Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge Tega Cay council to act on sediment in Nivens Cove
Summary
Multiple residents told the Tega Cay City Council on July 20 that sediment buildup in Nivens Cove is worsening and asked the city to produce DHEC documents, permitting records and a community meeting to plan remediation before hurricane season.
Residents from the Nivens Creek/Cove area pressed the Tega Cay City Council at its July 20 meeting for a concrete plan to address severe sediment accumulation and stormwater impacts.
The strongest appeals came during public comment from Mike Becker, who said the problem has “gotten worse” despite years of complaints and urged the city to pursue remediation and agency follow‑up. "We made three requests at the last meeting…we would more appreciate if we can get some action and actually get some remediation on this issue," Becker said.
Two neighbors — Lisa Pronzinski and Allison Scardino — described concerns about runoff from a large parking lot under construction near Nivens Creek and pressed the council for clarity on permitting, pond removal and who is responsible for design and ongoing impacts. Pronzinski asked where runoff will flow and whether the drainage system is sized to handle it; Scardino said residents are frustrated that they were not included in a recent meeting and that dredging may be necessary before hurricane season. “We’re at a point where… the only option we have is to dredge,” Scardino said.
Resident Ashley Hill linked the environmental concerns to broader regional planning, urging leaders to convene stakeholders to explore transit solutions and budget priorities; she said she collected 80 petition signatures supporting further regional coordination and asked the council to include regional transit discussions in November budget deliberations.
Council response and next steps
Councilmember Carter told speakers their voices were heard and said staff are following up. "Your voices are being heard, and there's conversations about what you guys are dealing with," he said. The mayor later invited residents to a town hall scheduled for July 30 at the police training room as an opportunity for further conversation, though she cautioned that not every question may be fully answered at that meeting.
What residents asked the council to do
- Produce or circulate requested DHEC documents and permitting records tied to the Newland development and the Miller property pond removal. - Explain who is responsible for stormwater design and how runoff from the new parking area will be managed. - Convene a meeting that includes impacted residents, city staff and any relevant outside agencies to discuss remediation options (residents named dredging as a likely remedy).
Why it matters
Speakers emphasized the timing: the city is in a stage 2 drought and approaching hurricane season, conditions they said raise the risk that additional heavy rainfall could worsen cove damage and downstream impacts. The council acknowledged the concerns and indicated follow‑up; no formal action or vote on a remediation plan was recorded at the July 20 meeting.
The city manager and staff have been asked to follow up with the residents and with any responsible permitting agencies; the July 30 town hall was presented as an early opportunity for dialogue and clarifying next steps.
