PRESENT: Mayor Council: Riley Bradham, Tammy Bazzle, Frank Thornhill, Henry Holst, Whit Smith and Town Clerk Colleen Key.
ABSENT: None
Meeting called to order at 7:00
Others Present: Annette Zoro, Dana Beach and Chip Linton
No changes to the agenda.
Time requested by Dana Beach to discuss proposed ½ Cent Sales Tax Ordinance that the County will have on the ballot in November.
Mayor motions to approve prior Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Whit Smith. Unanimously approved.
TREASURERS REPORT:
FINANCIAL REPORT as of 8/31/2024
PREVIOUS Ending $ CURRENT Ending $
Wells Fargo Checking $124,607.83 $127,221.94
S.C. Local Government Investment Pool $318,896.29 $320,381.39
NOTE: A virtual $10,000 is held aside for disaster clean up
Roads YTD $14,120
Invoice due to CDH for roadwork on Harts Road – $1400
MAYOR / COUNCIL REPORTS: None
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- Planning: No one reporting.
- BZA: No one reporting.
- Code Enforcement: No one reporting
- DRB: No one reporting
- WILPC: Henry Holst – Fire marshal attended meeting and distributed brochures on cooking safety and will be on site at Haut Gap October 12 from 4-7 PM with a display, food, drinks and kid activity.
Wadmalaw Island does not qualify to be a municipality based on density requirements.
Mr. Reed from the County mentions that residents have complained about speeding issues on the Island, people going through the 4 way stop and flying past the school.
October 5, 10-12, a general Q and A with local attorneys at the Community Center.
Public Comment
Dana Beach:
Thanks to Mayor Bradham for his effort to help resolve the disabled boat on Bohicket Creek issue. The Mayor continues to confer with Nancy Mace’s office on the problem.
Discussion regarding half cent sales tax referendum coming up in November that will extend the tax for another 25 years (began 2004) costing households approximately $1200 per year. – $30,000 over time:
Potential Issues- No projects currently listed on ballot for the 5. 4 billion to be collected. 1.8 billion of funds initially awarded have not been used. 1 of 10 promised projects have been completed. Main Road and 17 overpass has been funded and not completed. 526 is named as priority project, which should take up half of total revenue based on today cost so a future start date could add a million at least. No flooding abatement, no road improvements.
Effort to raise awareness of a possible 3rd version of the tax and to encourage people vote against this new reiteration. Chamber of Commerce plans to spend $700,000 to help get this tax passed. A thought is to vote against the proposal this round and have County Council restructure and present again in 2026. The current tax does not run out until 2027. The preemptive plan is needed to show the Federal Highways that the funding will be secured for 526 completion. The Federal group has stated that they will not even consider processing future plans for 526 until financing is assured. Current plans for 526 project do not include improved safety measures and time savings may only be 13 seconds to Johns Island. It is projected that the road would open at a failing level of service – F. Notable – 6 of 9 council members favored the tax measure in the past.
Mr. Beach requests that Town Council consider drafting a resolution against the tax increase to support the effort. Mayor asks how such a resolution would be used? Mr. Beach comments that the measure is an. indication of how citizens and their representatives feel about the proposal, would promote awareness and endorse those who have worked to support rejecting the tax. A major defeat of the would send a huge message. Vote is November 5. Mayor motions to move forward. Seconded by Henry Holst. Unanimously approved. Town Council to discuss and draft resolution opposing 1/2 tax in its current form. Mayor will consult with Mr. Beach and his staff.
Whit Smith inquires for more detail on 17 and Main Rd. plans? Mr. Beach comments that flyover plans have been developed and funded and no one initially bid on the project. Most of the big contractors are working on I-26. Recent information has indicated that there is a potential bid. Simple fixes have been proposed but totally overlooked.
Old Business:
Boat on Bohicket has been depolluted. There is still confusion over the owner and the potential to move the vessel. Currently the boat does float. Whit Smith comments that the boat could take out the whole waterfront if a storm caused it to break loose. Mayor notes that the structure itself is a pollutant – paint, plastic, fiber asbestos.
Charleston Green to start on Rockland in 2 weeks from today, motor grade. Est $3000. No more than $5000. Frank Thornhill comments that the work should not be performed while in drought conditions, wait until there is some compactable dirt.
SIYC Rd needs maintenance – crowning.
The Yacht Club has agreed to contribute to road maintenance. Amount to be determined. Council to follow up.
A new strategy for No Wake Zone in front of Town waterfront would ask for a half season from Cherry Point to the Yacht Club. Recent instance of damage caused by large boats coupled with a change in the requested area and the large amount of members at the Yacht Club hopefully will reinvigorate a DNR investigation.
New Business:
Chip Linton indicates that the estimate from Martinez for tree removal for 5 trees along Shady Lane and the curb around SIYC Rd would be $2400. Mayor reiterates that the Town can’t pay for tree removal on private property. Town does not own road so can’t use public funds. If the Town started such a practice, they would have to do it for everyone. Attendees discuss would a tree with potential to fall in the road be the Town responsibility under a road maintenance purview. The feeling is that Town can’t anticipate every private event that may or may not impact a road that the Town maintains. Whit Smith presents a hypothetical scenario of a private tree falling on road owned by the Town, who would have to remove? Mayor comments that the Town would act if needed and may or may not seek to be reimbursed if they incurred expenses for removal.
Mayor motioned to adjourn at 7:52. Seconded by Frank Thornhill.
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