HERE NEWS
By Al Dozier, Posted 4/4/24
Lexington County Council appears to have begun making peace with town leaders in the county. At the March 26 council meeting, council members approved a plan to have representatives of the town’s municipalities serve on a special committee that could provide an opportunity for some oversight on road maintenance issues.
According to county staff research, such committees are often used by other counties to resolve differences that municipalities may have with county policies on maintenance issues. The plan calls for having representatives from the five largest counties, and a representative to serve the interest of the small towns.
“It will be beneficial to all,” Council Chairwoman Beth Carrigg said. “This is a start.”
“This plan has merit,” Councilman Todd Cullum said.
The action is a response to an outcry of opposition from several town and city leaders in Lexington County over the council’s cancellation of a 40-year-old agreement to provide road maintenance services to municipalities. After cancelling the agreement, the county did provide towns and cities an opportunity to sign off on a new agreement on road services. But it would require that any new residential developments annexed into a town or city must meet Lexington County’s development standards. Most municipalities have not signed on the agreement.
Many of them have sent out resolutions to the county expressing their concerns that the county has a responsibility to maintain roads in accordance with local needs. A resolution adopted by the Irmo council recommends the transportation committee that approves funding allocations include representatives of municipalities. Currently, the committee is made up of Lexington County Council members.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Cullum said the plan approved by the council will need feedback from the municipalities before it can be determined if it will solve the differences. “It will need some digestion,” he said, noting there are 14 municipalities in Lexington County. The new plan could help resolve the conflict, but local officials have not issued any immediate response to the plan.
