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Resident urges action on Northwoods Estates lakes, cites toxic sludge and costly fixes
Summary
Monica Mummy told the North Charleston City Council the city’s failure to maintain three lakes in Northwoods Estates has caused repeated flooding, foul odors and a blocked outlet since August 2022; she cited survey spending of over $412,000 and a recommended $7 million dredging plan later reduced to a $700,000 culvert-focused option.
Monica Mummy, a North Charleston resident, told the City Council on May 14 that the three city-owned lakes at Northwoods Estates have repeatedly flooded since August 2022, leaving foul odors and what she called a health hazard from sludge and roadway runoff.
"The city spent over $412,000 on surveys with the Revere Group," Mummy said, and she told council members the consultants initially recommended dredging and removing contaminated material to the Ridgeville dump site at a cost of about $7,000,000. She said the city later pursued a smaller plan she said totaled $700,000 to replace culverts at three streets and address a board lift at one lake outlet, but that plan did not resolve the toxic water or lingering odors. "This is not our burden," she said, arguing that city-owned infrastructure failures should not be shifted onto residents.
The complaint described current conditions: low water levels, a fully blocked outlet at the largest lake, and recurring manual interventions by Public Works (Mummy said crews were still removing wooden boards to prevent flooding).
Council members responded at the meeting with assurances about funding strategy. One council member said raising taxes was not on the council's agenda and noted the city has two grant writers pursuing other funding sources; another council member publicly thanked Public Works Director Michelle Lloyd for the department's responsiveness.
No formal vote or directive about the lakes was recorded during the meeting. Council members said the council and staff continue to explore grants and other funding options but did not commit to a specific dredging or remediation timeline at the meeting.
