Tax Credit Progress--Attorney General's Opinion

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office provided an official opinion that the Town's proposal to use LOST Property Tax Credit funds to reduce Charleston County property taxes is legal.   The Attorney General's Office also said that the Town could seek a declaratory judgment from a court to be sure.

The Town's proposal is to deposit funds that the Town received from the LOST property tax credit fund with the County Treasurer.  The County Auditor would calculate the property tax credit and apply it to each tax bill in the Town.  A municipal tax credit would appear at the top of each tax bill.   This would include tax bills for homes, businesses, cars, and boats.    Taxpayers in the Town would pay less to the County Treasurer by the amount of the credit.   With the amount budgeted now, the result would be a 16% cut for homeowners in the Town.

If the Town comes to an agreement with Charleston County, then as each tax bill is paid and processed, funds from the Town's deposit would go to Charleston County's general government fund to cover the amount of the credit on the bill.   Charleston County would receive the same amount of revenue as before.

Hopefully, this opinion by the Attorney General's Office will pave the way for the taxpayers in the Town to pay less taxes on the bills going out this Fall.

Muphy Oil -- "News" from 2012

On July 5, 2012, I was copied on an email from Dan Pennick to County Councilman Joe Qualey.   Pennick, Director of Charleston County Planning, wrote Councilman Qualey:

Dear Joe:

An application for a zoning change at 1182 Folly Road (TMS# 4251300024) from Residential Office (OR) to Neighborhood Commercial (CN) was submitted by the attorney for the property owners on May 25, 2012 for the July Planning Commission meeting. Shortly thereafter, the engineers for Murphy Oil Express gas station and the attorney for the property owners, Randolph Cooper, informed us that they would like to pursue a Planned Development because their proposed site design was hindered by the required land use buffers. Members of their project team have indicated that they would prefer to have the rezoning completed with Charleston County.

On that same day, I emailed Dan Pennick the following:

Dear Dan:

It seems that this property is in the Town of James Island.

While I don't officially have any authority until after August 2 (and only then on the assumption I don't get beat by a write in campaign) I don't think that the planned development to allow a gas station, or even a rezoning from office residential, would be appropriate.  

The effort to complete this rezoning before the Town opened failed.   I believe that the primary reason was the good relations between Charleston County and the Town and between Councilman Joe Qualey and myself. He and I have worked closely together on many issues since he took office in January of 2011.  His help was essential during the period the Town was closed and for the last two years as the Town has rebuilt its strength.   If I am reelected, we can build upon this strong relationship for the next four years.

Deadline for Voter Registration for Town Election is Saturday, June 28.

The deadline for registering to vote for the Town election on July 29 is Saturday, June 28.  That is one week from today.

If you live in the Town of James Island and are registered to vote, then you are eligible to vote in the Town election.

If you are not registered to vote, we have registration forms at Town Hall, but you can also register online or by email or fax.  Go to the South Carolina Election Commission website to find out more.

If you have moved here from outside of Charleston County, then you must register again.   If you moved to your current residence from somewhere in Charleston County, please update your registration.   This can be done online or by completing a form.

James Island Library Branch

 

The Post and Courier wrote that  "Charleston County Officials" suggested that they might donate the building and property of the James Island Branch of the Charleston County Library to the Town of James Island.  The article from the Post and Courier is here. 

We contacted Charleston County.   If the referendum passes and a new library is built on James Island, then there is some support by County staff for donating the existing building and land to the Town.   It would require approval by Charleston County Council.

The Town would gratefully accept the donation of the building and property.   If the referendum passes in November, we will have plenty of time to think about possible uses for the property before the new library opens.

The Town sent  a resolution to the members of County Council asking that the branch be kept open as well as a new library be constructed on James Island.   The article in the paper was about how the referendum language approved by a majority of County Council will close the existing branch and replace it with a new library on James Island.  Councilman Joe Qualey voted against closing the existing branch, consistent with the Town's resolution.

County staff continues to look for a specific location and has several under consideration.   Hopefully, that will be settled before the referendum in November.

Emergency Drill Today

Charleston County Emergency Management Division and local governments, including the Town of James Island, held our annual disaster drill this morning, June 19. Town Hall was set up to provide support services for the Incident Commander on... James Island, Chief Seabolt of the JIPSD Fire Department.. We were set up to have Red Cross, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy and Coroner’s office representatives to assist with family re-unification and next of kin notification. We were also set up to handle media interviews and Public Information Officer operations as needed. The simulated emergency event occurred at the James Island Youth Soccer Club fields on Fort Johnson Road.

 

At Town Hall ready for relatives of victims.

 

 

 

At the James Island Youth Soccer Club fields speaking to Chief Seabolt.

 

 

Talking Emergency Preparedness with County Coroner Rae Wooten.

 

 

County Press Release on Work on Trees on Harborview Road

Charleston County News Release

Release Number: 3787

Date: June 16, 2014

 

 

Traffic Alert: Shoulder Closures will Begin June 18 in Preparation for the Harbor View Road Improvements Project

 

Charleston County Government is announcing shoulder closures will occur on Harbor View Road northbound and southbound between the intersections of North Shore Drive and Fort Johnson Road beginning June 18 at 9:00 a.m. Crews will be working on pruning and fertilization of trees along Harbor View Road in preparation for the Harbor View Road Improvements Project.

• Work will take place Mon-Fri between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
• All work is expected to be completed by Friday June 27.
• All work zones will be marked with construction cones and signs; all work is dependent on the weather.
• Drivers traveling through the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times.
• The public is also asked to notice traffic control signs and work zones.

Approximately sixty Grand Trees will be pre-treated before construction activities to reduce stress and promote long-term tree health during and after road construction activities.  Work includes deep root fertilization, removal of any large dead limbs and providing fourteen feet of vertical road clearance.  All work will be performed under direction of a certified Arborist.  

 

To replace four Grand Trees impacted, one in the Town of James Island and three in the City of Charleston, the following will be installed as part of the landscaping plans:

• 122 Three Inch Diameter trees of differing variety
• 82 Four Inch Diameter trees of differing variety

A complete list of all landscaping to be included in the project scope can be found on the project website at http://roads.charlestoncounty.org/projects/harborviewroad/.

 

The goal of the project, which is expected be begin construction in August 2014, is to improve Harbor View Road between North Shore Drive and Fort Johnson Road (2.1 miles) by providing a center two-way left-turn lane between North Shore Drive and Affirmation Boulevard, adding right turn lanes at major intersections, traffic signals at Fort Sumter Drive and Mikell Drive, a roundabout at the intersection with Fort Johnson Road, and adding pedestrian and bicycle facilities for the length of the project. The purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow and safety on Harbor View Road and to provide adequate bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

 

The project is funded by the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax and managed by Charleston County Government.

 

Visit the official website at http://roads.charlestoncounty.org for public meeting notices and up-to-date news and information about all Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax road projects. For more information, call Charleston County’s Transportation Development Department at (843) 202-6140. 

Public Hearing on the Town's Tree Fund

The Town of James Island is holding a public hearing on the Town's Tree Fund on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00.   It is an amendment to the Town's Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance.   The proposed amendment will allow the funds to be used for beautification on James Island.

I support the change.   I would like the Town to sponsor Arbor Day events at James Island Schools.   Planting trees on the school grounds would be a central part of the program.    Most of our Town's children attend schools such as Stiles Point, Harborview, and James Island Elementary.   Stiles Point and Harborview are under City of Charleston jurisdiction and James Island Elementary is in unincorporated Charleston County.   The Assistant Principal of James Island Middle asked the Town if we could donate some trees.  While many Town children attend the school and it is near the center of our Town, it is under City jurisdiction.    James Island Charter High School is also under City jurisdiction.  Only Fort Johnson Middle is in the Town.  (And we have offered to donate trees to Fort Johnson Middle.)  By amending the ordinance to remove the restriction that the funds must be used in the Town, it will be possible to plant trees at our Island schools.

Depending on the location, I believe that beautification can be best accomplished by planting a mixture of trees and shrubs.    The Town is currently looking at beautification of the intersection of Dills Bluff and Camp.   While we may be able to plant some trees, other types of shrubs or flowers would be nice as well.

The Town's Dock Street Park perhaps could use an additional tree, but it is mostly well shaded.   However, some flowering shrubs would improve the park.   Also, many of the properties that the Town has reviewed for a new park are heavily forested.   While adding some specimen trees would be nice, adding flowering shrubs and other plants would help enhance a new park. 

It has always been my policy to bring proposals for Town action to Council for approval.   Usually, it is presented in the form of a  resolution.    This change in our ordinance will provide the Town staff and Council with flexibility in spending monies from the Tree Fund on beautification on James Island.

Public Hearing on Sign Ordinance

The Town of James Island is holding a public hearing on its sign ordinance.   This is a proposed amendment to the Town's Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Ordinance.   The proposed amendment seeks to simplify the Town's regulation of signs, making the rules on all commercial properties consistent with those included in the Folly Road Overlay District recently passed by the Town.   The Public Hearing will held at the regular Town Council meeting on July 19 at 7:00.

Charleston County Press Release on Harborview Road

Release Number: 3785

Date: June 13, 2014

 

 

Project website: http://roads.charlestoncounty.org/projects/harborviewroad/

 

Construction Bid Now Available for the Harbor View Road Improvements Project

Bid information is available at: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/Procurement/cur-bids_pdfs/Current_Bids.htm

 

Charleston County Government is beginning the 30-day construction bid process for the Harbor View Road Improvement Project. The S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) provided Charleston County with an Authorization to Bid on June 12, 2014.

 

The expected timeline moving forward:

• Charleston County Council will consider bids at the July 29, 2014 meeting
• If approved, construction could begin in August/September

“This is great news for the James Island and Harbor View Road community,” said Charleston County Council member Joseph Qualey. “It’s a much needed project and I thank staff for their efforts to get us where we are today.”

 

Project details:

• The project proposes to improve Harbor View Road between North Shore Drive and Fort Johnson Road (2.1 miles) by providing a center two-way left-turn lane between North Shore Drive and Affirmation Boulevard.
• The project also calls for adding right turn lanes at major intersections, traffic signals at Fort Sumter Drive and Mikell Drive, a roundabout at the intersection with Fort Johnson Road, and adding pedestrian and bicycle facilities for the length of the project.
• Other improvements provided by the project include landscaping throughout the entire corridor of Harbor View Road. As part of the landscaping plans, over 250 new trees will be planted. A complete list of all landscaping to be included as part of the project scope can be located on the project website at http://roads.charlestoncounty.org/projects/harborviewroad/.

Harborview Road News

Charleston County Roadwise just received authorization from SCDOT to bid out the Harborview Road Improvement Project.   The project will be advertised for thirty days starting today.   County Council should award a bid at its July 29 meeting.   We should expect to see contractor activity by the end of August, starting with erosion control.

The Town's Alternative for the JIPSD Property on Dills Bluff

The JISPD Budget passed 5 to 1.   The good news is that the Commissioners voted to remove the $600,000 that was budgeted to move their garbage and sewer operations from Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff Road.   The Commissioners dropped the project and no more money will be wasted.  

What happened?

The JIPSD's small meeting room was filled and there were people waiting outside who came to speak against moving the garbage trucks and sewer trucks next to a residential neighborhood.   I spoke and asked them to pull the plug on this plan.   I said that the Town would never change the zoning of the area from residential to industrial.   I  said that moving the administrative offices was very feasible.

One resident after another called upon the Commissioners to keep their garbage trucks and sewer trucks where they are.

Commissioner McMillan explained that he had been to the Whitehouse Plantation neighborhood informing residents of the plan and asking them to come to the meeting to tell the other Commissioners what they thought.   (I also went door-to-door in the neighborhood.   Most residents were very happy with the Town, but not at all happy about the JIPSD proposal to bring industrial uses right next to their residential neighborhood.)

Commissioner Waring, who had said that any needed zoning change would be "easy" when the project was first presented by the architects, said that she hadn't made up her mind about the plan because she didn't have enough information.   Commissioner Welch said that he wouldn't want the facility moved to his neighborhood, and that it would probably be best to simply sell the property.   Commissioner Brown-Crouch said that she knew nothing about any proposal to move garbage trucks to the Dills Bluff property and had never supported that.

Of course, all of the Commissioners were made aware of the proposal when it was presented at the budget workshop on May 6.   That is when I found out about it too and I reported on it here.     I think what Commissioner Brown-Crouch meant is that when the Commissioners approved a feasibility study for the Dills Bluff property, she had no idea they were proposing to study moving everything from Signal Point Road and rather were only looking at the feasibility of moving the administrative offices.

Commission Chairman David Engelman made no comment.   Commissioner Hollingsworth only challenged Commissioner Brown-Crouch's statement that she had given the property to the JIPSD.   He said that she had only given 1/2 acre of the 6 acre property.

The RFQ from the JIPSD dated August 4, 2013 included the following:

"Based on the results of the facilities assessment, the District is looking to relocate the current Signal Road Complex facilities to a more centrally located 6.5 acre lot located just off Camp Road on Dills Bluff Road, James Island, SC. This property was deeded to the District in April 2004 by the Honey Hill Homeowners Association. The facilities to be constructed will be in the category of a Class B, LEED Gold or Silver certified, office building, storage and vehicular parking accommodations. 

Obviously, someone at the JIPSD knew about the proposal to move everything, including the garbage and sewer operations, to Dills Bluff.  Apparently, it was not made clear to all of the Commissioners who voted last year to approve the $55,000 that was spent developing the plan for the move.

The JIPSD Attorney, Trent Kernodle, said that the first he had heard about this proposal was "two days ago."   (Saturday, June 7.)  Apparently, he did not review the RFQ or the contract signed with the architects.   (The Town's Attorney, Bo Wilson, routinely reviews our contracts.)   And further, he hasn't been keeping up with the issues facing the Town and the JIPSD for the last month.   A proposal that would require a rezoning from residential to industrial is a major issue for the Town.   It seems to me that it would be a major legal issue for the JIPSD.

Since May 6, I have discussed the matter with Commissioner Brown-Crouch several times.  

The entire parcel was purchased by the Town of James Island during the first incorporation.   It was to be used for a new Town Hall.  When the Town was closed down by the Supreme Court, its assets were divided.   The Honey Hill Homeowners Association and the JIPSD both asked the court for the Town's land.   The court gave the Honey Hill Homeowners Association a parcel that is a little more than one acre.    That parcel is zoned commercial and is right behind the shopping center.   The larger portion, a parcel that is slightly more than 5 acres, was given to the JIPSD.   That parcel is zoned residential.    Commissioner Brown-Crouch, representing the Honey Hill Homeowners Association, later gave the smaller, though highly valuable commercial parcel to the JIPSD.   (More exactly, she sold it to the JIPSD for $10.)

Since that time, Commissioner Brown-Crouch has been asking the other Commissioners to do something with the property.     She has always wanted the Town and the JIPSD to have some kind of shared facility there.  

During our discussions over the last month,  I explained to her that I could never support a rezoning to industrial, moving the garbage and sewer trucks next to a residential neighborhood.  She explained to me that she never had wanted to move all of the JIPSD operations from Signal Point Road.    She never had in mind moving the garbage or sewer trucks and was surprised when the architects presented a plan to do just that.

As an alternative, I suggested the Town could use its greenbelt money to purchase most of the land for a park.   The joint Town/JIPSD facility could be on the front of the property with the park to the rear.   Commissioner Brown-Crouch thought it was a good idea.  

I told Commissioner Brown-Crouch that because she had worked so long and hard for a facility shared by the Town and the JIPSD on the parcel, she should be the one to announce the plan.   I suggested she bring it up at the JIPSD meeting on June 9th.

However, she didn't get a chance to mention it before the meeting ended.   Fortunately, the JIPSD had an additional time for public comment at the end of the meeting, so I went ahead and made the Town's alternative plan public.

Hopefully, there will be sufficient support among the Commissioners to pursue this joint project.   I have always considered the JIPSD the Town's sister governmental body, and favored close ties and cooperation   However, I have also always understood this in the context of both bodies having the same "boss."   We all work for the voters and taxpayers of James Island. 

JIPSD Hearing: Garbage Pickup

The James Island PSD is holding a public hearing on its budget on Monday, June 9 at 6 PM at the Commissioners’ meeting room at Signal Point Rd.   The meeting follows at 7:00.   This will be their second and final reading (vote) on their budget.

The proposed budget is based upon shifting garbage service from twice a week to once a week.   In my view, this is the wrong time to make such a change.   Much as with the one mil (2%) tax hike of last year, this move hurts our competition for residents between the District and the City of Charleston.   Approximately 1/3 of the residents of the District remain in unincorporated Charleston County.   These are people who used to be in the Town and who we are working to get back into the Town.  The City of Charleston continues to encourage them to annex.   When the Town wins the legal changes needed to bring them back, we can expect the competition to intensify.

One reason many James Islanders give for staying in the  District and not annexing to the City of Charleston is that they don’t want to lose their twice a week garbage service.    My worry is that if the JIPSD shifts to once a week service, then some of those District residents will decide they might as well annex to the City of Charleston.    The garbage service will be the same.  Those people will be lost to the District and the Town.

Many of the decision makers at the District seem little concerned with this prospect.   Robert Wise, the District Administrator, explained to me that because the JIPSD continues to borrow from the Federal Government (which has massive debts of its own,) the JIPSD will be able force the City of Charleston to pay it money to replace any reduction in taxes when residents leave the District for the City.    The JIPSD’s Attorney, Trent Kerndole, stated at a community meeting on Battery Island last week that even if residents annex to the City of Charleston, the JIPSD would still be there to provide services,  including picking up their garbage.   Since the purpose of the meeting was to explain the benefits of returning to the Town, that was hardly helpful.   Former Town Councilman Cubby Wilder, who lives in the area, had just been passionately explaining why residents should not join the City of Charleston, but remain in the District and rejoin the Town.   He  was emphasizing the twice a week garbage pickup.

Of course, we all know that City garbage trucks run through our neighborhoods once a week and pick up the garbage from the green City cans given to everyone who has annexed.   Why did the JIPSD Attorney tell these District residents that if they annex to the City of Charleston, the District would continue to pick up their garbage (presumably twice a week?)     While false, the element of truth is that the City of Charleston will pay the JIPSD what it would cost to pick up the garbage of newly annexed residents for the next 7 years.   The JIPSD will continue to gain the money they would receive for providing the service for a time, but will not actually have to incur the costs of providing the service.   The financial benefit for the District in the short run is obvious.   

Of course, we all know that there are people who have annexed to the City of Charleston in order to get a free garbage can.   And the JIPSD has budgeted money to purchase garbage cans for all of the residents.   They have also budgeted funds to retrofit the garbage trucks to pick up the new large cans.

The shift to once a week service is supposed to save $370,000 per year.    If those cost savings were passed on to the taxpayer, the result would be a 7% reduction in our bills from the JIPSD.   For a homeowner, that would be about a 3% reduction in property taxes overall.

First of all, the JIPSD has not come close to seeking enough public input about this change.   All of us, including the 2/3 of District residents who are in the Town of James Island, need to be aware of this change and let the Commissioners know what we think.

Should we keep it the same for now?  

Or should we move rapidly to once a week service?

If we do go to once a week service, either now or in the future, I believe that the taxpayer should share in the cost saving.    Perhaps a fair compromise would be to share the cost savings half and half.   That would allow for a two mil tax cut (approximately 4% of the JIPSD charge.)   

At the very least, the JISPD could reverse the one mil tax hike (approximately 2% of  the JIPSD charge,) that it imposed last year.

JIPSD Public Hearing Monday, June 9

The James Island Public Service is holding a public hearing on their budget on Monday, June 9 at 6:00 PM at 1739 Signal Point Rd.   The meeting is at 7.

This is the second and final reading of the budget.

Included in the budget is approximately $600,000 to further pursue their plan to move all of their facilities from Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff Road.   They have already spent $55,000 to develop the plans which includes parking garbage trucks immediately behind the homes in Whitehouse Plantation. 

Dills Bluff Road is on the bottom.   Whitehouse Plantation is above and to the right.   Town Center is to the lower left.

  

This plan would require that the Town rezone the property from residential to industrial.   

I strongly oppose that.  

This plan also involves parking sewer trucks and equipment in what is now an area zoned residential.   That would require the Town to rezone the property from residential to commercial or industrial.   

I strongly oppose that.   

Further, the Town's Board of Zoning Appeals would have to provide a special exception to allow for this use.   I am sure that Town's planner would recommend against that, but it would be up to the BZA.   However, that would only happen if Town Council approved a rezoning.

The plan calls for shifting the JIPSD administrative offices in an area now zoned residential.   This would also require a rezoning by the Town.    The plan shows the facility in the front of the property, close to Dills Bluff Road.   It is well away from the residences.    This would be permitted if that portion of the property were rezoned to general office.    I would support that.   

A little more than one acre of the property is zoned commercial.   This is immediately behind Camp Center.   The only use proposed for this area is leased office space.  This proposed use is consistent with the current zoning.  According to Robert Wise, this is supposed to be leased to "other government entities on James Island."   I am open to the Town leasing office space from the JIPSD and sharing meeting rooms.   However, it is past time for including the Town in the planning process for that facility.

Mayor Bill Woolsey

Town of James Island

Annexation Bill Passed the SC House!

Bill 4265 passed the South Carolina House yesterday afternoon on a 65 to 20 vote.   Thank you very much to Representative Peter McCoy, as well as co-sponsors Speaker Harrell, and Representative Merrill.  The bill was sent on to the Senate in its original form.     Unfortunately, there are just a few days left in the session this year, and Senator Pinckney is still holding up the Senate version of the bill, Bill 723.   However, tremendous progress was made this year, and hopefully we can get an early start when the Legislature returns next January.

The version of the bill that passed the House gives Special Purpose Districts, such as the James Island Public Service District, the authority to petition a municipality to annex the remainder of the District's territory if the majority of the voters or population of the District are already incorporated in the municipality.   The amended Senate version has one great addition that I strongly support.   The petition by the Public Service District would trigger an annexation election in the remainder of the District.   I really appreciate all of the work Senator Thurmond did, as well as the support of Senator Campsen.

Please thank Representative Peter McCoy, Senator Paul Thurmond, and Senator Chip Campsen for their efforts to give the people of the Town the opportunity to again be reunited.

Community Meeting at Sons of Elijah Hall

Sussan Chavis called a "community meeting" at the Sons of Elijah Hall on Battery Island last night for people to hear about the advantages of returning to the Town of James Island.  (She had called a meeting two weeks before so that the City of Charleston could encourage people to annex.)   She invited the James Island PSD to attend as well.   According to Ms. Chavis, the meeting was for those living on Grimball Road. Old Scott Road, Folly Road beginning at Westchester on down to Battery Island Drive, and Sol Legare Road.

The turnout was light.   There were 16 residents in attendance.  Representatives from the Town and JIPSD outnumbered them!

The Town's staff, led by Town Administrator Ashley Kellahan, was there.    Each member of our staff introduced themselves and explained how they could help the residents of the area.   Mayor Pro-Tem Leonard Blank and I explained the benefits of joining the Town.   Councilman Troy Mullinax and Councilwoman Mary Beth Berry were also there and said a few words welcoming the residents back into the Town.

I explained how it was that they were not included in the Town, especially due to our worries that private marsh would be used to challenge the Town yet again.   I explained Senate Bill 723 and House Bill 4265 and how they would give all of those left out of the Town a chance to vote to return to the Town in 2016.  I urged them to contact Senator Pinckney to urge him to drop his hold on the bill.

Mayor Pro-Tem Leonard Blank had brought up the issue of the rezoning of Folly Road to Commercial, and I explained that the Town's version of the overlay protects the residential character of the area.   If they return to the Town, then that is the zoning that will apply--the same zoning that existed for the eight years the area was in the Town.

Councilman Blank and I both explained our plan to seek to increase the size of Council to six seats in 2015, so that there would be an opportunity for those joining the Town in 2016 to have representation on Council.   (The voters of the Town approved increasing the size of Council from 4 to 6 in 2010, but there was no chance to implement that by electing two additional members of Council in 2012 because the Town was dissolved in 2011.   That would have automatically created staggered terms as will occur if the voters agree to add two new seats in 2015.)

The Town Administrator reviewed our new Town brochure on annexation.   She explained how the Island Sheriff's Patrol helps with law enforcement.   She also reviewed some figures showing that with a Town Local Option Sales Tax credit, the taxes paid by homeowners who rejoin the Town would be 17% lower than if they stayed in Charleston County, and that by annexing to the City of Charleston, property taxes would be 29% higher relative to the Town.   She also pointed out that water and sewer bills would stay the same for those joining the Town, but would be 7% higher by annexing to the City of Charleston.

Representing the JIPSD were Chairman Engelman and Vice Chairman Hollingsworth.   The head of the solid waste department, Phillip Johnson, Chief Seabolt of the Fire Department and David Hoffman of the Wastewater Division were there as well.   However, the chief spokesman for the JIPSD was their attorney, Trent Kernodle.

The rest of the Commissioners were not invited by their Chairman, but I had asked Commissioner Carter McMillan and Inez Brown-Crouch to attend.   Commissioner Brown-Crouch spoke out and urged residents to rejoin the Town.

Former Town Councilman Bill Wilder, who lives on Sol Legare Road, attended the meeting and also urged people in the community to rejoin the Town.