The Charleston County Legislative Delegation finally has named the last member of a committee that determines how local road money is spent, retaining all those who sought reappointment. In doing so, the delegation has recognized the good job that the panel has done, and has maintained a system that keeps local government involved in what primarily is a local matter.
The committee decides how state-generated highway funds, historically used for farm-to-market roads, are spent in Charleston County. That's no small responsibility with the county receiving some $3.6 million a year for local projects.
Since its inception, the committee has been composed largely of traffic, transportation and planning professionals who serve local government in Charleston County. The committee's decisions have been praised by local mayors and County Council members as equitable and based primarily on need.
Apparently that support was key in the delegation's decision to revise its plans to replace members of the committee with their own nominees. The likely effect of that would have been to remove professional guidance and replace it with a more politically charged system attuned to legislative wishes.
The delegation took the wise course of listening to the suggestions of elected officials representing local government, recognizing that they are knowledgeable about local transportation needs. In doing so, the delegation retains significant housekeeping help from the county, which provides staff assistance to the committee. The delegation has recognized the system works and that there's no reason to make changes that will diminish its future role in deciding how to use road money to the area's best benefit.
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