County Council reviews comprehensive plan

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Colleton County Council met in chambers on January 7 to review the updated 2030 Comprehensive Plan for the county and to pass several grant resolutions, headed by newly-elected Council Chairman Steve Murdaugh.

Colleton County’s Comprehensive Plan Update, prepared by the county’s planning commission and staff with assistance from Benchmark CMR, recommended adoption of the long-range vision for the county and town of Cottageville through 2030.

Those goals include:

Goal 1: Maintain low-density rural development outside of municipalities.

Goal 2: Maintain Colleton County’s rich rural and agricultural heritage.

Goal 3: Protect and preserve the pristine estuarine and coastal environmental resources throughout the county.

Goal 4: Preserve and protect lands designated for economic development and employment generating activities. Goal 5: Attract jobs to Colleton County that offer higher earning potential for the county’s workforce.

Goal 6: Expand the availability of quality housing options that are attainable for residents making less than 80 percent of the area’s median income.

Goal 7: Develop and maintain a transportation network that efficiently connects the workforce to jobs, industries to markets and the community to the greater region.

Goals 8: Create a healthy living environment for all county residents.

Goal 9: Ensure that infrastructure and other community facilities and programs meet the current needs of the population, while preparing for future growth.

Goal 10: Improve intergovernmental coordination between the county, its municipalities and other entities to provide for the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality infrastructure, community facilities and services throughout the county.

In other business: 

Council accepted a grant form Coastal Electric Cooperative for $138,875.00 for industrial infrastructure development. The grant will be used for the construction of infrastructure and other projects in the Colleton County Commerce Center for water improvements, sewer improvements and road work which fall under the South Carolina Rural Development Act. 

Bids were accepted for the expansion of the Smoaks Fire Station. Four bids were received and verified on December 17 with Mitchell Construction as the lowest bidder. The contract was awarded to Mitchell Construction Company, which will expand the station at a cost of $449,500. 

The United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded a grant to Colleton County for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to Venture Park in the amount of $891,072. 

Council members officially resolved that the month of February be designated as Black History Month in Colleton County. 

The county advertised for bids to demolish and dispose of the old Walterboro High School football stadium. Eleven bids were received with the contract going to Four Seasons Demolition in the amount of $98,200. 

The commercial lease agreement between Colleton County and S.C. Department of Corrections Young Offender Parole and Reentry Services was renewed for office space available in the Bernard Warshaw Complex. 

The Colleton County Memorial Library presented its annual statistical report for 2018-2019. Director Carl Coffin reported the library has 12 librarians, three of whom are part-time. Other staff includes one full-time and six part-time positions. Last year’s total operating revenue was $907,592 with total operating and capital expenses at $905,503. Physical visits to the library counted 99,773 during the fiscal period with a total circulation of 103,806 print, non-print and electronic downloadable library materials. Staff presented 359 children’s programs, 79 young adult programs and 183 adult programs with total attendance of 16,128 (13,119 being children’s programs.) 

Catherine Daugherty of the Southern Carolina Alliance presented the group’s quarterly report. 

Kimberly Mullinax solicited public input on community needs and priorities for housing, public facilities and economic development in the county under the CDGB Program.