Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Robert Miller Sr. (left) shakes hands with Barnwell Mayor Ron Still after being presented with a resolution of recognition on March 4 for his dedicated service to the city for not only one career stint, but two. Miller recently served as interim police chief.
Newly sworn in officer Xavier Trumpler (right) is one of the newest members to the Barnwell Police Department. He's pictured with city attorney Tom Boulware who administered the oath of office.
Barnwell High School student Nevaeh Kirkland was recognized by the City of Barnwell for publishing her first book, The Coffee Shop Chronicles.
The City of Barnwell’s March 4 meeting began by recognizing a dedicated community servant.
Robert Lee Miller Sr. started his career with the Barnwell Police Department (BPD) on June 28, 1978 and served until his first retirement on July 21, 2021.
Miller’s reputation of dedicated service was called upon two years later when the City of Barnwell was in need of an interim chief, and asked Miller to return to the department.
“His service as interim police chief has been invaluable to the City of Barnwell at the time of greatest difficulty,” said Administrator Lynn McEwen.
The city recently hired a full-time chief, Michael Butts, in February, allowing Miller to return to a well-deserved retirement.
Miller was presented with a Resolution of Recognition at the city’s March 4 meeting for his second tour of the city and “continued dedicated public service to the City of Barnwell, to law enforcement, and to the continued protection of its citizens during a difficult transition period,” states the resolution.
After Miller’s first retirement, July 27 was proclaimed as Robert Miller Day in the City of Barnwell.
“We’ve called you out of retirement a couple of times and you were quick to serve,” said Mayor Ron Still. “If we keep calling you out [of retirement], we’re going to have to have a Robert Miller month!”
Miller thanked the city and God for allowing him to serve.
After the council thanked Miller, they welcomed new BPD officer Xavier Trumpler to be sworn in by City Attorney Thomas Boulware.
Chief Butts provided a report to the council showing a total of 17 warnings, 23 tickets, and six arrests made by officers throughout February 2024. Officers responded to 98 total calls, with 18 of them being related to larceny.
In February 2023, the department issued 13 warnings, 17 tickets, and made 21 arrests.
At a March special called meeting, Chief Butts made recommendations to the council on how to better BPD.
The former 17-member department has been downsized to 16 positions, removing a vacant administration position that was no longer needed. BPD currently has nine shift officers, and five administrative officers.
Student Recognition
“Our next item on the agenda is one that’s going to make everybody in the City of Barnwell and outside the City of Barnwell extremely proud, if they’re not proud already,” said Mayor Still. “And that’s our student recognition.”
Nevaeh Kirkland, author of The Coffee Shop Chronicles and Barnwell High School senior, was recognized by the city for her recent publication.
“I started writing when I was a freshman in high school, every time we had free time I would pull my notebook out and start writing,” said Kirkland.
Kirkland was met with applause and surrounded by family when she shared a bit about herself and how her passion for writing grew. She said God, her family, teachers, and classmates kept her inspired.
“This won’t be the last time we’ll be recognizing this young lady, she's going on to do amazing things,” said Mayor Still.
Fuller Park Plans
In late 2023, the city requested proposals from architectural firms to reinvent the remaining nine usable acres at Fuller Park.
“The city still has more park to utilize but without the plans to complete its vision,” states the project proposal prepared by the city.
Two proposals have since been received – one from Johnson, Laschober & Associates (JLA) and the other from Cranston Engineering. Both are based in Augusta, Georgia.
The council voted to approve starting a relationship with JLA to “help us move forward with Fuller Park plans,” McEwen said, for a fee arrangement cost of $19,200.
JLA will be developing a recreation design and land planning consulting to develop a Recreation Master Plan for Fuller Park in the City of Barnwell.
The city intends for part of the scope of work to include an additional smaller pavilion at Fuller Park to rent for smaller events. JLA will be tasked with creating plans for lighting, landscaping, planting, and maintenance, as well as cost estimates for each step and grant sources.
JLA will also meet with city officials, stakeholders, and the community to develop a park reflective of community wants and needs. The firm will also conduct a survey, including visible site improvements such as natural features, site furnishings, buildings, as well as locating electric, gas, water, sewer, and other utilities.
“Once we put them on board with a contract, then we will be involving more community and council to look at everything and provide some visions for the future,” said McEwen.
Included in the scope of work for the project is a potential for a multipurpose building - a concern that has circulated in the community in recent years.
JLA came out “slightly cheaper” at $19,200 than the other company, Cranston Engineering, according to McEwen.
Cranston Engineering projected a total cost of $46,890; $24,500 for the survey and utility location and $22,390 for the master plan and community engagement. There was also an optional add-on of $27,805 for schematic design.
JLA has also worked on renovation and additions at pre-consolidated Barnwell School District 45 schools.
Retail strategies to continue
The council unanimously voted to approve $5,000 to continue the Retail Strategies program.
Retail Strategies is a company providing retail education and resources, downtown revitalization ideas, and retail recruitment through market data and community needs assessments. Essentially, they look for ways to make an area more attractive to industry and business, implement a strategy to get there, and find ways to continue capitalizing through bringing in new business.
The Alabama-based company has partnered with municipalities across the county such as Williston and Blackville.
The City of Barnwell initially invested $5,000 toward the three-year minimum contract, which they agreed to continue at this meeting with another $5,000 investment.
The city has not seen any revenue from this program yet, as it takes several years for this sort of process to develop.
“I believe that Retail Strategies will hopefully land us (the county) some good new retail for our communities,” said McEwen.
Downtown revitalization committee
Councilwoman Jana Myers proposed the council form a standing committee for downtown revitalization to unify varying entities looking to better the city.
“A long-standing downtown committee is needed because there are several groups and individuals working on the revitalization and beautification of downtown,” said Councilwoman Myers in a memo to council. “The purpose of this committee will be to enforce the current guidelines and regulations that the City of Barnwell has in place.”
Councilman Louis Claytor expressed he did not see the need for a new committee or agree with the cost to maintain it. However, as later explained by Councilwoman Myers, forming a committee composed of council members does not cost the city.
This long-standing committee would operate similarly to how current council committees such as the police committee, finance & salary committee, or the water & sewer committee do – serving as a direct line between department heads and council members to make improvements and address concerns. Council members are each tasked with serving on various committees.
When Councilmember Myers began explaining that this committee would be no cost to the city and would mirror the other existing committees, Councilmember Claytor interjected stating, “I know you like your committee, and I appreciate that, but I don’t like it and I can’t support it. That’s all.”
Councilwoman Myers asked what his objection was, to which Councilman Claytor explained he felt there was always a cost, even if it was solely time and effort. He stated he did not feel comfortable asking members of his district to serve on a committee he did not support; however, council members would be serving on this committee, not residents of the city.
After the entire process was clarified, a motion was made to begin amending the needed ordinance to create another standing committee. It was approved by all council members except Councilman Claytor.
“That was a lot to get through to try and get that done,” said Mayor Still.
An amended ordinance will be brought before the council to vote at an upcoming meeting.
