Conway mayor-elect Blain-Bellamy’s plans include crackdown on crime, lake recreation

Barbara Blain-Bellamy won’t be sworn as Conway’s new mayor until Jan. 4, but she’s already making plans and setting priorities for her new administration.

A significant part of the pre-election conversation was the issue of crime, which according to Blain-Bellamy has increased, while she said the number of law enforcement officers serving the area has decreased.

“Along with physical and population growth comes a growth in crime, and we’ve experienced that over time,” Blain-Bellamy said. “We want to make certain we have well-equipped and well-trained officers – it’s not a good time for us to have fewer people on duty.”

Blain-Bellamy, a 63-year-old lawyer and grandmother, defeated Mayor Alys Lawson on Tuesday with 57 percent of the vote. Lawson served two terms as mayor.

This will be Blain-Bellamy’s first term as mayor; she has served 10 years as a city council member.

Blain-Bellamy said that as she settles into the new office, she wants to get back to basics – working closely with the council, encouraging participation on the board’s committees, and encouraging the community to have a more direct involvement in the city’s planning.

She said the council would continue the project of relocating power lines underground, which would help prevent outages during storms.

The new mayor would also like to engage with Santee Cooper to discuss future plans for Lake Busbee, the 325-acre waterway created by the power company as a cooling pond for the former plant.

“It can be quite a recreational amenity for the City of Conway,” said Blain-Bellamy, who suggested a study should be conducted to make recommendations.

“There are countless possibilities with a water amenity, that under some conditions could be more than a visual amenity,” she said.

Fishing in the lake as well as small watercraft recreation are some of the suggestions Blain-Bellamy has heard from Conway residents. However, she noted that environmental issues would have to be taken into consideration.

Paths surrounding the lake are already used for hiking and jogging, and some residents have suggested the site be used for a solar panel installation, she said.

“There are endless possibilities for Lake Busbee. We need to know what the uses might be, and the bigger picture of costs and risks,” Blain-Bellamy said.

Blain-Bellamy is also eyeing the green space near Second Avenue and Laurel Street as a premiere spot for a day market, evening concerts and an outdoor movie theater.

“There are a number of things that could happen there. Another committee just needs to study what the options are, what best suits the needs and desires of our citizens and visitors, and what has the best chance of maintaining itself in that location,” Blain-Bellamy said.

The incoming mayor has also expressed interest in creating a youth center, expanding on the enjoyment of the Riverwalk park, and improving the infrastructure.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 1:55 AM with the headline "Conway mayor-elect Blain-Bellamy’s plans include crackdown on crime, lake recreation."