Volume 3 Issue 13

November 2, 2007

Lettitor
By Heather Holbrook

     Recently in the Post & Courier there was an article with a photo taken by Brad Nettles of a Great Horned owl lying on a surgical table. The bird had been hit by a car near Mount Pleasant and was one of the first patients to receive treatment in the Birds of Prey's new Avian Medical Center and Oiled Bird Treatment Facility. With a plastic beak-mask administering sleepy gas to the beautiful owl, professionals and volunteers worked on his fractured wing as they do for nearly 400 sick or injured birds the center treats each year.
      It was a great picture and moved a lot of readers.
      When my son was in kindergarten at Sullivan’s Island Elementary, someone from the International Birds of Prey Center came to his class to give a demonstration with an assortment of rehabilitated birds. These creatures, who rather than names had numbers like Raptor 2636 to make them seem less like pets than the wild animals they are, were exquisite. I remember being just as excited as the children as a big owl flew noiselessly across the room over a dozen upturned faces.
     Then a little girl’s hand waved in the air with a question. How do birds that fly in the air get hit by cars that are on the ground? Excellent question!
      Imagine you are riding in a car eating, like all good Americans, your lunch as you race from one obligation to another. Feeling full of peanut butter sandwich, you roll down your window and push the crusts out into the 55mph wind. It’s not littering, right? It’s biodegradable. It bounces off the side of the car onto the shoulder of the road and sits there until dusk when a rat or other scurrying creature ventures forth to snatch the morsel. An owl perched in a tall tree near the road (picture Hwy17 N) spies the rodent and swoops down to snatch him up for his owl dinner. Suddenly a minivan minding its own business hears a thud near its right headlight: owl meet car. Car, owl. And if the owl is lucky, somebody picks him up and takes him to the Avian Medical Center.
      Please do not throw anything-leftover chicken nuggets, french fries, gum, trash, Kleenex, cigarette butts- out of a moving vehicle. Leave it on the floor of your car and let it build up like everyone else.

I dedicate this Lettitor to my very own “Brave Wise Owl”, Jackson, who is as good as an editor at age 6 as I was at 36.

Letter from the Publisher:

     As the last issue before the Isle of Palms elections, this edition of your Island Eye may seem a bit packed full of Isle of Palms election concerns. We decided to run every letter to the editor that we could possibly place. Also, you will see an advertisement from every candidate and from a few action committees. This is also our Veterans Day edition. This issue, we celebrate the sacrifices and accomplishments of one of our local veterans. 
      This issue serves primarily as a venue for the residents of the Isle of Palms to learn about and voice their concerns on an important election.  The hyperbole associated with every election tends to shroud the true issues. To my knowledge, not one of these candidates espouses eliminating short term rentals and I have never heard a candidate suggest building condos at the marina, yet I have heard voters on the island express fears on both of these issues. As the press, it is our obligation to print both sides of a story and to allow people to express their opinion, whether by letter or paid advertisement. The freedom of the press cuts both ways. It is the voters’ responsibility to read through the hyperbole and identify the candidates that most closely reflect his or her views. After attending every candidate forum to date and talking personally at length with each candidate, I am confident each person is running for the right reasons. These eight people are working very hard to win what is frankly a very tough and thankless job.
      I would also like to assure you that Island Eye News does not endorse any candidate. The only thing we ask is that after you read all the letters, all the ads and digest everything, you go out and vote on November 6. Afterward, please take a moment to think about all the veterans who have fought and are still fighting to preserve and spread your right to vote throughout the world.

Accreted Land Ho!Woolpert
By Ali Akhyari

      At a special meeting, Town Council passed a motion to interview four of the seven applicants to manage the Accreted Land Project. HLA, Woolpert (sp?), Tidewater and Coastal Science Engineering will all be interviewed in what should be a public forum at a future date.
      HLA and Woolpert both stated in their applications that they use WPC as a subcontractor which Kaynard believes, gives WPC credit as a subcontractor. However, it was noted that WPC does a lot of work that is not relevant to the Town’s needs.
       Woolpert is a very large firm that has been around a long time according to Councilmember Patrick O’Neil. However, he added that he did not see a strong correlation between their experience and the Town’s needs.
      Mayor Carl Smith added, “I’m not sure if they were chosen if we could afford it.”
      However, Kaynard noted that they may be more financially competitive because of their size.
      HLA, the other company whom Kaynard liked, partially because of their WPC ties, is a civil engineering company. It was noted that they do more community design than environmental land management.
      O’Neil stated that he was not impressed with the company. Nicky Bluestein, a Planning Commission representative on the selection panel noted that their “lack of coastal experience concerns me.”
      Tidewater, founded in 2004, is a local company without much experience. However, O’Neil noted that he liked their project approach. Councilmember Mike Perkis stated that they were very strong in conservation, environmental issues, and considered socio-economic factors where the other companies did not. Despite the youthful age of the company, it was also noted that the people behind it have strong experience in marine and coastal issues.
      Kaynard pointed to their youth as a sign of inexperience. Bluestein agreed noting that they had not done any coastal projects yet.
      Coastal Science Engineering was probably the most highly acclaimed company out of the bunch. Councilmember Buddy Howle said it was his favorite applicant. O’Neil, one of the few who had already used the scoring system, ranked them highly and noted they had a “thoughtful project approach”.
      Kaynard said, “I agree with Pat,” prompting a comedic squawk of surprise from the rest of the group.
     It was noted that CSE’s coastal expert had well respected experience.
      However, Mayor Smith noted that, “[The Town] does not have a good record with grants because of our demographics.”
      Once again there was still a bit of argument about the scoring system. Kaynard, who introduced the amendment that appeared to trivialize the system, referred to it as “this so-called scoring thing.” As a reason for his dislike of the scoring system, Kaynard says that a low scoring applicant may hesitate to work for the Town on a future project for which they are more qualified. O’Neil said, “I truly feel we should document it” by means of scoring.
      Council voted unanimously to wait until after the interviews to score the applicants according to the predetermined scoring system.
      Many feel that whoever is chosen to conduct the work on the accreted land is an important detail. It is a public property and while some residents believe that it should be left alone, others feel it should be cleared and maintained. Of course, there are those who waiver in the middle. Because the different companies have different project approaches, whoever Council eventually chooses will determine which way they favor and how the accreted land will be handled.

IOP City Council Meeting
By Ali Akhyari

Money madness
Larry Finney of Green, Finney and Horton, LLP, Certified Public Accountants spoke to Council concerning his audit of the City’s financial status.

He stated that the audit opinion is “unqualified” which he explained is “as good as it gets”.

According to Finney, revenues were higher than budgeted by approximately $510,000 while expenditures were less than budgeted by approximately $157,000. Higher revenues were attributed mostly to property taxes and licenses and permits. Lower expenditures were attributed to the Police Department being under budget by $145,000.

Despite being under budget, expenditures increased by $490,000 (8.5%) which was due largely to salaries and fringe accounts.

Finney stated that the City had a total net asset of $18.2 million, total revenues of $10.3 million and total expenses of $8.7 million.

Finney praised the City saying they are doing very well managing their finances and that the City was in a “good, healthy financial condition”.

Mayor Mike Sottile took the opportunity to say, “contrary to what some people are saying, the City is in good shape”.

Solutions for Wild Dunes erosion
Local resident Larry Pierson used his two minutes of allotted public comment time to tell Council that Wild Dunes still needs its help. He said that Council was aware of the erosion issue two years ago and that a task force has been working on a long-term beach management plan for six months. He added that the task force makes its public report on November 13.

“It’s your responsibility to act upon this request immediately,” he said. “We need help.”

Mayor Sottile responded by saying that Council would listen to what is presented and act accordingly.

“This is a terrible situation,” Councilmember John Marino later stated.

At the October 11 Public Safety meeting it was noted that Mayor Sottile and City Administrator Linda Lovvorn Tucker had filed a “Situation Report” with the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center and the Governor’s ETV office. Mayor Sottile asked for assistance with debris removal, emergency protective measures and renourishment and even phoned the Governor. Members of the Charleston County Emergency Preparedness and Building Departments made an on-site inspection as a result.

The Special Beach Management meeting will be held at City Hall on November 13 at 5:30pm.

Beach Committees may erode with beach
Councilmember Jane McMackin noted that Beach Advisory Committee (BAC) is dissatisfied with their role in City government and confused as to what they are supposed to do. Administrator Tucker stated that she did not feel the BAC needed to continue.

According to the minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting, BAC Chairperson Sandy Pusey sent an e-mail saying that BAC does “not feel at all involved with decisions that are made regarding the beach”.

She also added that “the Long Term Beach Management Committee does not represent all interested parties” and that it “is biased towards those who had financial interest”.

Traffic, traffic everywhere and all the roads did shrink
More than 90 new condos are scheduled to be opened up next summer in Wild Dunes and for this reason, traffic is expected to be a larger problem than ever before.

Studies have been conducted regarding intersections at 12th and 14th Avenues and also at 41st and Palm. Although the report had great information, Administrator Tucker noted at the Public Safety meeting on October 11, that 12th and 14th Avenues were not of imminent importance because the City had already decided not to expand themselves in that area. However, the intersection of 41st and Palm was another story.

The engineers responsible for the study stated that the best option was to realign Palm Boulevard and 41st Avenue to create a T-type intersection with a stop control device on 41st. In addition, they suggested either closing Cameron Boulevard into a cul-de-sac or reconfiguring Cameron to only allow right-in/right-out access from 41st.

Time is a factor. While most want to see the issue resolved quickly to beat the summer traffic, Administrator Tucker noted that the rush would most likely result in the City funding the entire project themselves.

It’s a digital world
The City voted unanimously to commit to Charleston County regarding going digital with their radio system between May 16 and July 31, 2008. By making the decision now, it allows the City to benefit from incentives. However, because the City shares dispatch with Sullivan’s Island, Sullivan’s Island will also have to make the transition at the same time. Police Chief Thomas Buckhannon has stated that he was comfortable with the time frame although it would take several months to arrange the dispatch.

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Councilmember Dick Cronin noted that the arrest report continues to grow. According to Cronin, 3.1 people are being arrested on Isle of Palms everyday.

“[The Police] are busy doing things we’ve asked them to do,” he says.

Councilmember Marino noted that although many consider IOP paradise, “there is crime on this island”. He added that those arrested were being charged with relatively serious crimes such as DUI’s and drug possession. He also added that the majority of criminals are non-residents such as day-trippers.

Sullivan's Island Town Council report
From meeting at Town Hall October 23, 2007
By Ali Akhyari

Fire department needs equipment
According to Fire Chief Anthony Stith, Sullivan’s Island could benefit from the addition of a new fire hose.

The Sullivan’s Island Fire Department does not have a 5 inch fire hose that would allow it to lay a supply line when fighting a fire. The supply line is the hose which provides the fire truck with water from a fire hydrant. Currently, the Mount Pleasant FD responds to fire calls on Sullivan’s Island and lays the supply line. Meanwhile, the S.I. fire trucks are able to carry 1000 gallons of water to fight a fire with until a supply line is laid. The Isle of Palms Fire Department will also respond with help if requested.

Part of the criticism for the recent Sofa Superstore tragedy that claimed nine firefighter’s lives in West Ashley was the supply line. Although Chief Stith says there are no buildings like the Sofa Superstore on Sullivan’s Island, he says that there are some older buildings that are worrisome like Bert’s and Off the Hook. It was noted that there is a large propane tank in front of Off the Hook that people actually put cigarettes out on.

Regarding a 5 inch wide hose, Chief Stith says, “It’d probably be a good idea to have [a large diameter hose].”

Garry Lohr, a 14 year St. Johns Fire Department volunteer who happened to be present regarding another issue, stated that the investment in a 5 inch diameter hose pays for itself and that two people alone can lay the supply line.

He says that the lack of a 5 inch diameter hose has always been an expense issue. He estimates that it would cost approximately $15,000 to completely outfit a fire truck with the hose and other necessary equipment.

Council appeared to agree that they wanted Chief Stith to come back with solid numbers in order to possibly purchase one.

It should be noted that in 2006-07 (period ending June 30), the Town had spent $346,303 on Administration Salaries, $10,570 on Administration “Telephone”, $43,000 on Administration “Professional Services” and $8,000 on “Trimming and Pruning” expenses.

Schneider identifies historic homes
In a preliminary report, David Schneider examined 136 properties on Sullivan’s Island and noted that approximately 1/3 had been reported as historic in a previous survey. He also identified 5 more that may qualify as historic and 9 that he may have identified as historic in a previous survey, but were missing from the list.

Councilmember Jerry Kaynard asked that the list of 14 homes be made public. However, Council decided to wait until the preliminary report became official to release that information.

1602 Thompson gets extension
Mayor Carl Smith, Councilmember Patrick O’Neil and Town Administrator Andy Benke traveled to Columbia on September 25 in order to attend the Budget and Control Board meeting in order to ask for a six month delay on the auction of 1602 Thompson Avenue.

The Town would like to purchase the waterfront property located behind Town Hall. Without much discussion, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request giving the Town at least six months to acquire the property.

Commercial District Plans underway
Town Council announced that 19 firms have submitted proposals for the Community Commercial District. Accordingly, dates for candidate interviews will be posted on the website when they are decided upon.

Bicyclists peddle for help
Administrator Benke noted that Sunday cyclists are requesting “NO PARKING” signs and traffic controlling devices at Station 17.

A group of cyclists who like to ride on Sunday mornings claims that cars parking on the side of the road for church services are creating hazards for them as they attempt to cross streets and ride their bicycles through town. Benke met with a representative of the South Carolina Department of Transportation to discuss the matter on October 17.