Park agency plans fresh start

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission has been at the center of much controversy lately: criticism of its land deals with half-cent sales-tax money, disputes between commissioners, a state ethics investigation of the former chairman's use of a county credit card.

But the park commission is experiencing a leadership shift and soon will welcome fresh faces. Commissioners say they are ready to put the past behind them.

Earlier this year, Lisa S. King was voted new chairwoman, and she said Friday that she is sure "the sun will come up tomorrow."

"I'm really looking forward to us working together," King said. "We've had some ... hurdles there in the past. I'm hoping we can put those things behind us, and we deal with each issue as it approaches and with a fresh new look."

Charleston County Council appointed new members to the commission last week, and three of the four incumbents up for reappointment were replaced: former Chairman Kevin Hollinshead and his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Brown, and John Dodds. Mark Kearns was the only incumbent reappointed although all four commissioners applied.

Twenty-three applicants in all sought spots on the commission. In addition to Kearns, council picked former Charleston County Assistant Solicitor Ravi Sanyal of West Ashley, attorney Matthew Yelverton of James Island and retired schoolteacher Rosemarie West of North Charleston.

West, a board member of the Daniel Joseph Jenkins Institute for Children, said she'll push for more park opportunities and programs for seniors and children.

Any past tension or disputes involving park commissioners are of no interest to her, she said. "I'm only interested in doing the best that I can, based on the skills that I bring to the table," West said.

Much of the reported contention on the park agency's board involved Hollinshead and Commissioner Robert New. In December, the commission voted to ask the State Ethics Commission to investigate Hollinshead's use of a county credit card to buy tickets to a football game, an upgrade to first class on a flight and about $300 in other personal charges.

Hollinshead said he'd done nothing wrong but said he would repay the money. He also alleged misconduct by New.

New demanded an apology, which he did not receive, and then filed a defamation lawsuit.

At a November board meeting, controversy erupted over a consulting contract for a land deal involving the Jenkins Institute. New demanded that his fellow commissioners state whether they had solicited business for, or had any business ties with, any of the consultants under consideration.

Several commissioners quickly said "no," but Hollinshead laughed at New's suggestion and declined to answer. Jenkins' board has since pulled its proposal to possibly let the park agency lease some of its 48-acre bluff on the Ashley River.

Major controversies have erupted in the past year over half-cent tax expenditures. Park land deals, such as Harmony Hall and the proposed Long Savannah site, have critics questioning the commissioners' judgment.

The park agency still has about half of its $36 million share of green space money for parkland. King and Vice Chairman Kearns are hopeful that money will be put to good use — new boat landings, and parks east of the Cooper and in North Charleston.

The commission is on track, Executive Director Tom O'Rourke said. "There's an interesting spirit of cooperation that's going on right now," he said.