Council under time pressure chooses transportation‑sales‑tax project after heated debate

A last‑minute decision on which transportation‑sales‑tax (TST) project the town should endorse prompted extended debate. County staff had asked the town to identify which intersection to fund, and councilors wrestled between a roundabout near town hall and an arm‑cut/arc modification at Steep Creek (near Route 17/Seaweed/15‑mile).

Council members raised safety and feasibility concerns for both locations. Some members argued a roundabout at Seaweed/17 could worsen turning movements at a commercial node and that arm‑cut solutions were preferable at Steep Creek because the site lacks a commercial node and is on lists of dangerous rural intersections. Others noted that the county and South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) might deem certain designs infeasible without broader public support and a warrant study.

An outside contact — described during the meeting as Eric Adams (county contact) and callers including Eric Davis — had pressed the town for a prompt choice because funds must be allocated. A council member summarized the options: accept a roundabout near town hall, accept an arm‑cut at Steep Creek, or forego the TST funding. Under the time constraints, the council made a motion and voted to select a project and ask staff to confirm technical feasibility and funding details with county public‑works staff.

Members recorded opposition and abstentions during the vote; councilors asked staff to follow up with county engineers for clarifying exhibits and to document the chosen project's scope. Council acknowledged the trade‑offs and said more county analysis and public outreach would be needed before construction could proceed.