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NEWS BRIEFS
Lowcountry Medical Associates moves corporate office to West Ashley
Lowcountry Medical Associates has announced the move of its corporate office to Fairfield Park in West Ashley, effective immediately.
According to Greg Robinson, CEO of LMA, the organization has outgrown its current space on the peninsula. “Our corporate office provides support services for 25 medical and ancillary service sites, 60 physicians and 400 employees,” explains Robinson. “Although we’ve enjoyed our residence on East Bay Street for the past five years, we’re now looking forward to having more space and added capabilities in order to serve our organization more efficiently.”
With primary care practices in Charleston, Berkeley and Colleton counties, Fairfield Park will be more centralized to LMA practice locations.
Proceeds from port book to aid Water Missions
Author Shelia Watson is donating proceeds from her book, South Carolina Ports: Charleston, Georgetown, and Port Royal (Arcadia Publishing), to Water Missions International and is challenging companies in the port community to match her pledge.
Watson considers WMI important to the port community. “WMI’s product—a portable water treatment unit—is more altruistic than most items moving through the port,” says Watson.
Although not an official publication of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, the book includes many photos from the agency’s vast archives. Bernard Groseclose, president and CEO of the SPA, wrote the book’s foreword.
Watson is sending all royalties she receives to the nonprofit organization. Among the companies answering Watson’s challenge so far are Charleston Marine Containers Inc., and Zoom Logistics. Both companies have promised to donate $1 for every book sold.
Watson says that although WMI has been in the spotlight lately because of the help provided to tsunami victims, the organization has been providing clean drinking water around the world for years. “I’m hoping my contribution—and the matching funds—will help WMI continue its mission for many years,” she adds.
To join the S.C. Ports Matching Pledge to Water Missions International, visit www.watermissions.org and click the book cover graphic.
County equipment to be sold through GovDeals.com online auction
Anyone who has access to the Internet is now able to view, bid on and purchase items that Charleston County Government is phasing out or replacing through GovDeals.com. This is the first time that Charleston County has used the Internet as a means to auction equipment.
Charleston County normally has one live auction each year in June, where 250 to 300 citizens attend to view and possibly bid on equipment. By using GovDeals.com, the county hopes to gain access to the large number of people who may be searching online on a global basis. In fact, according to statistics from GovDeals.com, the site has registered and active buyers in all 50 states and 19 foreign countries.
At least 14 other government agencies/organizations in South Carolina, as well as numerous others throughout the nation, have already used this Web site.
Charleston County began using the Web site on March 14 as a pilot program. The first items listed online are all vehicles, and range from sedans to trucks to SUVs.
‘Hoover the Mover’ to pay $86,500 to settle for sexual harassment
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has settled, for $86,500 and other relief, its sexual harassment lawsuit against Hoover Dodge Inc., Hoover Chrysler Inc., Hoover Jeep Chrysler Inc., Hoover Chrysler Jeep Inc. and Hoover Motors Inc., who often advertise under the banner “Hoover the Mover.” The suit said the company created a sexually hostile environment for four young female employees, including three teens.
The EEOC’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for District of South Carolina in Charleston (EEOC v. Hoover Dodge Inc., et al.), alleged that car salesman at the Hoover Dodge automobile dealership in Summerville subjected four young women to sexual jokes, comments and unwanted physical touching between late 2000 and early 2002.
The four women will share $86,500 in monetary damages, and the defendants will adopt a written anti-discrimination policy and provide training to all personnel concerning the policy and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition against sex discrimination and sexual harassment.
Charleston County School District gets higher credit rating
Moody’s Investors Service Inc. announced this month that they have changed their methodology for assigning bond ratings for school districts. In the past, Moody’s assessment of school district ratings was based solely on their assessment of districts’ credit qualities. As of March 2005, Charleston County’s credit quality also played a significant factor in Moody’s assigned ratings to the Charleston County School District.
In April of 2001, Moody’s upgraded Charleston County’s credit rating from an Aa3 to an Aa1, and reaffirmed this high rating in April of 2004. As a result of the change in methodology, the Charleston County School District benefited from Charleston County’s upgrade, and their credit rating was upgraded one notch from A1 to Aa3.
“As a result of the upgrade, future bonds issued by the school district will carry a lower interest rate, which will mean a savings on property taxes for the citizens of Charleston County,” says Harold Bisbee, Charleston County controller. “Anytime you save the taxpayers money, it’s a big deal.”
With this upgrade, Charleston County School District is one of only five South Carolina school districts with an Aa rating, of the 66 districts in the state that are rated by Moody’s.
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