Windsor Crier
News from the Hill - Volume 1, Issue 1 - September/October 1997Windsor Hill Plantation
RicefieldMill Creek
The Colony
Indigo Ridge
Moultrie Place
Plantation Pointe
Governor's Estate
In recent years, North Charleston has had an aggressive annexation program.
Activity in and around our subdivision makes us a potential target
for annexation. With this thought in mind, the Windsor Hill Plantation
Civic Association (WHCA) board would like to present some general information
comparing the unincorporated area of Dorchester County to the incorporated
area of North Charleston. It's not the intent of the WHCA board to
influence your decision in either remaining in the county or annexing
into the city. Our main goal is to provide you with information so
you can make a knowledgeable decision if and when you are faced with
the choice. This newsletter is based on the information we have been
able to gather ourselves.
Tax Milage
County - Dorchester County milage rate is 240 for residents who do not
live within city limits. Based on a $100,000 home and 2 cars totaling
$25,000, the annual property tax owed on all of this property would
be $1,200.
N. Chas. - The city's tax milage rate is 78. In addition, since you
still reside in the county, you still must pay county taxes, but Dorchester
County's rate for city residents is only 225 mils. Your total tax milage then is 225 + 78 or 303 mils.
Taking the same example of a $100,000 home and 2 cars totaling $25,000,the total tax is now $1,520,
an increase of $320.
Police
County - Dorchester County recently added a police substation at the
Ashley River Fire Station.
N. Chas. - North Charleston does not have a police station near our
area. They have police stations on Rivers, Cosgrove, and in their City Hall.
Fire Protection
County - Response time to Windsor Hill is about 3 minutes. Their ISO
rating (a measure of overall expected performance based on the area
they cover, the equipment they have, and other factors) is a 3. (A
rating of 1 is the best).
N. Chas. - Response time to Windsor Hill is about 6 minutes. Their
ISO rating is also a 3, but currently that rating is in danger of being
downgraded to a 5 due to recently annexed properties (Coosaw
Creek, for example) which don't have adequate fire coverage.
Road Paving
County - Dorchester County has an annual budget of $700,000 for road
paving (not repairs).
N. Chas. - North Charleston's Public Works Dept, Maintenance Division
has a budget of $95,000 for street construction materials.
Weed Trimming
County - Dorchester County trims weeds in the storm water ditches twice
per year, and dredges trouble spots once per year with a menzie machine.
N. Chas. - North Charleston will only be able to trim weeds in storm
water ditches once per year. Additionally, their menzie machine is
over scheduled and often broken.
Codes/Permits
County - Dorchester County Codes & Enforcement is primarily concerned
with construction codes.
N. Chas. - North Charleston city requires permits for "any construction,
reconstruction, alterations and/or repairs, demolition or relocation
of any structure, as well as for any tree removal".
Street Lighting
County - Dorchester County probably will not provide additional street
lighting.
N. Chas. - North Charleston city has a budget of $700,630 for street
light construction.
Recreational Facilities
County - Dorchester County has no public recreational facilities.
N. Chas. - North Charleston city has 20 recreational facilities. The
closest park is in Pepperhill. The city also has 250 acres of land
on Dorchester Road (near power line crossing) but has no funds for development.
Estimated cost of a gymnasium is $1.8 million and a pool is $500,000,
not counting utilities or roads.
Garbage Pick-Up
County - Dorchester County does not provide garbage pick-up. Currently
there are two private companies, Suburban Disposal and Palmetto Disposal,
who provide garbage collection services to Windsor Hill. Average cost
is $120 per year.
N. Chas. - North Charleston city provides garbage pick-up twice per
week. You must provide your own trash containers.
Summary
In summary, the city of North Charleston can offer us free garbage pick-up
twice per week and access to their recreational facilities. For this,
each of us will end up paying about $320 more per year in higher taxes,
if not more, and the costs of obtaining permits for various repairs,
alterations, or demolition work on our properties. Additionally, we
will not gain any significant additional police protection, and our
fire protection may actually decrease drastically. Our home owners
and auto insurance rates will stay the same and our school district
will remain unchanged as well. Street lighting will not change but
draining ditch maintenance will likely suffer.
Perhaps the most significant fact to remember is that North Charleston
has set a precedent for increasing their tax rate. Once an area is
annexed into the city, it is permanent. There is no way to "opt-out"
at a later date.
These are important facts that we should all consider before deciding
if annexation is in our best interests.
Reminders:
SLOW DOWN! The Sheriff's Department has been asked to help slow down
the speeders on the Boulevard. In the residential areas, please drive
slower. There are a lot of streets with a blocked view. This is our
community. Take care of it.
PLEASE watch for children crossing the streets. School has started.
Do you have a copy of YOUR subdivision's convenants and restrictions?
If not, contact the WHCA for your copy. They're also available through
your subdivision representative.
Why join the Civic Association?
Open Business:
Needed: Volunteers to serve on various committees. For more information,
come to the next meeting.
The newsletter will be printed every 2 months, unless otherwise needed.
We are soliciting for paid advertisements at $25.00 per issue. We are
offering the advertising to the residents in Windsor Hill first before
going to outside sources.
Future issues will include articles on home maintenance (inside and
outside the home), newcomers to the community, events taking place
within Windsor Hill and county, and much more. Deadline for submission
is the 20th of month prior to publication.
For information, contact Susan Lotterer (The Colony) at 767-1727.
Have news to share? You can request an article submission form by e-mail, regular mail or fax.
For advertising information (1/6th page only $25.00 per issue!), please contact Windsor Crier Editor Susan Lotterer at (843) 767-1727.
Feel free to send Susan E-mail at (SuLot@aol.com).
Our very reasonable advertising rates include a link to your e-mail address to gauge response.
If an advertiser has a web site, we'll include a link to their home page at no additional charge.
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