Town wants attorney who helped it incorporate

Kernodle says past, future payment issues involving James Island must be resolved

BY DENESHIA GRAHAM
Of The Post and Courier Staff

     JAMES ISLAND - Town Council members voted Tuesday to try to hire the attorney who helped them incorporate the town, even though controversy remains over whether the town should pay the legal bill he says it owes him for his services.
     Council wants Trent Kernodle to help them fight the possible rezoning today of property recently annexed to the city of Charleston.
     Kernodle, however, said the legal bill and a contract must be worked out first. Reached by telephone Tuesday night after the meeting, he said he did not know about the council action and had not yet been asked to serve as town attorney.
     "I am surprised that they're calling on me to serve ... when there are issues still unresolved," Kernodle said.
     At the first Ways and Means Committee meeting for the new town of James Island, the committee of council members voted to hire Kernodle to represent the town at a 5 p.m. Charleston planning and zoning meeting today.
     The possible rezoning is for the 925-acre Grimball Farms, a tract of land that was included in the town's boundaries but annexed to the city in June, before the new town elected its first batch of officers. The tract could be rezoned from a "conservation" status to one that would allow more development.
     Mayor Mary Clark, who is also the chairwoman of the town's committee, called it an "emergency," holding up a torn orange sign from the city of Charleston, advertising the meeting. The town needs an attorney to handle the issue, she said.
     Councilman Joe Qualey said he talked to Kernodle about the possibility of him serving as town attorney. "He expressed an interest to be the town attorney," Qualey said, subject to some details being ironed out. Qualey said the legal bill was not an impediment for Kernodle serving.
     While Kernodle said he did meet with Qualey and agreed to have the firm Kernodle, Taylor and Root considered for the town attorney position, he said the legal bill remains an issue. "Past payment is an issue; future payment is an issue. Both need to be worked out before I can serve," Kernodle said. He added that he knew nothing of the rezoning meeting.
     Clark said she knew nothing of the Charleston meeting until Tuesday when she saw the signs.
     Councilman Bill Woolsey asked if the council needed to advertise the town attorney position before hiring someone. It was pointed out that there were a few attorneys in the audience to be interviewed for the position.
     Council members agreed that the situation was urgent and that Kernodle was thought to be the most qualified for the position, having worked toward the town's incorporation in May.