2010 Citizen of the Year

The Citizens Advisory Council has chosen Mr. Donald “Mule” to receive the 2010 Citizen of the Year Award.  Mr. Skinner is a thirty-nine year resident of the Forest Hills community and is actively involved in the Neighborhood Association, working to improve his neighborhood and the City of North Charleston.  He serves as a Block Captain, and is an advocate in assisting the Police Department and Code Enforcement to reduce crime and neighborhood blight.  Mr. Skinner provides assistance to friends and neighbors in need, doing house repairs, yard work, landscape beautification, and ensuring the wellbeing of senior citizens.

Mr. Skinner is a veteran and works as a civilian at the Charleston Navy Base.  He is a member of St. Thomas Church and Warden of Knights of Columbus Council 8900 and is a volunteer for Project Hope Fund Drive.  We congratulate Mr. Skinner as the 2010 Citizen of the Year.

2011 State of the City Address and City Council

The State of the City presented by Mayor R. Keith Summey on January 27, 2011 at City Council.

State of the City Documentation

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Part 1 of 2



Part 2 of 2

Full Council Meeting of January 27, 2011

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RAIL

The former Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor and South Carolina Public Railways have pushed through, behind closed doors, a plan to place a rail yard on the northern end of the former navy base. The property to be used for this yard was donated by the City of North Charleston to the Clemson University Restoration Institute to facilitate the creation of a renewable energy economy, including wind turbine research. Sixty of the Eighty acres have been condemned. The State, through South Carolina Public Railways, has exercised eminent domain to obtain the property. This rail yard would allow trains to enter and exit the north end of the former Navy Base and create a railroad roundabout of the Greater Park Circle community. Traffic congestion, road blockages, and train noise will drastically increase. Apart from increased heavy rail traffic, trucks carrying cargo containers from other port terminals (Columbus Street, Wando, North Charleston) would traverse city streets to access this rail yard.

This plan is in direct violation of the 2002 State Legislature mandated Memorandum of Understanding between the City of North Charleston and the State Ports Authority (an instrumentality of the State of South Carolina), in which it was agreed upon that the Port would utilize rail access exclusively from the south end of the base.  Relying upon this agreement, homeowners, businesses, industry, and the city have made significant investments to improve the Greater Park Circle community, the East Montague Business District, and the former Navy Base.

If you wish to express your opinion regarding the proposed rail yard on the north end of the former Navy Base, please call and/or email the legislators below.

Thank you for your help in fighting to preserve the quality of life of the residents of North Charleston.

Watch the January 13, 2011 City Council Meeting

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A brief of the past 10 years

Ten years ago, North Charleston was known as a great place to work, but an industrial city where most did not want to live.

Today, we remain South Carolina's economic boomtown, but our traditional neighborhoods are now bustling with young families and professionals, our strong retail sector has become more vibrant, our citizen and visitor amenities abound, and crime has drastically declined. New life has swept through our community.

Unheard of 10 years ago, North Charleston now receives national recognition for its green practices and sustainable historic core revitalization.

Today's North Charleston is a great place to live, work and play.

- R. Keith Summey, Mayor

Watch the December 21, 2010 City Council Meeting

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