Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org
 

Release Number: 2899

Date: July 2, 2008
 

Some County Services No Longer Available at George W. Tumbleston Jr. Service Center in Ravenel after July 18
      Magistrate Court, Sheriff’s Office Ravenel substation and Emergency Medical Services continue to operate

In an effort by Charleston County to reduce costs and maintain countywide efficiencies, some of the services provided at the George W. Tumbleston Service Center, more commonly known as the St. Paul’s Service Center or the Ravenel Service Center, will end after 5 p.m. on Friday, July 18. The center is located at 5962 Highway 165 in Ravenel.
 

The Magistrate’s Court, the Sheriff’s Office Ravenel substation and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) substation 14 will continue to be housed at the facility, along with the Ravenel Town Hall.
 

The following County services will no longer be available at the George W. Tumbleston, Jr. Service Center after 5 p.m. on Friday, July 18 (Charleston County personnel from the offices listed below will be reassigned to other County service centers with more need for staff):
 

            Treasurer’s Office
   

• Accepting tax payments

• Issuing receipts

• Answering tax payment questions

• Collecting child support payments

• Accepting applications for the Charleston County Assessor’s Office
   

            Auditor’s Office
 

• Providing tax bills

• Registering residents for Homestead Exemptions

• Accepting applications for the Charleston County Assessor’s Office

• Accepting voter registration applications

• Processing personal property tax appeals

• Processing mailing address changes

• Collecting and depositing fees and issuing 45-day vehicle license plate tags

• Researching and resolving property tax issues

• Processing returned license plates and other refunds

• Processing military and S.C. Department of Revenue exemptions

• Processing four and six percent applications for recreational vehicles
   

            Building Services Department
 

• Processing plan reviews for commercial and residential properties
   

            Planning Department
  

• Assisting with zoning and answering zoning questions

• Processing zoning, building and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) applications

• Issuing zoning and building permits for residential uses

Citizens who need to access the above services may go to the North Area Service Center at the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building (4045 Bridge View Drive; North Charleston, SC 29405) or visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org.

In addition, the Treasurer and Auditor Offices will continue to provide services at the East Cooper Service Center located at 1189 Iron Bridge Road in Mount Pleasant, and in downtown Charleston at the County Office Building located at 101 Meeting Street.
 

SIDEBAR INFORMATION ON THE ST. PAUL’S SERVICE CENTER

• The St. Paul’s Service Center opened on July 10, 1994.

• The property was donated by the town of Ravenel plus $150,000. Charleston County Government was responsible for the design and construction costs of the center.

• The 10,500-square-foot building sits on 4.9 acres of land.

• Charleston County is working with the town of Ravenel to negotiate a lease agreement for the approximately 2,500 square feet of space that will be available when County staff is relocated.

Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.