Walterboro City Council has adopted recommended amounts for groups that are dedicated to bringing visitors into the city.
As part of its Nov. 2 regular monthly meeting, the Council approved requests for 65% of the Accommodations Tax revenues generated by a tax on everywhere a person might lay his/her head for the night in Walterboro. The action came as part of 5 committee reports to the Council.
Organizations receiving money are: Colleton County Rice Festival, $16,450; SC Artisan Center, Shop & Explore SC Arts, $20,000 ($10,000 each to 2 Charleston media outlets); and City of Walterboro, $32,485. Out of $110,825 in requested allocations, $68,935 for recommended for award. The remaining funds will be considered for recommendation in February.
The City of Walterboro had considered asking for about $75,000, but scaled back that request to take pressure off the 65% allocation.
In other business, Council conducted a public hearing on and gave final reading to an ordinance enacting a business license fees rate schedule, and received a presentation from Jenny Boulware, representing Main Street SC, about Project Hometown.
Council proclaimed Nov. 3 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Walterboro, and approved a request to close streets for the Christmas Parade Dec. 6, at 6:15 p.m.
Bids for the Thunderbolt Dr Well/Stevens Well Project were reported: there were 4 bids and council received a staff recommendation for award to Thomas Brigman Construction of Newberry for $3,187,189.77. Primary funding is a $2.15M CDBG (community development block) grant.
Bids for the Middle Ireland Creek Sewer Trunk Line Project were reported, and staff recommended the bid award to Gulf Coast Underground LLC of Theodore, Ala., at $547,523.90. Funding comes from a Rural Infrastructure Authority grant of $1.4M. Renovation bids for the Wastewater Treatment Plant were reported, and the staff recommended Greenlee Construction out of North Charleston for the work at $256,538.06. Funding comes from leftover money in EDA (Economic Development Administration) grants for the wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Council also received an update on the Wildlife Sanctuary Boardwalk.
The Walterboro City Council conducted a closed session to discuss Capital Projects Sales Tax projects, the Walterboro Wildlife Center, and legal advice, and conducted a discussion of employment and an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Oct. 6 council meeting minutes reflect that the Dominion Energy Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program came to Walterboro Nov. 10 and will continue here through Jan. 2027. Also, Dr. John Gallagher, of Colleton Chiropractic, made a presentation about speeders destroying his sign and a homeless encampment near the business. Council was told police had visited the encampment site twice, but didn’t see anyone, but the city has the matter on its radar.
Related to the Northwest Walterboro Sewer Improvement Project (Exit 57) and the Lower and Middle Ireland Creek Sewer Line Trunk Line Improvement Project, the minutes state:
City Manager Jeff Molinari stated Mr. Mayor and members of Council we have some major infrastructure projects under construction. The city secured $10 million to run a sewer trunk line up to Exit 57 along the old CSX railroad right-of-way. The contractor is in the process of relocating a water line that conflicts with the section of the new gravity sewer main. After the water line relocation is done, a small section of the new sewer main will be constructed along Hiers Comer Road to the Exit 57 overpass on Bell's Highway to complete the project. The city secured $10 million and all that money has now been expended. Anything above and beyond will be picked up by the county. Keep in mind this project also funded extending sewer to the Colleton Mega Site. Along with this project, we also have another sewer trunk line project that will connect to this project. This is an EDA project where we secured over $5.7 million and this is upgrading the sewer trunk line from the treatment plant to Ireland Creek. We are approximately 74% complete with this job. If progress remains the same, construction should be done within the next 30 days. After construction, the new sewer main and manholes will be pressure tested and we will apply for a permit to operate. These two (2) projects are critical to bringing new development to Exit 57. There is a related project that we were hoping to do as part of this EDA project, but funding wouldn't allow. We did secure money from RIA to do a sewer rehab project along Ireland Creek. We have had issues in this area with inflow and infiltration, especially during heavy rain events. This specific project will address that by cleaning and camera sewer lines, making point repairs, and rehab along Ireland Creek. We will have the bid opening for that project later this month.
Related to the Washington Street Plaza Renovation Project, the minutes state:
City Manager Jeff Molinari stated Mr. Mayor and members of Council you have in your agenda packet a memo and supporting documentation for the Washington Street Plaza renovation project. Last week we had a bid opening and had four (4) bids. One had to be dismissed as non-responsive. We are recommending awarding the contract to Wildwood Contractors from Walterboro, South Carolina in the amount of $763,044.78. We are recommending allocating the following funding sources (6): … We are going to be going before the ATAX Committee this month to secure an additional $72,484.78. I am also going to ask the legislative delegation in January for $40,000 to defray some of these expenses. I will also be working to secure additional resources to lessen the impact on the city.
The minutes indicate that, on Oct. 6, no action was taken from a closed session discussion about the Walterboro Wildlife Center and personnel matters related to public safety and a discussion of employment.
Conducted a public hearing and gave final reading to an ordinance enacting a business license fees rate schedule
Received a presentation from Jenny Boulware representing Main Street Sc about Project Hometown
Proclaimed Nov. 3 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day
Approved a request to close streets for the Christmas Parade Dec. 6 at 6:15 pm
Received a 5 committee reports, received the city manager’s report – ATAX: requests for 65% of the proceeds: Colleton County Rice Festival, $16,450; SC Artisan Center, Shop & Explore SC Art, $20,000 ($10,000 each to 2 Charleston media outlets); City of Walterboro, $32,485. Out of $110,825 requested, $68,935 was recommended, the remaining funds will be considered for recommendation in Feb.; bids for Thunderbolt Dr Well/Stevens Well Project, 4 received staff recommended award to Thomas Brigman Construction of Newberry for $3,187,189.77, primary funding is a $2.15M CDBG grant; bids for the Middle Ireland Creek Sewer Trunk Line Project, staff recommended award to Gulf Coast Underground LLC of Theodore, Ala. At $547,523.90, funding comes from a Rural Infrastructure Authority grant of $1.4M; renovation bids for Wastewater Treatment Plant, recommended Greenlee Construction out of North Charleston at $256,538.06, from leftover funds from EDA grants for wastewater treatment plant expansion; update on the Wildlife Sanctuary Boardwalk.
CLOSED SESSION – Capital Projects Sales Tax projects, Walterboro Wildlife Center, receiving legal advice, a discussion of employment & an appt to the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Oct 6 minutes reflect that the Dominion Energy, Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program came to Walterboro Nov. 10 and will continue here through Jan 2027, Dr. John Gallagher of Colleton Chiropractic made a presentation about speeders destroying his sign and a homeless encampment near the business – council was told police had visited the encampment site twice but didn’t see anyone, but the city has the matter on its radar.
Northwest Walterboro Sewer Improvement Project – quote from minutes …
City Manager Jeff Molinari stated Mr. Mayor and members of Council we have some major infrastructure projects under construction. The city secured $10 million to run a sewer trunk line up to Exit 57 along the old CSX railroad right-of-way. The contractor is in the process of relocating a water line that conflicts with the section of the new gravity sewer main. After the water line relocation is done, a small section of the new sewer main will be constructed along Hiers Comer Road to the Exit 57 overpass on Bell's Highway to complete the project. The city secured $10 million and all that money has now been expended. Anything above and beyond will be picked up by the county. Keep in mind this project also funded extending sewer to the Colleton Mega Site. Along with this project, we also have another sewer trunk line project that will connect to this project. This is an EDA project where we secured over $5.7 million and this is upgrading the sewer trunk line from the treatment plant to Ireland Creek. We are approximately 74% complete with this job. If progress remains the same, construction should be done within the next 30 days. After construction, the new sewer main and manholes will be pressure tested and we will apply for a permit to operate. These two (2) projects are critical to bringing new development to Exit 57. There is a related project that we were hoping to do as part of this EDA project, but funding wouldn't allow. We did secure money from RIA to do a sewer rehab project along Ireland Creek. We have had issues in this area with inflow and infiltration, especially during heavy rain events. This specific project will address that by cleaning and camera sewer lines, making point repairs, and rehab along Ireland Creek. We will have the bid opening for that project later this month.
Washington Street Plaza Renovation Project – quote from minutes …
City Manager Jeff Molinari stated Mr. Mayor and members of Council you have in your agenda packet a memo and supporting documentation for the Washington Street Plaza renovation project. Last week we had a bid opening and had four (4) bids. One had to be dismissed as non-responsive. We are recommending awarding the contract to Wildwood Contractors from Walterboro, South Carolina in the amount of $763,044.78. We are recommending allocating the following funding sources:
|
SC Department of Commerce Grant |
$175,000 |
|
Local Accommodations Tax Reserves |
$155,280 |
|
Local Hospitality Tax Reserves |
$155,280 |
|
SC Appropriation Act of 2025 |
$125,000 |
|
State Accommodations Tax |
$80,000 |
|
State Accommodations Tax |
$72,484.78 |
We are going to be going before the ATAX Committee this month to secure an additional
$72,484.78. I am also going to ask the legislative delegation in January for $40,000 to defray some of these expenses. I will also be working to secure additional resources to lessen the impact on the city.
The minutes indicate that no action was taken from a closed-session discussion about the Walterboro Wildlife Center and personnel matters related to public safety and a discussion of employment.
