City of Charleston Committee on Public Works and Utilities 10/26/26

The City of Charleston Committee on Public Works and Utilities met October 26, 2026. The committee approved a construction contract with Wildwood Contractors for the first phase of Broad Street sidewalk repairs, from King Street to just beyond City Hall on the north side. Work includes reusing bluestone where possible, rebuilding the sidewalk base and curbing, improving ADA-compliant intersections, removing parking meters, and adding power to some tree wells. The committee also approved a $380,000 professional-services contract with Thomas & Hutton for initial review and preliminary design work on the Newmarket Creek restoration; the work is supported by a $1 million National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. Other approved actions included a $28,700 Thomas & Hutton fee amendment for Lake Dotter engineering support, acceptance of $1 million in state funding for Orleans Road drainage improvements, and a $25,000 city contribution to Charleston County for drainage engineering associated with the Avondale intersection project.

The committee approved proposed new and revised building-inspection fees, planned to take effect January 1, 2027, subject to subsequent council readings. The changes include increases to several permit fees and new fees; staff projected about $1.8 million in additional general-fund revenue. The committee discussed a tentative $2 million allocation for FY2027 stormwater small projects, but made no final funding decision. Updates covered completed neighborhood drainage work, the MUSC pump-station project (with Ruby Collins selected through the Army Corps’ bidding process and the bid within budget), and planning for the Market Street infrastructure and streetscape project. The committee also approved a stormwater ordinance amendment aligning variance procedures with FEMA requirements.