The City of Cayce has a new initiative aimed at helping citizens stay in compliance with local code requirements.

On June 7, the city unveiled its Community Tool Shed, which allows residents to borrow landscaping tools as needed. According to code enforcement officer Ken Walters, this is a solution to help residents stay in compliance rather than just give out citations.

“It really is the perfect embodiment of how we operate,” said Mayor Elise Partin. “We have empowered our employees and we lift them up so that they don't just do their job. They actually come up with ideas and problem solve.”

According to Walters, many residents don’t have the tools to maintain their grass and yard. The shed, which has been four years in the making, will help them keep up, he said.

In addition to making tools more accessible to residents, the website states that the goal of the shed is to promote community engagement, empower residents and organizations to maintain their neighborhoods, serve as a resource for those in violation of city codes, and reduce the annual cost of enforcement of overgrown property and exterior structure violations.

The shed, which is housed in a mobile trailer, is currently equipped with two electric lawnmowers, a weed whacker, wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, among other items. The items were donated by the shed's sponsors – Lowe’s West Columbia location, Martin Marietta, The Graphics Source, and Carter Insurance Group. 

Walters said that there is one other area in the state that has started a similar initiative, but that Cayce is the first to house it in a trailer. 

He also mentioned that the city is still accepting tool donations.

Residents who wish to use the equipment must be residents of Cayce and hold a valid state ID. While borrowing the equipment is free, it must be returned within three days or a fine of $5 is added for each day the tool is late. If a tool is not returned or is returned damaged the city has fines of $10, $25 and $50 to cover the cost of the items.

Residents who are faced with fines will see them on their next utility bill, and, if they keep mounting, face the chance of being unable to check out equipment in the future.

“They really go above and beyond to work with our citizens, to talk to them,” the mayor said of the city’s code enforcement officers, explaining that enforcing fines on people who fail to return tools isn’t something they anticipate being a major issue.

“They knew that there was a need. It's not just, ‘Hey, here's an issue. Here's your fine,’ they go and they talk and they know that somebody you know has their tools in the shop or they know that they're elderly and need help. So there's a whole lot of conversation that happens.”

The shed itself was funded by the Cayce Beautification Foundation and cost about $7,800. Colleen Bradley, chairman of the foundation, said the foundation was unanimously in agreement with the idea when they first heard of it.

“It's just important because community is important and we want to give solutions and provide opportunities and encourage people to see the beauty in the city just like we do, just as the city does,” Bradley said. “This is just a perfect example of that. And it's something that residents already seem to love“