Office closing opposed

The Edisto magistrate's court, which is open just 8 hours a week, is the least busy in the county; and closing it has been proposed as a cost-cutting move.

For Edisto residents with business before the magistrate, the proposed closing at the end of this month would mean driving more than 20 miles to the nearest magistrate's office in Ravenel.

Charleston County expects to save $15,000 a year in maintenance, utilities, insurance and related costs by shutting the Edisto court.

Magistrate Alvin Bligen already has been reassigned by Charleston County's Legislative Delegation and will become the county's night bond court magistrate.

The delegation recommended closing the Edisto office when it reassigned Bligen.

"They thought it wouldn't be detrimental to merge the offices," said Junerese Rhodan, the county's director of Summary Court Administration.

On average, the county's 15 magistrate courts handled 624 cases a month from July through January, the period of time covered by the most recent county report.

The Edisto court handled a total of 26 cases during those 7 months, an average of less than four a month.

"That was one of the incentives to do that (close the office)," Rhodan said.

Magistrates generally have jurisdiction over criminal offenses subject to a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days in prison, or both, which applies to many municipal ordinances. They are responsible for setting bail, conducting preliminary hearings and issuing arrest and search warrants.

The Edisto Island Community Association opposes the closing, and a public hearing before the County Council is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Lonnie Hamilton Public Service Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston.

"We understand full well how difficult the (county's) budget situation is," said E.M. Skidmore, vice president of the association. "What we don't want is for the county to make permanent decisions because of short-term problems."

He said the Edisto magistrate's office on Indigo Hill Road would be much busier if the area got more attention from law enforcement.

"We don't believe there is a lack of problems, we believe there is a lack of law enforcement," Skidmore said. "If they do this, we will press them to increase the amount of law enforcement here and to not make this a permanent decision."

"We see it as a done deal, but we want to let them know we aren't happy," he said.

Reach David Slade at dslade@postandcourier.com or 937-5552.