Residents angry over new waterline
'I don't want it, I don't need it, and I don't have the money'
By Dave Munday
MONCKS CORNER — Dozens of residents showed up at Monday's Berkeley County Council meeting to blast officials for a water project they say they don't need but will cost them thousands of dollars.
Residents in the Cross area are upset that the county is forcing them to tap into a new waterline along S.C. Highway 311, even though they're happy with their wells.
"I don't want it, I don't need it, and I don't have the money to pay for it," longtime resident Geneva Kessler told council. "So you know what you can do with it."
Residents got a letter from the county water and sewer department last week saying they had 180 days to tap into the new waterline or face a lien on their property. The county requires residents to tap into a new waterline that comes within 150 feet of their property line.
The tap-in fee is $2,600. Residents also have to pay for pipes to their houses, which could add another couple of thousand dollars. Some say they also would have to install new plumbing to handle the extra water pressure.
Resident Linda Riney said hooking up the two houses she owns would cost her almost $25,000. She also questioned whether there are enough houses along the route to justify the line, which cost the county $2.4 million.
"How did this waterline ever get into the ground?" she asked council. "We need to know the whole story."
Several other residents also questioned how the project ever got approved in the first place. The arguments over the project have become so contentious in recent months that council approved an audit to look into it.
Water department officials spent more than half an hour Monday explaining how the project got on the list. Attorney David Jennings pointed out that well water may good to drink, but it doesn't provide enough pressure to fight fires, which is one reason the county opted for the waterline.
A few residents thanked council for putting down the new line. They say their water is so bad it turns their white clothes brown.
"I've been waiting on this water, and I'm going to tap in," said Glover Pinckney, brother of Councilman Caldwell Pinckney, who represents the area. "I've got neighbors that want to tap in."
Councilman Steve Davis of Moncks Corner got the biggest round of applause when he promised to try to get council to change the ordinance that requires nearby residents to tap into new waterlines. Then those who want the water can use it and those who are happy with their wells won't have to pay for it.
Councilman Tim Callanan of Daniel Island also urged county officials to be sure to send out letters asking residents if they want a project before spending money on it next time.
Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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MC29461 (anonymous) says...
Berkeley County politics at its finest!
"I've been waiting on this water, and I'm going to tap in," said Glover Pinckney, brother of Councilman Caldwell Pinckney, who represents the area.
Of course he would say something in support of his brother Duh!
Ground water is tested on a regular basis with no problems and fire trucks have always been able to deal with rural fires. It is the lack of volunteer firemen that causes more of a problem than water pressure.
And Councilman Tim Callanan of Daniel Island who "also urged county officials to be sure to send out letters asking residents if they want a project before spending money on it next time" is an idiot for saying something so stupid just to cover himself with the voters. He just does not understand the we see right through his shallow statement.
This water project sounds similar to Congressman James Clyburn's 150 million dollar bridge to nowhere project. Unfortunately the poor citizens of Berkeley County will be stuck paying for this boondoggle.
June 23, 2009 at 2:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smalltownrumor (anonymous) says...
The fact that an attempt is being made to force people to tap into a water line they neither want or need is an important element of this story but it is by no means the whole story. If everyone will just be patient until the whole story comes to light, they will be shocked. And, for those who don't understand how a legal case is built, Mr. Callanan is systematically getting the actions of BCW&S into the official record.
June 23, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
Why not 'grandfather' in those who've been there for 'X' number of years? At least reduce the cost to maybe one-half of what it will cost new-comers.
June 23, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
Follow the money. Is there a large parcel of land ripe for development and owned by an influential individual at the end of the line?
"Councilman Steve Davis of Moncks Corner got the biggest round of applause when he promised to try to get council to change the ordinance that requires nearby residents to tap into new waterlines."
Surley he knows that can't happen!
June 23, 2009 at 7:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blunt (anonymous) says...
The corruption associated with this project unfortunately even reached the PC. This story, with well documented evidence, was given to the PC last November (2008), however, Dan Davis intervened and pressured the editor NOT to publish it! As some of you know,for months now, a couple of us have used this means of communication to warn you that this story was eventually going to break! Unfortunately, this is only the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to the leadership of Dan Davis! Thank God for TV news!!
June 23, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mienliebte (anonymous) says...
I remember this happening to my grandparents years ago. They had no choice but to tie in. It wiped out their savings, but they were the lucky ones. At least they had enough to cover it, others weren't so lucky.
June 23, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MC29461 (anonymous) says...
I have to wonder if the P&C reporters do much more than take Berkeley County's PR news releases and publish them as researched news articles.
County Council is only giving its citizens platitudes like "promised to TRY to get council to change the ordinance" or urging "county officials to be sure to send out letters asking residents if they want a project before spending money on it next time" to get them off their backs.
What BS.
June 23, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blunt (anonymous) says...
MC29461, I can tell you that the prior reporter assigned to cover Berkeley County news did extensive detailed documented research and investigation along with a resident of that area that covered approximately 8 months and many works hours. However, again, Dan Davis used his influence to persuade the editor back in November 2008 not to publish. Not to worry, we will be calling in investigative agencies, such FBI, SLED, and others with the hope of charging someone with a crime. You can help by contacted these agencies and insist that they get involved. The more pressure citizens put on the agencies, the more likely they are to investigate. Please don't leave it to just a hanful of us!!
June 23, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
Lets see, doing this because it will help with pressure to fight a fire. But lets not report the HIGH HIGH water and sewer bills that will follow each month AFTER they spend 4000.00 or more on this to fight fires. The last water and sewer bill I received was 65.00 this had a mininum sewer fee and a mininum water fee then an additional water use fee, in other words thewater company will get at least 60.00 mininum each month to do whatever they want to do with it and any extra water usuage like watering your garden (in the country) or washing your car etc. so figure at least 800.00 a year to a thousand a year that these folks never paid before and 4000.00 tap in fee. And this doesn't count in how much they have already paid to have a septic put down and a well and tank put in. If this is so important then there should be no tap in fees of any kind and just collect the monthly water and sewer bill.
June 23, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hossdog001 (anonymous) says...
Keep it up 'blunt'. Maybe the people will see how this county keeps the books. It might be possible that the BCWS is a master at getting Federal Grant Money and County Tax Money... Use some of the money on this project, and then tuck some of the grant money away for a rainy day.(like NAME changes, buying 'GOODIES' not in the budget, ect.) BCWS could then use the tie in FEES to make up the difference in their budget needs. It could be possible that some county lawyers and council members were aware of this type of activity. WHO'S TOO SAY!...Give Steve Davis a chance to do the right thing (they all need to be re-elected some day), and as for Caldwell Pinckney, he needs to remember that this FEE, and the cost of installing the waterline from the house to the county waterline, could almost pay for a funeral at his parlor. GRANT IT...THIS IS JUST A POSSIBILITY...HOPE WE CAN FIND OUT THE TRUTH!!!!!
June 23, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
simmons (anonymous) says...
Guys don't wast your time with MC29461 he is a serial cry baby commenter on P&C. I have dealt with him before. Probably a miserable 98 pound weakling who sits in front of his computer all and posts but is not man enough to actually say things he posts in public.
June 23, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
They need to do what Dorchester County did. If you don't want to you don't have to.
June 23, 2009 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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