The James Island Intergovernmental Council met for the third time last night. Senators Thurmond and Campsen were in attendence. Our special guest was five day old Peter McCoy the third, who arrived with Representative Peter McCoy and his wife Jennifer. Councilman Joe Qualey represented County Council and all three members of Charleston City Council form James Island, Councilwoman Wilson and Councilmen Moody and Gregory. Carter McMillan represented the James Island PSD. For the Town, Councilmen Blank, Kernodle, and Mullinax were all there.
Councilman Qualey discussed the Camp and Folly Road improvement project. The project is ready to go, but there is a problem. It has been bid out twice, and the low bids are more than the amount of funds budgeted. Fortunately, the Maybank and Rivers project had to be scaled down and more is budgeted than will be necessary. Councilman Qualey is seeking to shift some of those funds to Camp and Folly. The proposal almost died at the Finance Committee due to a tie, but Chairman Teddie Pryor let it go forward. Councilman Qualey is confident that there are enough votes for it to pass tonight.
Councilman Qualey also discussed the proposed library referendum. This proposal is for a referendum this November for more than $100 million to construct and renovate libraries throughout the County. Part of the proposal is to build a new library somewhere on Folly Road. Initially, the proposal included closing both the South Windemere and James Island branches. Councilman Qualey reported that the South Windemere branch would not be closed due to the intervention of County Councilwoman Colleen Condon. He was very troubled that no site had been selected for the new library on Folly Road. The other new libraries to be constructed as part of the project already have proposed sites. He also reported that he attended the a meeting at the James Island branch and the people there wanted to keep it. The Council voted unanimously that County Council should include a site for the Folly Rd. library in any language for the library.
Councilman Blank reported on the Folly Road overlay. It has been approved by the Town of James Island, Charleston County has passed first reading, and the City of Folly Beach approved it as well. Unfortunately, it has not been put before Charleston City Council. He reported a conversation from Christopher Morgan from City of Charleston Planning, holding out some hope for City action. Councilman Qualey reported that Tim Keane, who is senior to Christopher Morgan, said that the City used a design review board rather than overlay districts. Councilman Blank emphasized that we were most interested in getting consistency with signage with the City. I emphasized elements of the overlay regarding the setbacks. I pointed out that near Folly and Camp was mostly Town but there are some city properties. Some consistency in standards would be desirable. The members of City Council were genuinely concerned and said they would see what can be done.
Senator Thurmond reported on Senate bill 723. He said that he would be meeting with Senator Kimpson soon and had hopes the he would remove his objection to the bill . However, he is still worried about Senator Scott. Senator Campsen explained some of the challenges in getting legislation through of the Senate. He explained that it is challenging to design a bill that will minimize worries in other parts of the state while not being subject to legal challenge as special legislation. He said that Senator Thurmond's task in the "off season" is to seek to further finesse the bill. On the House side, Representative McCoy said that a subcommittee meeting had been scheduled and he saw no problem with amending the bill to make it consistent with the Senate version.
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