Town officials agreed they should be required to pay some amount, but they argued the fees weren't fair when compared to practices used for other municipalities.
At a finance committee meeting, council members voted 8-1 on a 12-month contract for a four-part fee schedule, charging the town full cost for planning department services, retaining all revenue from building inspections, charging the full cost of public works projects and charging full cost of Charleston County Sheriff's Office patrols above current staffing levels. Councilman A.D. Jordan cast the dissenting vote. The fees are effective January 1, 2004.
Council members agreed their fees were not consistent with those charged other municipalities and agreed to have county staff recommend a payment scale that could apply to all municipalities using county services.
The debate stems from the question of whether the town is a large municipality or a small one, and the effect the answer should have on the amount municipalities pay.
Some council members argued the town should be grouped with major municipalities -- Charles-ton, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston -- which have their own planning, public works and building departments, as well as their own law enforcement.
James Island has more than 25,000 citizens. Rural municipalities such as Meggett and Awendaw have only a few thousand.
"We think they are large enough with their population to be considered with the town of Mount Pleasant, about 40,000 citizens," said Chairman Tim Scott. "We feel like the rest of the county ought not subsidize the town of James Island."
Councilman Jordan disagreed. "They pay county taxes like everyone else," he said.
James Island Mayor Mary Clark said the town is only a year old and should not be equated with larger municipalities like Charleston, which is 300 years old.
Councilman Bill Woolsey said although the town could afford to pay the fees, some were unfair, such as the county taking all revenues from building inspections. Some municipalities get a 10 percent rebate from the county for that service. County staff said municipalities getting the rebate are usually small and rural. "Why are we being singled out?" Woolsey said.
Council also voted 6-3 to name a county satellite building in Ravenel after deceased magistrate George Tumbleston despite public support for naming it for Tumbleston and former Mayor Curtis Inabinett Sr.Ravenel area residents, including Inabinett's wife and son, Ravenel Councilman Curtis Inabinett Jr., attended the meeting to ask council to include both names on the St. Paul's Service Center building or not to name it at all.
"There's a split of support for two fine gentlemen. It just doesn't feel right to pick one," said Councilman Leon Stavrinakis, who voted against naming the building for Tumbleston. Scott and Councilman Charles Wallace also dissented.
Councilman Fran Roberts, who penned the policy for naming county buildings, said he's been working to get the building renamed for Tumbleston since January. Tumbleston died in March. Roberts said he didn't shape the policy to favor Tumbleston and disregard Inabinett, who still lives in Ravenel.
Inabinett Jr. said the decision was racially motivated. Tumbleston was white, Inabinett is black. Also, he said, the decision is a slap in the face to the town of Ravenel, which voted to name it for Inabinett Sr.
In other business, council:
-- Approved hiring two deputy sheriffs for the Project Sea Hawk Task Force.
-- Rejected paying more than $8,900 for Election Commission legal fees during April, May and June.
-- Unanimously approved adding $3,000 requested by the Charleston Legislative Delegation to their budget, bringing the amount to $145,000.
Copyright © 2003, The Post and Courier, All Rights Reserved.