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I have been labeled a Scaremonger in the paper, not by the paper, but by a citizen in the editorial section of the paper. This is a free country so you can say what you want, but I want to set the record straight. I have never tried to scare the people in Cottageville on anything. I have always tried to give you the financials and to tell you what is going on. I’ll give you the facts tonight on several issues, you can talk outside tonight and talk about me and my employees behind our backs, but when it is all said and done, it won’t change a thing. Cottageville will still be Cottageville, and Cottageville problems will still be right here in our faces. So here are the problems, not scare tactics, problems. You detractors and criticizers with all the answers here is something that you can sink your teeth into. I’m sure you will be able to solve them tonight out front of town hall after the meeting is over. I’m tired of worrying about them.

• Revenues- the State continues to cut aid to sub-division money. Three per-cent this year, another eleven per-cent next year. The state takes more money on ticket assessments each year. We still owe the State $165,000 in old ticket assessments and they want their money. Why don’t the detractors ask the people responsible where the money is? This will not go away and we will have to pay.
• Tickets-The State court controls the amount we can charge on a ticket. Approx. 58% goes to the state of each ticket other than seat beat violations. The amount gets larger each year. The state does not want us to use tickets to generate the majority of our revenue, but that is exactly what they do. Along with this, people continue to complain about the police dept. We had a business crime watch meeting set up by Chief Roberts. One business owner came. Me. Well, maybe the answer is turning the police dept. over to the county. The sheriff’s dept. is under-manned for what they have to handle. Last week alone there were 21 arrests in the town of Cottageville. These men and women put their lives on the line every time they stop a car or go to a domestic violence call. This is what one officer said to me, “I thought I wasn’t working in North Charleston any longer.” The problem is crime is moving this way. Our officers do an outstanding job, and to top off everything else I get petty complaints about them. Boy, what would happen if you ever thanked one of these guys, or if you ever listened or cared to listen to what they have to put up with on a shift. Let’s not forget, they provide the revenue for the town and the state. When a citizen of the town gets caught here for breaking the law they feel the department should look the other way, the law is enforced fairly to all citizens, if you live here or not.
• Zoning- Our current zoning ordinance is not worth the paper it is written on. It was enacted in 1986 and then an ex-mayor went through with a pen and lined-out stuff that he didn’t like. An attorney fighting against this ordinance would have a field day with it. The new zoning ordinance presented to council is, I Quote,” too restrictive.” So basically, at this time we have nothing. The public hearing for the new zoning ordinance was nothing but grilling of the Chairperson, who serves without compensation. There is a developer right now that owns almost forty acres in the center of town. He has had so much resistance here it is unbelievable, because he wanted to do something different in the town. Yes, I support him, but not for the reasons the detractors think. It is because a business provides revenue in two ways, Business license and local option sales tax. Never considered that one, huh. This is what he is trying to accomplish. A grocery store and a town center. He is fighting sewer and water issues. Well, the town can hang up that revenue we fought that battle and lost. He said to me the other day, “Maybe I should turn it into a mobile home park.” Yep, let’s keep Cottageville, Cottageville. Scare tactic on his part, maybe. Reality, probably more so a mobile home park than a grocery store. This was one of the things that were lined-out in the original ordinance. Mobile home parks can go anywhere in Cottageville, but remember we don’t need zoning. Here’s another interesting fact, drive down Bama road. There sits the old planing mill. Nine acres of land. What can it be used for? The answer, anything.
• The Old School- The school board wants the town to lease it. It will cost the town $30,000 a year just to cut the grass, insure it and test the water. This includes no electricity. If the town doesn’t lease it, it will go to auction. I will make a recommendation to council tonight for me to sign the lease. But here is some homework for the detractors, go out and look at some of the old schools that were auctioned off. Find out what they are being used for. Some of you went to that school. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything to you. Where is the Town supposed to come up with the money? We can lease it for awhile, but it will be the first thing to go if revenues cannot support it. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to have this become a community center, a place that children could go and play. A place for seniors. A place that a grandparent could take his or her grandchild, oh I forgot, let’s keep Cottageville, Cottageville. We don’t want to pay for anything, so even though we can lease this building we probably can’t afford to do anything but cut the grass.
• Ground water sampling- I have gotten proposals from several firms, but why, DHEC is in charge of it. The contractor they use does not even clean up their own mess. I have had to call to get drums removed from the side of the road. I have been accused of using this as a lever for water and sewer, even though I never brought it up during the referendum. I could tell you what some of the engineers told me, but I would just get accused of scare tactics. Maybe you like benzene and diesel compounds in your ground water, but I think it stinks. You don’t think it is there, think again. What do you think a test well is for. Can the detractors against municipal water guarantee you that this crap won’t get into your drinking water? DHEC has the reports under the FOI act. They cost about $95 a piece.

So back to revenues. We have several options. Try to attract businesses. How? Limited commercial area in Town with no services. Annexation, we have nothing to offer anyone outside of town. Town taxes, probably the only answer. We are one of the only municipalities in the state without it. Things must be paid, remember bills from 2003 and 2004. I am fighting a lawsuit right now with an ex-chief of police for comp. time from 2006. 2006. I’m tired of fighting things like $40,000 in drug fund money used improperly, Lawsuits with companies and people out of Chicago when state purchasing was available. Missing town records. Old bills not paid. You know one of the things that is looked at when you apply for a grant is the town’s debt. Maybe this is why it is so hard to get one. Why would they give us one when we already owe them money? It was said that I wanted a blank check to pay for water and sewer; I want one to pay for old bills.

So when you leave here tonight, remember I gave you the truth. You can run me down and my employees too, but the state will still want their money. My charge to you is turning that energy into something good. Turn a complaint into a compliment. Volunteer for something. We have positions that come open on every committee, but it’s hard to find people to fill these spots. Have you ever noticed that the only thing a complainer can do is complain, what a sorry existence. The town has the best staff it has ever had. The people that work here are concerned about every dollar that comes in and the best way to spend it. Remember you live here, and I do too. Everything I do to the town I do to myself. Cottageville will change and grow, and it is up to us to steer its course. Our employees don’t live here, but they are very concerned and work like hell to make this a better place.

So I ask you, what did you do to help support the town today, and to make it a better place? And to the people who call me a scaremonger, Boo. Hope you can handle a dose of reality.

At the January meeting I will be presenting a list of goals to council for the coming year. This would be a great time to step up for your town and get involved. And like the town meetings, anyone can come and get involved.

George M. White,
Mayor