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Monday, September 13, 2021 @ 6:30 pm – Administrative Committee
Monday, September 13, 2021 @ 7:30 pm – Wastewater Committee
Monday, September 27, 2021 @ 7:00 pm – Regular

NEW TEMPORARY MEETING LOCATION:

James Island Town Hall
1122 Dills Bluff Road
James Island, SC 29412

The above meetings are open to the public; however, we will be practicing social distancing to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. Citizens may continue to submit written public comments via email to jipsdinfo@jipsd.org or by mail to JIPSD Commission, PO Box 12140, Charleston, SC 29422-2140. Comments will be distributed to the Commission.

The James Island Public Service District’s mission is to minimize rate increases while continuing to maximize high quality, environmentally safe wastewater services.  However, increased operating costs and capital projects, involving the repairs and replacements of an aging infrastructure as well as increased wastewater treatment costs, have caused the District to review the current wastewater rates to meet the needs of the system moving forward.  Some major projects, both underway and in the next five years, are needed to replace failing infrastructure while others have been initiated by new debt service obligations and increased energy, labor cost, fuel, and chemical costs.

On May 24, 2021, the District’s Commission voted to adjust the current wastewater rates and rate structure of the District.  The change in rate structure may result in a slightly higher bill for some residents.

***There will no longer be a residential cap on wastewater bills – previously 16 ccfs***

There were two meetings and a public hearing held to discuss the rate increases.  The Commission approved these rates on May 24, 2021 and the rates will be reflected in the July 2021 bill.  We know this will be an uncomfortable and unpopular adjustment, but it is critical to update and maintain the District’s aging wastewater infrastructure.  The cost to operate and maintain our wastewater system continues to increase more each year, and the District must continue to evaluate the wastewater rate structure on an annual basis.

Best regards,

Dave Schaeffer
District Manager

In observance of Independence Day, our offices will be closed Monday, July 5. During the holiday week, all JIPSD collection services will be delayed by one day. Please see below for a detailed schedule. Helpful information can also be found on the department’s website at https://www.jipsd.org/services-departments/solid-waste/.

The James Island Public Service District Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 28th, at 6:30 p.m. at James Island Town Hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Road, James Island, SC 29412. The hearing will be on the 2nd reading of Ordinance No.2021-04 Amending FY21 Budget Ordinance. Public comments, written and oral, are invited.

The James Island Public Service District (JIPSD) customer service lobby operations are planned to return to normal on Tuesday 1 June 2021. The public will be permitted access to the JIPSD customer service lobby 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday through Thursday with strict guidelines; however, customers are still highly encouraged to interact with JIPSD customer service representatives online at www.jipsd.org and by phone at 843-795-9060.

The James Island Public Service District Commission will hold public hearings on Monday, May 24^th, at 6:00 p.m. at James Island Town Hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Road, James Island, SC 29412. The hearings will cover the following topics: (1) Proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2022, (2) Proposed changes to Wastewater Collection System Use and Rate Ordinance and (3) Proposed sale of Old Fire Station #1 located at 1622 Camp Road, James Island, SC 29412. Public comments, written and oral, are invited.

Proposed FY22 Budget Ordinance
Proposed Wastewater Collection System Use and Rate Ordinance
Proposed Sale of Property Located at 1622 Camp Road Ordinance

Due to staffing issues and excessive amounts of curbside yard debris, crews will be unable to collect any man-made materials or bulk items at this time. They will resume as soon as possible, but a specific date is as yet unknown. Please refrain from placing anything other than yard debris and your regular roll-cart out until further notice.
Thank you.

While we are currently operating on a normal schedule within the Solid Waste Services department, we would like to encourage residents to help keep curbside pickup of yard debris and man-made materials at a minimum, as crews may need to rotate around to fill essential needs. We are closely monitoring government recommendations and will announce if/when further changes are necessary.

As a reminder, the JIPSD does not handle recycling. This is handled by Charleston County, and they will not collect excess materials outside the blue roll cart. Their convenience center at 1716 Signal Point Road is open 24/7 for routine recyclables (such as cardboard) and from 10am-6pm Tues-Sat for hazardous recyclables (electronics, tires, paint, etc.); however, please call them at (843)720-7111 before bringing anything other than routine items as their manned hours may vary.

Thank you for your attention and patience as we all work together to #flattenthecurve

For the safety of our employees and customers, our offices will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 23rd until further notice. Please do not leave cash payments in our payment drop box. We encourage customers to call Customer Service at 843.795.9060 or visit our website at www.jipsd.org to conduct business in lieu of coming into the office. Please note that we have paused disconnections at this time; however, customer bills will not be pardoned or erased. We encourage customers to continue making payments to the best of their ability.

Currently, Solid Waste services will continue to operate on a normal schedule. All JIPSD fire station locations will continue to be closed to the public. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. For wastewater emergencies, call 843.795.2345. The JIPSD is committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 to ensure the safety of our employees and customers.

The JIPSD expects to maintain normal operations and we have suspended all service disconnections at this time. Citizens are encouraged to make payments on our website or by phone by dialing (855) 731-9910.  If any additional questions can be answered regarding your bill, please call Customer Service at 843.795.9060. The Fire Department has cancelled all public events and the stations will be closed to the public for tours.

For updates and other important information, you can follow us here on our website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and advise citizens to take precautions to limit the potential spread of the virus. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional information about COVID-19. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we navigate through the complexities of this pandemic.

UNUSUALLY HIGHER SEWER BILL CONSIDERATIONS

JIPSD bills for sewer after the water has been consumed so consider the following information and have a calendar handy to review your dates. Your bill includes important information to help you determine your usage and when it increased. Look for the following information: Gallons (ccfs) used and the number of days in this time frame.

THESE ITEMS CAN INCREASE YOUR WATER USAGE AND AFFECT YOUR BILL:

• Is your irrigation system tied into your residential line?
• Did you increase the amount of time you watered your lawn or garden?
• Have you filled a pool?
• Are your irrigation system timer settings too long or too often?
• Have you had any work done in the home or on your property?
• Have you had any work done on your irrigation system?
• Have you watered any new sod or landscaping?
• Have you had any visitors for a period of time?
• Have you power-washed the home or driveway?
• Have you replaced hot water heaters?
• Do you have an inflatable pool or hot tub?

Typically, if your readings return to more normal on your next bill it is likely that it was one of these reasons or another simple explanation that caused the increase and not a leak.

If you think it remains high, you may have a leak and should contact a plumber to investigate. Meters are imported monthly from Charleston Water System meter reads and neither can tell you the exact day and time that high usage occurs within any given cycle.