JIPSD Election and SCIWAY

SCIWAY bills itself as the South Carolina Information Highway.   It was founded by Rod Welch and is owned by SCIWAY.net, which is a corporation for which Rod Welch is the registered agent.   The editor of the website is Robin Welch.

Rod Welch was a JIPSD Commissioner for many years--he didn't seek reelection in 2014.   Robin Welch is his daughter, was a member of James Island Town Council in 2010, and appears to be "Nix 526."  Her most recent claim to fame was secretly recording conversations with County Council Eliott Sumney and sharing his remarks with the press.

It was brought to my attention late last week that SCIWAY listed the candidates for the JIPSD election and left off two candidates-- Carter McMillan and Kathy Woolsey.

This is of some significance because if you do a google search for James Island or Charleston election information, the first hit is SCIWAY's "complete" guide to the election.

There are nine candidates for three seats on the James Island PSD.

Why did SCIWAY just list seven?

Could it be that Robin Welch lets her personal political preferences influence what is placed on the website?

A website that claims to be a "complete guide" and only allows candidates that Robin Welch counts as acceptable is a fraud!

I wrote Rod Welch the Friday evening and he promised to correct the website Monday.

I appreciate that Rod Welch has committed to providing a "complete guide" and not a fraud.   Thank you.

I wonder how many voters were already fooled by the false information.   Hopefully, such abuses will no longer occur at SCIWAY.

James Island Public Service District Election on November 8th

The James Island Public Service District is governed by seven Commissioners.    Three seats are up for election on November 8.    There are nine candidates on the ballot for the three seats:

Sandi Engelman
Donna Jenkins
Oana Johnson
Alan Laughlin
Carter McMillan
Eugene Platt
Giovanni Richardson
June Waring
Kathy Woolsey


If you look at your tax bill, you will see that 49% of a homeowner's property tax bill goes to the JIPSD.   The other half is divided among Charleston County Schools, Charleston County general government, Trident Tech, and Charleston County Parks and Recreation.

The JIPSD provides fire services, garbage and trash collection, and sewer in the Town of James Island.   It is these independently elected Commissioners that control almost half of your tax bill and your sewer bill and determine the quality of key local government services.   Town government has no control or oversight regarding these taxes or services.

Please vote.  Please choose carefully.

Carter McMillan Elected Chair of James Island Intergovernmental Council

Carter McMillan was elected Chair of the James Island Intergovernmental Council last Wednesday, having served as Vice-Chair for the last two years.    Carter McMillan is a James Island Public Service District Commissioner who is seeking re-election in November.

Town of James Island Mayor Pro-Tem  Leonard Blank was elected Vice-Chair.  McMillan replaces Charleston City Councilwoman Kathleen Wilson.   

The James Island Intergovermental Council is made up of local officials representing James Island including the Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, the James Island Public Service District, Charleston County and our State Senators and Representatives.    Its purpose is to promote inter-governmental cooperation to solve problems and improve the quality of life on James Island.

Hurricane Debris Removal

The debris from Hurricane Matthew will be picked up.   The target for completion is 30 days, but I have also heard estimates of six weeks.

Most of debris will be removed by contractors.   The Town signed an agreement to be included in  Charleston County's emergency debris removal contract.    So did the City of Charleston and the JIPSD.    

The contract has been activated.   The County's webpage shows where debris is being removed.  The plan is for three or four large trucks to be assigned to James Island every day until the debris is cleared up.   The contractors will pick up hurricane debris from the Town, City, and unincorporated area in an efficient manner.   

The contractors will be starting in Riverland Terrace.   That is JIPSD "zone 1."

The JIPSD solid waste department continues to pick up garbage as usual.   Please put your garbage in the rolling bins as usual and put out on the usual days.

The JIPSD's  usual yard debris crews are also out and picking up hurricane debris.   They are picking up on the usual days, but they cannot begin to pick everything up as they usually do.   They are picking up what they can in one area and then moving on to their next regular area the following day.   Nothing has been picked up in my immediate area yet, but just up the road, the JIPSD got started on the hurricane debris last Wednesday.  

The City of Charleston solid waste department is doing the same.   They are picking up garbage as usual and their yard debris crews are picking up hurricane debris in on the days and areas where they usually pick up yard debris.

Please be patient.