By Chelsea Hadaway
chadaway@scbiznews.com
Published Jan. 27, 2010

Mount Pleasant Mayor Billy Swails, who took office in November, reassured business leaders this morning that things are just fine east of the Cooper.

In his town of Mount Pleasant update, given at Alhambra Hall, Swails emphasized the town’s commitment to being business-friendly and gave a rundown of the town’s budget. The meeting was organized by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s East Cooper Area Business Council.

Although the fiscal 2010 budget is $4 million less than 2009’s, Swails said the town does not plan to raise property taxes or business license fees or to use the $12.3 million in its fund balance.

To save money, the town has frozen 32 vacant positions and has found other ways to save. Two such ways were implementation of a wellness program that resulted in a reduction in employee insurance costs and the use of different trucks in the sanitation department.

On the economic development front, Swails said the town is focusing on attracting and retaining businesses, particularly in the retail sector.

“It’s better to keep a client rather than lose one and try to find another,” he said.

Swails said the town will focus on infill that will not negatively impact existing residential areas, saying it would be preferable to fill empty storefronts than to build new ones farther out.

Additionally, Mount Pleasant plans to focus on “investment corridors.” The town needs a Main Street, Swails said. It used to have one in Pitt Street, he said, but now the town is trying to develop Coleman Boulevard to fill that need.

Other investment corridors include Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Long Point Road, Patriots Point and Oakland Plantation, among others.

The town is working to position itself to benefit from Boeing’s decision to put an assembly plant in North Charleston. Swails pointed to efforts by the town to attract spin-off businesses and vendors to locate in Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant is continuing its road and intersection projects, with $150 million in improvements starting within the next 12 months. The major projects include:

· $70 million for widening of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard from the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to the Kmart property at Bowman Road.

· $50 million for the overpass at Interstate 526 and Hungryneck Boulevard.

· $15 million for the widening of U.S. Highway 17 from the Isle of Palms Connector to S.C. Highway 41.

Swails said the town is working on a partnership with Trident Technical College and the Charleston County School District to create a middle college complex near Wando High School. Both groups are supportive, but the main barrier has been funding.

Reach Chelsea Hadaway at 843-849-3142.