1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
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Struggling with ED/Erectile Dysfunction that won't improve?
We aren't guaranteed much as adults, but if there's one thing we can count on, it's that our bodies change as we get older. For men, that's especially true. One day you're lifting heavy weights and nailing your cardio regimen without having to stretch before or after. And then, in what seems like the blink of an eye, you start to slow down a little. You begin to notice aches and pains in places that weren't there before. You can't just go out for a night on the town, imbibe until your heart is content, and expect to wake up refreshed.
And while headaches and achy joints can be treated with ice and anti-inflammatory medicine, other aspects of aging aren't as easy to treat. You've probably guessed at this point what we're talking about: erectile dysfunction, or ED for short. When brought up to most men, those are two words that cause a guttural reaction of fear and trepidation.
While just about every man fears ED, millions suffer from it - almost 10% of the male population between the ages of 40 and 70. So, if you're beginning to have trouble performing in the heat of the moment, you're definitely not alone. You may be experiencing symptoms like:
Trouble Achieving an Erection
Trouble Maintaining an Erection
Lower Libido
Less Sexual Pleasure
Premature Ejaculation
Inability to Achieve Orgasm
However, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we understand that stats won't do anything to address the stress and anxiety you're facing in relation to erectile dysfunction. You need a viable solution - a science-backed treatment that doesn't require strange pills or invasive surgeries. As a fully integrated multidisciplinary clinic in Mount Pleasant, we have what you've been searching for: softwave therapy for ED in James Island, SC.
To fully grasp the benefits of using soft wave therapy for erectile dysfunction, you must first understand what causes ED to begin with. Put simply, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get an erection and keep it throughout sexual intercourse. You should know that it's not uncommon if you have erection trouble. However, if your inability to "get it up" becomes a common occurrence, you may be suffering from ED.
Erectile dysfunction doesn't just affect your penis - it also affects your wellbeing and relationships. It can lower your confidence, cause a large amount of stress that affects your ability to work, and may even cause contention with your partner.
You hear it all the time - as men get older, they often lose the ability to get erect. But why? As men age, the blood vessels in their penis start to fill up with micro-plaques, causing them to deteriorate. When these blood vessels deteriorate, it's more difficult for them to have steady blood flow. And that's the key to ED - having the constant blood flow to get and keep an erection. That's where the science-backed effectiveness of Softwave therapy swoops in to save the day.
Shockwave technology has been around for decades. It has been used at the highest-level research and medical facilities like the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering. However, Softwave therapy is a more refined, effective way to treat erectile dysfunction and also advance tissue healing.
Softwave therapy works by using electrohydraulic spark gap technology at its core. Its innovative design features a parabolic reflector applicator that produces very effective, low-intensity shock waves that are unfocused. Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine's Softwave applicator spreads energy to a large area of both superficial and deep tissue, creating a biological response that kickstarts your body's natural healing process.
For men suffering from ED, it is a revolutionary breakthrough treatment that doesn't require harmful surgeries or side effects from pills. In fact, it has been FDA approved for many uses, including improved blood flow, which is often the root cause of erectile dysfunction.
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Unlike some more traditional treatment options, Softwave therapy gets right to the crux of the ED issue. It uses shock wave technology on a cellular level, helping to naturally heal body parts, like the penis. Some of the most common benefits of Softwave therapy include:
Additionally, Softwave treatments don't require much prep, don't have any sketchy side effects, don't require any numbing agents or anesthesia, and result in little-to-no recovery time. Sound too good to be true? Contact Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to learn just how effective Softwave therapy is for our patients!
Softwave therapy works by using efficient, effective shock waves that cause biological regeneration processes that heal your body using its own healing factors. It works like this: Softwaves are created via a high-energy electrical discharge in water. The voltage is discharged between the plus and minus tips of an electrode. The spark gap or arching causes an equalization of voltage between the opposing tips of the electrode, which causes a hot plasma bubble. This bubble explodes and distributes in every direction, compresses the surrounding water, and generates a pressure > 10 MPa within nanoseconds.
To sum up, Softwave therapy uses low-intensity, unfocused energy that is delivered by a reflector in parallel waves. These waves help open up the blood vessels in your penis, allowing more blood to flow. At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our team of expert physicians will develop a personalized Softwave therapy plan based on your body and needs. With the right number of treatments, you should be able to achieve and maintain firm erections as you did in your prime.
A Softwave therapy procedure averages 10-15 minutes but may be longer depending on treatment area and diagnosis. A gel is applied to the surface area to be treated. The applicator produces pulses as the clinician moves around the treatment area. During therapy, communication with your provider is necessary to identify treatment areas and monitor progress.
Once treatment is over, you may resume your normal day-to-day activities. In fact, most patients can have Softwave therapy while on their lunch break. You don't have to worry about recovery time, side effects, or any downtime at all.
More than 50% of men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. If you're over the age of 30, have been suffering from ED, and don't want to rely on pills or surgery, Softwave therapy may be for you. That's doubly true if you've tried traditional treatments like Viagra and even surgery but didn't get the results you hoped for. Many academic studies about shockwave therapy for ED state that this revolutionary technology is successful where PDE5 inhibitors fail.
In fact, many urologists consider Softwave therapy the most promising ED treatment on the market. The truth is, even if you're not battling ED, men can use Softwave therapy as a preventative way to keep the magic flowing in the bedroom. Some of the key reasons to choose Softwave therapy over less effective, traditional treatments include:
If you're curious why Softwave treatments are so popular for ED, the answer is simple. Prescription drugs like Cialis and others that "treat" ED often come with less-that-savory side effects. At best, these effects are just something patients have to deal with. At worst, they can disrupt your day-to-day schedule and may prevent you from enjoying a healthy life. Sure, some men swear by the "little blue pill," but most guys aren't aware of the hidden risks with drugs like Viagra. The following side effects can be common in both short and long-term circumstances:
If you're suffering through erectile dysfunction, it's crucial to understand why it's happening. The primary reason for ED is a lack of blood flow to the penis, which makes erections difficult to get and keep. Rather than relying on prescription and gas station pills for a quick fix, more men are using softwave ED treatment in James Island, SC for an all-natural solution minus the side effects. With Softwave therapy, you don't have to live with ED, and you don't have to suffer from scary side effects from popping too many pills.
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Softwave therapy is often a more effective solution for men with ED than similar but less effective treatments using pressure waves. Softwave therapy from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine uses acoustic pulses or unfocused shockwaves with fast and steep rise times and high positive pressure. Our unfocused wave design makes it possible to spread energy to a larger area, which affects deep and superficial tissue. By targeting a larger area, a more potent biological response is often achieved, initiating your body's natural healing factors.
By comparison, radial pressure waves use acoustic pneumatic pulses with low steeping effects, slow rise times, and large negative pressures. Radial waves are shallower than the shockwaves used in Softwave technology and focus energy and pressure at the surface of the applicator.
Here's a quick breakdown of the differences between softwave therapy for ED in James Island, SC, and radial pressure waves:
If you're new to the world of Softwave therapy, chances are you've got some lingering questions you need answered. We'll do our best to answer a few of those questions here for your convenience.
Q. Has the FDA approved softwave therapy for ED in cityname, state?
A. Yes - Softwave therapy is FDA 510(k) approved for:
Q. Is softwave therapy painful?
A. Softwave therapy does not require surgery or any invasive form of treatment. With that said, some patients describe minimal discomfort or pain during our softwave treatments. Should this occur, your medical specialist will make necessary adjustments. Usually, patients do not have to endure any pain at all and only experience a pulse or tapping feeling on their skin.
Q. How long is a Softwave treatment session?
A. An individual session only takes five to fifteen minutes. It's typically recommended that patients have treatment once a week for three to five weeks. The length and frequency of your Softwave therapy sessions will be determined after you visit our medical clinic for a comprehensive evaluation.
Q. How long does it take for Softwave therapy to work?
A. Every patient we treat is different, and as such, will have different treatment recommendations. Often, patients notice the results of Softwave therapy after the first session. However, for the longest-lasting effects, most patients need between three and four treatments, with a week of non-treatment after every session.
Q. Can I combine Softwave therapy with other treatments from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine?
A. It's hard to give a definitive answer to this question since every patient is different. It's important for you to have a full evaluation to determine the scope of your needs and the appropriate therapies. However, Softwave therapy often works very well with other treatments. In fact, other therapies offered at our medical clinic like massage therapy and chiropractic care can make Softwave treatment even more effective.
Remember - our team at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is always happy to answer any questions you may have about ED or our ED treatments. Give us a call today - it would be our pleasure to get to know you better!
Unlike some wellness clinics, our experienced providers work together to optimize treatment for men suffering from ED. We always strive to make sexual wellbeing an accessible part of your everyday lifestyle.
That's why, at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, our mission is simple: to correct the root cause of your erectile dysfunction by taking a comprehensive, total body approach to healing and treatment. We want to address your ED problem without having to resort to chemical-based medications or unnecessary surgeries. Instead, we focus on all-natural, effective solutions like shockwave therapy for ED in James Island, SC.
By discovering what's best for each person's individual body and needs, we can help create a healthier future for those in our community through our holistic physical medicine practices. Contact our office to learn more about Softwave therapy and how we can solve the underlying causes of your unique ED situation.
Book AppointmentSix Berkeley County School District high school basketball teams appear in the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association’s top 10 polls for Feb. 7.At No. 1 in Class AAAAA, Stratford’s girls headline the group. Goose Creek’s boys are ranked fifth in Class AAAAA and Philip Simmons’s girls fifth in Class AAA.Playoffs begin Feb. 15.5A Boys Top 101. Dorman2. Conway3. Lexington4. Summerville5. Goose Creek6. Cane Bay7. Byrnes8. ...
Six Berkeley County School District high school basketball teams appear in the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association’s top 10 polls for Feb. 7.
At No. 1 in Class AAAAA, Stratford’s girls headline the group. Goose Creek’s boys are ranked fifth in Class AAAAA and Philip Simmons’s girls fifth in Class AAA.
Playoffs begin Feb. 15.
5A Boys Top 10
1. Dorman
2. Conway
3. Lexington
4. Summerville
5. Goose Creek
6. Cane Bay
7. Byrnes
8. JL Mann
9. TL Hanna
10. Fort Mill
5A Girls Top 10
1. Stratford
2. Mauldin
3. Lexington
4. Summerville
5. Spring Valley
6. Rock Hill
7. Woodmont
8. Sumter
9. Carolina Forest
10. TL Hanna
4A Boys Top 10
1. North Augusta
2. Lancaster
3. Catawba Ridge
4. Greenville
5. Westside
6. Irmo
7. Wilson
8. Greer
9. James Island
10. Indian Land
4A Girls Top 10
1. North Augusta
2. South Pointe
3. Westwood
4. South Florence
5. Catawba Ridge
6. Pickens
7. Bluffton
8. Riverside
9. Hartsville
10. Wade Hampton/Easley
3A Boys Top 10
1. Crestwood
2. Orangeburg-Wilkinson
3. Manning
4. Wren
5. Loris
6. Clinton
7. Daniel
8. Travelers Rest
9. Lake City
10. Union County
3A Girls Top 10
1. Camden
2. Southside
3. Wren
4. Lower Richland
5. Phillip Simmons
6. Blue Ridge
7. Crestwood
8. Orangeburg-Wilkinson
9. Emerald
10. Crescent
2A Boys Top 10
1. Gray Collegiate
2. Oceanside Collegiate
3. Keenan
4. Landrum
5. Andrew Jackson
6. Wade Hampton
7. Strom Thurmond
8. Woodland
9. Saluda
10. Central
2A Girls Top 10
1. Keenan
2. Gray Collegiate
3. Andrew Jackson
4. Silver Bluff
5. Bishop England
6. Chesterfield
7. Timberland
8. Wade Hampton
9. Oceanside Collegiate
10. Lee Central
1A Boys Top 10
1. Christ Church
2. Scott’s Branch
3. Denmark-Olar
4. Great Falls
5. High Point Academy
6. Estill
7. Calhoun Falls
8. Whale Branch
9. North
10. Baptist Hill
1A Girls Top 10
1. Military Magnet
2. Denmark-Olar
3. High Point Academy
4. Lake View
5. Carvers Bay
6. Christ Church
7. Calhoun Falls
8. Estill
9. McBee
10. Cross
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — The Lowcountry Cajun Festival will return at James Island County Park on April 22 from noon to 6 p.m.New for 2023, festival admission will be charged per vehicle, and tickets are available for advance purchase, according to a Feb. 23 press release. A limited number of vehicles will be admitted. Tickets will be $35 per standard vehicle of up to 15 people in advance. If available, tickets at the gate will be $40 per vehicle. For additional details and to purchase tickets, visit ...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — The Lowcountry Cajun Festival will return at James Island County Park on April 22 from noon to 6 p.m.
New for 2023, festival admission will be charged per vehicle, and tickets are available for advance purchase, according to a Feb. 23 press release. A limited number of vehicles will be admitted. Tickets will be $35 per standard vehicle of up to 15 people in advance. If available, tickets at the gate will be $40 per vehicle. For additional details and to purchase tickets, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Gold Passes will be valid for vehicle admission; the pass must be presented at the gate for entry. Gold Passes will not be sold on site the day of the festival, but may be purchased in advance online. Receipt of purchase will not be accepted, according to the press release.
Read more: Lowcountry Cajun Festival returns to James Island County Park on Saturday
According to the press release, the 2023 Lowcountry Cajun Festival entertainment lineup is Shrimp City Slim Swamp All-Stars from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Les Freres Michot from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Corey Arceneaux & The Zydeco Hot Peppers from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The festival's small stage will host Friends of Coastal South Carolina for a program called “Who Calls the Swamp Home?” at 1 p.m. and the annual Crawfish Eating Contest will take place at 2:30 p.m., according to the press release. Other festivities include a crafters' market, souvenirs for sale and a kids' area.
Read more: Lowcountry Cajun Festival
Children can enjoy access to the inflatables and climbing wall in the kids' area all day with the purchase of a $10 hand stamp. Credit cards will be accepted at select locations, but attendees are encouraged to bring cash for convenience purposes, according to the press release.
No coolers or outside food or alcohol permitted, according to the press release. Carpooling is highly encouraged. Pets are not permitted to this event. James Island County Park will be closed to regular park guests on April 22 in order to host the festival.
The press release says Lowcountry Cajun Festival is presented by Charleston Animal Society, Coca-Cola and Charleston County Parks. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call 843-795-4386.
A Charleston-based sushi restaurant and sports bar with two Lowcountry locations will add a third site by the spring in a former bar and grill on James Island.Locals Sushi & Sports Pub plans to open after buying the lease for the space at 792 Folly Road where The Roost Bar N’ Grille operated until Jan. 31 according to Jim Moring with Restaurantbrokers.info, who handled the transactio...
A Charleston-based sushi restaurant and sports bar with two Lowcountry locations will add a third site by the spring in a former bar and grill on James Island.
Locals Sushi & Sports Pub plans to open after buying the lease for the space at 792 Folly Road where The Roost Bar N’ Grille operated until Jan. 31 according to Jim Moring with Restaurantbrokers.info, who handled the transaction for the property owner and tenant.
Locals owner Shawn Sherman said he’s planning some cosmetic changes, and the 4,500-square-foot venue should be open in a couple of months. He also plans to add a patio bar in the future.
Sherman took over the remainder of the existing lease term of about a year with the option to renew for two five-year terms.
The site once housed Charleston Sports Pub before it moved to Maybank Highway in 2021.
Locals has other restaurants in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley. The Roost has another location in Avondale in West Ashley.
A new restaurant from the couple who brought Community Table and Kiki & Rye to Mount Pleasant is ready for its debut in downtown Charleston.
Southbound, part of Free Reign Restaurants, will open at 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at 72 Cannon St.
Southbound’s menu will include appetizers as well as main dishes such as steaks, pork chops and seasonal fish along with vegetarian options.
The main level of the 2,000-square-foot space features a 10-foot open hearth with seating around it and about 45 seats outside on a wrap-around porch and terrace. The upstairs includes a bar and dining area. It will be open for dinner 4-10 p.m. daily.
Free Reign is owned by Ryan and Kelleanne Jones.
An Italian eatery recently opened at Citadel Mall. Bella Roma can be found in the food court. It’s owned by Fabio and Barbara Spadaro.
A women’s shoe shop is coming to Mount Pleasant.
Dear Lucy plans to open tentatively by March 1 at 1421 Shucker Circle in the Oyster Park development off Ben Sawyer Boulevard.
The owner of the 1,500-square-foot space is Melissa Desautels. The Mount Pleasant resident operates another store in Burlington, Vt.
Charleston International Airport recently welcomed new vendors to its retail lineup.
Hudson Nonstop and Sunglass Hut are now open beyond the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.
Hudson Nonstop sells food, beverages and travel amenities. The CHS shop features Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, allowing customers to enter by swiping a credit card or holding their palm over an Amazon One device. It also offers a contactless way to pay, charging shoppers for goods they take off the shelves as they exit.
“It’s the ultimate convenience and self-serve option for fliers on the go,” Charleston airport CEO Elliott Summey said.
Nearby, Sunglass Hut offers a range of styles from Ray-Ban, Oakley and other brands.
Tractor Supply Co. is out to plow new ground in the Charleston area.
The chain plans to build a 22,000-square-foot store on 7.25 acres on Dorchester Road between Shady Lane and Stack’s Nursery.
The store will be the Tennessee-based company’s fifth in the Lowcountry. Others are in Awendaw, Moncks Corner, Ravenel and near Nexton in Berkeley County.
An affiliate of developer Farmer & Associates of Aiken paid $1.19 million for the Dorchester County site, according to buyer’s representative Will Sherrod of the commercial real estate firm NAI Charleston.
The land was previously owned by Old Fort Baptist Church and Oakbrook Community Church.
The new store will include a garden center and outdoor display area. Completion is targeted by the end of the year, Sherrod said.
The Aiken buyer will develop and lease the site to Tractor Supply. About two acres of outparcel space will be set aside for future purchase.
Doug Richardson with Carolina One Real Estate and Michele Costanzo with eXp Realty represented the sellers.
An East Cooper footwear store is undergoing a makeover.
Rack Room Shoes in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre will be closed until late March for a total renovation, according to shopping center spokeswoman Kathi Herrmann. The 9,108-square-foot store closed in early February.
A grand reopening is planned for March 25.
The Planet Fitness gym site at 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in Citadel Mall reopened Feb. 6 after undergoing renovations since November.
The remodel included the gym’s Black Card Spa and locker rooms. Also, overhead televisions were added to the cardio theater.
A North Carolina-based supermarket chain with 19 locations in the Lowcountry hopes to improve its diversity of product suppliers.
Harris Teeter, an affiliate of The Kroger Co., will accept applications through Feb. 10 for its virtual Supplier Diversity Summit set for March 28-30.
The grocer will work to identify and increase sourcing for retail-ready products typically found in a supermarket from suppliers that are at least 51 percent-owned, -operated and -managed by people who are disadvantaged, disabled, LGBTQ+, military veterans, minorities and/or women.
Harris Teeter is partnering with RangeMe, an Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing company, to manage submissions. To apply, go to tinyurl.com/2zwt6e2c.
South Carolina House budget writers aimed to continue investing in economic development and the people of the state, the House’s lead writer says of the Ways and Means Committee budget proposal approved last week.Among the investments is money to prepare land for companies to locate, to freeze college tuition rates, to create new state parks and create a center for school safety.Lawmakers have about $3.5 billion in new annual and one-time revenue to spend in this spring’s budget discussions for the spending year tha...
South Carolina House budget writers aimed to continue investing in economic development and the people of the state, the House’s lead writer says of the Ways and Means Committee budget proposal approved last week.
Among the investments is money to prepare land for companies to locate, to freeze college tuition rates, to create new state parks and create a center for school safety.
Lawmakers have about $3.5 billion in new annual and one-time revenue to spend in this spring’s budget discussions for the spending year that begins July 1. In total, the House budget-writing committee proposed a $13.8 billion spending plan.
The full House is scheduled to debate the budget the week of March 13. After House approval, the Senate will start its deliberations.
Budget writers also had to take into account the second year of a scheduled tax cut that lowers the maximum income tax rate from 6.5% to 6.4%. The cut keeps about $96 million out of state coffers.
“I think this budget is an investment in the people and prosperity in South Carolina,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville. “Low taxes, conservative budgeting, aggressive economic development efforts lead to a strong economy, which leads to additional opportunity to invest in the people and the economy in South Carolina.”
Among the planned expenditures, budget writers want to give $200 million to the S.C. Department of Commerce for economic development site preparation such as putting in roads, water and sewer infrastructure to sites for major economic development projects. An additional $5.5 million would go to the agency to update its branding efforts when marketing to businesses.
“Site preparation is critical to developing a competitive edge for South Carolina in the southeast to attract companies that can be economic drivers for our state and on a local level,” said state Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston.
The Ways and Means Committee also proposed spending $25 million on state park development, upgrades and maintenance.
The state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has acquired land to build out the Ramsey Grove State Park in Georgetown County, Fort Johnson State Park in James Island and Black River State Park in Williamsburg and Georgetown counties.
The last park opened by PRT was H. Cooper Black in Cheraw in 2006.
“To the degree we can add unique and special things for our citizens to enjoy and that will further draw people to South Carolina to contribute to our local economy, that’s a win for us,” Stavrinakis said. “These are amazing properties and pieces of land that we’re preserving or making special places out of them.”
Budget writers also included $3.2 million to create a center for school safety at the former Gilbert Elementary School in Lexington 1. The center was among the recommendations made by Gov. Henry McMaster in his proposed budget and is in line with the plan to have a school resource officer at every school in the state.
“Having regular training sessions is really a response to (what happened in) Uvalde’s failure to act, ‘Hey, this is what you do when there’s an active shooter,’ and they’re going to go work on that and that’ll be part of their training,” Bannister said.
In-state college students also are in line to not face an increase in their tuition rates for the fifth year in a row. House budget writers proposed $69 million for tuition mitigation to freeze tuition rates for in-state students.
“We wanted to focus on the access and affordability in higher education for our young students across the state,” said state Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Lexington. “Freezing tuition prices obviously prevents an increased burden on families and our students throughout the state.”
House budget writers also want to spend $196 million for Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Part of the expense includes replacing matching dollars lost from a decrease in federal funding because the state’s economy is doing well, Medicare premium increases, increased reimbursement rates, increased costs for inflation and other costs to maintain the same level of service in the state.
“This will draw more providers to our underserved communities and that’s been a goal of our subcommittee for the past five or six years,” said state Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Beaufort, who leads a panel overseeing health care spending.
Again not included in the budget proposal is money for to start building Interstate 73 to connect Interstate 95 to Myrtle Beach, a roadway that would encourage economic development in the Grand Strand and help with hurricane evacuations.
McMaster and Horry County lawmakers last year sought $300 million to start the highway, a recommendation the governor pushed for again this year. However, lawmakers included $200 million to speed up bridge work planned by the S.C. Department of Transportation around the state.
“My feel for the House is there’s still a very strong desire to fix the (current) interstate system,” Bannister said. “That we have to make sure that it’s up to snuff before we start building new roads.”
The initial budget proposed by Ways and Means does not include member-directed spending for projects in their districts.
Member projects are expected to be added when the House receives the budget back from the Senate. In recent years some earmarked projects have been controversial, including how money went to a nonprofit run by a lawmaker’s friend and how an Upstate Christian organization wanted to use state dollars to build a school.
Bannister said the Ways and Means Committee is working on the best way to review projects before they get state money, to make sure organizations or nonprofits that get dollars are in good standing, and if the project is worth the investment.
“We’re trying to figure out if there’s a way to vet those projects better than we have in the past,” Bannister said.
Bannister did not know how many member projects would ultimately be included but the committee has billions in requests.
This money will come from the first half-cent sales tax that the county approved back in 2004.CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Millions of dollars will come from Charleston County Council to go towards the I-526 expansion after Tuesday night’s approval. This money will come from the first half-cent sales tax that the county approved back in 2004.This is the second time Charleston County Council has attempted this vote. It was finalized with five yeas, three nays and one absence. Just like the council was during discussion, publi...
This money will come from the first half-cent sales tax that the county approved back in 2004.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Millions of dollars will come from Charleston County Council to go towards the I-526 expansion after Tuesday night’s approval. This money will come from the first half-cent sales tax that the county approved back in 2004.
This is the second time Charleston County Council has attempted this vote. It was finalized with five yeas, three nays and one absence. Just like the council was during discussion, public comment was also divided.
“You are our trustees,” Elizabeth Singleton, who is against the county funding said. “This is not your money. It’s ours.”
Bradley Taggart, for the county funding, disagreed.
“Poll after poll has shown that people with this project are in fact permanently in favor of completing 526,” Taggart said.
Rick Voight, against county funding, says there are better ways to spend billions of dollars and should use better outcomes.
Joe Greck, for the county funding, encouraged all of council to support the funding, which they ultimately did.
The Mark Clark Extension will extend from West Ashley to Johns Island, James Island and areas of the Charleston metropolitan area to provide easier transportation and improved safety. The total project cost is more than $2 billion.
Councilman Teddie Pryor Sr. District 5 says if this began when it was first presented 42 years ago, it would have only cost around $280 million.
“And you know, people are saying ‘Well why do we delay it?’” Pryor said. “The more we delay, the more it’s going to cost because construction goes up.”
Councilman Larry Kobrovsky for District 2 says otherwise.
“I think it is a tremendous gamble,” Kobrovsky said. “Other words, we voted to spend $75 million of taxpayers’ money without any guarantee that it will be put to any use.”
Kobrovsky says he wishes they would have waited until the next sales tax referendum in two years for them to know exactly where this money will go.
“If we have $75 million that was designated for transportation money and we can put that to meaty use, let’s do that and not gamble,” Kobrovsky said.
Pryor says putting money towards 526 will not defer any other transportation projects going on.
“We just need to move on and move forward,” Pryor said. “People can make excuses or comments when they don’t want anything done, but I’m trusting that Secretary Hall and SCDOT working with us to get this project completed.”
Pryor says the next step is for South Carolina Department of Transportation to start the permitting process. No word right now on when that could start.
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