James Island leaders report Narcan grant and safety priorities after fatal crash; new park opening and pet microchip scanner planned

Town staff at the Feb. 27 James Island Neighborhood Council meeting reported several public-safety and community updates, including plans to distribute opioid-overdose reversal kits, a recent fatal crash tied to a high-speed incident, and community events tied to a new park and annual picnic.

A town staff member told the council the town expects to receive about $53,000 from the opioid settlement. The town will act as a pass-through and give most of the funds to an organization recommended by county specialists that specializes in opioid response; the town said it will retain part of the allocation to purchase additional Narcan kits. The staff member described a Narcan demonstration given to town staff and AmeriCorps volunteers, and noted that kits will be stocked at Town Hall and made more broadly available. "You just stick this in somebody's nose if they're unresponsive and spray it, and it can't hurt them," the staff member said during the meeting; she added the county presenter said it can save lives when an opioid overdose is present and demonstrated how mixtures of drugs can vary in potency.

The staff member also reported a fatal crash the previous night that originated near Clearview and appeared to follow a high-speed police chase; the speaker said the driver may have been traveling in excess of 100 mph and that one person died while another occupant survived. The town official said police had initially pursued but later disengaged because of the vehicle's high speed.

Neighborhood safety concerns discussed included speeding on local streets and ATV/golf-cart trespass at a dirt road and drainage area; the town has gated one access with permission of the property owner and increased patrols in coordination with the Island patrol. The town also reported vandalism at Peaky Park during an ice storm involving teenagers on a golf cart; staff said cameras were unable to identify suspects.

On community events and services, the staff member said Millpointe Park will have a grand opening in the next few weeks and described it as about 4.2 acres with azaleas, camellias and grand oaks. The town plans a community picnic the first Saturday in April on the historical Indian Mound Park; the speaker said last year’s picnic drew more than 500 people and the event will include carriage rides, animals and local vendors. The town also said it plans to pilot a permanently installed pet microchip scanner near a local “poop station” within four to six weeks to help reunite found animals with owners.

Why it matters: The opioid-settlement funding and distribution of Narcan kits can affect emergency response and overdose outcomes in the community. Speeding, ATV trespass and vandalism are active safety concerns for residents; the town is deploying patrols and infrastructure responses. Park openings and community events have neighborhood-scale cultural and economic value.

What the meeting did not specify: the recommended organization that will receive opioid-settlement funds, the exact breakdown of how the $53,000 will be spent, identification of suspects in the park vandalism, or exact dates for the Millpointe Park grand opening.

Local officials encouraged residents to request speed-control measures (such as speed humps) through town staff and to contact the town for extra patrols if they observe unsafe activity.