With no public input, S.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) commissioners voted last month to approve more than $344 million worth of taxpayer-financed borrowing on four “non-priority” road projects.
Depending on who you ask, that’s either most or all of the state’s bonding capacity for highway projects …
Why did our scarce resources get blown on these non-essential projects? Why wasn’t this money spent on repairing our state’s existing roads and bridges – or at the very least on new projects that ranked higher in terms of priority?
As we reported earlier this month, the whole thing was a behind-the-scenes vote buying scam. In fact, one of the state’s transportation commissioners wrote a guest column on FITS two weeks ago detailing how DOT chairman Danny Isaac basically bribed his fellow commissioners with projects in their districts in order to gain their support for an I-73 interchange that he covets.
“Chairman Isaac wanted money for a $200 million interchange for Interstate 73 – but the only way he could get this money was to have each Commissioner include a project for their districts in the bond offering,” DOT Commissioner Sarah Nuckles wrote last week in her guest column. “Prior to hatching this plan, Isaac did not have the four Commission votes he needed to get funding for the Interstate 73 exit approved.”
“This plan was hidden from the public – and from me in my role as a Commissioner – but it was apparently being circulated among state legislators,” Nuckles continued. “In fact, the first I heard of it was in a phone call from a House member a few weeks before the Commission meeting. This lawmaker suggested that I call an Horry County Legislator, because ‘a deal was going down’ and if I wanted to include widening Interstate 85 in Cherokee County, I ‘had better call him.’”
Rather than participate in the scam, Nuckles exposed it – a courageous display of true government transparency.
“This critical vote was not advertised on the agendas of either the commission workshop or the commission meeting,” Nuckles explained, “nor were details of the projects involved (including specific cost estimates) provided to commissioners until the day of the workshop.”
Earlier this week, FITS received the approved minutes from both the DOT workshop and the commission meeting – documents which clearly show Nuckles fighting against this boondoggle.
In the DOT workshop on April 20, Nuckles says the vote “should have been advertised so that the public could participate because it’s public money.” The following day at the commission meeting, Nuckles pointed out the low priority of the projects being proposed and asks her colleagues to “be careful about appearing to be political rather than objective and quantifiable.”
None of them listened.
In fact, shortly after this vote was taken one of the commissioners who was in on the scam had the audacity to tell The Greenville News that “the public does not have a say” how these funds should be spent.
So … what’s next for this scam?
Sources tell FITS that the state’s Joint Bond Review Committee will take the measure up soon – possibly at its next scheduled meeting on June 1. Let’s hope the members of that committee will think twice before approving these projects.
Four years ago, S.C. lawmakers told taxpayers that they had reformed the SCDOT so that actual highway needs – not politics – would guide its decisions. Clearly, that “reform” didn’t take.
APRIL 20 DOT Workshop Minutes
APRIL 21 DOT Commission Meeting Minutes
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By sick of your sikh denial May 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm
I smell embezzlement.
By Sunshine May 25, 2011 at 12:10 pm
This is the same agency that is holding the SCEIS project up. They continue to operate independently as opposing to using the common computer system that the state government now has. Must be nice to be awashed with so much federal $$$$.
By Dana Beach May 25, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Another example of corruption is the StateTransportation Infrastructure Bank’s intimidation of Charleston County over extending I-526 to rural Johns Island. The county went through a five year long process of environmental assessment and public hearings on this project. The vast majority of people who commented, spoke at public hearings, wrote letters to the editor were against the road. Every state and federal agency recommended against the project. The towns of James Island, through which the road would pass, and Folly Beach, passed resolutions against it. And the county was 70 million dollars short of the needed money, even with the state commitment of 420 million dollars. This represents every last dime of bonding capacity the STIB has until 2018. During this process, the DOT spent 6 million dollars on right of way acquisition, with no guarantee of getting permits. The county spent about 5 on permitting. All together 11 million was spent.
So this month the county decided not to build the project, and to save state taxpayers 408 million dollars and county taxpayers another 70 million dollars. In retaliation, the STIB is threatening to take the county’s “Aid to Subdivisions” unless they pay the 11 million back within 60 days. That is to say, instead of applauding the county for saving almost half a billion dollars, the STIB is trying to force them to build a road that is not a priority, that most people don’t want, and that will squander all remaining STIB funds. This is the twilight zone.
By sick of your sikh denial May 25, 2011 at 12:27 pm
OMG, Will, I just realized something. A couple of days ago, you wrote about J. Sewell and SC Hotline. I read Sewell’s article on the SLED corruption and he said he might be unsafe. SC Hotline is now mysteriously down. Hope nothing happened to him. Can you let us know everything’s okay?
By Elmo May 25, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Were sunshine laws broken here? I thought the Freedom of Information Act would prevent these sort of “deals” from happening in the dark.
By costcutter May 25, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Guess who chairs the JBRC? The JBRC will vote on the bond that includes I-73 in Leathermans District and the Hardee Expressway. Senator (RINO) (Chairman) Leatherman whose son in law the Hardee Expressway is named, John is an executive with Lamar Outdoor Advertising. The Outdoor Advertising Industry is regulated by SCDOT. Although he no longer serves on the commission he hangs around DOT and City Hall. He can be seen frequently with certain very high rankings DOT Executives.He is also the Transportation Advisor to Mayor Benjamin. Travel on the Hardee Expressway and you will probably fall asleep from boredom because you will be one of the few motorists on it. Why are we wasting taxpayers dollars on an extension when widening of a current three mile stretch to I-26 exists? Meanwhile there is traffic congestion 19 hours a day on Highway 1 in Lexington and roads are deteriorating across the state. Where is the IG? SCDOT is a cabinet agency. Governor this is your responsibility that a trip to Paris. What happened to DOT Reform and the 12 criteria. What does the latest FHWA Audit say about the management of SCDOT? Where is the IG? Is he on his way to Paris?
By Huhhh??? May 25, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Oh, yes, Lord, please tell me again how much better off our state is as a one party Republic Party state and after the government “reorganization” of the early 90s.
By jimlewisowb May 25, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Huhhh???
Don’t want to step in front of the Lord but I think the word you are looking for to describe the State of South Carolina is FUBAR.
Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.
By IT Dude May 25, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Re: Sunshine—DOT’s footdragging and arrogance regarding SCEIS have cost the agency over $10 million in additional costs that could have been avoided had they complied on schedule like the rest of State government. Total agreement here. PS —-D. Issac is on the DOT commission thanks to his business partner and former commissioner Billy Alford (Both from Myrtle Beach)
By costcutter May 25, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Your highway gasoline tax dollars are being used for SCEIS. SCEIS is far more important than fixing unsafe and deteriorating roads and bridges. SCEIS is employing a well heeled contractor and many high paid state employees. Just like most IT projects the state engages in there is no clue on how to manage it. The training plan sucks. Again your tax dollars hard at work.
By quiet voice of reason May 25, 2011 at 5:39 pm
About SCEIS…. I sit on one of the state IT committees, and the reason that little results can be seen is that our state has no ability to force people to work together. Each agency gets to do exactly as it wishes for IT. Every time we create a team to recommend a best product or to consolidate a contract to save money, there’s an agency (or two or three) who asks, “Do we HAVE to?” or “Do you have the power to mandate that?”
Over my years on this committee, many people have worked hard for not-so-much money to try and streamline what is available to citizens and to the 60 freakin’ state agencies. But no one can make an agency do anything around here. Hell, we had a letter from the AG and one agency still wouldn’t comply.
So yes, what can look like a waste of money can really be a great faith effort to do something good. Face it, people in this state hate change so much we’re lucky if they change their underwear.
By costcutter May 25, 2011 at 7:27 pm
I wonder who got rich of the rights of way acquisition. Remember the deal our former Lt Governor got for his property after he pulled the right strings. Who are the developers who own the land where I-73 is going and other DOT Projects where construction will not take place but land has been acquired. Perhaps Her Excellency can ask these questions. Who gained from the rights of way acquired for improvements to US 17? DOT can never be reformed because of its political commission and compliant senior employees. In fact a former State Highway Engineer once said my PE stands for “political engineer” rather than Professional Engineer.When the Hardee Expressway was opened who paid for the BBQ meal for the opening ceremonies? Were those costs charged off to the project and ultimately the taxpayer?
By janet May 25, 2011 at 7:55 pm
The outdoor advertising lobby is way too powerful. How do they get away trashing the economic interests of our beautiful state?
By Real Housewife of Irmo May 25, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@jimlewisowb – FUBAR has now officially been added to my vocabulary!
Others commenting…you are all correct. It is just a massive clusterf*=% at DOT. And @quiet voice of reason – you are also right on point about SCEIS.
By Faye holder May 25, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Yep, the John Hardee expressway expansion is the taxpayer’s way of thanking the good senator for his years of community (political) service since John hardee is Leatherman’s son-in-law, former DOT commissioner, and Central Midlands Cog board member and future incoming chair. Hey, doesn’t Cog determine priority of road paving etc? Hummm, interesting connection. Wants to be reinstated as a commissioner at DOT. Sucking up to Lexington delegation and council members in hopes of appointment to become DOT commissioner. You’re correct that DOT regulates outdoor advertising agency. Nice connection. Sounds self-serving…uh, yep.
By Joe May 25, 2011 at 10:39 pm
Interstate 73 was voted on by SCDOT as the #1 priority in the state. It needs to be built. Nuckles is a withch and a sore loser who can’t play well with others.
By costcutter May 26, 2011 at 4:37 am
She wasn’t appointed to play well with others. She is an honest public servant who believes in doing what is right. She asks uncomfortable questions and it makes the good old boys uncomfortable. She would never been appointed if it were not for Act 114. The favorite GOB in that District had to many skeletons rattling in his closet and withdrew his name for consideration. As for John Hardee he has been literally feeding on the public trough for years. He never misses a buffet especially if its free or on a consultants dime. Of course the consultants dime is passed on to the taxpayer by way of being a business expense for the projects they are trying to get. He served back to back 4 year terms at DOT and was on a third term until the Supreme Court ruled that he could not. As for I-73 its a wasteful pork project that will bring only temporary seasonal low wage jobs to MB. Use the money to expand and repair the current infrastructure.
By Faye holder May 26, 2011 at 8:18 am
Yep, Hardee enjoys a free buffet at taxpayer expense and has lived off the public trough. If there’s somewhere to go at taxpayers expense, count him in.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach May 26, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I’ve known Danny Isaac since he was a kid. He’s a nice guy and a smart businessman who runs the absolute best fire and water restoration business in this area (it puts SeverPro to shame). But he is deeply in the pocket of the impossibly corrupt Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Period.
Danny was placed in that position at SCDOT to serve them, just as Brant Branham was placed as Ken Ard’s CoS for the same purpose, when they could not buy a win for either Gresham Barrett or Vincent Sheheen.
If the Feds don’t look closely into the actions of Isaac and others on I-73, as part of their ongoing probe into the Coastal Kickback scam, they are missing an important part of it, in my opinion.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach May 26, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Joe, I think I know who you really are, and IF I’m right, I don’t know why you have not learned by now that you can’t keep playing it the way you guys have in the past and survive politically.
You above all others should know exactly what I’m saying here.
You’ve done some good for sure, and I give you props for that. But if but keep pushing this agenda and others for the same interests you will lose it all in the long run. They hate you now, and you can’t win your way back in with them, no matter what.
Word.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach May 26, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Again, IF you are who I suspect and yer name ain’t really Joe:
When you have BOTH of the Tea Party groups down here, all the new leadership of the county GOP, a growing number of influential Repubs and Dems in and out of most of the partisan clubs, the Governor of the state and several other key people in Columbia plus the EPA all turning more against the narrow elitist interests of the MB Area Chamber on many, many issues — all while the FBI and IRS are just about to move the whole 2-year investigative process to the next stage at DOJ — my friend, you have a serious problem in continuing to “play along to get along” on any part of their agenda. ESPECIALLY one that has prime Fed target Brad Dean at its helm locally, statewide and nationally.
The I-73 project is PORK, and it a major drain on both state and federal funds and resources.
Give it up.
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