In October 2024 I submitted a letter addressing how the city enforces its ordinances against some residents, but not others—and then sent another letter regarding the same issue in August 2025. For the third year in a row I am writing basically the same letter—because the city is STILL refusing to enforce its ordinances—particularly against some of the city’s own commission members. I addressed city council in January 2026 and asked them to start requiring the members of its commissions to sign an ethics oath. Has anything happened regarding my request? The answer is NO! Every time I come to Walterboro I attend as many city and county government meetings as I can—and I am amazed at how some of the commission members violate sections of the city’s ordinances—while they have and exercise power to determine what other residents can or cannot do with their properties.
Two married couples joined the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission soon after they moved to Walterboro a few years ago; each had a spouse on a different board from the one on which he/she served. One couple living on Wichman Street defied a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission; thankfully they have moved away and removed the structure that was not approved. The second couple living on Hampton Street asked for a variance to enable them to have a storage building closer to their property line than is normally allowed. The Board of Zoning Appeals granted their request—but instead of a storage building, they hauled in a manufactured home and turned it into a “tiny house” (that can be seen from the street). I saw the ad where one owner listed the “tiny house” for sale on Walterboro Word of Mouth in February. This is a violation of the city’s Unified Development Ordinance; have they been cited, or fined? NO! Why not? Should they be allowed to serve on ANY commission? Are these the types of people who should have any power to make decisions that affect YOUR property rights?
