Government

Berkeley Co. council tackles GenEarth, SaveMoncksCorner.com

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Pictured: Berkeley Co. Council

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—Monday night council members tackled two issues: the stench from GenEarth that continues to plague many Moncks Corner homeowners and a website, SaveMoncksCorner.com, that has taken social media by storm.

To address the odor from GenEarth, Councilman Jack Schurlknight proposed a resolution authorizing Berkeley Co. Water and Sanitation to seek DHEC’s assistance in obtaining a “corrective action plan” for the company should it be in violation of any guidelines.

“The bottom line is we are going to have to have help on this problem to get it taken care of,” stated Schurlknight.

Councilman Steve Davis called the resolution “wishful thinking.”

Pictured: Jack Schurlknight
Pictured: Jack Schurlknight

“We created this nuisance, this governed body,” stated Davis. “I want the citizens to understand that I do not believe this is going to fix the problem.”

Davis made a move to amend the resolution to include the following phrase that reads, “the failure on the part of DHEC to address the odor nuisance should cause Berkeley County government to pursue alternative measures.”

“I’m making that amendment because we just can’t rely primarily on DHEC to find these folks in violation and then, whalaw, we can remove this nuisance from our community,” added Davis.

Councilman Tim Callanan then seconded the motion.

“I don’t have a problem with the amendment at all,” added Schurlknight.

Both the resolution and amendment passed by council leaders.

Pictured: Tim Callanan
Pictured: Tim Callanan

While the resolution has no timeline, council leaders want to address the odor issue produced by GenEarth as quickly as possible.

“Sometimes as elected officials, we have to make some hard, rough decisions,” stated Davis. “GenEarth is a nuisance—not just in the immediate facility area but other parts of Berkeley County.”

Callanan also seconded the amendment

After discussion of the resolution amendment ended, Councilman Tim Callanan addressed the website, SaveMonckCorner.com. According to the website, the county reportedly has a “secret plan” to spend $35 million to build a facility to dump and burn Charleston County’s waste in Berkeley County.

“I read the content, and I will tell you that unequivocally that it’s false,” stated

Pictured: Steve Davis
Pictured: Steve Davis

Callanan. “I don’t know who this individual is. He apparently does not have the courage to disclose himself before defamed members of this body and insult you all by calling and spewing untruths.”

Callanan then encouraged the person behind the website to acknowledge before council who they are and explain the intent of the website. After no one owned up to creating the website, Callanan added that it “spoke volumes.”

Schurlknight also addressed the website before a packed house.

“I concur with Councilman Callanan, and I totally agree with him 100 percent on that. This day in age with social media anybody can put anything up there because nobody is regulating,” he stated.

The person(s) behind the website addressed Callanan and Schurlknight’s statements on the website after Monday’s meeting.

A packed house inside council chambers.
A packed house inside council chambers.

“Members of the committee accuse us of spreading false information. What possible benefit is there making this information up?” the site reads.

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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