Town Council Meeting Highlights

James Island Town Council met Thursday, October 16th.

Council approved purchasing land for a park at 461 Fort Johnson Road.   The Town will complete an application for greenbelt funds for the purchase.   The application will be reviewed by the Greenbelt board, then go to the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission for a recommendation and then to County Council.

Council approved a contract to fix erosion damage to Sweetgrass Creek Drive. for $47,000.

Council approved $700 for a landscape plan for the corner of Dills Bluff and Camp.

Town Council approved $500 from the Tree fund for a project by James Island Pride to plant trees on Arbor Day.

Council voted to request that SCDOT allow the Town to place speed humps on Willowlake Drive.   This residential street is maintained by the state, and so SCDOT must give permission.   The Town measured the speeds on the street.   The speed limit is 25 mph and the average speed is a bit over 20 mph.   The 15th percentile speed is a bit over 25.   That means that 15% of the cars were going over the speed limit.    The Town's policy allows for speed humps if the average speed is over the speed limit or the 15th percentile is 5 mph over the speed limit.  This didn't meet the Town's policy.   SCDOT is more restrictive, requiring that the 15th percentile speed be 7 mph over the limit.   That would be 32 mph.    In all likelihood SCDOT will reject the application.   If it is approved by SCDOT, the Town would pay to place the speed humps on the street, which is about $4,500.   

In my view, there are a good number of streets on James Island that do meet both the Town and the SCDOT criterion, and that the $25,000 the Town has budgeted should be used for those streets first.  

Town Council approved $6,500 as a match to Charleston County and the City of Charleston to secure right-of-way for a stoplight at Grimball Rd. and Folly.   The effort to signalize that intersection has been a joint effort of James Island elected officials from the state, the county, and both the Town of James Island and the City of Charleston.   It has been approved by SCDOT, which will pay most of the cost.   County Councilwoman Anna Johnson reported at our last intergovernmental meeting that a crosswalk would be included per her request.   Councilman Milliken said that the Town should get something in exchange for our contribution of money and said we should request the crosswalk.  I agreed to write a letter regarding a crosswalk.   After we find out about the current status, I will write a letter either requesting a crosswalk or else supporting the decision to add one.

Council approved procedures for appointment of members to James Island Business Development Committee.

Council approved the Charleston County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.   Our Building Inspector has participated in intergovernmental meetings to review the plan.

Council supported the City of Charleston's request to SCDOT to look at the corner of Secessionville Road and Fort  Johnson Road for safety improvements--such as a stoplight.  This intersection is under City of Charleston jurisdiction.

Council approved a second and final reading of the budget amendment.   This will fund the expansion of the Island Sheriff's Patrol that began last summer, a joint project with Habitat Humanity for home repairs, a partial match for renovation of the baseball field at James Island Charter High School, and funds for grounds maintenance.   The budget amendment was made possible because of a better estimate of revenue which showed an significant increase.

Town Council approved first reading of an amendment to our tree ordinance such that invasive and alien tree species are not protected.