James Island council approves composite replacement of town-hall deck and shutters

The Town of James Island council approved a full replacement of the eight-year-old town-hall deck with a composite material from Rogers American Construction for $60,100. Mayor Brooke Lyon Mayer recommended the composite option, citing long-term durability, available capital-improvements funds, and the risk of hidden rot under the existing structure.

"I would recommend that we go with option 2, replacement with composite material, dollars 60,100 for Rogers American Construction," Mayor Brooke Lyon Mayer said during the discussion. Council members asked about warranty coverage and structural tie-ins; the composite product carries a 50-year limited product warranty and a 25-year limited warranty for stain and fade, plus a 5-year contractor warranty for labor on new materials. The council agreed to ask the town engineer to review the scope before or during work to reduce implementation risk.

Separately, council approved replacement of six sun-exposed, warped shutters on the front of town hall with a composite option (approx. $19,000) to ensure hurricane protection and reduce ongoing maintenance. Mayor Lyon Mayer and other council members noted that the original shutter wood and paint had failed and that composite would require less frequent upkeep.

The deck replacement motion carried with four ayes and one recusal; the shutter replacement vote produced the same roll-call result. Council members who raised concerns asked staff to confirm the foundation/joist tie-ins and to document warranty language in the contract. Finance Director Mike Hammer confirmed there is budget capacity in the capital-improvements fund to cover both projects.