by Geoff Fox
There were a lot of projects and events for the Town of Hancock over the course of 2023. Town Manager Mike Faith allowed us to join him as he looked back at how the town managed 2023 and what 2024 have in store for Hancock.
Last year, the town wrapped up a “pretty big capital project” with the pump station rehabilitation, part of phase one with the water and wastewater project, Faith said.
The town also applied for another grant money for another pump station project on Pennsylvania Avenue where that station will be replaced entirely.
With snags and issues getting funding, that project will go out to bid in the next 30 to 60 days.
“We started that project last year. We’re going to finish it this year,” Faith said. The cost will be about $1.2 million.
Another project will be replacing a culvert along Pennsylvania Avenue near Food Lion that will take place at the same time the pump station is to be replaced.
Faith also mentioned the new basketball and pickleball courts that were installed last year as being big hits for the town, saying the town has received a lot of positive feedback on them.
“Even in the winter time, here in the cooler months, when the weather’ s been good, we’ve had people out there playing,” Faith said.
Faith also took into account the election and the change of administrations as another change in the town last year.
“I think overall, we’ ve stayed within our budget, our financial goals, we had another clean audit for the town,” Faith said.
One thing Faith said the town would continue to do in 2024 is dealing with the blighted properties in town.
There has been a change in leadership at the county level at permitting and inspections, so Faith said he thinks they could help with those blighted properties as far as public health concerns.
“I think we had a pretty good year,” he said.
Faith said there’s always that feeling of possibly doing more, but the town had a productive 2023
With the mayor and council established for a year and everyone situated, Faith said there are a few more projects ahead for 2024.
Some of those projects Faith sees on the horizon for 2024 include the splash pad, more improvements to the old bathhouse, and sewer lines that were recently identified as in need of replacement.
“So, we’re going to have to prioritize what our projects are and see if we can get them in the budget,” Faith said.
He added he was going to have to sit down with the wastewater superintendent and prioritize some projects.
There is also preliminary work begun at BFS to get the water lines extended from Rayloc to the BFS location. That will allow fire suppression to be installed and allow IHOP to operate at full capacity.
As part of that project, Faith said the town is going to replace the water line from there to Blue Goose as it is galvanized piped and there are multiple spots along the road where there has been work done to repair leaks.
This would also help if there is any new development in that area.
Faith has a positive outlook for Hancock in 2024.
There is a new business opening soon on Main Street, more inquiries about retail space on Main Street, the owner of the former Teddy Bear Café getting inquiries,
as well as working with the county and getting an ordinance on the books to start putting pressure on the blighted properties.
Faith said the town applied for a $500,000 grant where the town could use the money to possibly purchase some of the blighted properties and/or demolish or fix them up.
“I think the outlook is pretty good,” he said.
Faith said his 2024 goals are for the town to sell the Weavers property, get the splash pad, continue to pursue funds for water and wastewater improvements in town, and try to focus on addressing some of the blighted properties in town.
“I really think if we can take care of some of those properties, then Main Street will be more attractive to people, to prospective businesses coming in,” Faith said.
