Roasted: Miriam Birdsong, Dorchester County Council District 6

Running for Dorchester County Council District 6, Miriam Birdsong sat down with Patch and concerned voters Thursday at Coastal Coffee Roasters.

Birdsong, a Democrat but listed as a petition candidate on the ballot, is challenging incumbent Republican Councilman Bill Hearn. 

Coffee with the Candidates is 4 p.m. Thursdays at Coastal Coffee Roasters, and there is just one candidates left to be featured. On Thursday, Nov. 1, Patch will present S.C. House District 97 GOP candidate Ed Carter at the event. His opponent, incumbent Rep. Patsy Knight, has declined to participate in the series.

Here is the recap of Thursday's conversation with Birdsong:

Q: What are your top three priorities if you are elected?

We have to listen to the voters. The first thing I will do is have a citizens group. District 6 is so huge. It's really diverse. If we stop talking so much and listen to the people, they have really good ideas. Second, it doesn't make sense for us to drive to Charleston County or Berkeley County to have a job. We need to find a really big industry and bring it here. We have a workforce ready. We have people who have given up on looking for a job here. We need a real good jobs program. Part of that is economic development. We have to look at market trends. Third, I would like to have a retreat of some sort where folks on council get together to work together — not just saying this is what we're going to do and do it. My opponent has said we need to keep the council we have because they all get along, but not all of their citizens agree. We need to represent their will for the best possible outcome on council. 

Q: How will you work with council, which is mostly Republicans?

I will be a thorn in their side on certain issues. I don't intend to be a flip-flopper — I'm not a marshmallow. I can be a nag if I have to be. But a good idea is a good idea, no matter the party of the person it came from. If fellow Democrat Willie Davis has a bad idea, I won't support it. If one of the Republican council members has a good idea, I will support it. 

Q: You've said you support building of parks by the county, but there has been some concern over money spent. Has your position changed?

Parks, to me, is part of livability of an area, We have beautiful riverfronts and more. We don't have to travel to Charleston or Berkeley counties. My concern about parks is council spent half of the money before developing a commission that had oversight of the parks money. It's a repeat of the cycle jumping at something without planning. Ninety percent of issues would not be an issue if this council was good at planning. When you make a quick decision on anything, you're going to make mistakes.

Q: Do you support growing public transportation options in Dorchester County?

Council should support CARTA and other public transportation options. We need a hub for riders and real bus stops. We should do whatever it takes, whatever incentives we have. We may not be able to put big money into it, but when we start planning, it should be a priority. We could give county employees an incentive to use it for transportation between Summerville and St. George, and then also have local taxis or local shuttles to help them to get where riders are going once they arrive at their destination. 

Q: You're a nurse. Early this year, council attempted to delay funding to Trident Tech's nursing building on funds already committed. Council voted to do payments on the $4.5 million through fiscal year 2017. Do you think this is a wise commitment and investment?

That was a lot of money committed, again, in a knee jerk reaction. But we made a commitment and we need to honor that. Nursing can lift a family out poverty. It can change a family's existence. 

Q: Speaking of spending, there is a lot of concern over Dorchester County's debt burden and it reaching its limit with construction of the jail. What will you do about the debt?

When I think about planning to deal with debt, it's like doing it at home: you have to cut the waste and make more money. You have to eliminate duplication and waste. And I have questions about the jail. It's a big issue. It was done very secretively. Why that land? People have asked a lot of questions and no answers have been given. And the answers were not given because the general public wouldn't like those answers. 

Q: The sheriff has asked for more money for his department. Would you support helping him maintain and grow his department?

My opponent's answer to this question was based on inner-department jealousy. But if you go through all the departments and look for the waste, we might be able to increase salaries and manpower. I'm not saying no to the sheriff. But if you look at the school district, they pay less than Berkeley County School District, but they have a good reputation so people keep coming to work here. Our employees would stay if they felt a reason to be loyal in Dorchester County. Pay them fairly, but we can't pay them to the point of breaking the county. 

Q: Would you support making Dorchester County 'smoke-free'?

Business has the right to control how their business is run, but they don't have the right to impair the health of their employees. These employees risk their own lives for minimum wage. 

Q: Rural zoning and zoning for individual lots is always a big issue. What is your stance on zoning to the will of the people or the will of the property owner?

When land is your land, there is a strong connection. You can't make more land. People want to control their land. Government should not intervene unless it involves safety and healthy of the surrounding people. It's for the greater good. 

Q: You mention creating jobs as part of your platform. Do you support industrial parks for economic development?

I like the idea of industrial parks, but it has to be attractive. While spec buildings can attract business at first, they sometimes don't stay there. We really need wide roads and lights, and water/sewer and wiring. 

Q: Water/sewer has been stalled in the upper part of the county, what would you do differently to get that moving?

I don't think me, as one council person, can do anyting on my own. But we have to keep it on our minds, find connections to work with and get support from the legislators. We have to pull everyone together. 

Q: Widening Orangeburg Road has also been slow to happen. What would you do differently?

It was supposed to be widened by early 2015. Nothing is really being done now and it has been pushed back. You need access during rush hour for emergency vehicles. We have to talk to DOT and get this project pushed through as soon as possible. 

Q: What are your thoughts on impact fees, and prepayment of those impact fees?

Even though it may cost a little more for a home under impact fees, the new owners are going to get that cost tenfold in increased amenities provided by the county, with schools and roads and more. We have to charge developers and we have to get it up front. It's too late for the development we have now, but we have to do something now because building is coming back. We've got to do impact fees. 

Q: Banning discharging firearms near residential areas was recently struck down by the council. What are your thoughts on how that vote went?

The council members gave in after they had previously supported the ordinance. The people opposing it were told falsehoods. They shot down — excuse the pun — a very good ordinance. The responsibility of government is to keep the people safe.