10/27/2026 - Charleston County Council

The October 27, 2026, Charleston County Council meeting included committee business, public comment, and council actions. In finance committee discussion, staff described a magistrate pay increase from $44.25 to $51.50 per hour, with a projected half-year cost of $155,794 beginning in January; the positions are a mix of full- and part-time roles, and staff said funding was available in the magistrate budget. The committee also considered a night-court staffing change. The Human Resources Committee advanced staff recommendations covering updates to the grievance and equal-employment-opportunity policies and a holiday-pay policy. No contract awards or RFP decisions were identified.

Council approved transferring just under three mitigation-bank credits to the City of Charleston for its Lockwood Drive flood-protection project, a knee wall intended to address recurring king-tide overtopping; staff said approximately 302 credits would remain and that planned projects could still be accommodated. Public commenters urged the county to end its PILOT agreement with Elbit Systems, alleging the company had not met its hiring commitments, but council took no action on the agreement during the meeting. Council also considered Snouten historic-district ordinances.