Commercial real estate brokers in Moncks Corner, SC

The Berkeley Independent recently reported on the future of the Moncks Corner YMCA and the unconfirmed chatter about its future. Officials with the branch offered up some answers, now confirming the facility’s future is certainly, uncertain.

According to an emailed response from Ryoko Abbott, the Greater Charleston YMCA’s Marketing Director the site is not closing or up for sale — yet. But said if the facility is sold, the Monck’s Corner branch will be closed.

“We do not have any detailed date or timeline at this point. Since 2009, the YMCA of Greater Charleston has made several attempts to provide a meaningful and safe YMCA experience to the community residents of Berkeley County,” the response stated.

“This effort [Moncks Corner branch] has seriously challenged the financial capabilities of our organization. Currently, the Berkeley County Family YMCA is in need of substantial improvement which our organization is unable to provide. As a result of these challenges, and following much discussion and deliberation, the Board of Directors and staff management team of the YMCA of greater Charleston have decided to sell the Berkeley County Family YMCA facility.”

The Berkeley County Family YMCA opened in 1994 and since then, according to its website, it has strived to provide low cost programs for families. The Berkeley County YMCA serves over 3,000 members and program participants in Berkeley County.

The facility provides a variety of Health and Wellness services for infants to senior citizens. With the indoor swimming pool in Berkeley County, this YMCA provides educational lifeguard courses and training, senior citizens water aerobics, swim programs for local elementary schools and a variety of other services which promote the health and wellness of the entire community.

As far as the community is concerned, Abbott states the YMCA will make sure Berkeley is served if something does happen in the future.

“For the current Berkeley County Family YMCA members, arrangements have been made to grandfather all current YMCA members into our YMCA facility at Cane Bay for a term of one year effective on the closing date of this property,” the email stated. “In addition, YMCA youth sports, fitness and other YMCA programming, will continue throughout the Berkeley County community in various satellite locations. Every effort will be made to provide current staff members an opportunity to continue their service with our organization.”

And all is not lost just yet. Moncks Corner residents may not have make the long commute to Cane Bay to get in their physical fix. There are some other plans that may be in the works, but it’s still early in the game.

“The YMCA of Greater Charleston is considering offers from developers that may result in a partnership with a new amenity for the Moncks Corner Community,” Abbot notes. “No decisions have been made at this time. Our intention is to continue to have a high level go service in the Moncks Corner, Berkeley County Community.”

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – Over 30 animals suffering in extreme temperatures and living in “deplorable conditions” were seized over the weekend from an abandoned metal trailer in Moncks Corner.

According to H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue, who took the animals in, the trailer was in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store.

The animals were described as “covered in muck, their own feces, extremely dehydrated, malnourished, and each with their own medical ailments.”

The owner of the trailer, Justin Culley, received a citation for inhumane care and treatment of animals, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 20 additional animals were found on Culley’s property, also living in deplorable conditions.

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue currently has the following animals in their care:

Culley is listed as the owner of Culley Farms Mobile Petting Zoo & Events.

The business released the following statement on social media Wednesday night, calling the allegations false and inaccurate:

“By now surely everyone has heard about the incident with our animals. The news is spreading defamation and inaccurate claims. Nothing wrong was done. Our business is being blasted and our name is being run in the dirt and nobody even knows the situation. We do not abuse our animals, we love our animals with all our heart. Anyone who knows us and sees us regularly knows the care, compassion and effort we put into our animals. They are clean with shiny coats, well fed and are met with love and joy by everyone around them. We are heart broken because of what has occurred. All of our animals are treated as if they were our children. We take pride in our animals and enjoy sharing the joy of animals with our customers and anyone else who would take the time to spend with them at any event we attend. The news has made outrageous claims that our animals were abandoned, malnourished and covered in feces. None of this is true and those who know us know this to be false claims. The situation was twisted and manipulated to make it seem as if we are abusive and neglectful. We simply had a flat tire on the trailer, plain and simple. The trailer was backed into the shade, jacked up with the tire off and disconnected at tractor supply where I felt they would be safe so that I could run around the corner to Mavis tire. The tire was mounted, balanced and I returned back to the trailer to a nightmarish scene. The animals were not seized, I voluntarily released the animals into their care under a temporary release. They also only took a portion of the animals, leaving us with many of our animals ranging from rabbits and pigs to ducks and chickens along with all of our domestic animals. Do you think they would leave us with any animals if we were so unfit? You can see from pictures of our animals exactly how well kept and healthy they are, with the exception of the horse who was given to us in even worse condition. We have had her a short period of time and has been on weight gainer for the last month. We want nothing but the best for our animals but also want to cooperate with the local enforcement. Our animals will be released back to us. We take pride in what we do, we love what we do and we love our animals with every ounce of our being. We have bonds with our animals that half of you would never understand. We spend more money every week feeding each of them than most people even earn in a week. We devote all of our time and efforts into providing the best environment we possibly can. I know every animals name, their personality their demeanor and could tell you every detail about every single one of them. We would never knowingly gamble with their lives or jeopardize their well being.”

Editor’s note: This story is breaking and will be updated.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — Kay Beilstein, who has been living along Merrimack Boulevard since 2017, sees the construction of new townhomes right next door to her for about a year now - and is afraid of what they could possibly bring to her front yard.

"Because we live in the Lowcountry, we get a lot of rain," she said. "There's a lot of flooding in some areas and (when) these neighborhoods get built, they don't really take into consideration where that water is going to go."

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Beilstein says when it has rained in the past, water comes on to the streets washing dirt on to the roads. She believes the new development won't help the problem.

"Right now, (the water is) going to go right on to my property and flood my garage and driveway," Beilstein said. "Hopefully, not the rest of my yard, but it depends on how much rain we're going to get."

In response to these concerns, Moncks Corner officials said, "In reviewing the plans, it appears that on-site and off-site stormwater concerns were adequately addressed."

Kay Beilstein, who has been living along Merrimack Boulevard since 2017, sees the construction of new townhomes right next door to her for about a year now - and is afraid of what they could possibly bring to her front yard. (WCIV)

The approved plans show the entire subject property will catch, detain, and release the drainage to the two ponds the property will have installed. This is accomplished with catch basins in the proposed roads, fine grading around the building pads, and underground pipes running from various points around the property, leading to the central and southern stormwater devices.

The vast majority of water from the site is designed to flow south (away from 119 Merrimack Blvd) to the central pond, then to the southern pond, before discharging at the southern edge of the property into an existing 45-foot drainage easement, according to the approved plans.

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Despite this new development coming, Beilstein hopes it won't change the area she loves.

"I'm not looking forward to it," she said. "I do really enjoy my neighbors and my home, but I feel like the town hasn't really taken into consideration that they're ruining our neighborhood for a little bit of money."

Winning for the sixth straight game since dropping its opener in the Dixie Youth 12U O-Zone state tournament, Moncks Corner edged Greer, 2-1, in the championship game at the Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex July 14.

The host team secured two victories on the final day of the tournament to punch its ticket to the DYB Div. I O-Zone World Series in Ruston, Louisiana Aug 4-9. Coach Landy Cox’s bunch doubled up Gregg Park 4-2 in the morning, then avenged it’s opening loss from July 8 in the championship game.

“I was questioning whether we could win but I didn’t let them know that,” Cox said. “They’re too young to know they’re not supposed to win six games in a row like that. I guess they were smarter than me.”

Moncks Corner pitcher Nicholas Stephens hurled a four-hitter and struck out four batters to garner the victory on the mound in the championship game.

Moncks Corner grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Carson Hainline singled and scored on a wild pitch. Landyn Cox singled hard to the outfield, scoring Dougie Floyd from second base, to make it 2-0 in the top of the fourth.

Greer plated a run in the bottom of the fourth but couldn’t scratch again against Stephens. Greer got the tying run in scoring position in the fifth inning but Stephens stranded the runner at second base. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth, capping a spectacular run to the title.

“It’s one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do, win six games in seven days when you’re facing elimination each day,” Cox said. “I’m not sure that team doesn’t outweigh us 40 pounds a kid but our kids are tough.”

Moncks Corner left no doubt about that on short rest. It played past midnight the night before because of a weather delay, staying alive and handing Gregg Park its first loss, 7-3.

Moncks Corner then lost a coin toss to Greer and had to play Gregg Park again in the morning less than 10 hours later, with a spot in the title game on the line. It didn’t cut corners in preparation for the final day even though everybody got to bed after 1 in the morning.

“Somebody asked if we were going to hit in the morning and I said ’you darn right,” Cox said. “We met at 8:30 in the morning at Berkeley High School and kept our same routine.”

Tied 1-1 after two and a half innings, Moncks Corner plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take control against Gregg Park (from Aiken County). Gregg Park managed a single run in the top of the fourth inning but got not closer.

Carter Hainline was 2 for 2 and scored a run while Carson Hainline and Davis Owens knocked in runs.

Moncks Corner pitchers Floyd and Mason Prince scattered five hits and struck out four batters. Floyd hurled four innings to garner the win.

Moncks Corner’s other wins after falling, 9-8, to Greer in the tournament opener were over Hartsville Northern (11-0), Greenwood (12-0) and Mt. Pleasant (5-4).

More team members are Ansel Todd, Caleb Morris, Jaxson Stackley, Layne Lucas and Layton Oliver. Cox’s assistant coaches are Ryan Owens and Doug Floyd.

Moncks Corner begins the world series against the host team at 10 a.m. on Aug. 4.

Moncks Corner represents South Carolina and could square off against other state champions from Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“We’re just gonna play our small ball, pitch and play defense and see where we stack up against everybody else,” Cox said. “I think our kids average about 75 pounds. We’re not big but we’ll fight you.”

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, January 27, 2023) – There will be a community-wide job fair happening Wednesday, February 1 in the Assembly Room of the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 N. Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.

The event will be open to Berkeley County high school students from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the general public from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will provide opportunities for Berkeley County industries that are hiring to connect with job-seeking residents and high school seniors. Employment opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, law enforcement, hospitality, construction, information technology and other career fields will be represented. Berkeley County Government will also be on-hand to discuss its open positions.

Attendees are urged to bring an updated resume and come prepared to interview on the spot, if necessary.

For questions, please contact Berkeley County Human Resources at 843-719-4163.

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, February 3, 2023) – Berkeley County received a ‘Clean Report’ or ‘Unmodified Opinion’ following a 2022 independent audit. The audit was presented to County Council on Monday, January 23, 2023 from the County’s outside auditors, Mauldin & Jenkins. Watch the full County Council meeting HERE.

“I’m pleased to say we do not have any audit findings to report to you on this year, meaning we noted no material weaknesses or sufficient deficiencies in the County’s internal controls in our audit. …Being one of the largest counties in South Carolina, you obviously have a significant amount of financial activity for which you have to account for. In addition, with all the new County standards and changes that are being implemented each year—and really just the complexity of all involved in the financial reporting process—it makes it all that more impressive to be able to present you all an audit with a clean opinion and no audit findings.” – David Irwin, CPA Partner, Mauldin & Jenkins

The report represents the best possible opinion the County can receive. The County has received this opinion several years in a row.

“Government has a fundamental responsibility to be effective stewards of the taxpayer’s money and this audit result reflects just that. A special thanks to my colleagues on County Council for their work throughout the budget process and most importantly to each and every Berkeley County employee for your daily efforts throughout the year. This TEAM effort allows us to continue to offer high level services while keeping our county government taxes the lowest in South Carolina.” -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-