Dorchester sewer plan advances

Council gives initial OK to borrowing $15M to expand plant, make upgrades

SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County is a step closer to buying and expanding St. George's sewer plant, which is part of a plan to attract more industries to the upper part of the county.

Council gave first-reading approval Monday to borrowing up to $15 million for the project, which also includes some other sewer expansions. Sewer rates throughout the county would go up about $3 a month, a 25 percent increase.

The actual amount of the loan will be specified on final approval and will probably be $13.8 million, County Administrator Jason Ward said.

Councilman Richard Rosebrock abstained from the otherwise unanimous vote, asking officials to look for alternate sources of funding.

The bond also would allow the county to upgrade pump stations in Knightsville, Jedburg and Ridgeville; expand the county's sewer plant in North Charleston to handle an additional 2 million gallons a day; and buy easements to widen Dorchester Road.

Council also approved a resolution to give St. George some of the county's water service territory around the town. It's part of the deal to buy the sewer plant.

In other business, council unanimously voted down a proposal to raise business license fees to boost county coffers. Council members agreed that the county needs to attract more businesses and industries, and raising the cost of operation is not the way to do it.

Council also unanimously endorsed a resolution for the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority to loan Pinewood Preparatory School up to $7 million to build a new classroom building and pay off a debt from a previous building program.

The private school needs the county's backing to get the loan, but the county would not be involved or obligated, Council Chairman Larry Hargett said.

Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@ postandcourier.com.