.

“We need to give them some visuals about what we can expect going forward,” he said.

Mayor Elise Partin said that a rendering of the park’s pond had not yet been provided to the council. City Manager Michael Conley then said he had the rendering but did not bring it to the meeting.

“That's not on you,” Partin said. “That was on our contractor who was supposed to get [it for] us. It's taken a month.”

The Cayce Avenues Drainage Project was created because of flooding along Knox Abbott Drive and in the Avenues, which has been a long-standing challenge, according to the city’s website.

“Thanks to a $10 million grant from the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP), construction of the Avenues Drainage Improvement Project is finally underway,” the website said. “This major project will take over a year to complete and may include road closures and work near private property.”

According to a recent update from the city on the project, the Guignard Park Walking Trail is now open.

There is a project website, www.caycedrainage.com, that includes updates on the Cayce Avenues Drainage Project.

In other news

Cayce City Council also approved funding for programs and projects at the Aug. 5 public meeting.

Council approved repairs to a section of the Cayce Riverwalk Boardwalk. A broken sewer line damaged a 60-foot section of the boardwalk, according to Conley.

The repairs have a maximum potential cost of $250,000, and will be carried out by 3D Dirtworks, contracted by the city.

Council approved a $17,000 budget allocation for Midlands Business Leadership Group’s “3RVRS” branding project. The project aims to unify the Columbia, Cayce and West Columbia riverfronts under the “3RVRS” brand. Councilman Tim James and Mayor Elise Partin attended a meeting held by the group and came away with a positive view of the brand, James said.

“I think some of the things that really made us excited about this is many people travel to the Midlands and they don't know Cayce Riverwalk versus West Columbia Riverwalk versus Columbia Riverwalk,” James said. “And at the end of the day, they're all connected anyway.”

Council also approved a $309,000 agreement for the Lexington, South Carolina, Opioid Recovery Fund. The funds will help Lindsay McDade, Cayce Fire Department community risk manager, purchase a car and horse trailer for her therapeutic equine activities program, according to Conley.

The program helps individuals in recovery and first responders with their mental health and mindfulness, according to the Cayce Fire Department’s website. The funds will come from Lexington County, according to Conley.

Juana Saavedra, a victim advocate for Richland County, gave a presentation on the recently installed eternal flame at the Cayce Police Department. The eternal flame was installed as a memorial to Officer Drew Barr, who was killed in the line of duty in 2022.

“The flame can also represent the transformation of destruction and renewal,” Saavedra said. “That's why it is that I chose the eternal flame.”

Saavedra described Barr as a “light” to everyone around him. The eternal flame will be a reminder of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Saavedra said.