By VICKI BROWN
vbrown@lowcountry.com
Colleton County Council met in person on Tuesday, April 6th for the first time in about one year, since the COVID-19 pandemic first began.
Council meetings have been held virtually via Zoom.
On April 6th, council’s first order of business was to make two proclamations: naming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and also declaring April as National County Government Month.
Steve Murdaugh, council chairman, read sexual assault statistics during the proclamation adoption.
According to national statistics, one in five women and one in 71 men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. One in seven girls and one in 25 boys will experience sexual violence in their childhood.
Locally, the Hopeful Horizons children’s advocacy center has served about 2,000 victims of abuse since last year.
In the proclamation naming April as National County Government Month, Murdaugh read the statement stating that celebrating the local government reminds everyone that these county governments have the responsibility to create healthy, safe and vibrant communities; provide health services, administer justice, keep communities safe, foster economic opportunities; and protect and enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of residents in efficient and cost-effective ways as well as support older adults, their families and caregivers.
Residents can vote on Capital Projects
Colleton County Council wants to provide voters with the opportunity to give their input on the funding of capital projects, which will occur through a Capital Project Sales Tax for a period of eight years. To do this, Council is authorized to create a commission composed of six members. This commission will investigate and propose capital projects. Those suggested projects will then be approved by Colleton County Council and later presented to the voters of Colleton County during the general election of November 2022.
By June 15, 2021, the council will appoint three members to the commission. The City of Walterboro is entitled to appoint two members to the Commission.
If passed, suggestions for spending the monies from the sales tax include highways improvements, road repair, streets and bridges improvements, and creating public parking garages. Other suggestions include upgrades that can be done to public and government buildings, such as courthouses, administration buildings, civic centers, emergency medical facilities, police stations, fire stations, detention facilities, libraries, and educational facilities.
Cultural, recreation or historic facilities, beach renourishment, flooding control, or any combination of these public projects, can also be approved to receive the funding.
Edisto Contracting receives bid award
In other business, County Council awarded a contract to Edisto Contracting, LLC in the amount of $1,897,905.00 for dirt road rocking and drainage improvements to county-maintained dirt roads. The roads that will receive improvements include: Presidential Court, Cabinet Way, Pennsylvania Lane, Bailey Farm Road, Addison Road, Depot Road, Hamwalk Lane, Shiloh Loop, Clover Hill Road, Candlelight Road, Bushy Drive, Branch Hollow Drive, Gunter Street, Cox Street, Ramsey Hill Drive, Nimitz Avenue, Ward Street and Pulis Road. Funding for this project is provide by the Colleton Transportation Committee.
County Council also awarded a contract to Loadstar, LLC in the amount of $14. 70 per ton for aggregate hauling.
The council also awarded a contract in accordance with bids to Ackerman Landscape and Irrigation, Inc. for a total negotiated bid price of $276,686.00 per year for 60 county properties.
Sadler chosen to represent housing fairness
Deadgrea Sadler was selected by Colleton County Council to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations.
Council members then unanimously voted to pass a resolution stating that Colleton County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or the treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs or activities.
For more information, contact Deadgrea Sadler at PO Box 157, Walterboro, SC 29488; by phone at (843)549-5221, or via E-Mail dsadler@colletoncounty.org.
Board vacancies filled
Individuals were appointed by Colleton County Council in its recent meeting to fill several vacancies on county boards.
Chris Bickley was appointed to fill one of two vacancies on the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority. One vacancy remains unfilled.
The Colleton County Recreation Commission has three vacancies: Janice Wright and Matt Hooker were appointed by council to fill two of those, with one vacancy remaining.
Gale Doggette was appointed by council to fill one of three vacancies on the Keep Colleton Beautiful committee. Two vacancies still remain.
The Land Use Zoning Board of Appeals has two vacancies: Douglas Mixson, Jr. was appointed to fill one and one vacancy still remains.
The Colleton County Commission of Alcohol & Drug Abuse has three vacancies. Roman Cunningham, Leila W. Williams, and Brandy Manigo were appointed.
Cary H. “Chip” Upchurch was appointed to fill the one vacancy with the Colleton County Resource & Development Board.
The Board of Adjustments & Appeals (Building Department) has two vacancies. There were no applicants.
