INSIDE Director’s Notes ...... 2 Moving Up ...... 8 Retirements ...... 9 District News ...... 16-22 Human Resources . . . . . 23 Assets Management ...... 24

VOLUME XX NO. III SC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SUMMER 2006 SCDOT celebrates 50th anniversary of Interstate Highway System

By Bob Kudelka

CDOT commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the In- terstate System on June 2 in SColumbia with a celebration and news conference. Speakers included Executive Director Elizabeth S. Mabry; Bob Thomas, of the Federal Highway Administration; Adjutant General Stan Spears; State Representative Ronny Townsend; South Carolina Secretary of Com- merce Joe E. Taylor; South Caro- lina Department of Public Safety Director Jim Schweitzer; and Marion Edmonds of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Kristen Lominack, Director of State Gov- ernmental Affairs, presided. President Dwight D. Eisen- hower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act on June 29, 1956, creating the Highway Trust Fund. ROB THOMPSON/THE CONNECTOR Since that time, interstates have become our social and commer- Various police cars and highway equipment lined Park Street in front of SCDOT as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Interstate cial lifeline. Highway System. Included in the vehicle display was a 1956 Ford, a car from the era of the beginning of the Interstate Highway system. The news conference was held in front of SCDOT Headquarters, highway workers who helped the block was the Aspen Aerial, Other vehicles on display John Rawl spoke of what the where sponsors created a festi- build the interstate system over a 62,000-pound “bridge snoop- included law enforcement cruis- interstate system has meant to val-like atmosphere by provid- the past decades attended. er” vehicle used by SCDOT. ers and emergency vehicles, an him. ing exhibits including a movie Park Street was transformed The machinery’s long arm can 18-wheeler, a military Humvee, theater showing a video on the into a parking lot for an assort- extend from atop bridges to allow a 2006 Ford Mustang GT and a interstate system, a coloring area ment of vehicles, representing employees in a two-person bucket 1956 Ford Fairlane. See 50th Anniversary with balloons for children and users of the interstate. to inspect beams, caps and piers Inside the Dutch Star, a 43- on page 12 refreshments. A group of retired Taking up a large portion of underneath bridge decks. foot-long, $315,000 motor home, Preferred route for I-73 announced

By Bob Kudelka portion of the highway and the signing of the draft Environmental Impact Statement. CDOT reached a major milestone in Project Manager Mitchell Metts said the development of Interstate 73 in the preferred alternative – chosen from May with the announcement of the eight out of an original 141 possible routes Spreferred alternative route for the southern – has the least impact to wetlands; the few- est farms impacted; the lowest cost; and the least impact to cultural resources. The announcement was made dur- ing the news conference at the Columbia Convention Center where guests included US Congressman Henry Brown; Com- missioner John N. Hardee; Commissioner Bobby T. Jones; Commissioner Marvin Stevenson; former Commissioners Gary Loftus and L. Morgan Martin; several state legislators; representatives of resources agencies; and interested citizens. Brown said I-73 will not only benefit tourism but will improve job opportunities for people in rural areas. “It’s a win-win for everybody,” Brown ROB THOMPSON/THE CONNECTOR said. State Highway Engineer Tony Chap- Mitchell Metts announces the preferred alternative for the Southern Project of I-73 in man and FHWA Division Administrator South Carolina. The announcement was part of a joint SCDOT/FHWA news conference in Bob Lee signed the draft EIS. A final EIS Columbia on May 30. and Record of Decision are scheduled to nection to the , and the Grand miles of existing SC Highway 22 to save be completed in the spring of 2007. Strand is the heartbeat of tourism and “a tremendous amount of money,” he “To get to where we are today, during tourism is the heartbeat of the economy in said. the past 18 months we’ve been involved South Carolina,” Mabry said. The draft EIS contains a compete evalu- with 15 different state and federal agencies Lee said of the top four driving destina- ation of 141 lines drawn as possible routes to balance concerns to come up with one tions in the country, Myrtle Beach is dif- over the past 18 months. corridor,” Lee said. ferent from Orlando, Fla., Anaheim, Calif., Patrick Tyndall, FHWA Project Man- Executive Director Elizabeth S. Mabry and Las Vegas, Nev. because it does not ager, called the project “unprecedented in noted the historical context of the mile- have an interstate. scope and magnitude.” stone. She said that 50 years ago, President “We aim to fix that,” Lee said. “From a financial standpoint…this is Eisenhower had a vision of nationwide Metts said the Project Team chose a the largest public works project ever done interstate system. His vision became a route from the 1,500-square mile study reality, and in South Carolina 28 counties area for the Southern project beginning are touched by 844 miles of interstate, she in Dillon County and head- See I-73 said. ing to Myrtle Beach through Marion and on page 2 “Ironically, there is no interstate con- Horry counties. I-73 will incorporate 23 2 SCDOT SUMMER 2006

good highways that make travel- ing engineering firms are whole- ing safer with less congestion, heartedly supporting the SCDOT Directions and roads that provide a good in- Vision. frastructure for economic devel- The highway construction By Elizabeth S. Mabry what would have normally taken opment, which leads to more jobs community, which includes SC- Executive Director 27 years to be completed. By and better-paying jobs. Progress DOT’s Commission and employ- accomplishing this work early, in our state cannot continue with- ees, and the firms in the private CDOT has consistently SCDOT has saved the taxpayers out additional revenue. sector who help us design, build been one of the most effi- over three billion dollars in con- Our state gas tax is 16 cents and maintain our highway system, cient state DOTs in the na- struction costs. per gallon. It has not changed all realize that good highways are Stion. We put as many of our dol- That program is now coming since 1987. A 1987 gas tax of 16 critical to economic development lars into building and maintaining to an end. We had hoped to keep cents is worth only seven cents in in South Carolina. All of us can highways and bridges as we can, the momentum going, but we 2006 due to years of inflation. work together to get this message while holding our administrative simply don’t have the funding. I have proposed a plan to to the Legislature. It is important costs down. All of you, as em- South Carolina has reached a cri- submit to the Legislature, which that they take action in the 2007 ployees of SCDOT, have done sis point that we have been pre- would increase our revenues Legislative Session. many good things for the people dicting for nearly nine years, as gradually over the next ten years. You have proven that you can of South Carolina during the last fuel prices and construction costs The SCDOT Commission has ap- do a lot without much in the way decade. have skyrocketed and the funding proved seeking additional funds. of resources, and the Commission You may be familiar with our for highways is not growing. You can find the details in a sepa- and I appreciate everything you “27 in 7” construction program. However, the people of South rate story on (page 11). You’ll do. Elizabeth S. Mabry Under this program SCDOT used Carolina do not want to see a re- also see another story about how bond revenues to build in 7 years duction in services. They expect industry contractors and consult- SEE article on page 11

parents and held various public I-73 information meetings. from page 1 “We rode on the back of pick- up trucks, sat on tailgates, front porches and drank lemonade,” in South Carolina,” Tyndall said. Tyndall said. “This is what public It’s larger that the Cooper River involvement is all about.” Bridges Replacement Project in Tyndall recalled being sum- Charleston and the Lake Mur- moned to a meeting at a house ray Dam project in Lexington and finding that the furniture had County. been moved out of the living Across the country, “you can room. About 20 neighbors were literally count on one hand the sitting in the back of the room number of highway projects that and the wall had a map with we’re doing today of this magni- pushpins and yarn showing an tude,” Tyndall said. alternative route. Tyndall said he was adding “We listened and actually took up the number of state and fed- the map back to the office and eral laws that must be followed in figured out ways to improve the developing an interstate highway alignment near that community,” and stopped when he reached 50. Tyndall said. “This is complex and diffi- Another time, the Project Team cult,” Tyndall said. “There is no attended a “spirited” meeting in wizard who sits behind a green Anyor that set a new SCDOT curtain at DOT and just picks attendance record for public where roads are going to go.” meetings at 620. ROB THOMPSON/THE CONNECTOR Early on, Mabry and Lee made “We went back to the drawing SCDOT and FHWA officials announce the recommended preferred alternative for the Southern Project of personal visits to agency heads board after that meeting and made I-73 in South Carolina at a news conference May 30. Some of the dignitaries at the announcement included, concerning I-73. This executive improvements,” Tyndall said. from left, Senator Hugh Leatherman, U.S. Congressman Henry Brown, SCDOT Executive Director Elizabeth level of coordination resulted in Protecting farms that had been S. Mabry, Senator Yancey McGill and Federal Highway Administration SC Division Administrator Bob Lee. creation of the Agency Coordina- in families for generations was a tion Team (ACT). key concern. (1,708 acres), the least impact to ACT, made up of 15 state and “We heard from a ton of farm- potential historic resources, and Agency Coordination Team (ACT) federal agencies, met 19 times ers,” Metts said. had the lowest relative cost. over the past months with an Metts said the final eight alter- Often times in highway devel- SC Department of Archives and History average meeting time of 4 hours. natives out of the original 141 opment, the least expensive route SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Leaders also realized an exten- were each pretty good routes. is usually not the route with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control sive public involvement plan was The Preferred Alternative was least wetland impact, but fortu- Office of Ocean and Coastal needed. The Project Team devel- selected over the other routes nately that is the case with the Resource Management oped an I-73 web site, www. because it would have the least preferred route, Metts said. SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism I73inSC.com; visited churches wetland impacts (384 acres), in Metts said the preferred SC Department of Natural Resources and schools; gave surveys to 5th both acreage and wetland value, route was not set in concrete as SC Emergency Management Division graders to take home to their the least impact to farmland a series of public hearings was SC Department of Commerce announced to receive feedback SC Department of Transportation from the public. Engineers will US Army Corps of Engineers begin a detailed field survey of US Coast Guard the preferred route. US Fish and Wildlife Service “We’ll continue to take input US Environmental Protection Agency and we’ll continue to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration route as we get better informa- (National Marine Fisheries) tion,” Metts said. Natural Resources Conservation Service Winner of awards from S.C. Division, Public Relations Society Still, the announcement was a Federal Highway Administration of America; Carolinas Association of Business Communicators; key step in making I-73 a reality. S.C. Press Association and AASHTO. “What has been fuzzy for the Editor: Stan Shealy past year and a half is now com- I-73 By the Numbers Photography / Layout Editor: Rob Thompson ing to focus,” Tyndall said. 60,000 - Number of hours spent by the Project Team Because funding for the tolled 57,350 - Number of visits to www.I73inSC.com Editorial Board: Pete Poore, Bob Kudelka, Nancy Brown, Jane highway remains uncertain, Metts Mayberry, Bonnie Cramer, Peter Tarpley, Cody Crouch. 1,973 - Number of citizens attending SCDOT meetings announced that a Request for Pro- 1,499 - Number of written comments received posals will be put out to develop a 141 - Number of potential corridors evaluated public/private partnership. 15 - Number of state and federal cooperating agencies The Connector, an employee newspaper of the South Carolina “We’re looking to the private Department of Transportation, is published quarterly. All news items may sector to see what ideas they may be reproduced with credit to The Connector or the source. News, photos would cross to the east immedi- new alignment to an interchange have to finance, construct and and information to appear in The Connector should be submitted to Stan ately north of Temperance Hill, with SC Route 22 near Bakers Shealy, Office of Communications, S.C. Department of Transportation, even maintain I-73,” Metts said. then extends southeast where Chapel, about two miles west of P.O. Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202, no less than three weeks prior to “We’re not sure what we’re going date of publication. Copy should include the name and phone number of it would interchange with S.C. the S.C. Route 701/S.C. Route to get at the end of the day, but the source or person submitting the article. For Route 41A. It would continue 22 interchange. The interchange we’re going to start that conver- inquiries regarding news copy, telephone 737- southeast and would have an with S.C. Route 22 would be 1270. All materials submitted become the prop- sation early.” interchange with U.S. Route 76 designed so that the traffic move- erty of SCDOT unless their return is stipulated. The alignment of the Preferred The Connector is distributed free by on the western side of Mullins. ment from I-73 to S.C. Route 22 Alternative would begin at the mail to employees and to others upon South Carolina Once south of Mullins it would would be the predominant move- southernmost interchange with I- request. Press Association angle slightly east and cross the ment through the interchange. It Elizabeth S. Mabry is Executive Associate Member 95, and from there would extend Little Pee Dee River at the exist- then would follow S.C. Route 22 Director of the S.C. Department of southeast on the western side Transportation. ing S.C. Route 917 crossing. It to its terminus with U.S. Route of Latta where it would have an Printed with soy ink on recycled paper. would have an interchange with 17 near Briarcliffe Acres. interchange with U.S. Route 501, S-308, then continue southeast on SUMMER 2006 SCDOT 3 Lone AAH volunteer honored for dedication Nowlen, who lives in the area, New I-85 interchange improves access By Bob Kudelka recently spotted her lugging a large truck bedliner from a gulley. CDOT Commissioner Bobby T. “It’s a tremendous service,” Nowl- Jones was driving down a road en said. “Litter is something we deal near Lake Wateree in Kershaw with every day. I view it not only as SCounty one day and noticed a lone unsightly but also dangerous as well. woman by herself picking up trash A little plastic bag can fly up and from the roadside. catch on someone’s windshield. I’ve Jones was surprised to see the seen that happen and somebody loses same woman there two weekends lat- control of the car trying to reach out er, again alone and picking up trash. and get it off the car.” “I thought it was just a good deed For Daugherty, the idea of picking but I saw her again two Saturdays up trash began with a single lamp- later,” Jones said. “I thought that was shade she noticed on the side of the great.” road. He pulled over and got out to “I drove past that thing for a good thank her for keeping the road clean. three months and I thought, ‘Some- It turns out that Paula Daugherty is body ought to at least pick that thing very dedicated when it comes to her up.’ It didn’t look like anybody else involvement in the SCDOT Adopt- is going to do it, so I’m going to do ROB THOMPSON/THE CONNECTOR A-Highway program. it.” Dignitaries from SCDOT, FHWA and United Contractors open the new Brockman-McClimon By herself, Daugherty has picked Picking up one lampshade in 2005 Interchange after a brief, on-site ceremony July 31. up nearly 2 tons of trash and debris evolved into spending every other emony. since 2005, according to Billy Nowl- weekend picking up trash. By Bob Kudelka “We envisioned finishing it in about October en, SCDOT Right of Way Foreman Daugherty does this in addition to of 2006,” Mabry said. “Here we stand on the for Kershaw Maintenance. her job at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of wo months ahead of schedule, SCDOT last day of July, two months early. That is due “I think it’s amazing,” Nowlen South Carolina during the week and Executive Director Elizabeth S. Mabry to the commitment of the principle parties and said. a job as a receptionist at the Colonial and partners in the public and private Team United.” Daugherty named her one-person Tsectors opened the Brockman-McClimon Road Inn on Sundays. A goal of the interchange is to make both AAH Group to honor a friend who On a typical weekend, Daugherty Interchange in July as part of the I-85 Access residential and commercial traffic flow more died five years ago. As the AAH spends up to 2 hours working on Carl Improvements Project. smoothly. It is also expected to improve traf- sign on Carl Horton Road signifies, Horton Road. She usually does this In addition to the Brockman-McClimon fic for nearby BMW Manufacturing and the Daugherty’s labor is done in “Memo- after getting off work on Fridays. Interchange, improvements were made to airport. ry of Alex Horton.” Then on Saturday, she’ll spend from the existing interchange for the Greenville- “We want to do many more of these projects “He was just a very good man, a 5 to 9 hours on SC 97. Spartanburg International Airport. A continu- across South Carolina,” Mabry said. Unfortu- very down to earth person and very Daugherty, who has three sons and ous auxiliary lane was built on I-85 to connect nately, the funding is short. We are hoping and giving,” Daugherty said. “He loved seven grandchildren, said she hasn’t the two interchanges. praying that we can get additional funds so we his land and loved his streets, and it’s asked for help and prefers to do the Brockman-McClimon Road was widened, can bring more services and more projects to my way of giving back to him and his job by herself. and portions of it were relocated to ease con- our state, ones that are so sorely needed.” wife for being the type of people that “I enjoy doing what I do,” Daugh- gestion and access to areas around I-85. FHWA Division Administrator Bob Lee they are.” erty said. “It’s kind of my time.” “This project is more than just an access road thanked the DOT Planning and Environmental Jones, impressed by the woman’s SCDOT appreciates the work of - it is about economic development,” Mabry staff for developing environmental documents selflessness, presented her with a all South Carolina Adopt A-Highway said. “I’m here to tell you that all transportation and obtaining the required permits; DOT Traffic plaque during the May SCDOT Com- volunteers, who last year collected projects are about economic development. That and Engineering staff for preliminary design so mission meeting in Columbia. more than 1.6 million pounds of trash is how you gain people coming to your state. FHWA could approve the interchange reports; “I appreciate what she does and from the state’s roadsides, said Tina That is how you gain businesses, that is how the innovative project team led by Christy Hall I’m sure the citizens do, too,” Jones Hembree, Adopt-A-Highway coordi- you thrive, is to have a good transportation sys- and Mark Lester for pulling the RFP together said. “She’s a charming lady. I know nator at SCDOT. tem and this is one excellent example.” and the financing agreement together to deliver the department is very appreciative.” Commissioner F. Hugh Atkins said: “I think project on time and on budget; and Jim Triplett Alex Horton, a lifelong Kershaw this project is a clear example of what happens of Team United. County resident and 38-year veteran when different government agencies cooperate “On behalf of Federal Highway Administra- of Georgia Pacific, died May 1, 2001. and partner with private enterprise to bring good tion, we’re proud to work so closely with the His father, Carl, built one of the first jobs and safe travel to all our citizens in South DOT to deliver these kinds of projects as we houses on Lake Wateree, in 1941. Carolina. I congratulate Betty Mabry and all have in the past,” Lee said. Ina Horton, wife of Alex Horton, our SCDOT employees for a job well done.” Mabry gave special thanks to Project En- said Daugherty asked her last year Representing Gov. Mark Sanford, C.H. Ma- gineer Ryan Miller, as well as the Greenville- if she could adopt the road in Alex’s guire, chief of staff at the SC Department of Spartanburg Airport and area residents who memory. Commerce, summed up the teamwork and co- worked with employees and the contractors. “It just makes me feel so good,” ordination by saying, “This is a huge deal.” Miller said the design build project had its Ina Horton said. “She’s doing a won- Four partners pooled their resources for this share of challenges, from summer rains in 2005 derful job.” the I-85 Access Improvements Project: The to dry weather this past summer. The project in- Daugherty adopted 2.5 miles of SC Department of Commerce; SCDOT; the cluded six bridges – four over I-85. Carl Horton Road and 1.6 miles of Greenville Spartanburg International Airport “We couldn’t have asked for a better group,” SC Highway 97. and FHWA. Miller said. During 2006 through mid- Mabry thanked state legislators for their ef- Triplett also lauded the teamwork. July, Daugherty had collected 114 forts in making sure state funds were available. “This is the kind of work that we love best… bags weighing 1,710 pounds. In addi- South Carolina Representatives Joseph G. Ma- put us to the test and tell us what you want done tion to the usual cans and small paper haffey and Lewis R. Vaughn attended the cer- and let us have at it,” he said. and plastic debris, she’s also picked up tires, wood and pipe. 2006 STTAR Scholarship Recipients Zachary D. Brunson...... University of South Carolina Latosha L. Carmichael...... Coker College Calhoun J. Cornwell...... South Carolina State University Madison B. Foster...... Clemson University Derek J. Frick...... Clemson University Devyn D. Gillette...... Winston-Salem State Courtney E. Holden...... University of South Carolina Patrick E. Holstad...... University of South Carolina Chase B. Martin...... Coastal Carolina University Courtney A. Porter...... Lander University Sharon M. Rawls...... Wofford College Judy A. Ryggs...... Bob Jones University Anita P. Smalls...... Clemson University Salena S. Smalls...... South Carolina State University Kimberly S. Truax...... Ambassador Baptist College

KATI HOLLAND/PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WEST 2006 Scholarship Sponsors Commissioner Bobby T. Jones recognizes Paula Daugherty for her work in A. M. Tuck, Inc. Florence and Hutcheson, Inc. Research Development Assoc. APAC - Atlantic, Inc. Florida Acquisition & Appraisal, Inc. SAASHTO adopting a section of highway in Kershaw County. Daugherty regularly picks ARM Environmental Services Inc. Gregory Electric Co., Inc. Sanitary Plumbing Contractors, Inc. up trash in memory of a friend, Alex Horton. Jones recognized her at the May C. L. Benton & Sons HDR Trader Construction Co. meeting of the SCDOT Commission. Shown from left, SCDOT Executive Director C. R. Jackson, Inc. V. Carol Jones, P.E. Triplett-King & Associates, Inc. Elizabeth S. Mabry, Tony Magwood, Deputy State Highway Engineer John Walsh, Carnes South Carolina, Inc. Jordan & Jones U. S. Constructors, Inc. CECS, Inc. King Asphalt, Inc. United Contractors, Inc. Commissioner Bobby T. Jones, Paula Daugherty, Ina Horton (widow of Alex Construction Support Services KO & Associates US Group, Inc. Horton), Kershaw Maintenance Right of Way Foreman Billy Nowlen and SCDOT CoTransCo, LLC Lanford Brothers Co., Inc. Vaughn & Melton Commissioner Robert W. Harrell Sr. Dane Construction, Inc. LPA Group, Inc. Wilbur Smith Associates, Inc. Davis & Floyd, Inc. MA Engineering Consultants, Inc. Woolpert LLP Want to see this issue in color? Day Wilburn Associates, Inc. Mike Daniel & Associates, PA www.scdot-transfer.org/scdotphotos/THECONNECTOR.pdf Flatiron Constructors, Inc. Photo Science, Inc. 4 SCDOT SUMMER 2006 Walking a mile in their shoes...

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROB THOMPSON/THE CONNECTOR David Thompson, right, and Sid Bacchus spread straw around a ‘colorful space’ at the corner of Hook St. and Jarvis Klapman Boulevard in West Columbia. Thompson was showing Bacchus some of the daily work done by maintenance crews. Job shadowing gives STTARs chance to appreciate daily maintenance operations By Bob Kudelka Transportation Agency Represen- Billy Pearson, a 29-year veteran with SCDOT from the West Columbia tatives) took part in a job shadow Section Shed, shows Mark Nolt how the Jet Vac is used to unclog a n a hot, muggy June program. The 2006 class was the drainage pipe along U.S. 1 in Lexington County. morning, Barbara Jeff- first to experience the job shadow “It definitely coat, Maintenance Fore- program. gives you a better Oman for the West Columbia Sec- “The idea behind the job loosen up mud and silt and unclog here and see a different side of the tion Shed, had some advice for shadow program was to provide perspective... To see the ditch and drainpipe. DOT.” the newest member of her work the STTARs an opportunity to “Lexington Maintenance helps Kelly Jo Swygert, Program crew. find out what maintenance work- what happens on me out with work orders all the Coordinator in the Director of “Wear long sleeves and safety ers and foremen do out in the time,” Nolt said during a break. Maintenance Office, spent her shoes, use sunscreen, take plenty field,” said Susan Jones, Program their end is really “When they found out I was time clearing limbs with Lex- of breaks, and use the buddy sys- Manager for Leadership Devel- coming over here, a lot of them ington Maintenance right of way tem – we have some diabetics out opment. “It also would give the beneficial to me.” said, ‘I’ve got a job for you.’ But foreman William Price and crew here,” she said. maintenance personnel the op- they’ve been pretty kind so far.” supervisor Roy Jenkins. -- Mark Nolt And don’t wear light-colored portunity to teach STTARs, as Nolt and other STTARs said “Every time I visit a field of- District 1 Traffic Engineer clothing for the types of jobs they well as learn about the STTAR the job shadow program was a fice I am always impressed and were about to do, she said. program. valuable experience. was again with this crew just to “We don’t do cleaning bills out “For the most part, we wanted are down in the trenches,” said “It definitely gives you a bet- see their determination and dedi- here,” Jeffcoat said. the STTARs to have a real appre- Drew Holden, Assistant Resident ter perspective,” he said. “I do cation and positive attitudes, even Jeffcoat’s newest crew mem- ciation for what our maintenance Maintenance Engineer for the ask for their help a lot and they do though it was 95 degrees and no ber was Sid Bacchus, an Assistant workforce does,” Jones said. West Columbia Section Shed. help me out a great deal. To see quick access to restroom facili- Program Manager who normally The STTAR class teamed up As Holden spoke, STTAR Mark what happens on their end is re- ties,” Swygert said. “Everyone spends his days working on de- with maintenance foremen in Nolt was literally down in the ally beneficial for me.” gave 110 percent and never com- velopment of new highway proj- Lexington and Richland counties trenches - about 15 feet below in a Bacchus, whose first day was plained and delivered a profes- ects. to participate in daily jobs such as ditch at Ermine Road off US 1. spent landscaping, said, “I’m with sional job. We’re spoiled here For three days in late June, fixing potholes or erecting signs. Nolt, District 1 Traffic Engi- a great group of guys who don’t back at Headquarters in an air however, Bacchus and his fellow “We like to see they get a good neer, was helping Holden’s em- mind sharing a bit of knowledge conditioned office and easy- ac STTARs (Strategic Training for birds eye view from those who ployees use a Jet Vac machine to with me. I’m fortunate to get out cess to the bathroom.” Dorchester County Sales Tax Authority, SCDOT sign agreement

epresentatives from the South Carolina Department of Trans- portation (SCDOT), Dorches- Rter County Sales Tax Authority and Dorchester County signed an intergov- ernmental agreement Thursday for road- way projects in Dorchester County. The agreement will enable the Sales Tax Authority to use the local money gener- ated by the sales tax program to fund transportation improvements on state maintained roadways. Revenue from the sales tax is pro- jected to provide $125 million for trans- Signing the agreement are, seated from left: SCDOT State Highway Engineer Tony Chapman, SCDOT Director of Finance and portation improvements in the county Administration Morgan Denny, Dorchester County Administrator Jason Ward, and Dorchester County One-Cent Sales Tax Authority over the next 25 years. The Dorchester representative Marshall Murdaugh. Watching the signing ceremony are, standing from left: Donnie Dukes, SCDOT Commissioner Robert County Tax Authority has hired the W. Harrell Sr., Robert Clark, SCDOT Commissioner Marvin Stevenson, Tony Fallaw, Emmett Davis, Albert Heatley, Steve Ikerd, Mark Bilgrim, engineering firm of Davis & Floyd David Kinard, Robert Pratt, Wallace Ackerman, Jerry Timmons, and Federal Highway Administration SC Division Administrator Bob Lee. Engineering to manage this program.