Which PSD Commissioners Stand With James Island--More from the Wilder Memo

PSD Commissioner Kathy Woolsey placed four items on the agenda for the June 25th meeting.   They were all aimed at reducing the burden of the 13% tax increase that had passed first reading in May.   Commissioner Woolsey shared with former Chairman Wilder and the other Commissioners the motions she intended to make on June 24.

After voting in favor of the 13% tax increase, Commissioners Kernodle, Hollingsworth, Wilder, and Engelman voted to table all four of the agenda items as a group without discussion.   Commissioner Woolsey had no opportunity to make her motion, explain, answer questions, correct misconceptions or respond to concerns.  Former Chairman Wilder responded to these agenda items here.

One of the agenda items called for the Commissioners to support Representative Peter McCoy's bill that would provide an opportunity for voters to reunite the Town..

Agenda Item #10 - House Bill 3669 Clarifying the Meaning of Contiguity within Special Purpose Districts

The motion Commissioner Woolsey provided to Chairman Wilder and the other Commissioners was:

Move that the James Island Public Service District Commission support House Bill 3669 filed by Representative Peter McCoy to clarify the meaning on contiguity so that residents in the unincorporated area of the District will have the opportunity to rejoin the Town of James Island.   Further, the Commission calls on Senator Sandy Senn to file a companion bill in the South Carolina Senate.   Still further, calls on Representative Stavrinakis and Senator Campsen to co-sponsor these bills.

Representative McCoy is preparing to pre-file HB 3669 this December.   The Town is working to build support. Commissioner Woolsey asked the other Commissioners to join her in supporting this effort to give the former residents of the Town an opportunity to vote to rejoin the Town.   This would allow them to share in potential tax relief that the Town can offer its residents and property owners.

Commissioners Hollingsworth, Kernodle, Wilder, and Engelman voted to table, clearly not willing to support McCoy's approach at this time. Commissioners Brown-Crouch and and Woolsey voted against blocking discussion and a vote, showing their support for providing this opportunity for voters in areas formerly included in the Town.

The Wilder memo raises no issues or concerns with this bill.   Rather it states that this "matter" has been opposed by a "multitude" of parties.

There was no "multitude" and few beyond those listed.   The opposition was to a somewhat different bill filed by former Senator Paul Thurmond. Nearly all of those groups' concerns appeared to the result of misconceptions--perhaps due to misrepresentation.  When the bill was accurately described, the opposition evaporated.   I heard the lobbyists explain to Senator Thurmond that they would work with him to address their concerns.  The easiest path forward was to create a series of (unnecessary) exceptions.

Also at the hearing was PSD General Counsel Trent Kernodle who claimed that the bill was intended as a path for the Town to take over the PSD.   Senator Thurmond asked what provisions of the bill would have that effect.   Kernodle could give no examples, because there were none.

However, there could be some opposition. While the bill Mayor Tecklenburg said he opposed last spring was a version of the Thurmond bill, he may well oppose the McCoy bill as well.   Unlike many of the others, whose concerns were based on misconceptions, it is true that the McCoy bill would break the City of Charleston's monopoly on annexations on most of James Island.   If the McCoy bill passes, the Town of James Island would be able to annex parcels and areas on James Island on an equal basis with the City of Charleston.

The key question for James Islanders is whether they expect their PSD Commissioners to support them and allow an opportunity to vote to reunite the Town or else back the City of Charleston's monopoly power as well as enabling its continued annexation and over-development on James Island.

Representative Peter McCoy has committed to me that he will work to give the former residents of the Town an opportunity to return.   He has filed the necessary bills in the past and I am sure he will do so in the future.  He was able to shepherd the Thurmond bill through the House a few years ago.   He has many times expressed a willingness to work with the PSD Commissioners, but they continue to show no interest in discussion or dialogue.

Senator Senn, on the other hand, has told me several times that while she will not oppose our efforts, she will not support them unless the PSD gives her the go ahead.  I think it is very important to have the Senator who represents most of James Island working to help us.   We could always count on Senator McConnell and Senator Thurmond did his best for us as well.  I believe it is important to obtain the support of a majority of PSD Commissioners and so the support of Senator Senn.

The bottom line is that the Wilder memo provides no specific provision of the McCoy bill that would cause any harm to the James Island Public Service District.   That is because there are none.

The City of Charleston opposed the legislation that allowed the formation of the Town.   The Town is here.  I never expected that it would be any different for legislation that would provide an opportunity for James Islanders to vote to reunite the Town.

We have done it before.  We can do it again.  The question for the voters of the PSD is where do the PSD Commissioners stand.  Are they with James Islanders?  Or are they with the City of Charleston and special interest groups in Columbia?