Recently, our town has been under the spotlight for various reasons, stirring a mix of emotions among residents. Highlighting the positive, the YMCA Flowertown Festival once again proved to be a magnificent showcase, maintaining its status as one of Southeast’s premier arts and crafts festivals. This year, I was particularly captivated by Half-Pint Designs, where I acquired charming hand-painted Lowcountry pillows for my living room. It was also good to witness local downtown businesses participating and setting up booths in Hutchinson Square to highlight their offerings.
On a more serious note, the town of Summerville has been navigating through a period of intense feelings due to recent developments. I acknowledge the diverse perspectives that have emerged, particularly in response to the proposed Hate Intimidation ordinance. After much deliberation and listening to the heartfelt opinions at a recent council meeting, I decided to vote for a one-month postponement. However, after careful consideration and prayer, I will support this ordinance. Initially, when I proposed this after a recommendation by our state municipal association, it was driven by a simple question: “Why wouldn’t everyone support this?” My journey since then has been educational, to say the least. I firmly believe this ordinance will serve the interests of Summerville and foster economic growth, following the lead of cities like Greenville, Columbia, Mt. Pleasant and Charleston, which have adopted similar measures. It’s crucial to understand that this ordinance covers not just race and religion but also extends protections to those with physical and mental disabilities and gender, among others.
Recalling my school days, I remember the frequent bullying faced by special needs students right here at Summerville Elementary and Alston Middle. It’s a personal victory to be able to say that mocking those with disabilities is not just wrong but also illegal. However, it is essential to remember that someone must be committing a crime. Then, it must be proven the crime was committed with hate and malicious intent due to one of those protected classes.
Additionally, I have engaged in discussions with Summerville DREAM, an organization that is truly cutting-edge and loves our town. I’m excited about its proposed Beautification Plan. Presented to the town’s parks and finance committee, this plan aims for a phased approach to enhancing community connection and beautification of our town. We will discuss this project further at the upcoming budget retreat.
Furthermore, we will explore a capital budget plan for sidewalk improvements, emphasizing the importance of proactive and strategic budgeting for our infrastructure. Concerning our town’s fiscal management, I advocate for a comprehensive asset management and replacement schedule corresponding to a capital improvement plan and staff audits to ensure we remain competitive and capable of attracting top talent. Budget optimization requires patience and dedication. Our budget retreat is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, April 25, and Thursday, April 26, and is open to the public, as are all meetings.
Our streets department has proposed a pilot program for more efficient debris collection, which I fully support given its potential for a cleaner community and cost savings. Moreover, I’m addressing concerns around trash pickup services by ensuring complaints are systematically recorded and addressed.
On a broader scale, attending the Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) meeting offered insights into significant regional transportation projects, including our Berlin Myers extension and Hwy. 78 project as well as some Lowcountry complete streets.
With the Charleston tri-county region emerging as the state’s largest metro area, the urgency for strategic planning and infrastructure development is clear. I propose an infrastructure impact fee to support necessary road and sidewalk improvements amidst our growth. I believe this will help attract the right kind of development and allow us to address the road improvements needed from additional impacts and the addition of sidewalks connecting new developments. Did you know that just half a mile of sidewalks cost around $300,000 or more? I did not, and we must find a way to pay for them. Change is hard, but change is good.
Lastly, the recent incidents involving our police department have truly been a tragedy for all. The sad event involving Michael O’Neal and his family deeply moved me. While our police force is among the top 10 in the state among municipality safety rankings, we must continuously seek improvements in training and policies to prevent future tragedies.
By the way, what happened to the days when we taught our kids manners? I’m not talking about etiquette or protocol; it’s just good old common courtesy. If this is old-fashioned, let’s bring the old-fashioned back.
As we navigate through these challenging and transformative times, I remain committed to leading with empathy, understanding, collaboration and a vision for a better future for Summerville.
