City of Woodruff Plans Expansion Amid Expected Population Boom
If you thought the small town of Woodruff, located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, is going to stay tiny forever, think again! The city is expecting to more than triple its population from just 4,500 residents to a whopping 18,000 in the next seven years. And guess what? This housing boom is going to require a serious ramp up in infrastructure and services.
One of the ones readying for action is the Woodruff Police Department. Under the guidance of Police Chief Greg Ryan, the department has been on its toes, planning its growth and expansion to cater to the bustling future of Woodruff.
New Police Station In the Pipeline
At present, the department, with 13 officers, operates out of the Woodruff City Hall. But to accommodate an expanded staff suitable for a population of 18,000, a new station, designed to be far more spacious than its current 3,000 square foot workspace, is in the blueprint stage. Police Chief Greg Ryan has shared preliminary designs for a new station that would include two floors, provide space for a municipal courtroom, and accommodate up to 26,000 square feet.
Chief Ryan has plans to increase the police force to 50 officers within the next five years. “A lot of it is going to be driven by the economic growth of the city,” Ryan said.
There’s no instant urgency to build a new station, but Chief Ryan is expecting this project to take off in the next three to four years. In due course, a detective position was added, and they’re currently looking to hire a new traffic officer to manage wreck investigations.
A Bigger, Better, and More Connected Police Department
The proposed new station will not only offer more training space but also foster a deeper connection with the public through a duty officer at the front desk. Chief Ryan wants the new station to be friendly and have smoother interaction with the public. While a suitable location is yet to be finalised, several potential sites have been identified. The cost is yet to be estimated, but rest assured, future growth for the next 30 to 40 years is being considered while planning for the new station.
Increased Salaries for Officers
There’s good news on the salary front too. The city has bumped the pay for certified officers from $42,000 to approximately $51,000 this year. Non-certified officers too, are now earning more, from $36,000 to about $46,000 annually in this town. These increases have positioned the Woodruff police department on par with other similar-sized agencies in terms of pay, making them a competitive place for employment.
Preparing for the Future
With no recent spikes in crime, and a downtown that remains safe, the city is well-prepared to tackle a slowly increasing flux of vehicle traffic as new people move into the city looking for their perfect home. “What it boils down to is, what are we going to do to prepare for growth?” asked Mayor Kenneth Gist and City Administrator Lee Bailey.
As they gear up for the city’s impending expansion, the police department is proud of the strong bonds they’ve forged with the community through their proactive community policing efforts. “Overall, the people I speak to in the community are pleased with how things at the police department are being done and the services they are receiving,” the police chief said.
And there we have it, folks! The tiny town of Woodruff is growing up, getting bigger, and gearing up to offer its prospective new residents a safe, secure, and well-staffed community to call home!
