Kingstree council approves water-rate increase; shelter leaders warn of hardship

Kingstree’s Town Council on July 21 approved the final reading of Ordinance 2025-03, adopting a water-rate increase intended to support the town’s water infrastructure.

Councilman Chris Williams moved to approve final reading of Ordinance 2025-03; Councilman Frankie D. White seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The ordinance passed with all six attending council members voting in favor.

During public comment, Juanita Green, owner of Mary’s Angels Homeless Shelter, said the shelter — a nonprofit that does not receive state or federal donations — cannot afford an increase to water fees and urged the council to consider the shelter’s limited operating margins. "The shelter cannot afford an increase to stay in operation and house homeless," Green said, and asked the town to address repeated flooding that pushes water into the shelter’s first floor.

Former District 4 council member Monica Murdaugh requested an update on a 2021 east-side water infrastructure project for which the town received nearly $1 million in grant funding and asked that town staff publicize progress. Mr. Alfred Gamble raised a neighborhood discrepancy in water service between routes (noting flow on 527 but not Ellis Loop); he was invited to a community meeting on July 29 where Project Partners and town staff will discuss the water project in more detail.

Council members did not reverse the rate increase during the meeting. Town staff and council members said they will follow up publicly on the east-side project and the community meeting July 29 was scheduled to provide more detailed project information.