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Volume 3 Issue 21 |
February 22, 2008 |
Lettitor
By Heather Holbrook |
Benefits, galas, silent auctions, fundraisers, raffles, oyster roasts, donation buckets, pledges, guess how many jelly beans are in the jar and win a prize. Just last week I went to a Red Cross benefit where I paid $30 for a glass of champagne and in the bottom of it was a one carat diamond. In fact, ALL the glasses had diamonds in them, but only one was real. And although mine was just a CZ, that is a fundraising concept I like!
As commonplace as mosquitoes in June, fundraisers of every stripe are around every corner almost every week of the Lowcountry year. But Islanders in particular are a generous lot and are always up for a good party. Here are but two on the horizon:
Coming up Saturday, February 23 is Make a Splash Bash, the 1st annual casual fundraiser put on by Friends of Sullivan’s Island School (FOSIS) and sponsored by South Carolina Bank & Trust. FOSIS is a grassroots organization that provides extra funds for special areas and Spanish not covered by the Charleston County School District. It promises to be a fun time at the Windjammer on IOP with music by Island Trio steel drum band. The event is from 5:00 to 9:00pm and tickets are $25. Get them at the Green Heron and get ready to bid on a surf board, Spoleto tickets, teeth whitening and orthodontist services, oil paintings and airplane rides among other treasures.
Then mark your calendars to come to Off the Hook on Saturday, March 1 at 8:00pm for a live music benefit with proceeds going to Bridgette ‘Cricket’ Lyle, a local sailmaker and all around nice gal. She is on a long road to recovery after an on the job fall which left her with a broken back and two broken legs, but her spirits are high. Already the generous outpouring of community support for this remarkable woman from friends and strangers alike has been a beautiful thing to behold.
There are dozens of events worthy of your dollars and these are just two. See you there. |
Sullivan’s Island Town Council committee meeting – February 4
by Pat Votava |
Ways and Means Council Committee Chairman Mike Perkis reported:
Larry Finney was on site as of February 1 to begin the financial audit for Fiscal Year 2007. The comptroller has suggested moving money from the special revenue fund to the general fund to comply with general accounting standards.
Personnel Council Committee Chairman Gerald Kaynard reported:
Mr. Kaynard would like to establish a beach renourishment committee. Councilman Perkis replied that work has begun on accreted land management plan and it might be a good idea to wait until that is done. An amendment to Section 16-23 of the Personnel Ordinance regarding hiring relatives/nepotism was suggested that would change the consideration of “step-relatives” as employees. Planning Commission Chairman Hal Currey communicated to Council his appreciation for the effort of Lisa Darrow in arranging and coordinating the Public Forum for the Comprehensive Planning Meeting and appreciation for Andy Benke’s work as town manager.
Water and Sewer Council Committee Chairman Mike Perkis reported: Phase II of the waterline replacement project began on February 4 between Station 13 and Station 16. Discussion continues on construction options on Cove Avenue between Stations 13 and 14, as well as the discussion of options for maintenance and repair of the sewer line at Station 12.
Building and Construction Council Chairman Buddy Howle reported: 39 permits have been issued, 1 new home permitted, 3 new home permits pending. Total construction costs on the island are $6,182,567, with a total of $11,910 in permit fees collected. There have also been 48 inspections, 34 site visits and 44 vacation rental inspections. Applications to DRB are up and cutting in the accreted land is in full swing with no violations reported to date.
Recreation Council Committee Chairman Mary Jane Watson reported: The committee will be meeting to discuss “Summer Fun” on Monday, February 11. She also noted that a grant package for South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism grant funding was submitted on January 31.
Real Estate Committee member Mike Perkis reported that the first public meeting to update the Sullivan’s Island Comprehensive Plan was held on January 29. The updated Comprehensive Plan is due in October 2008. Mr. Richard Sidebottom of the S.C. Department of Archives and History is scheduled to conduct a tax credit workshop for owners of historic Sullivan’s Island properties in the evening of February 26 at 6pm in the Town Hall.
Police Committee Chairman Carl Smith: The January incident report listed that for the month of January, there had been 1 robbery, 7 burglary/breaking & entering, 1 larceny, 2 vandalism of property, 1 obscene/harassing telephone call, 1 disorderly conduct, 6 traffic offenses, 2 other offenses and 3 adults arrested.
Streets and Maintenance report: S.C. Department of Transportation repaired approximately 28 potholes on the island on January 24.
Town Council Meeting will be held Tuesday, February 19 at 6pm. Note: The time of Sullivan’s IslandTown Council meeting has been changed to 6pm. The next Town Council Committee Meeting will be held Monday, March 3 at 6:30 pm. All meetings are held at Town Hall on Middle Street. Pat Votava is an eleven year Sullivan’s Island resident who follows the workings of local, state and federal government. |
Wild Dunes pays for sandbag damages
Staff report |
The City of Isle of Palms has gotten $1 million closer to nourishing the critical erosion zone in Wild Dunes thanks to a consent order between Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) and various entities who were found to be in violation of at least five requirements related to sandbag placement.
The entities included in the settlement who own or are responsible for maintenance/governance are: Summer Dunes, Dunes Property, Metrotech Chemical, Ellen Shaver Gifting Trust, Bradford and Gina Haynes, Craig and Linda Kessler, Port O’ Call Property Regime, Seascape Villas Property Regime, Shipwatch Condominium Association, the Summerhouse and Tidewaters Councils of Co-owners, and the Wild Dunes Ocean Club Property Regime.
OCRM originally granted an emergency order that allowed the entities to place sandbags on areas of the beach critically affected by erosion on December 3, 2006 and May 11, 2007. However, those orders came with particular stipulations and regulations that were agreed upon before the sandbags were allowed to be placed. Violations mentioned in the settlement included the use of non-beach compatible sand in the sandbags and that correct alignment of the bags was not maintained according to the agreed upon emergency order. It was specifically noted that the sandbags were only temporary and to be removed by November 30. However, the sandbags remain on the beach to this day. The settlement states that the parties involved failed to “diligently pursue” alternatives to sandbag protection during the year in accordance with the order. Furthermore, Shipwatch and Summerhouse directed the placement of sandbags on beach areas in OCRM jurisdiction without any type of authorization from OCRM.
Among the penalties is the requirement that the violators contribute $1 million toward the beach nourishment fund in a manner approved by OCRM. The total project is estimated to cost almost $10 million. Currently, the City of Isle of Palms is the permit applicant for beach nourishment. If for some reason the application is withdrawn, the violators will be required to submit a complete application for beach nourishment themselves. Applications had been approved for the Wild Dunes Community Association in February of 2001 as well as for the North Beach Owners in October of 2007. The violators would also have the option of taking over these permits.
Shipwatch and Summerhouse are also required to pay an additional fine of $12,750. All other violators are required to pay an additional fine of $34,000. |
Historic Property Tax Credit Workshop |
The Town of Sullivan's Island will host a workshop designed to provide residents with information about available tax incentive programs to owners of historic properties on February 26, 2008 at 6:00pm in Town Hall. The workshop will be led by Mr. Richard Sidebottom of the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The SHPO encourages and assists the preservation of the state’s historic and prehistoric buildings, structures, sites, and districts. In South Carolina, there are a number of state and federal tax incentives that may help with the costs of preserving historic and older buildings. Mr. Sidebottom will review the programs in the context of Sullivan's Island properties. For additional information visit http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/hpfinancialinc.htm or contact Andy Benke at 883-5726 or abenke@sullivansisland-sc.com. |
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