James Island officials outline deferred ditch maintenance, coordinate with county and DOT

James Island officials on Wednesday described a series of deferred ditch-cleaning and outfall repairs the town plans to start immediately and asked residents to help identify problem locations while the town, Charleston County and the South Carolina Department of Transportation coordinate work.

“James Island is, a multi jurisdictional island. It's a challenge,” Mayor Bridal Lyon said, describing why some drainage fixes require cooperation among the town, county and state. Town and county staff and state DOT maintenance engineers were present to talk through which agency would handle specific sections and what residents should expect as crews begin work.

Town drainage coordinator Melissa Flick said crews and an approved private contractor will begin excavation and hand-cleaning on several short, deferred-maintenance sites rather than large capital projects. “These are some deferred maintenance items that we need to get, taken care of,” Flick said. She listed initial sites as a section of Bradford between Shandon and Wilton, Kentwood (to finish both sides where prior volunteer work began), Dill…