Emergency Operations Center/Town Hall

Town Hall is located at 2414 Murray Street.  The current Town Hall was built in 1985 on a 0.26 acre site (Lots 9 & 10 Block UU).  It is a one story building and began as 2,491 square feet and was renovated in 2005 by Charleston Constructors for $148,000 and is now 3,042 SF.   The construction is wood frame on a concrete slab (elevation 11.90'MSL) with brick and vinyl exterior walls.   

The Fire Department was built in 1986.  It is a 4,990 SF metal building at a slab elevation of 12.21' MSL.  Most of this building is used for  fire engine parking. The Police Department and Municipal Court are also housed in this building. 

The retention building for storage of permanent records is 421 SF.  

In 2015, the Town purchased 2412 Murray Street for $96,500 for parking. 

Thirty three years later,  the Town has 38 employees housed in a space constructed when there were 8-10 employees.  The  Police Department needs an evidence room, interrogation room, bathroom and shower facilities as well as space for officers.   The municipal court needs an area separate from the Police Department. The Town needs an Emergency Operations Center.  The Town is housing some staff at the civic center,  but they are unable to connect to the Town's server because Internet is unreliable.  It is not efficient to house staff in different areas especially outside of its jurisdiction.  

In 2014, Colleton County voters passed a referendum to implement a 1 cent sales tax to meet infrastructure needs in Colleton County. The Town applied for and was successful in obtaining $4,000,000 for beach nourishment during that cycle.  The 1 cents sales tax cycle is 8 years.  The next cycle will begin 2021. 

The Town budgeted funds ($50,000) to hire an architect to design a Town Hall Complex and establish a cost so we can submit an application for a new Town Hall Complex in the next 1 cent sales tax cycle.  The complex would be constructed on the same site as Town Hall is now, but it would be brought up to the current codes and be elevated.   The Town does not plan to borrow funds for this project.  If we are unsuccessful in obtaining the 1 cent sales tax, the understanding is the project will not move forward.