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.