Storm Around Road Maintenance in Lexington County
A dispute over road maintenance agreements in Lexington County escalated recently, prompting local legislators to hold a meeting to discuss potential resolutions. The local council and the lawmakers of Lexington County convened on March 19 to address the problem, which arose from the abandonment of a longstanding maintenance agreement by the County.
Friction Over New Plan
The trouble began when the Lexington County Council reneged on a road maintenance agreement that has been operational since 1978. Instead, it proposed a new agreement which mandates any new residential developments that are annexed into a town or city to adhere to the county’s development standards for continued road maintenance. This move has, however, been met with resistance from most municipalities with many refusing to approve the proposal.
Impacting Local Governments
According to local officials, the new policy would affect 14 towns and cities within Lexington County which benefit from road and drainage system maintenance services. Irmo Mayor, Bill Danielson, is one of the leaders that publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the changes.
In his words, the decision was a “unilateral decision made in the dark of the night.” He believes the move is an indication that the Lexington County Council has turned its back on local governments.
Seeking a Resolution
Despite the discord, no agreement was reached at the recent meeting. However, optimism was expressed by Senator Ronnie Cromer, R-Newberry, who attended the meeting alongside Senator Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, the chairwoman of the delegation.
While Shealy feels that the council should have consulted local municipalities prior to the adoption of the new plan, she is hopeful that the expressed concerns will invoke a response from the council. She also emphasized that the delegation has the right to intervene and bring about necessary changes if the council fails to address the issue.
Mayor Danielson applauded the lawmakers for their assistance and participation in the meeting. “We got their attention,” Danielson said. With the lawmakers’ commitment to helping modify the agreements, the hope for an agreeable resolution remains.
