AIKEN, S.C. () – Aiken Mayor Teddy Milner met with people at the University of South Carolina Aiken on Tuesday as part of a city-wide tour aimed at gathering community concerns and ideas.

Nearly 60 students and faculty came out. They shook hands, shared ideas, and jotted down concerns. This was the latest stop in her city-wide tour.

“We had five in the beginning of the year, five different Sundays all over the city,” said Mayor Milner. “And it was the most wonderful, rewarding experience for me to see people come out that were really concerned about issues that have downtown or in city.”

Faculty member and parent Bridget Cho shared her perspective on kids’ needs.

“The concerns of children in our community are very close to my heart. So, I’d love to see more parks and green spaces and sidewalks so that kids can just get out more and, you know, and play outside safely,” said Cho.

Some folks say emergency personnel need more chances to serve locally.

“I’m an EMT and I really wanna serve my community Aiken, but I can’t because our county does not accept part-time students right now, but we could really use the help,” said James Saxon, a student at USCA. “And so it would be important to me if we could allow that.”

One even suggested a new business.

“I hope we have a frozen yogurt place, which I know really isn’t up to the mayor, but she said that she could ask around and try to encourage people to open one,” said student Jackson Faircluthe. “And if if that doesn’t work, I’ll open one.”

International students highlighted the need for better transportation.

“Then I also wanted to mention that it would be great if Aiken had some public transport so that students like who doesn’t have cars or friends who has cars can like move around and visit downtown and just not be stuck in university all day or during like winter break,” said student Sankika Bhate.

Jacob Ellis, who is running for Aiken City Council District 4, says hearing from students is key to shaping the city’s future. A 2013 graduate of USC Aiken, Ellis came to the mayor’s listening tour at the Student Activity Center to hear directly from college students.

“I’ve always felt that it was important to get the college kids perspective because they are the next generation of Aiken and we want them to stay here. So it’s just a good all around thing to see what’s on their minds,” he said.

He wants to see investors focus on underdeveloped parts of Aiken, to help make some of the suggestions happen.

“I feel like the north side and the east side of Aiken has untapped potential for growth.”

The session held Tuesday won’t be the last. Check the City’s social media for the next one.