Plumbers in Moncks Corner, SC

A chemical firm is shutting down a Moncks Corner plant that makes the raw material for products like water bottles and packaging, leaving 125 workers without a job.

DAK Americas LLC — a subsidiary of Monterrey, Mexico-based Alpek — will permanently close its plant along the Cooper River that producsd PET resin, a type of polyester that’s derived from petroleum.

Layoffs will begin on April 28 and will conclude by the end of the year when the plant shuts down, according to a statement from Ricky Lane, the Charlotte company’s director of public affairs, trade relations and corporate communications.

DAK Americas said it will be moving production from Bushy Park to another unidentified site. The Berkeley County plant, which was built in the early 1970s, had the capacity to make 170,000 pounds of the resin annually.

“This difficult decision was necessitated as we optimize our assets to remain competitive in the challenging global polyester markets,” Lane said in a letter to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

That letter stated that DAK Americas “will formally and permanently close production operations on March 1, 2023.”

Lane, in an email to The Post and Courier, said March 1 represents the beginning of the plant’s shutdown and that the process will take at least 60 days to complete.

“It may be helpful to understand that these production operations are not like a light switch and cannot just be turned on and off,” Lane said. “These are highly technical polymer processes that must be stopped in a very systematic manner that takes many days/weeks to accomplish. Only after the 60-day period and once the shutdown process is complete for employees in their area of work will the written notice of individual layoff dates be given.”

The company said the shutdown will save it about $20 million a year.

Parent company Alpek said in a written statement that it is “constantly exploring ways to create value through optimization of its installed capacity and strengthening its cost competitiveness.”

The company said it plans to grow “through more efficient utilization of its assets.”

The closure notice was filed with state officials a day before Jorge Young Cerecedo took over as CEO of Alpek. Cerecedo, who has been with the company for 32 years, also will remain president of Alpek’s polyester division, which accounts for two-thirds of the parent company’s revenues.

Alpek acquired the Moncks Corner plant in a 2001 deal with DuPont, which was exiting the polyester market. Alpek created its DAK Americas subsidiary to operate the South Carolina site and other factories.

The planned plant closure comes less than two years after DAK Americas cut 200 full-time jobs and 40 contract workers at the Cooper River site as it wound down its polyester staple fibers business. The company blamed the decision on a flood of cheap imports.

Alpek, which is publicly traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange, reported revenues of $10.6 billion in 2022 — an 37 percent increase from the previous year — and net income of $789 million. It has more than 7,000 employees at 35 plants in nine countries.

Note: This story was updated March 6 with additional comment from the company.

NEW YORK — Most taxpayers are interested in filing their taxes directly to the IRS for free, a new report says, and that option will be tested next year.

The Internal Revenue Service has spent the past nine months studying whether U.S. taxpayers want to see a free, e-filing system run by the government — and is now preparing to launch a pilot program.

The prospect of a free, government-run, online system has been debated for a long time. Supporters argue that the option would make tax return services more equitable and accessible for taxpayers nationwide.

But there’s also been pushback from some big tax-prep companies.

Now, the IRS plans to launch a pilot program for the 2024 filing season to test a “direct file” system and help the federal government decide on whether to move forward with potentially implementing it in the future, IRS commissioner Danny Werfel and the Treasury Department official Laurel Blatchford confirmed on May 16.

There’s still limited details about the pilot as the agency determines the basic structure of the program, but Werfel said that members of the public will have the option to participate.

The IRS was tasked with looking into how to create a “direct file” system as part of the funding it received from the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats’ flagship climate and health care measure that President Joe Biden signed last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report on how such a program would be implemented.

The IRS published a feasibility report Tuesday — which lays out taxpayer interest in direct file, how the system could work, its potential cost, operational challenges and more.

The report shows that the majority of surveyed taxpayers would be interested in using an IRS-provided tool to prepare and file their taxes electronically — and that the IRS is “technically capable of delivering direct file, but doing so would require additional resources and add complexity to IRS operations,” Werfel said.

The IRS’s existing free e-file option, available to lower income taxpayers who qualify, will remain in place, he added. Individuals of all income levels can also still submit their returns for free via the mail — although it can take months to process paper returns and taxpayers will still have to buy postage.

The new, direct e-file program being tested “could potentially save taxpayers billions of dollars annually,” said Blatchford, who noted that an individual taxpayer pays an average of $140 preparing a tax return each year.

The report’s initial cost analysis show that a pre-file option run by the IRS “could cost less than $10 per return to provide, and of course would be free to taxpayers — by comparison, simple electronic filing options currently available to taxpayers are around $40.”

The study estimates that annual costs of direct file may range, depending on the program’s usage and scope, from $64 million for 5 million users to $249 million for 25 million users.

“We believe today’s announcement is a significant step toward revolutionizing access to the tax system so that it is easier and more equitable. A free and simple direct file service will ensure that more families in America receive the tax benefits they are eligible for,” Amanda Renteria, CEO of civic tech nonprofit Code for America, said in a statement.

While supporters applauded the pilot program, critics have expressed skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.

There’s also concern about historic racial disparities and bias seen in the IRS’s enforcement of tax laws. In a Monday letter to the U.S. Senate, Werfel confirmed the IRS found that Black taxpayers may be audited at higher rates.

Big tax preparation companies also have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&R Block.

Neither H&R Block nor Intuit were immediately available to comment on Tuesday.

An Associated Press analysis shows that Intuit, H&R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.

Werfel on Tuesday acknowledged concerns surrounding a possible direct file system, notably operational challenges, but maintained taxpayers should chose the filing option that works best for them and that “the IRS cannot run the tax system alone.”

“We rely on an extensive network of partners across tax professional groups, the software communities, the payroll community and countless dedicated organizations that work directly with taxpayers,” Werfel said. “This report changes none of that.”

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Treating patients during life altering and life threatening events takes a unique disposition, when optimism is in short supply and the patients keep coming.

May is Trauma Care Awareness Month. But what draws people to trauma care? It may be to experience the highest of health care highs when someone is brought back from near death. But it also comes with the lowest of lows.

Britney Ward of Moncks Corner has worked at Trident Hospital for close to 12 years. As she led the way to the trauma center, her unusually fast walking style offered a hint to her energy and her constant sense of urgency.

“I did ICU for four years and we would get the trauma patients after they stabilized them. I just remember my first trauma patient,” said Ward, an RN at Trident’s Trauma Center. “He was really hurt and very sick and very young. I just remember thinking about what it was like when he first rolled in. I’ve always loved trauma.”

Based on numbers provided by Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, in 2022 the medical center treated 2,127 trauma patients. Since the level II trauma center opened in 2016, there have been 14,000 patients treated.

“We get some bad ones, some very bad car accidents. We see people on their worst days,” said Ward. “Then when we do help them and they do get out of here, it is really nice to see that progress. It doesn’t always happen. But the ones that we do save — it’s very rewarding.”

The trauma center with all its wheeled apparatus, wires and various tones and dings obviously serves those with critical needs. More patients are treated for trauma at Trident Medical Center than any other hospital in the Lowcountry, according to information provided by the center. The three most common causes of trauma treated are related to falls, motor vehicle accidents and gunshot wounds.

“Anything car accidents, gunshots, stabbings. Anything,” she said. “It could be just a bad accident at work where they cut their arm. … Kids mess me up the most.”

And then there’s the crisis COVID put on the profession for years to come.

“I was here in for COVID and it was horrible,” Ward said. “If you want to know how things changed, it was COVID. It just changed nursing all together. I think it messed a lot of people up, nobody knew what was going on. We were just really scared.”

Ward and all the other trauma care providers are obviously very much appreciated by those they treat. They are providers you never think you’ll need — until you do.

Maybe a Trauma Care Awareness Month is needed — dates set aside to remind people about something no one ever wants to ever think about.

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) – More than a thousand people have signed a petition saying they do not want to see major changes to recreational land in Moncks Corner.

People who use Biggin Creek Trail – located on about 90 acres of land owned by Santee Cooper – tell News 2 they’re concerned about how the property may be used in the future.

“Biggin Creek Trail is awesome. It’s five miles. If you ride a bike, it’s mountain biking; but it’s good hiking. Getting you ready for trails in the mountains,’ said Christine Hayes.

People use the land for hiking, biking, trail running, and family picnics. It’s full of beautiful old trees and wildlife. That’s why a plan by Santee Cooper has some people concerned.

The South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs looked at several Santee Cooper-owned properties, and they say this site is the best suited to be a new National Veterans Cemetery.

Hayes says she loves the idea of a National Veterans Cemetery, but not on this property.

“So, there’s a QR code you can scan when you go to the park and go on and sign the petition to stop the cemetery from coming,” she explained.

The petition currently has 1600 signatures. But not everyone who has used the trial is against the proposal.

“I’m a veteran myself and we have three national cemeteries in the state of South Carolina that will be full within 35 to 40 years,” said Tom Hamilton, who supports the cemetery. “Charleston is a huge military presence.”

Hamilton said he is concerned if a cemetery is not built there, Santee Cooper could sell the land to a developer who could then build more homes or apartments.

Perhaps there is another option.

News 2 talked with Santee Cooper officials on Tuesday – they said it is possible that a cemetery could be built on part of the property and some trails would remain on another portion of the property.

The plan has not been finalized one way or the other.

Santee Cooper officials say as far as the timeframe, the National Cemetery Association would have to decide to build the cemetery here and once that decision has been made, they would determine the timeline.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - A metal processing company is planning to relocate from Kentucky to a facility in Moncks Corner, the South Carolina governor’s office says.

ZEB Metals, a newly-established joint venture with Glencore, announced plans to establish its first South Carolina operations.

“ZEB Metals is very excited about relocating our company to the Lowcountry and cannot wait to be a part of the community, company President and CEO Cole Lanham said. “South Carolina brings a unique opportunity in the recycling space with local businesses and government support. We’d like to thank everyone at Berkeley County for all their help in making this project come to life.”

The company plans to add 28 new jobs in Berkeley County. ZEB Metals’ new facility, near Highway 52 in Moncks Corner, will process dross and other types of secondary aluminum scrap that would otherwise be destined for a landfill. This is the first secondary re-melt facility of its kind in the Southeast region of the United States.

“This announcement is further proof that South Carolina has the necessary tools to support recycling companies across the state,” South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey said. “We welcome ZEB Metals and look forward to seeing how their investment in Berkeley County will create opportunities for South Carolinians.”

Founded in 2021, ZEB Metals is a buyer and trader of non-ferrous scrap, as well as a recycler of metals other than iron and steel. The company processes metals through shredding, melting, screening and sorting materials while providing full-service metal recycling including industrial clean-up and off-site demolition.

Glencore, a Swiss-based commodities trader and one of the world’s largest diversified natural resource companies, will partner with ZEB Metals to expand its current aluminum portfolio. The joint venture will allow for the development of a new line of recycled products to support the companies’ regional customer base.

Operations are expected to be online by late 2023. Individuals interested in joining the ZEB Metals team should visit the company’s contact page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $75,000 Set-Aside grant to Berkeley County to assist with site preparation and building construction.

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