Monday letters: Lakefront purchase raises many questions

Richland County’s decision to pay more than $2 million for Lake Murray land warrants answers to very basic questions:

Who? County Council code named this project and conducted undisclosed hearings for more than a year to approve the purchase. Who conducted due diligence and decided this was a fair price?

What? After the purchase and after SCE&G said it couldn’t be a public marina, Council Member Bill Malinowski said an undefined “upscale tourism or banquet facility” is possible and promised residents would have a say on what happens. Shouldn’t we have been asked prior to the purchase?

Where? Down a narrow winding road without public utilities, this land is hardly ideal for public access. Was the Transportation Department consulted prior to purchase? No. There is no traffic light at the Salem Church Road intersection with S.C. 6. The area was not among sites recommended for public facilities by an advisory panel of shoreline community leaders.

When? After being listed for sale for five years, it sold at nearly the asking price shortly after a $10,000 selling agent bonus was offered.

Why? This site is just a couple of miles north of two large public facilities at the dam. This is the only hospitality-tax-funded project whose purpose was not revealed prior to purchase. Why was this site selected?

Unfortunately, access and infrastructure are very limited, the county has no plan, total project costs are unknown, and citizens had no voice.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 5:18 AM.