October 28, 2014 –This week’s guest speaker, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, readily demonstrated the passion for his City and this region that has kept him in office for 20 years. Stressing the connectivity of the region, Mayor Summey talked about the “daytime residents” of North Charleston that are the workers and shoppers who live elsewhere, and that the services of the City extend to them.
North Charleston posted top retail sales in the state last year, topping the previous lead, Columbia, by $1 billion. The prosperity of the City and region has also been demonstrated through an increase in housing options, redeveloped areas, and a 20% increase in the cost of housing. The Mayor is proud of the City’s business-friendly approach and their success with commercial and retail growth. He noted that the sales taxes collected in North Charleston support school construction throughout the county since property tax doesn’t fund school construction.
This positive growth comes with its challenges, however. North Charleston has gone from a city of 20,000 residents to nearly 120,000; 450 city employees to 1,100; and, a municipal reserve fund of $500,000 to more than $20 million. The City continues to focus on improving services, including through facility improvements and a focus on employees, including a new Public Works facility on Remount Road.
The Mayor supports both the Library and School referendums on the upcoming ballot, noting that access to communication and education prepares our youth for the workforce and their own success. Our emerging workforce is also key to economic development and continued growth and career opportunities. He praised Trident Technical College for their key role as a recruitment asset and specialized training provided to new and expanding manufacturers.
In closing, Mayor Summey expressed that the Low country is in better shape now than ever before and hopes that his legacy is to have left the City a little bit better than when he got there.
–Tammy Coghill