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 Special Election for the District 1 County Council Member Seat Scheduled on March 25
Dorchester County will hold a Special Election for Dorchester County Council District 1 on Tuesday, March 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling locations are available here.
Early voting will be held from March 10 to March 21, 2025 at the St. George Civic Center (303 Ridge Street, St. George). The voting center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed on Saturday and Sunday).
More details about the election here.
Dorchester Partners Host County's First Critical Infrastructure Summit
Last week, Dorchester County Emergency Management Department, in collaboration with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, hosted the first-ever Critical Infrastructure Summit for the county.
The summit brought together key public and private sector leaders to build stronger partnerships and enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in Dorchester County.
 Dorchester County Firefighters Assist Local Communities Fighting Wildfires
Due to the massive impact of wildfires, Horry County was in need of additional fire rescue support.
Five Dorchester County Fire Rescue firefighters traveled to Horry County to assist with the fire rescue response.
A special thanks to these brave firefighters for their service to the community— Captain Matt Going, Engineer Michael Holinko, Firefighter Alex Betz, Battalion Chief Brian Ducey, and Captain Stephen Knode.
 Prescribed Fires Assist with Wildfire Prevention
At their March 3rd meeting, County Council proclaimed March as Prescribed Fire Awareness Month in Dorchester County.
Prescribed, or controlled, burning is the skilled application of fire under planned weather and fuel conditions to achieve specific forest and land management objectives.
These carefully applied fires are an important tool to reduce wildfires, enhance wildlife habitat, and keep the nearly 13 million acres of forested land in South Carolina healthy and productive. Learn more from the South Carolina Forestry Commission here.
 Save the Date: Hurricane Expo
The Hurricane Expo and Family Fun Day will kick off the hurricane season with fun and educational opportunities on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ashley River Park.
Participants will receive valuable information about how to prepare their family and property for hurricane season, while enjoying the park and many family activities.
All are welcome!
 Village Ponds Temporary Traffic Signal Now Active
A temporary signal is now installed and live at the intersection of US Highway 17A and Village Ponds Drive.
The intent is for the traffic signal to remain in place until the Linger Longer Drive Extension project is completed and open to traffic. Both of these projects are provided through funding from the Dorchester County Transportation Sales Tax Program.
Learn more about upcoming County transportation projects here: dorchestertransportation.com/.
 Dorchester County Approves Greenbelt Funding for More Than 1,600 Acre Property
At their February 20th meeting, County Council approved contributing up to $4,125,000 in Greenbelt funds towards the acquisition of 1,644 acres on a property on Old Beech Hill Road near Ridgeville as recommended by the Conservation and Greenbelt Advisory Commission. This project will be the largest property acquisition that the county has used Greenbelt funds for, and this acquisition would mean the property would be conserved and protected from further development, while also having the opportunity to be utilized for public access.
Moving forward with this project would not be possible without the support of partnering agencies; The South Carolina Forestry Commission pledged up to $4,500,000 and SC Conservation Bank pledged $3,100,000, which together with the county's Greenbelt funding, will provide $11,725,000 towards the purchase of the property. Another important partner in this project is the Open Space Institute (OSI), which is a national organization that partners in preserving land; OSI will use the funding from all these organizations to secure the property.
The county continues to pursue opportunities for land preservation in the county by utilizing its Greenbelt funds; these funds come from the county’s penny sales tax program. Projects that fall under the Greenbelt include purchasing property for conservation and conservation easements, creating passive and active greenspace, protecting natural resources, protecting agricultural or heritage landscapes, and protecting scenic corridors.
“By identifying partners and leveraging our Greenbelt funds, we are preserving and protecting land and providing our citizens with access to public lands for generations to come,” David Chinnis, Dorchester County Council Chairman said.
The public use potential of this site will be considered as the project continues through the process. Stay tuned for more details!
 Dorchester County Healthcare Partnership to Benefit St. George
Dorchester County is utilizing USDA grant and ARPA funding to convert a former women's detention center in St. George into a healthcare hub.
At their February 20th meeting, County Council approved leasing a county building in St. George to MUSC Health and SC Department of Mental Health. This will provide valuable healthcare resources closer to the St. George community.
The County will continue to work with existing healthcare providers in the St. George area to compliment current healthcare services provided to the community.
At this facility, MUSC Health will provide by-appointment and virtual visits for Primary Care and behavioral health, occupational health and wellness services, annual wellness, geriatric health, sports physicals, immunizations, vaccinations, nutrition and diet guidance, sick and injury visits (diagnosis and treatment), detecting and managing chronic conditions, hospital discharge follow-up visits, and point of care lab testing: bloodwork, urinalysis, hemoglobin, etc. SC Department of Mental Health will provide assessments, individual and family therapy sessions, and crisis response.
This facility is one of the ways that the county has worked to innovatively look forward to the county’s future needs and use existing resources to expand services to the community. The facility will now expand healthcare to an area in need of these services closer to home. Private-public partnerships, such as this with MUSC Health and SC Department of Health, are an asset to the county, and the services provided directly benefit the residents.
 Upcoming Workshop for Veterans and Their Families
A Veteran Affairs Benefits and Disability Claims Workshop will be held on Friday, March 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dorchester County Council Chambers (500 N Main Street, Summerville).
There will be a disability benefits overview, dependency and indemnity compensation and pension eligibility information, and an opportunity to ask questions.
For more details, call 843-832-0050.
 Upcoming Public Hearing on Community Needs
Dorchester County will host a public hearing to gather input to update the Community Needs Assessment on Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the Human Services Building (500 N Main Street, Summerville). The purpose of the public hearing is to gather public input on community needs for housing, public facilities, economic development and other identified priorities to serve low-moderate income households.
Residents are encouraged to bring ideas and needs for their neighborhood and be a part of the planning process in identifying public improvements and enrichment activities that would be eligible for future state and/or federal grant funds.
Learn more here.
 Outdoor Fun to Enjoy All Spring Long
Dorchester County Parks and Recreation has fun for all ages throughout the year.
In March, residents and visitors can enjoy yoga, movie nights, nature exploration, birds of prey, and more in the parks!
Visit their website here for many opportunities to fill spring calendars with local fun.
 Law Enforcement and Corrections Career Opportunities
If you are seeking a meaningful career in law enforcement and corrections, consider participating in the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office's upcoming job fair for the L.C. Knight Detention Center. Stop by on Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Dorchester County Emergency Operations Center (212 Deming Way in Summerville). Personnel will be on-site to answer questions.
 Apply to Serve on Dorchester County Boards and Commissions
Registered Dorchester County voters are encouraged to get involved in their local government and apply to serve on boards and commissions.
Applications are currently being accepted for the following boards and commissions:
- Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government
- Board of Assessment Appeals
- Board of Construction Appeals
- Board of Disabilities and Special Needs
- Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Board of Directors
- Foster Care Review Board
- Seniors Inc. Board of Directors
Those interested in applying can complete the application and email to lconrad@dorchestercountysc.gov.
For more information, please contact the Clerk to County Council, Lona Conrad, by phone at 843-832-0196 or email at lconrad@dorchestercountysc.gov.
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