As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude for the people of Pickens and the remarkable progress our community has made together over the past year. This season reminds us to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the blessings—big and small—that strengthen our daily lives and our shared future.

Reflecting on a Year of Progress

This fall marks one year since the City of Pickens transitioned our water supply to Greenville Water—a milestone decision that has had a profound impact on the quality of life for our residents.

Many will remember the concerns surrounding our former water supply: sediment, inconsistent appearance, and reliability issues that caused some to avoid drinking the water altogether. Today, those problems are gone.

Our customers are now receiving some of the highest-quality water in the country, with consistent clarity, dependable service, and steady pressure 24 hours a day, thanks in part to the elimination of the start-and-stop “hammering” that previously stressed our distribution system.

This improved consistency has also dramatically reduced water-main breaks, sparing our neighborhoods the disruptions and costs that too often came with the old system. This is a clear example of how forward-thinking decisions can deliver real, daily benefits to the people we serve.

Building for the Future

We are also celebrating progress on the infrastructure that keeps our city moving forward. Over the past year, City crews completed major in-house improvements, including:

• A new water line on Pendleton Street Extension

• A new water line on Fox Squirrel Ridge Circle

• A significant sewer extension along South Church Street

These projects strengthen our capacity for future growth, improve service reliability, and reflect the hard work and dedication of our City team.

Honoring Tradition, Embracing Innovation

Looking forward—and upward—we can already feel a renewed sense of pride. The historic water-tower siren, a beloved part of Pickens’ skyline, has been carefully retooled and is ready to return to service. It will soon once again sound every Saturday at noon as tradition demands.

Beyond its historic value, the siren will provide an important modern function as a warning system for weather and emergency alerts. It represents the best of Pickens: honoring our past while preparing for the future.

Water Meter Replacement: Clearing Up Questions

I also want to address recent questions regarding the replacement of aging water meters across our system.

Earlier this year, out of an abundance of caution, the City issued minimum bills for July and August while staff and contractors evaluated concerns about meter-reading accuracy. City Council subsequently requested a full audit, and the results provide reassurance:

• The utility system experienced strong growth in earned income during this period compared to the prior two years.

• Although there was a short-term reduction in potential revenue growth for those two months, there was no loss, contrary to early fears.

• Most importantly, the City’s top priority was to protect customers from any possibility of higher bills caused by the transition—and that goal was fully achieved.

Click here to read complete audit report.

A Thanksgiving Message from Mayor Scipio

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for each of you—your resilience, your support, and your belief in what Pickens can be. Our progress this year has not happened by accident; it is the result of a community that works together, supports one another, and moves forward with determination and hope.

On behalf of City Council, our staff, and my family, I wish you all a joyful, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving. May it be filled with warmth, gratitude, and the company of those you love.