Residents urge county to repair ditches, lower speed limits after repeated crashes

Multiple residents used the May 6 public‑comment period to ask Colleton County officials to address drainage, roadside ditches and speeding in residential areas.

Felicia Johnson (identified in the meeting as a speaker during public comment) described a location where the posted speed limit remains 45 mph in what she called a residential area. She said motorists frequently ignore stop signs and that the ditch at the intersection often fills with water; she described a prior incident when a vehicle entered the ditch and a family member nearly drowned. Johnson said the conditions are worse in warmer weather and as children return from school.

Jacqueline Jenkins described persistent yard flooding and indoor mold that she said resulted from a clogged or uncleaned ditch behind her property. Jenkins said county records and maps she had reviewed did not show a clear easement on her property and that she had been told different agencies (state, town, county) had varying responsibilities. Jenkins said the standing water and mosquitoes created health concerns and that multiple attempts to get ditches cleared had not permanently resolved the problem.

Council members acknowledged the public comments and the safety concerns raised ahead of hurricane season. No county action or vote to change speed limits or to schedule ditch repairs was recorded during the meeting; residents asked county staff to follow up.

The comments highlighted two recurring operational issues for the county: coordinating responsibility among state, municipal and county agencies for roadside ditches and clarifying the process to request ditch cleaning and drainage repair. Members of the public said the issues were causing property damage, safety hazards and health complaints. The council did not set a formal timeline for response during the May 6 meeting.