electrician in Moncks Corner, SC

MONCKS CORNER — Berkeley County elected officials have given early approval to an ordinance that would place a moratorium on larger residential developments in unincorporated areas, reacting in part to a recent high-profile zoning dispute.

The proposed changes, in effect, would reverse the approval process for certain projects while requiring developers to show how their projects would affect public services and neighboring communities.

Berkeley County Council’s land use committee voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance last week.

While few details were disclosed publicly at the June 13 meeting, Phillip Obie, the committee’s chairman, said the plan would most likely target future developments of 100 acres or 75 homes. The ordinance is expected to be drafted by the next meeting on July 13, he said.

It would require larger projects in unincorporated areas to be reviewed by County Council as the first step, not the last. Councilmembers would then determine whether to lift the moratorium on a case-by-case basis.

“We want developers to come to the council first before they go to the county’s planning staff,” Obie said. “We want to make sure the developers are considering how the neighborhoods that they plan to build will affect services like schools, EMS, fire and water and sewer, and the other communities around them before anything’s approved or construction begins.”

It would not affect incorporated cities, such as Goose Creek, Hanahan and Moncks Corner, or developments the county has already approved.

A final vote could come as early as August.

A recent dispute that pitted landowners in the Cordesville area against elected officials and former U.S. Congressman Henry Brown was one of the catalysts for the change, several council members said.

“What happened with Henry Brown is what kind of brought everything to the forefront,” said Councilman Tommy Newell. “I think everyone on council realized that something needed to be done.”

Brown asked to reclassify about 200 acres along S.C. Highway 402 near Cordesville from a designation that allowed one home for every 15 acres. The former lawmaker wanted to have the land placed under a less-restrictive zoning category that would allow up to 400 homes in total, which some neighbors opposed.

County Council approved Brown’s request by a 6-1 vote on April 29.

Because of the change, about 65 parcels along S.C. Highway 402 and S.C. Highway 41 near the east branch of the Cooper River could potentially be rezoned and bring denser residential development to the rural area.

The new ordinance would help streamline the sometimes-cumbersome process that builders must go through, county supervisor Johnny Cribb said.

“Normally, a developer has to go to our planning department and then go to our planning commission, hold community meetings before it lands with the council,” Cribb said. “With this ordinance, the council gets to decide upfront if the project goes forward.”

“I can’t think of a single stakeholder in this process that this isn’t better for,” he added. “If you are a developer, why go out and invest time and money in engineering and permitting and then have council turn it down. This way they are dealing with the ultimate decision makers in the beginning.”

Berkeley County is one of the fastest growing counties in nation, adding an average of 17 residents each day.

“The public wants us to slow down growth,” Councilman Josh Whitley said. “Growth is good, and we need growth, but it’s these large development agreements that have put so much stress on our infrastructure.”

If approved, Whitley said, developers will have to demonstrate their projects are in the best interest of the community.

“We’re going to set a very high hurdle,” Whitley said.

Developers, he added, “won’t get consideration for the moratorium to be lifted unless they are making a compelling case that they are addressing all of the impacts” on public infrastructure, such as schools and roads.

“The developer will have to address the impact on growth. Otherwise, the moratorium will be in place and the developer will not be able to use any staff time or proceed in any way toward a development agreement. They will have to show some cards up front.”

Whitley, an attorney, said he’s not concerned about any legal challenges to the ordinance because “we are not restricting entitled rights.”

The Charleston Home Builders Association said it did not know the specifics of the county’s plan but it’s opposed to any moratorium.

“In general, the ... association does not support the use of moratoriums as a means to control growth because it simply encourages sprawl, making our infrastructure problems worse without collecting the necessary tax revenue to address the problem,” said Patrick Arnold, the group’s executive director.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - All employees under Berkeley County School District will receive a 4% or higher salary increase under the newly approved 2022-2023 budget.

BCSD has projected a $369 million budget for the next fiscal year. This budget includes pay increases higher than 4% for custodians, instructional assistants, bus drivers and bus assistants. Classroom teachers will receive a 4% salary increase and an additional $1,000 in ESSER-fund.

BCSD Board Chair David Barrow says he believes the district is being fiscally responsible.

“This is a no-tax-increase budget,” Barrow said. “Berkeley County School District has not raised millage in six years. Two years ago, in fact, Berkeley County School Boards reduced millage by 12 mills. So, we are a very fiscally responsible school board.”

Ashley Smith, BCSD Chief Financial Officer, says the district is expecting an increase in tax revenue and state funding from conference committee projections.

“I think the raise comes at a good time,” Mahwish McIntosh, an English teacher at Cane Bay High School, said. “We also have to be mindful of the fact that it can’t just be a one-time thing and that we have to continue to be more and more competitive considering, not just the education industry here, but all the other industries that are coming to this area and that are trying to take some of our educators and support staff to other industries because of the pay and because of the benefits.”

McIntosh also emphasizes that she is happy with how hard the school board has been working towards this budget. She says she knows how hard of a task it must be.

“I think that Berkeley County is making sure it’s being competitive while also being fiscally conservative, considering those taxpayer dollars very seriously,” McIntosh said. “I’m proud to see that this school board and so I’m proud to see that this school board with all of this discussion was able to come to an agreement.”

Barrow says he is committed to retaining the best employees for all positions while staying competitive with other school districts.

“I’m very optimistic about this, and the people that won the budget are the employees because they’re getting a pay raise and what we’re telling our people is that we value you,” Barrow said. “We don’t want you to go. We want you to stay here.”

Barrow also wants to emphasize that this is only an operational budget. This does not include capital improvements for renovations to current buildings and the construction of new schools. The district is working on including a one-cent sales tax on this year’s ballot for that and they need additional funding.

This budget was approved in a 5 to 4 vote.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - A new baseball field specifically designed for people with physical disabilities is coming to Moncks Corner.

The new Miracle League Park is coming to the Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex.

The town’s recreation director, Becky Ellison, says she expects to break ground in the Spring and have their first season in the Fall of 2022.

The Miracle League field will be a rubber baseball that allows wheelchairs and walkers to easily move.

Ellison says they have multiple baseball, softball, and soccer fields as well as a football field at the recreation complex, and the final key component they need is this miracle field.

“It’ll provide an opportunity where there will be no barriers,” Ellison said. “So parents will be able to watch their children or adults play and enjoy. And, these children and adults will be able to learn not only teamwork and perseverance but also life skills.”

On Tuesday, the town of Moncks Corner announced that the telecommunications service provider, Home Telecom, donated $250,000 dollars to the field, becoming the field naming sponsor.

Ellison says the field will be named the Home Telecom Miracle League Field.

“They have donated a generous donation,” Ellison said. “This is going to allow us to break ground in the Spring.”

The president of Home Telecom, William Helmly said in a press release from the town that nothing is more important to a community than the health and well-being of its children.

“Home Telecom is honored to have the opportunity to give back to the community that supports us,” Helmly said.

It’s a $1.5 million project and Ellison says with this donation, they have now raised around $900,000.

“This will allow us to say that we do provide an opportunity for every child and every adult in the town of Moncks Corner,” Ellison said.

If you are interested in donating to the Miracle League field, click here: https://www.monckscornersc.gov/donate

Ellison says there are different levels of sponsorships as well. Some include having your name on the scoreboard, a dugout or other parts of the field. That information can be found here: https://www.monckscornersc.gov/miracle-league

Copyright 2021 WCSC. All rights reserved.

MONCKS CORNER, SC — The American Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donors.

The organization usually sees a dip in donations over the summer months with people on vacation, but the blood supply constantly needs to be replenished because donated blood has a limited shelf life.

A Moncks Corner mom is encouraging people to donate blood after her daughters needed countless transfusions to keep them alive.

Four-year-old twins Annalee and Kennedy Garvin are full of energy.

“They are wild from the time they get up to the time they go to bed,” says their mom, Dana.

But, when the girls were born, it was a different story. Both children spent over 100 days in the NICU.

Dana says the girls were born at 26 weeks gestation, receiving around the clock care to keep them alive.

“While in the NICU they both received blood transfusions, and without those blood transfusions I wouldn’t have two healthy little girls sitting right here with me today,” says Dana.

She says their first three years were full of doctors appointments.

"They've had occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists. They've had the works."

After watching her daughters fight for their lives, Dana now donates blood regularly.

“I didn’t even know my blood type until I became pregnant with them. But I’m O-negative which is good, my blood’s universal,” she explains.

With the nationwide blood shortage, Dana encourages her family and friends to donate blood every chance they get.

“You never know who might need that blood. It could be your own sister, brother, mother, father, child. Little babies born a little too early that might need it, somebody in a car accident, you just never know who’s going to need it.”

ABC News 4 has partnered with the American Red Cross for a blood drive. On May 19 you can donate blood from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at Northwoods mall or from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Citadel Mall.

All donors will receive a $10 gift card and be entered to win a travel trailer camper. Use the sponsor code ABCNews4 to schedule an appointment here.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — After staffing shortages hit Berkeley County School District hard, the district is now attempting a new approach to bring more people into the classroom.

The district is holding its first annual “Party on the Lawn” hiring event Thursday at 4 p.m. at the district’s headquarters, 107 E. Main Street in Moncks Corner (the site of the old Berkeley County High School campus).

Like the name suggests, the event attempts to bring more of a laid-back attitude to a job fair with food, drinks, and live music.

There will be tents with HR reps and principals of various schools looking to fill positions right on site. There will also be a school bus included for potential bus drivers to “get a feel” of the vehicle they will be working with.

Candidates don't have to bring anything to the fair, but a resume is recommended.

Officials say they hope thinking outside the box will fill some of these county-wide vacancies.

“Sometimes you have to step outside the norm. We definitely wanted to do something a little bit different this time,” Interim Chief Human Resource Officer for BCSD Dr. Natasha Wright said.

“Of course, staffing issues across the nation are very, very prevalent and South Carolina definitely has been impacted. Every district in South Carolina probably can speak to just trying something different to attract those quality candidates to our district and ultimately, we want to meet the needs of kids. So we need good folks in here," she said.

This comes as district officials say they are still experiencing widespread teacher shortages across the county, along with bus driver vacancies. They're still recovering after a 40-driver shortage late last year shut down many routes for days.

The difference now is these vacancies are more widespread. And officials want to fix this problem sooner rather than later.

BCSD provided us with this list of current vacancies within the district:

This does not include 53 ESSR sponsored Instructional assistant positions.

The current teacher vacancies total 123:

With all this in mind, officials are hopeful that events like the “Party on the Lawn” will help to bring more employees through their classroom doors.

“I will say Berkeley County has an amazing- I don't even want to say a problem- it's an opportunity. We are growing district in the time of a teacher shortage and so we hire a lot of folks all year round. But we certainly always need more," Wright said.

In another attempt to help sweeten the deal for prospective employees, BCSD’s school board approved a new budget for the 2022-2023 school year on Tuesday night.

Some of the changes include a five percent raise for bus drivers, a $1,000 ESSR-funded salary increase for teacher and a four percent raise across the board for all employees expect those who are already in line for a raise.

BCSD will also hold a hiring event specific to teachers on July 13.