County Council OKs contracts
The Interstate 526 extension project cleared a major hurdle Tuesday as
Charleston County Council voted to build it.
Council members approved two contracts, one with the State Infrastructure
Bank and the state Department of Transportation and the other with just the
Transportation Department, to accept $420 million to complete the Mark Clark
Expressway. The county will in turn spend $117 million from half-percent
sales tax proceeds to improve other state roads.
The project at stake would connect Interstate 526 with the James Island
Connector at Folly Road, then cross over onto Johns Island.
The project will still need to clear environmental impact studies but is
inching toward being a done deal.
"It appears the train is on the track today," Councilman Curtis Inabinett
said just before the 7-2 vote. Inabinett and Councilman Dickie Schweers
voted against the move.
Council deadlocked on the issue last week, but some behind-the-scenes urging
from state legislators might have changed some council members'
perspectives.
Councilwoman Colleen Condon initially was hesitant to approve the contracts
because they indicate that the county would have to pay any costs over the
estimated $420 million. But she said her concerns were eased after she spoke
to House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, Tuesday morning. He assured
her the state will try to find a way to pick up any unexpected costs that
arise, she said.
"If the state's going to take responsibility and we're going to be able to
have some accountability over it, then I'm not against this agreement,"
Condon said.
Former Council Chairman and state Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston,
called Condon and five other council members to encourage them to support
the project.
Rumors surfaced, however, that Stavrinakis and others were pressuring
council members to advance the extension.
"Somebody accused the speaker (Harrell) and the president of the Senate (Pro
Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston) of doing the same thing, and it's
absurd," Stavrinakis said. "We're not up here threatening people. We're
trying to push through what we think is a good project, and one that we
think West Ashley, James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns
Island desperately need."
But Dana Beach, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League, which
has spearheaded efforts to halt the Mark Clark, said such action shouldn't
be allowed.
"That goes beyond the bounds of debating the merits of the project to a
point of intimidation," Beach said.
Councilman Henry Darby said he also spoke to someone with the legislative
delegation, although he wouldn't say whom. He said he changed his mind on
the project because, "This time I went with my mind and not the heart."
Schweers said his decision Tuesday was based on advice about the contract
that the county's attorney, Joe Dawson, provided council members in a closed
session during last week's meeting.
"Our attorney was very concerned," he said. "I would hate to see us make a
huge mistake."
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