News

To help residents find open stores and restaurants during the holiday season, staff at Town Hall have put together a list of area businesses and their holiday hours. 

The Town of Batesburg-Leesville has been awarded a 2014 Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The award is in recognition of the Town in achieving a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimal range for 12 consecutive months during 2014.

Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay. According to the CDC, fluoridation prevents tooth decay in all age groups, not just children and for every $1 invested in fluoridation saves approximately $38 in costs for dental treatment.

Upon receiving news of the award, Ted Luckadoo, Town Manager, said, “we have a great team working around the clock to make sure the residents of Batesburg-Leesville have superior water coming out of their tap. I’m very proud of our folks at the water plant, and know they will continue to do a great job.”

The Town of Batesburg-Leesville has received the Water Fluoridation Quality Award the past two awarding cycles.

The Town of Batesburg-Leesville has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeREDhigh-speed emergency notification system. The CodeRED system provides Batesburg-Leesville officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire town in order to inform residents of critical information or time sensitive situations.

“The system will allow us to let folks know about boil water advisories, unexpected closures at Town Hall or changes to Town service schedules, emergency situations that may call for action on the part of residents, or other important, time sensitive information. Residents need to sign up today, so that they don’t miss out on important information,” says Ted Luckadoo, Town Manager. 

One of the great features of the CodeRED system is that it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers and email addresses directly into the system's database via the online portal. Individuals and businesses can log onto the Town’s website, www.batesburg-leesville.org, and follow the link to the "CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment" page. Within just a few minutes individuals and business can be registered and ready to receive messages.

Those without Internet access may call Town Hall (532-4601), Monday through Friday, (8AM-5PM)to sign-up over the phone. Needed information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes. Questions should be directed to staff at Town Hall, 532-4601.

Batesburg-Leesville Chamber of Commerce will host the Town's first annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Sunday, November 29th at 5pm. A schedule of events is below.

The town of Batesburg-Leesville has a new base of operations for council meetings, planning and zoning, administration and customer service.

Employees unveiled the new Town Hall Monday and were proud to show off the facility they say corresponds with the town’s recent growth and leaves room for more.

“Over the years, I’ve seen the town advance, and it was time for Town Hall to catch up,” zoning and business licensing Director Patricia Saeed said.

Town staff moved out of the former bank facility and were ready to serve residents at the new location on Church Street on Oct. 5. Town hall occupies a building once used by Lexington County Community Mental Health Center’s Batesburg-Leesville offices.

Town officials were able to sell the former Town Hall building to AllSouth Federal Credit Union and used the funds for a down payment on the new facility. Even after $115,000 in renovations, including energy-efficient lighting, Town Manager Ted Luckadoo said the $745,000 cost was much better than what would have been spent on new construction.

Town employees went from working in four offices to eight, and their square footage tripled from 2,000 to about 6,500. The new facility also boasts upgraded security and a larger lobby for busy customer days.

Commercial and residential development has been coming to Batesburg-Leesville steadily for the past 10 years, and the need for a new Town Hall became apparent about five years ago.

“We are experiencing a lot of good growth,” Luckadoo said. “As our town grows, so do staff and services.”

Saeed said it’s the small-town feel that draws people to live in Batesburg-Leesville.

Municipal Clerk Judy Edwards has seen four Town Halls in her 37 years of working for Batesburg and later Batesburg-Leesville. She said the newest is by far the best, primarily because of the room to breathe.

“We’ve been crowded for so long,” she said.

The Nov. 9 Town Council meeting will be the first at the new facility after years of meetings that took place at the police department. The public seating area is larger, and council members have an updated conference room for executive session discussions.

“We wanted to give council a better space to do town business,” Luckadoo said.

The council chambers also can be rented out for events and town gatherings.

Courtesy of ColaDail.com

The Town of Batesburg-Leesville has official moved to their new Town Hall facility, located at 120 West Church Street in Batesburg-Leesville.

The Batesburg-Leesville Town Hall was previously located in an old bank facility that was purchased in 1991 and had occupied that space for the past 24 years. The older 2,000 square foot facility was lacking office space and was beginning to see significant increases in cost of maintenance.

Town officials decided in the spring of 2015 to purchase the new facility at a cost of $600,000 and to make $115k in upgrades. Upgrades to the new facility include LED lighting, tankless water systems, new HVAC, and upgraded technology that will save the Town over 65% a month in energy costs. Additionally, the purchase included two separate buildings so that monthly Town Council Meetings can be held at the Town Hall, rather than the Police Department Courtroom, where meetings have been held for years.

The Town sold the old previous Town Hall facility to Allsouth Federal Credit Union at a cost of $250,000, which was used towards the purchase and has utilized a 10 year General Obligation Bond for the remaining $350,000.

The Town will hold a Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, October 20^th at 6:00 PM at the new facility. The community is invited to come and take part in this event. The Ribbon Cutting will be immediately followed by an Open House for the guest to view the new and improved look.

Town Manager Ted Luckadoo stated. “We are all very excited about the new Town Hall facility. Now that we are operating in the new facility, it has become even more apparent how badly we needed the additional space. We have filled the space and have room for additional growth in the future.”

Beginning on October 3^rd, Officers and Dispatchers of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police, W. Wallace Oswald, began implementing community safety measures in preparation for and in response to the past weekend’s hazardous weather event. On Saturday, October 3^rd, in response to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions form this event, Chief Oswald, in coordination with Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon and other area Chiefs of Police implemented and enforced a town-wide curfew beginning from Saturday at 6:00 PM until ending on Sunday morning at 6:00 AM. This safety effort was implemented as a measure to enhance the safety of the citizens of the Batesburg-Leesville Community due to the increasingly unsafe driving conditions that we were experiencing within the town. In addition, for safety considerations, several streets were closed within the town by Officers of the Police Department, under the direction of Chief Oswald with the assistance of the Batesburg-Leesville Street Department.

Throughout the weekend, Patrol Officers were required to aggressively patrol the Town of Batesburg-Leesville during the weather emergency for roadway conditions that had deteriorated, placing the motoring public in danger due to flooding or the potential for flooding. Patrol Officers were additionally patrolling for trees, limbs, or other debris that may have been present on the roadways. Officers were additionally subjected to the weather conditions themselves as they secured roadways using barricades where needed in order to prevent motorists from becoming a victim of the weather emergency. Additionally, just as the Patrol Officers had done, Batesburg-Leesville Police Department Dispatchers worked tirelessly throughout the weekend providing information to the Batesburg-Leesville Citizens and directing requests for emergency services to Patrol Officers. Chief Oswald personally led and assisted Batesburg-Leesville Officers and Dispatchers during their patrolling and communication efforts. Furthermore, Chief Oswald stated that the Batesburg-Leesville Street Department worked tirelessly to ensure that barricades were placed in these hazardous roadways to prevent access to unaware motorists. The Street Department and Fire Department also worked to ensure that the roadways were clear of debris, by cutting up fallen trees and removing fallen tree limbs.      

Chief of Police W. Wallace Oswald wishes to personally thank the business owners and business employees within the Town of Batesburg-Leesville, as well as the citizens of the Batesburg-Leesville Community with cooperating with law enforcement during this weather related event. The personal sacrifices that were required from all members of the community, as well as from Patrol Officers and Dispatchers of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, Batesburg-Leesville Street Department employees and Firemen of the Batesburg-Leesville Fire Department did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated by Chief Oswald. We are blessed to live and work in a community such as Batesburg-Leesville where all members of the community are so willing to pull together and support one another during a hazardous event in order to keep everyone safe.   

The Batesburg-Leesville Police Department warns against scams relating to the recent flooding in the Batesburg-Leesville Community.

The Batesburg-Leesville Police Department is warning citizens to be aware of the potential for scams as it relates to the recent flooding event. During disaster events, such as this, criminals attempt to take advantage of victims who may be going through difficult situations. There are numerous types of scams to be cautious of when contacted about damage. One type of potential scam is associated with homes that have been damaged as a result of flooding, heavy rains, or homes damaged by tree limbs is a repair scam. This type will involve the scammers offering to complete repairs, however claiming to have a waiting list due to the amount of repairs required. The scammers will then entice the intended victim by requiring a deposit or money up front in order to be added to the scammer’s waiting list. The scammer never returns to complete the repairs that he or she has agreed to. Another common scam will involve scammers who call by phone or arrive in person, claiming to represent various relief or government organizations. The scammer will then ask for (or need to verify) your social security number, and other personal information. The scammers will later use the information that they obtained to gain access to your financial resources by opening credit cards or similar types of accounts in your name.

To help avoid becoming a victim of a scam, such as these, there are a few things to look out for. First, be wary of persons claiming to be contractors or members of relief organizations who appear pushy or try to use pressure to obtain your personal information or a deposit in advance. Second, never give personal information or money to someone that you do not know or who you cannot confirm who they claim to be. Calling a phone number that a salesman or contractor provides may not provide you with
legitimate verification that the individual is who they claim to be. Never give cash money to anyone who you do not know for repair work. If you are contacted in person, you should never allow someone you do not know into your home. Also verify to ensure that a potential contractor is bonded and licensed to perform the repairs that they are soliciting for, as well as to ensure that the potential contractor has a business license to operate within the Town of Batesburg-Leesville. If a potential contractor becomes defensive or evasive if asked about certifications or licenses, then this would be a high indication that you might not want this particular potential contractor to perform work for you. On a separate note, if you feel inclined to donate items to support relief efforts, it is recommended that you donate items locally. Numerous local churches are assisting with this relief effort and many can provide additional resources to assist you in your endeavors.

If you suspect that you have been contacted by someone who is trying to perpetuate a possible scam, contact the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department (803-532-4408) as quickly as possible or the law enforcement agency that is responsible for the area where you live or where the scam attempt occurred. If you are contacted by someone in person who appears questionable, it is recommended that you inconspicuously take notes to include a detailed description of the person, the vehicle that they are driving, a tag number if possible, and the time that you were contacted, and relay this information to law enforcement as quickly as possible. Remember, not everyone is who they claim to be, especially on a telephone. A citizen should be reminded to take a few minutes to think about an offer or a request for money or information, and if the caller sounds too good to be true or if you suspect that it is a scam it probably is.

The Boil Water Advisory that was issued yesterday (OCT. 6)  has been lifted and it is safe to resume all normal activities, with regards to water consumption and use.