[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6368647,"mediaKeyId","2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8","parentId",2156860,"title","Grace Impact Development Center seeks explanation after council reallocates $100,000; residents raise construction and traffic concerns","audioSeconds",1162,"startMs",2880000,"endMs",4042000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8&start=2880&end=4042","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8/thumbnail_2880000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6368647/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Grace-Impact-Development-Center-seeks-explanation-after-council-reallocates-100000-residents-raise-construction-and-traffic-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368647-21ecdcebb39cb1b27287e60d903dfe2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934687&Signature=SBMAudZFYLwLPkVlWosuaHvowfLal8DZvNn2l~oqZ1xEYFOLGfxhC1ZfvJPbftE~TpSDD6x6esWuz4jhzXEAOpF95bctTT~I2cWZyto-N-KPMok6UeXcs4axnUxNsrt4I2DGypn74QTgd6Gv8UPmhP~gmz4XQFuOjGEJ5lqy50O6dUcFNWL6a89H6jGUblQm3~25sYk72-odM7gasGW5s1--q-E27SstTZGAYPIRC0jHCsszCrTvze7nBQxKfBsaJdCKnT~QtkQmAdn3s5jyJIRiF8~mHq2onZc2KRkboM3Rw~Jn5IfcpUGhUtj8ynpVs6cs0CqMErDcf4pg4h3oug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-28T16:31:46.637Z","article","Residents and community organizations used the public-comment period at Berkeley County Council to demand explanations and action on three separate local concerns: the denial of an award to Grace Impact Development Center, persistent construction defects in new homes built by Pulte, and traffic capacity on Nexton Parkway.

Grace Impact Development Center speakers said the nonprofit was the only organization denied a $100,000 award from a county funding process that vetted nearly 40 projects. Shalad (Shalah) Durant, identified as co-executive director of Grace Impact Development Center and a resident of Moss Corner, told council the organization was \"very disheartened\" after learning funds staff had recommended for Grace were reallocated to a soup kitchen project. Durant said Grace runs a food pantry and farmers market, provides food education and serves hundreds of families monthly; she asked council members to explain why the organization’s application was denied.

Rebecca Antel, a food-education partner with Grace, and volunteers including Jolene Miller described regular programming at the center and urged council to reconsider or explain the decision. Tory Liferidge, who identified herself as an advocate for Grace and the organization's largest supporter, said county staff had vetted nearly 40 projects and that Grace was the only one denied funding; she supplied comparative service numbers from the Lowcountry Food Bank noting the pantry’s larger meal distribution over the same period. Liferidge asked for a meeting with council members to receive an explanation.

At the meeting, Council members acknowledged the concern. Councilman Tommy Newell, who made the motion reallocating funds at the earlier committee meeting, told speakers he would try to help resolve the issue and said the unanimous vote referenced applied only to those council members present at that meeting.

Multiple homeowners from a new Pulte-built subdivision reported construction defects and questioned county building inspection and permitting practices. Marsha Rosenberg and other residents described persistent structural and roofing problems in homes they have owned for a short time and asked why certificates of occupancy (CO) were issued when significant defects appear to remain. Rosenberg cited the building code provision R110.3 on certificates of occupancy in asking how inspectors could have signed off on unsafe roofs. Several residents provided a history of repeated inspections and repair work that they said failed to resolve defects.

Sandy Geissler and Susan Wilkinson described multiple independent inspections, repeated repair attempts and continuing deficiencies such as attic structural work and roof sheathing fastening. Residents asked whether the county's building inspectors have access to and review engineering drawings and whether staffing levels or procedural limits (for example, earlier restrictions on inspectors going on roofs) were contributing to failures to enforce codes. They requested a meeting with county officials to address their concerns.

Joel Aronson asked about traffic and future road projects, urging county officials to consider four-laning the remainder of Nexton Parkway, which fronts a growing Nexton development and has sections that remain two lanes. Aronson said a previous study supported wider lanes and asked whether county budgets include engineering and construction for widening in the near term.

Council accepted public comment and recorded requests for follow-up; the transcript shows council members said they would speak with requesters and attempt to provide additional information or meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Berkeley County Council Meeting 01/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Speakers criticized Berkeley County Council decisions and urged follow-up after staff-recommended funds were reallocated away from a local nonprofit; residents also raised safety and inspection concerns about newly built homes and asked about traffic improvements on Nexton Parkway.","taxTitle","Berkeley County, South Carolina","taxId",19112,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6368652,"Council approves multiple finance items: magistrate staffing, soup kitchen contract and discretionary grants",22,2579000,2601000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8&start=2579&end=2601","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8/thumbnail_2579000.jpg","/articles/6368652/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Council-approves-multiple-finance-items-magistrate-staffing-soup-kitchen-contract-and-discretionary-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368652-d68f6be318bde74be486d586058a03b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934687&Signature=RL5IJKqhcy6gfQbml2TAWXVZGIk69UNk8-9-2sdTukxSvG-ZTxTRU71Ctdo~zmr8Vl5cJZ~ylOfVlAVSLEEThmuPHHeKqQCLEPQmwYZ2zvG1pJQEeVK14OU7QFrFPyVzSlfOI6-nUepEJcK6J8ZEM5m~rqsGzWH8RE8ID-lCflqHOVu84Xp2uBpAMkPI4VGAgYkJhUeHMBOWAZ5HdJTfdtQp66Yk3DuOZSCsthyJ5dOTUoAoZhEp8O0fv2peb5Z-qWh046mg7Hu7F6Y9pUY-rPPznpZy8jjlQ2jnhURkONh~6zG7cD92t826lIAQ5h9ddEBZmmOXR5sF0sEDdrKNCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Berkeley County Council and the Finance Committee approved a series of budget and funding items during meetings that included the acceptance of the FY2024 audit and a second-quarter financial briefing.

The council approved a personnel budget amendment to the magistrate's office that authorizes a transfer of up to $85,000 to create two new bailiff positions and to upgrade existing constable positions. The motion was presented during the Committee on Finance and carried without recorded roll-call names in the transcript.

The council also approved awarding a construction contract for a soup kitchen project. Committee minutes and council proceedings identify the project variously in the record; the contract award as presented to the committee was for $623,698 to E2 Construction (procurement identifier IFB-47068-01-2024-2025). The motion carried in committee and was subsequently approved by the full council.

Council members approved multiple accommodations-fee discretionary funding requests presented by council members. Approved allocations included: up to $6,000 to Wassa Massa Scribe for education classes, $1,880.25 to the Sangaree Special Tax District for playground equipment, an additional $195.35 to Sangaree for playground needs, and an amended request to allocate up to $40,000 to the Daniel Island Library Society with $30,000 from Councilman Jared Brooks' accommodations-fee discretionary funds and $10,000 from Supervisor Cribb's allocation.

All motions reported in committee and during the council meeting carried by voice vote in the transcript; specific recorded roll-call tallies were not given in the meeting record provided.","Berkeley County Council approved a personnel budget amendment for the magistrate's office, awarded a construction contract for a soup kitchen, and approved several small discretionary accommodation-fee grants.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6368657,"Berkeley County audit returns clean opinion; finance staff reports solid revenues, outlines 2026 budget calendar",974,1231000,2205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8&start=1231&end=2205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2156860-f9cc9577bf39a726674e175cf30dede8/thumbnail_1231000.jpg","/articles/6368657/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Berkeley-County-audit-returns-clean-opinion-finance-staff-reports-solid-revenues-outlines-2026-budget-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368657-af2b6cd52626a35b13208b9a41b9bdb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934687&Signature=QI-MT-3-i9uV9B5W06fKOCCzx6zwl2tP2C93EXB-EEFBRu48~jgwVF8OiRr-1abxSZdPH-BCEolOEcm7aVCPg4XnFf-1BhHN-jIflvHUz8gUjaif7NUk1EhD3tZuHhRzUwzdymWA7S3vQvyVxGmEOAYHKarb0cwt8cWYK3HyHD~dmyyEnyekxVCRf3209BHvm6LPEX9cW6n0Jjq7~u6tkJfrGjxrr27nxGacD~7VYe2AA-j2nnF5PM3Xsa5-m6BIjnMSEOz2OlDaIg7pfb23uko0HMdjZjJe6xRhAd30wSPFQF3TSdFAqqD-KVA-Jc5VWG-QHWNE3NIYKpzt32BrhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An external audit of Berkeley County's fiscal year 2024 financial statements produced an unqualified opinion, and county finance staff told the Finance Committee the county's midyear finances remain on track.

Brandy Turbiville, audit manager with Thompson, Prescott and Adams, told the Finance Committee the auditors \"are pleased to disclose that the county received an unqualified opinion or a clean report.\" Turbiville said auditors found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. The auditors did note one area for improvement: documentation and approvals for travel reimbursements and related backup.

Jennifer Henson, finance staff, said the audit was the first year the county worked with the current audit firm and that staff met requested deadlines and provided requested backup. Alan Milburn, county finance staff, opened the audit discussion and introduced budget staff who will support the next budget cycle.

The audit report summarized the county's fiscal position at June 30, 2024. The report lists the general fund balance at about $105,000,024 and general fund expenditures for 2024 at about $111,000,000; the audit memo cautioned that total fund balance is not the same as funds available to spend because portions are restricted or committed for specific purposes. The auditors and staff highlighted growth in investment interest income as a significant revenue driver in 2024 and cited increases in property tax receipts compared with the prior year.

The audit firm also presented a five-year view showing trends in fund balance, revenue sources and debt. The report lists total county debt at about $304,000,000 at year-end 2024, with roughly $203,000,000 tied to business-type activities (water, sewer and solid waste). The auditors said business-type activities account for about two-thirds of the county's outstanding debt.

Henson presented the county's second-quarter financial report. Collections were reported \"right on target,\" she said, noting the January tax deadline and continued steady interest income. Henson told the committee that an allocation of $38,800,000 for the courthouse has been committed from the fund balance and therefore reduces the otherwise reported year-end fund balance.

Wendy Weaver, Berkeley County Water and Sanitation staff, reported a year-over-year increase of about $6,700,000 in water and sewer revenue for the first six months; she said rate and service charge revenue rose by about $1,700,000 and that connection fees remain steady but that some second-half receipts remain outstanding. Weaver reported nearly $13,000,000 in net revenue over expenses in the water and sewer operating results as of Dec. 31, 2024, and said about $18,000,000 was transferred to a repair-and-replacement (R&R) fund for future capital projects.

Alan Milburn reviewed the 2026 budget development timeline with the committee. Key dates presented included a tentative March budget workshop with elected and appointed officials, an April 28 council meeting for the budget's first reading (title only), a mid-May supervisors' workshop (tentative May 12), May 27 for second reading, and a targeted June 23 council meeting for the final reading and adoption.

During committee discussion, members asked auditors about testing procedures. Turbiville described sampling procedures used for tax and water/sewer collections testing, expenditure sampling, debt and fixed-asset verifications and federal-award program testing (the auditors said they tested American Rescue Plan Act funding and a Community Development Block Grant–type urban entitlement program and found no compliance issues).

The Finance Committee voted to accept the FY2024 audit results as presented.

Looking ahead, Turbiville briefed the committee on a new Governmental Accounting Standards Board standard (GASB 101) related to compensated absences that will take effect in a subsequent reporting period and may change presentation of certain liabilities.

The presentation materials provided charts and tables showing fund balance composition, tax collection percentages over five years, and revenue and expense breakdowns by major program and fund type.","External auditors gave Berkeley County an unqualified (clean) opinion for fiscal year 2024; auditors flagged only documentation for travel approvals as an improvement area. County finance staff reported strong first-half revenue performance, notable interest income, and provided key dates for the fiscal 2026 budget process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grace Impact Development Center seeks explanation after council reallocates $100,000; residents raise construction and traffic concerns

Council approves multiple finance items: magistrate staffing, soup kitchen contract and discretionary grants

Berkeley County audit returns clean opinion; finance staff reports solid revenues, outlines 2026 budget calendar