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A Salem Road Update with a Twist

Sand truck

After Channel 4 came out last week, Channel 2 News also came out on Monday May 6th, and did another short new piece focused on Salem Road and the truck damage to our roads by the sand trucks. (Link to the Channel 2 Live news story Trucks carrying dirt from nearby mines causing damage to roads in Dorchester).

Members of our town have discussed in-person the road condition issues with our District 1 County Council Member Harriet Holman and our SC State Representative House District 97 – Robby Robbins. Mr. Robbins toured our area on Sunday, May 5th, and Mrs. Holman was to tour our area on Tuesday, May 7th. Early feedback is the Department of Transportation (DOT) folks are “working on a plan to completely redo” Salem Road. While it may take them a few weeks to get everything together the end product should be a completely new Salem Road.

In trying to research the Salem mine permit (there is none) with the DHEC Mining folks, I learned the two mine sites on Salem Road are Department of Transportation (DOT) “borrow pits.” And it should come as no surprise, DOT borrow pits are apparently exempt from having to obtain a mine operating permit. This would also explain the lack of community notice for mining operations and why the DOT is so quick to come up with a plan to replace the road.

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Salem Road Update

Sand truck

Channel 4 News came out Friday and did a short new piece focused on Salem Road however this is bigger than just a few sand trucks on a country road, it’s the tip of a complicated iceberg.

(Link to the Channel 4 Live news story Dorchester residents raise concerns over street damage and noise from truck traffic ) And it’s not a “salt mine” it’s a sand mine, one of dozens encircling our community.

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all have heavy sand truck traffic from pre-dawn to dusk, six days a week.

Sand trucks and potholes
Sand trucks and potholes

Sand mines and the associated truck traffic are destroying taxpayer-funded roads for the profit of others. The County and DHEC continue to approve private sand mine zoning and permitting over repeated citizen impact concerns and then seemingly do nothing when there is a problem. But of course “Dorchester County says it’s working to manage it all.” How? By collecting your tax money and then throwing asphalt at the problem? Or maybe by passing another law the mines won’t follow?

Our town benefits ZERO from these state and county-approved, highly profitable, mining operations destroying the area, our roads, and the environment around us. I would encourage everyone concerned to continue to contact your representative and advocate for more local control over the damage to our roads from sand mines.

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Our Town Roads

Sand truck drivng over fresh repairs

Our roads are being destroyed by sand trucks. I recently responded to a neighbor’s complaint related to the road condition along Salem Road and took some time to drive Salem from Railway Drive to Halfway Gut Creek. I was aghast at the deterioration of the roadway in less than a year.

Salem Road
Salem Road potholes

There is now a new sand mine straddling both sides of the road just before Halfway Gut. Someone installed a steel plate in the road due to the trucks turning in and out of the mine tearing up the road. The road directly in front of the Salem United Methodist Church is largely destroyed now. There are potholes everywhere.

Road crews unsuccessfully attempted to repave the section in front of the Methodist Church, I don’t think their work lasted more than a few hours. The sand trucks were driving over the repairs before the crews were finished.

I have sent the following letter from our town association to Mrs. Harret Holman and the Dorchester County Commissioners seeking their support.

Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners
Letter to Dorchester County Commissioners

Almost every road around our Town of Dorchester now has at least one sand mine feeding these massive sand trucks onto them. Sandridge, Salem, Zion, and East Main/178 all now have heavy sand truck traffic six days a week for at least eight hours a day. I would encourage everyone concerned to contact your representative and advocate for more control over the damage to our roads from sand mines. You can call, email, or write a letter asking for their support for our committee.

Please feel free to use the following template and your own words. You can also cut and paste into an email and send it directly to the commissioners (or anyone else you think may support this issue). This link (https://www.dorchestercountysc.gov/government/county-council/council-members) gives our County Council members’ phone numbers and email addresses.

Resident-Letter-to-DorchesterCC-for-road-Maintenance.docxDownload

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Upcoming Joint Town Hall Meeting

Dorchester County Logo

Chairman Todd Friddle from Dorchester County Council, Ms. Kellie Bates from the DD2 Board of Trustees, Dr. Charmaine Palmer-Roberts from North Charleston City Council, Chief Richardson from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and Representative Chris Murphy from the S.C. House of Representatives, invite residents to an upcoming town hall meeting at the Wescott Park Clubhouse.

Residents, community leaders, and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and actively participate in this meeting. This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with elected officials and decision-makers, shaping the future of our community. Topics of discussion will include education, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development.

To submit your questions to the moderator, please email them to mmills@dorchestercountysc.gov.  

Date: April 3, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Wescott Park Clubhouse Address, (9006 Dorchester Road, North Charleston)

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County Greenbelt Master Plan Public Input Sessions

Dorchester County Logo

Dorchester County will be holding two upcoming in-person public engagement sessions designed to gather community input for the development of the Greenbelt Master Plan.

A greenbelt is an undeveloped land area around or within cities, safeguarded to preserve nature, biodiversity, and recreational spaces. It serves multiple purposes, such as environmental conservation, flood prevention, and supporting sustainable urban planning. Greenbelts seek to strike a balance between urban development and maintaining green spaces for community well-being and environmental health. The Dorchester County Greenbelt Master Plan will help guide funding for eligible projects such as land acquisition and purchase of conservation easements as a result of the 2022 Dorchester County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Referendum. 

The public input sessions will be held as follows:

1. St. George Rosenwald School:

  • Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
  • Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Location: St. George Rosenwald School, 205 Ann Street, St. George, SC 29477

2. Alston Middle School Cafeteria:

  • Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
  • Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
  • Location: Alston Middle School, 500 Bryan St. Summerville, SC 29483
    (Enter the building from Highway 78)

These sessions serve as opportunities for community members to share their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns which will directly shape the Greenbelt Master Plan.

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Do This Survey for Better Streets

Steets

In an initiative to enhance community involvement in shaping the future of our county’s transportation policies, Dorchester County has launched the Complete Streets Survey. This survey invites residents, businesses, and stakeholders to actively participate in crafting safer, more accessible streets for all.

To access the survey, please visit this link. Please note the survey will close on November 27, 2023.

The Complete Streets approach advocates for the design of streets that can accommodate all modes of transportation by promoting safety and accessibility for everyone. By taking part in this survey, you can contribute to the development of transportation policies that reflect the diverse needs of our community.

The County will also host its second Complete Streets Workshop. This workshop is open to everyone, and families are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.

Date: October 26, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 
Location: St. George Rosenwald School (205 Ann Street, St. George)

For more information, please visit the Dorchester County Complete Streets Policy webpage. 

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Make Time to Attend This Public Meeting for Another Sand Mine.

DHEC has provided notice they are hosting a public meeting for the proposed Moorer Mine. The meeting will be held at the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center (507 Schoolhouse road, Dorchester SC 29437) at 6:00 pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Doors will open at 5:30 to allow people to sign in and meet and greet with the DHEC staff.

This meeting is being held at the request of our Dorchester community. If at all possible please plan to attend. The purpose of the public meeting is to provide us information related to the mine application package and to answer questions related to the impact to our community.

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You’re Invited to the September 11, 2001 Remembrance Ceremony

Dorchester County September 11, 2001 Remembrance Ceremony

Dorchester County is inviting the community to it’s September 11, 2001 Remembrance Ceremony.

“As we mark the anniversary of September 11, we plan to come together as a community to reflect on the events of that day and pay tribute to the victims, survivors, and heroes who demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience. Our Dorchester County September 11 Ceremony will serve as an opportunity for us to stand together in remembrance, to support one another, and to reinforce the values that bind us as a society. The program will include speeches, a moment of silence, and a wreath-laying ceremony to honor those who lost their lives.”

The Ceremony will take place Monday, September 11, 2023, 8:30 a.m., at the Davis-Bailey Park, 5190 E. Jim Bilton Blvd, St George.

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Residents Urged to Report Structural Damage from Hurricane Idalia

Dorchester County Logo

Dorchester County urges residents to report any structural damage to their properties or businesses. This information will assist county damage assessment teams in evaluating the extent of the storm’s impact and will aid in expediting the recovery process.

To report storm-related structural damage, please fill out the online Structural Damage Form or contact our Call Center at (843) 832-0393 which will be open until Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

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