kitchen countertopsNear Hollywood, SC

A draft plan has been cobbled together to rescue Hollywood’s beleaguered sewer system — the first clear road map to long-term stability after a two-month leak closed shellfish beds around the region at the beginning of the year.

The plan, however, includes two larger entities — Charleston Water System and Dorchester County — and will need to be greenlighted by CWS’s commissioners and County Council before it can move forward.

The proposal, outlined for Hollywood’s specially convened sewer committee on Dec. 5, would involve Dorchester County initially taking over maintenance responsibilities for the whole system and being paid by Hollywood for that work, with Hollywood footing the bill directly for any replacement parts, like new pumps or generators. At the same time, CWS would serve as a grant coordinator to find funding for capital expenses and also help organize an engineering study of the entire system.

After the system is in better working condition, which could take an estimated two years, CWS would reconsider taking a larger role by either taking ownership of the system or helping the town find a private firm to run the operations, according to a handout of the draft plan given to attendees of the meeting.

“I thought it was a good compromise, a good way to get our system back in professional hands,” Hollywood Mayor Jackie Heyward said.

Kin Hill, the chief executive officer of CWS, declined to comment on any of the details of the plan before the utility’s Dec. 18 board meeting.

Dorchester County Water and Sewer Director Larry Harper said in an email that CWS becoming the long-term operator would ensure the sustainability of sewer service in Hollywood.

“I am pleased at the proposal by CWS, which is a great example of intergovernmental cooperation to resolve wastewater issues in the region,” Harper wrote.

Heyward has long argued that the small, largely rural town of Hollywood, in southern Charleston County, is not capable of running the complex wastewater infrastructure, which includes 26 pump stations and 38 miles of pipe.

It took almost two months earlier this year to find a leak in a force main that was seeping into a tributary of the Stono River. The spill totaled millions of gallons of untreated sewage.

A plethora of issues — including little money for repairs, an unusual initial funding arrangement and years of deferred maintenance — led the system to degrade to the point of last winter’s spill, a Post and Courier investigation found.

But moving forward, the proposed plan hinges on balancing the complex interests of the town, the two wastewater utilities and some outspoken residents who have opposed an expansion of Hollywood’s sewer system.

Dorchester County has become such a big player in the future of the town’s wastewater system in part because they’re contractually obligated to provide sewer service on land adjacent to Poplar Grove, a Hollywood subdivision at the corner of Rantowles Creek and Bulow Landing Road.

The draft plan includes an agreement directly between CWS and Dorchester County to provide the county with sewer capacity for an additional 32 sewer taps, which would then be connected to the existing sewer infrastructure in Poplar Grove. CWS treats all of Hollywood’s sewer effluent, and thus controls how much treatment capacity is available to the town and nearby Meggett and Ravenel, which are connected to Hollywood’s system.

Those taps are just the first phase of the development where Dorchester has to provide sewerage; the county’s alternative is running an expensive and high-maintenance sewer main from its nearest infrastructure, at Ashley Ridge High School, about 9 miles away.

Some Poplar Grove residents have been resistant to a sewer expansion next door, saying they don’t have confidence in the town to handle additional material running in the pipes near their homes.

But another component of the plan could assuage those fears. Dorchester is also on the hook for an additional 368 sewer taps in that area. CWS will explore bypassing Poplar Grove completely for that second phase, and pumping the material directly to its Red Top receiving station, about 2½ miles away, according to the handout detailing the plan.

Though the joint Dorchester-CWS plan is the first long-term proposal for the infrastructure, the initial stages would not be too different from the town’s current situation. Hollywood was already paying Dorchester County at cost for sewer maintenance a few days a week when the town’s only wastewater technician on staff recently resigned. Dorchester is now covering all day-to-day work, Heyward said.

Regardless, the proposed plan offers a reassuring path forward, Town Councilman Eddie Scott said.

“I think it’s a good idea because Hollywood’s not going to be able to sustain that sewer, it’s just too expensive,” Scott said. “Right now we’re taking money out of the general fund (to pay for wastewater), and it’s killing the town.”

Reach Chloe Johnson at 843-735-9985. Follow her on Twitter @_ChloeAJ.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Hollywood has been suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program for failing to comply with minimum federal requirements, leaving property owners without flood insurance coverage and no access to federal disaster aid if damage occurs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, according to documents from the NFIP, the suspension means residents will not be able to purchase a flood insurance policy under the federal program, existing flood insurance policies will not be renewed, and no federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood.

“That presents a real problem when the home is located in a special flood hazard area, such a zones A or zones V, where flood insurance is mandatory for a federally backed mortgage,” National Flood Insurance Director Amanda Bryant said. “Folks who find themselves in that situation are unable to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, but they are finding that they do not have the option to forgo the coverage.”

Since the suspension occurred, some homeowners have already received notice from their mortgage companies that they will have to seek protection for flood damage from private insurance companies, an option that can be more expensive.

“A community that does not meet those minimum standards indicates that the risk for future flooding in that community is not being mitigated perhaps as well as it should be. The risk of widespread flooding in that community going forward becomes greater,” Bryant said. “So, if a community was once in compliance and then they’ve gotten suspended or removed from the program for non-compliance, that should be a concern for everyone living in that area, not only from a flood insurance rate perspective, but from a safety perspective as well.”

Meanwhile, the town’s mayor said council members are working to bring Hollywood back in compliance with state and federal requirements.

“The Town Council is adopting a state written model ordinance to solve the differences between Charleston County ordinances, town ordinances, and the state ordinance to resume participation into the National Flood Insurance Program,” Mayor John Dunmyer said.

FEMA representatives reminded town leaders they had until Jan. 29th to adopt flood plain management measures that meet or exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. However, town officials say the notification, dated Dec. 23, arrived almost a month later on Jan. 20th in the form of a certified letter.

“In the event your community does not adopt and/or submit the necessary floodplain management measure that meet or exceed the minimum NFIP requirements, I must take the necessary steps to suspend your community from the NFIP. This letter is FEMA’s final notification before your community is suspended form the Program,” FEMA’s Flood Plain Management Director Rachel Sears wrote.

Dunmyer said Sears has not responded to the Town’s request to be placed on probation rather than suspension .

The town’s council met during a special council meeting on Feb. 12 to pass a resolution mandated by the state of South Carolina and gave first reading to the state’s model flood plain ordinance. The second reading is set for Monday, Feb. 22 during the council’s regularly schedule meeting.

“I hope this will resolve any further hurdles in the fair administration of federal and state regulations for our property owners,” Dunmyer said. “The Town Council has been diligent in its efforts to meet and exceed the requirements requested.”

The suspension has left some homeowners in a difficult situation though, with a short window of time to find affordable coverage from a private insurance provider.

“At this point, we don’t really any other options besides going with a more expensive private insurance company until the town decides to be in compliance with FEMA to let people who live here be a part of the National Flood Insurance Program,” Hollywood homeowner Casey Sweeney said. “Once we do sign with a private insurance company, that policy is for the whole year, so even if the town does become in compliance…let’s say 30 days from now, if it’s outside of that 45 day window and we’ve already had to sign a policy, we are stuck with that for an entire year.”

However, Sweeney’s notification was delayed almost 15 days, leaving her just a month to find coverage.

“We got the letter from the mortgage company on Feb. 15, and I called our mortgage company and said, I see this says 45 days, what day did you technically start those 45 days? They told me it started on Feb. 1 because that’s when they mailed it out. So, there’s been so many mail delays that we didn’t even know this was happening until we were 15 days in,” Sweeney said.

Flood insurance was not required on Sweeney’s home until this year when Charleston County’s new flood maps took effect on Jan. 29.

The new flood maps were produced through a partnership between Charleston County Government, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The new maps impact the requirement and cost for flood insurance for some Charleston County residents and affect base flood elevation requirements on new construction homes and businesses.

“Flood maps improve over time as better flood hazard and risk data becomes available. In addition, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental and floodplain changes as well as other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to address these changes,” a press release stated. “By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone.”

The mayor of Hollywood offered no explanation for the town’s non-compliance with NFIP requirements, and Sweeney said there was never any notification from the town to homeowners about the federal flood insurance suspension and how it would impact residents and business owners.

“To hear that the whole town has their own thing going on is kind of crazy. We were just really surprised to hear the whole town was in non-compliance with FEMA when it seems like flooding does happen here and seems like something, they’d want to be a part of,” Sweeney said. “I don’t want to say anything bad about the town, but I do hope they get in compliance and realize that we are, sort of, in a disaster-prone area during certain times of the year. So, I would hope they would have their residents’ best interest at heart.”

Hollywood is one of just two municipalities in South Carolina currently suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program.

While private insurance premiums for flood coverage can be more expensive than rates offered by the NFIP, experts said private providers can offer more comprehensive coverage because their rates are based on more precise and current data.

“If a property is located in an area where more sophisticated risk analysis has shown the flood risk to be greater than what FEMA maps indicate, then private flood premiums will be higher,” Bryant said. “That rate discrepancy though is on its way out. FEMA is on the way towards revising the National Flood Insurance Program and its rates to be more in line with the private flood market.”

An initiative called Risk Rating 2.0 will take effect on Oct. 1 that will take individual property risk into account with a variety of flood factors, as opposed to just previous FEMA flood insurance maps, according to Bryant.

“When that occurs, we are going to see National Flood Insurance Program rates and private flood rates get a lot closer together as everyone starts analyzing the risk of it better,” Bryant said.

“FEMA remains in direct contact with the Town and State, as the Town is taking action to adopt the FIRMs,” a FEMA spokesperson said. “Once they adopt and provide documentation to FEMA, they will be reinstated into the NFIP.”

FEMA officials also released the following information involving the Town of Hollywood.

Copyright 2021 WCSC. All rights reserved.

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCIV) — A public pool is hosting its first competitive swim team for young swimmers and it's a dream come true for Jennifer Holmes. She turned her pain into power.

"I never imagined that we would actually have a swim team coming from tragedy, overcoming, and becoming a lifeguard," she said. "Now, this season, this summer will be the beginning of a new swim team for many walks of life."

Read more: Officials to break ground on $25M North Charleston Sports Complex on March 1

Holmes learned to swim after her son, Genesis, drowned in 2014. She built a pool in his honor and taught other children to swim. Holmes said she never knew the progress of the Genesis Pool would get so far and it's changed her life forever. Now, she is working on a swim team for kids in the Hollywood area. Many of them never would have learned to swim if it wasn't for Jennifer.

Allison Foster, with Charleston County Parks Health and Wellness, says kids will be refining their skills with breaststroke, freestyle. They will also be encouraged to grow confidence in their swimming. The emphasis is on the team.

"We encourage team building and supporting one another in a welcoming environment," Foster said.

A public pool is hosting its first competitive swim team for young swimmers and it's a dream come true for Jennifer Holmes. (WCIV)

Holmes gives the credit to her son Genesis, who she says has guided her every step of the way.

“To be standing here in front of the Genesis pool and to know that there's going to be a swim team, I know in my heart it's going to change lives and I know that God had a major part of this," she said.

Read more: Aventon Companies announces groundbreaking of its newest community in Charleston.

Holmes says she can hear her son's voice in her ear cheering her on.

"Right now, I know Genesis is saying, 'Mommy get it'."

Swim team conditioning starts in April and the Genesis Pool will be open for the season on May 6. Holmes says she'll be wearing the number 11 for Genesis because that was his number on his basketball team.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - A new subdivision in the works in Hollywood and is on track to the be the largest in the town.

The subdivision would be near downtown Hollywood, near Highway 162 and Highway 165 and it is set to be larger than Stono Ferry with nearly 400 new homes.

The land has been passed down for generations, and the town’s planning director, Roy Dehaven, says it’s time to grow the town where they can to bring more jobs and more residents to the area.

“Long-term, as its completely built out, it will give us the anchor to this town center district,” Dehaven said. “It’ll give us 350 residences close to the heart of downtown Hollywood.”

The developers say they plan to make the homes entry to medium-priced. Many of the homes will be one-story, which the developers hope could make them attractive to retirees.

Hollywood town officials say this area could serve as a hub for people working in Summerville and North Charleston, and they are already working with the state’s Department of Transportation on improving and widening the highways.

The developer working on the project, Joe Margarite, says they are planning to hire locally within the town for all construction work, and they say that means at least 600 jobs to get the project started.

“It’s going to bring a lot of money into this community,” Margarite said. “It’ll support all of these local businesses here that are struggling. Our Piggly Wiggly right here is struggling to stay open, and they need more customers. There will be construction jobs here for at least 6 years.”

The proposal will be discussed at the town’s planning commission meeting on Oct. 8 and then again at the end of the month.

They’re taking public comment now. Public hearing comments will be accepted in writing via email to the Clerk of Council at twhite@townofhollywood.org or by mail to P.O. Box 519, Hollywood, South Carolina, 29449.

If it is approved in October, the developers are hoping to start construction by the spring. And construction would take about six years.

Copyright 2020 WCSC. All rights reserved.

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCIV) — A number of people in Hollywood celebrated Independence Day by taking some time to cool down at the West Aquatic Center. The pool at the West Aquatic Center has been nicknamed “The Genesis Pool,” in honor of Genesis Holmes, who drowned in 2014. His mother, Jennifer Holmes, spent her holiday spreading awareness about water safety.

After years of hard work, she was able to collaborate with Charleston County Parks to open the first public pool in rural Charleston County.

The pool at the West Aquatic Center has been nicknamed “The Genesis Pool,” in honor of Genesis Holmes, who drowned in 2014. His mother, Jennifer Holmes, spent her holiday spreading awareness about water safety. (WCIV)

“You have to know your limitations when you head out for the Fourth of July just to celebrate with family. Genesis Holmes wanted to celebrate with his friends on May 5th, but he did not know how to swim and Genesis did not return home,” said Holmes.

Her son didn’t make it home, but through the Genesis Pool and Genesis Fund, so many others will. Including her nephew, who now works at the aquatic center.

“When I learned how to swim, it was hard for me because of what happened to my cousin. But I still had to go through it because I knew that if I didn’t get it done, the same thing could happen to me,” said Troy Hamilton.

Troy has also been a part of two swim teams, helping to break the curse of fearing water for this family.

Now, a new generation of swim advocates are being inspired by this pool.

Shanyra Mungin became a lifeguard this summer after spending time with her family at the pool. She says it is now her turn to help.

“It’s all about saving people. Saving kids’ lives. If I do see a kid about to drown, I get up and ask, 'Do you need help? Are you okay?'”

Though she didn’t grow up with swim lessons, she says this pool has become her safe haven.

Charleston County Parks and Recreation offers free swim lessons and water safety education through the Genesis Fund. To donate or join the program, visit ccpr.com.