Sullivan’s Island Makes Progress on Resilience and Sea Level Adaptation Planning
By Joshua Uys
At a recent Sullivan’s Island Town Council meeting, Kim Morganello of Weston & Sampson presented an update on the town’s Resilience and Sea Level Adaptation Plan.
“Kim is the former water resources agent for Clemson Extension and developed the Carolina Clear program,” said Rebecca Fanning, the town’s director of resilience and natural resource management. “She is considered the statewide expert for nature-based solutions.”
The plan builds on the islandwide Stormwater Master Plan completed earlier this year by SeamonWhiteside, proposing a range of nature-based solutions designed to relieve pressure on the island’s drainage infrastructure while simultaneously improving water quality.
Unlike traditional “gray” infrastructure, nature-based solutions are adaptable, sustainable, and provide co-benefits. They filter pollutants, control erosion, stabilize shorelines, create wildlife habitats, mitigate urban heat, and can even raise surrounding property values.
The plan outlines 33 potential projects across open-space areas that the town could pursue as funding becomes available.
“The plan is a guide — it’s recommendations, it’s not a blueprint,” clarified Councilmember Higgins.
Proposed projects include bioretention areas — shallow, landscaped depressions that absorb and filter stormwater within 72 hours of rainfall — and rain-harvesting systems, which collect runoff from roofs for future nonpotable use, reducing both water consumption and yard flooding. Other concepts, such as living shorelines made of salt marshes, oyster reefs, and “oyster castles,” aim to naturally stabilize the coast and adapt to rising sea levels.
To guide implementation, the plan divides the island into three management zones based on soil type, elevation, and development intensity:
• Conserve Zone: Minimally developed areas that serve as natural buffers and sponges for floodwater.
• Protect Zone: Residential zones where homes may require elevation or floodproofing.
Sullivan’s
• Adapt Zone: Higher-elevation areas (above 7.5 feet) suitable for infiltration-based strategies such as permeable pavement and rain gardens.
The plan may also help residents save on flood insurance premiums through FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program under the National Flood Insurance Program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum floodplain management standards. The more CRS points a community earns, the greater the potential discount — up to 45% off FEMA flood insurance rates for top-performing communities.
Read the full draft of the Resilience and Sea Level Adaptation Plan on the town’s website.
Island Maritime Forest A Growing Nuisance to Those Who Oppose Change
By Nicole Seitz
Over the past 15 years, a legal battle involving the Town of Sullivan’s Island’s maritime forest and some homeowners who front it has been tossed back and forth more than the sea spray along the accreted land in question. This month, the issue is again before the South Carolina Court of Appeals as the appellants respond to a 2023 decision ruling that a 2020 settlement with the town was unenforceable.
The nearly 200-acre maritime forest on the southern tip of Sullivan’s Island has been described as resilient, flourishing, and protective — but the same could be said of the dispute between a few front beach property owners and the Town of Sullivan’s Island, the proprietor of the land in trust. Now back in court are the parties in a case that began in 2010, when oceanfront homeowners who could no longer see the ocean sought to force the town to trim and maintain original
views of a shoreline that had moved farther away. Both parties are resilient — each has sued and countersued.
Things change — especially on a sea island. Sullivan’s Island is a barrier island, formed when water moves sand over time. Usually, barrier islands and oceanfront homeowners fight erosion and the very real threat of losing property. On the north end of Sullivan’s Island, this is the case. However, due to jetties built in the late 1800s, Sullivan’s Island is one of the few barrier islands in the United States with such extensive accretion of sand, land, and vegetation that a forest was created, sustained, and continues to grow.
Walk through the maritime forest today along sandy footpaths and wooden boardwalks and you’ll find secluded benches surrounded by thick underbrush and windswept trees. Many species of birds, butterflies, and bumblebees are visible, as are scurrying squirrels. Nocturnal creatures
such as rodents, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and coyotes remain hidden by day. Signs warn of coyotes in the area and of strong ocean currents, holes, and drop-offs — a caution to anyone who might swim nearby. Turn one way and see the beach as the path opens up; turn the other and catch glimpses of homes in the distance, obscured by trees and brush.
Ultimately, this maritime forest acts as a protector of the Sullivan’s Island coast. It absorbs wave and wind energy before it reaches inland, meaning the homes behind it are better protected from storms — as is Mount Pleasant.
This role of Sullivan’s Island as a Lowcountry protector is nothing new. Walk in the footsteps of history at the western end of the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail in the maritime forest. Before the First Siege of Charleston in 1776, Col. William Moultrie led the construction of Fort Sullivan, the (Continued on page 39)
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a half-trillion dollars in municipal bonds were issued in the U.S.
TOWN COUNCIL
JUSTIN NOVAK (INCUMBENT)
This is an easy one. The town is in excellent financial condition, as demonstrated by its “Aa1” credit rating—the second-highest rating a borrower can receive, the same as the U.S. government.
The town’s annual revenue has increased dramatically in recent years without increasing the municipal property tax rate more than the rise in the Consumer Price Index. This growth is largely due to rising home values, reassessments triggered by recent home purchases, building permit fees from the construction of more expensive homes, and business license fees paid by contractors, restaurants, and the business community.
The town, however, has not freely spent these surplus funds. Instead, it has worked in a collaborative and financially responsible manner, using thoughtful and open analysis of costs and benefits to provide better services to residents where appropriate. The town has also maintained a balanced budget—as required by law—by using surplus revenue to shore up its emergency reserve fund and create additional reserve funds for antic-
ipated long-term expenses that occur in a single budget year but should be paid over multiple budget cycles.
During my four years on council, the town’s true emergency reserve fund has increased by over $1 million, to $3 million. The town has also set aside $2,554,400 for long-term expenses, including: (1) stormwater repairs—$567,530, (2) firetruck and other safety equipment purchases and replacements—$170,980, (3) beach path and boardwalk replacement/recreational facilities projects—$680,830, (4) building repair—$567,530, and (5) resiliency projects—$567,530. Essentially, the town has set aside $5,554,400 for future needs instead of spending it.
The town has also directed some of this additional revenue to providing services that residents want but that had not previously been provided. These include budget items for street maintenance, stormwater system repair, and management of the maritime forest. In addition, the town now spends more on things residents care about, such as garbage collection, beach path maintenance, and special town events like the Tree Lighting and Fourth of July fireworks.
The town has also prudently managed the funds not spent by placing them in the South Carolina Local Government Investment Pool, which currently has an interest rate of approximately 4.4%. The current budget includes $500,000 in such revenue. Over the last two and a half years, the town has earned almost $2 million in interest—something the town did not do four years ago.
That doesn’t mean I haven’t heard the crit-
icisms. Recently, a good friend and resident shared a concern that the town’s administrative costs have increased substantially because of staff compensation. This claim is misleading. Administrative operating expenses attributable to salaries, payroll taxes, health insurance, and retirement costs have only increased from $548,000 to $1,294,000 over the last 10 years, largely driven by state-mandated increases in health insurance and retirement costs. Administrative insurance costs have also risen significantly—from $66,000 to $200,000.
The confusion may arise from the inclusion in the budget’s “administrative costs” category of the approximately $1.8 million used annually to pay back the municipal capital improvement bonds issued before my time on council, in 2018 and 2020. The town used these funds for capital projects such as replacing a failing water treatment plant, building a town hall/first responder building that can operate during a major hurricane, and constructing a maintenance building to protect town equipment from the elements. Although I can’t take credit for the foresight in borrowing these funds at a 3.15% interest rate payable over decades, the town got a very good deal, as the valuable assets financed by the funds appreciate over time at a rate much higher than inflation. I certainly wouldn’t mind having a 3.15% mortgage rate!
More importantly, I believe the town now has excellent—and eminently professional—police, fire, and administrative staff. In fact, the administrative staff has arguably paid for itself by securing $15,465,063 in state
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and federal grants in recent years to fund capital improvement projects such as our stormwater improvement plan. Town staff also aggressively seeks outside funding for the many projects identified in the town’s Capital Improvement Plan. For example, the town recently approved a renovation of the Stith Park Tot Lot using $35,000 obtained from the Sullivan’s Island Park Foundation. The complete plan and estimated costs are available on the town’s website.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. During the past four years, the town has empowered residents to understand how the town functions and evaluate its performance through the state-of-the-art online Financial Transparency Center, accessible on the town’s website. This transparency center gives residents easy access to detailed information about the town’s current operating budget, current capital budget, past budgets, revenues, expenditures, current projects, proposed projects, and funding sources. Residents can even evaluate the town’s performance over time by accessing charts that compare the current proposed budget with past budgets.
During the next four years, I hope to continue working collaboratively with empowered and engaged residents to maintain the town’s excellent financial condition while identifying and pursuing projects and services that will continue to enhance residents’ already high quality of life.
LAURA SCHROEDER
Sullivan’s Island thankfully benefits from a strong tax base and healthy reserves—the result of sound fiscal management by prior councils.
The town’s $38 million debt was taken on when rates were low—about 3% or less. But that’s where the good news ends. Debt is only smart if it’s used wisely, and this council hasn’t shown that discipline. Money has poured into consultants, lawsuits, and unfulfilled studies that gather dust, while critical needs—like drainage and park safety—remain ignored.
Nowhere is that clearer than at Station 18, where the first flood study was completed in 2010. Fifteen years later, no progress has been made, and the FEMA grant that could have fixed it was eliminated because of inaction.
Cheap debt doesn’t excuse bad decisions. That isn’t good fiscal management. It’s negligence disguised as governance.
SCOTT MILLIMET (INCUMBENT)
The town is not only in good fiscal shape—it is in excellent fiscal shape. Don’t take my word for it. This is independently verified through our Aa1 credit rating by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO)—a credit rating agency approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It is the highest possible rating on the Moody’s scale outside of the top rating of Aaa, which not even the U.S. government holds.
By law, a municipality must maintain a bal-
anced budget each year. Sullivan’s Island has done this while paying down its long-term debt (approximately $3.7 million since 2021), building its emergency reserves by more than 20% (from $9 million to over $11 million), and providing the quality of services and protections expected in a ZIP code with the highest home values in the state. There is a reason—beyond our beaches—that people want to move here: the quality of life that flows from effective and responsible governance.
Because of the balanced budget requirement, when a municipality wants to initiate large capital expenditures, it issues debt. The town has completed paying down the debt that financed our new Town Hall. In 2018 and 2020, the town issued long-term debt ($35.4 million) to finance necessary infrastructure improvements. That debt matures in 2048 and 2045, respectively, and carries an interest rate of approximately 3.15%. Current rates for a 20-year Aa1 municipal bond are around 4.20–4.50%, so our debt cannot be refinanced at a lower interest rate. Inflation continues to erode the value of the debt while driving the assets purchased (water and sewer treatment plant, lift stations, a new fire station, etc.) higher in value.
In sum, this is a win-win for our town—the debt is depreciating while the assets are appreciating. As a result, we should be paying off the Island’s debt as slowly as possible. Only if we can refinance our debt at a lower interest rate (plus refinance fees) should we consider prepaying it. It is not a strain on our finances, as noted above.
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MELANIE BURKHOLD
I and other residents are concerned about the Town of Sullivan’s Island’s financial trajectory. With $38 million in bond debt and more than $11 million in annual expenditures, it’s clear we are not in a position of stability or strength. Council may claim the Moody’s ratings reflect sound management, ignoring that a strong residential tax base is the main driver. This level of indebtedness, combined with spending on unnecessary and costly nonessentials, is unsustainable for a small, unchanging population like ours and risks burdening us—or future generations—with higher taxes or reduced services.
There are two Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds (IPRBs) issued in 2018 and 2020, each for $20 million. The town has been paying interest and principal on the 2020 bond but only interest on the 2018 bond. In 2026, the town will begin paying both interest and principal on both bonds.
The 2018 bond was used for rebuilding the wastewater treatment plant, constructing new lift stations, and repairing sewer lines. The 2020 IPRB was issued for various capital improvements, including the new fire station and warehouse. The town passes ordinances for short-term general obligation (GO) bonds to pay the debt service on these bonds—essentially borrowing money to pay for borrowed money. Does the revenue generated by our sewer department contribute in any way to covering the debt service obligations of the 2018 bond?
Compounding the issue are expenditures that appear wholly unnecessary. The millions poured into the warehouse project, which was unanimously approved by this council, stand out as a prime example of misplaced priorities, draining resources that could have been allocated to our infrastructure. Particularly concerning are our persistently high administrative costs. Despite no growth in our island’s size or population, administrative expenses have risen from $1.7 million to $4.8 million over the
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last 10 years, suggesting inefficiencies or outright waste in town operations.
Residents are the primary source of the funds Town Council spends—through property taxes, building permits for new construction or renovations, or through the bonds issued based on our strong home values. Moving forward, we must practice fiscal discipline and prioritize infrastructure and maintenance over unnecessary spending.
If elected, I will conduct a thorough review of all expenditures. I will propose an ordinance to enable the formation of an independent advisory financial committee composed of residents to provide transparent oversight, analyze expenses, and help develop a clear roadmap to debt reduction. This model has proven successful in neighboring areas to reduce debt and curtail waste. I will also propose rotating the town auditor every five years to align with best practices.
GARRY VISSER (INCUMBENT)
The town has completed significant projects to improve the infrastructure of our community properties. Most substantial were the upgrades and remediation of our wastewater treatment plant. This work—years in planning and public meetings, guided by engineering staff, and performed under the sanction and inspection of the appropriate state regulatory agencies—represents a major investment in our community.
As with all projects of this scale, such as the fire department, maintenance facility, and town
hall, they were funded through careful borrowing that leveraged our excellent community credit rating and are being repaid over time at interest rates outpaced by the growth in the value of these assets. It’s much like taking out a mortgage to buy a home and watching its value grow beyond the remaining debt as the loan is paid down.
Under this council’s leadership, we have begun investing funds that were previously left idle and have earned millions of dollars in returns, while maintaining safety and liquidity for community needs.
We now have our first separate capital budget for all departments, creating better long-term planning for major expenses, as well as a balanced operating budget. The council has been careful to spend on true needs rather than “want-to-haves.”
Many projects have been supported by significant grants pursued by town staff to help defray costs for residents. We have even been complimented by state legislators for the efficiency and speed of our grant work, which has led to improvements in stormwater management and better planning for future projects.
We live in a community without industrial tax support and with a limited commercial district. Careful fiscal planning, responsible spending, and transparent reporting have been hallmarks of this council’s tenure.
6. Do you think the town offers enough recreational opportunities in and around Stith Park? What would you like to see improved?
MAYOR
Last week, we voted to authorize the purchase of new playground equipment for the Tot Lot, including one item that is sure to become a popular tradition and part of island children’s memories. We have also contracted to improve the park’s drainage, a necessary step for additional upgrades. We will then be able to start implementing other parts of the park master plan that were well-received during the several open houses and events held to gather public input throughout the planning process.
And no, there will not be a swimming pool. All of these improvements will enhance this wonderful community resource and allow us to expand the activities it offers.
TOWN COUNCIL
JUSTIN NOVAK (INCUMBENT)
Stith Park is the heart of our island community. It is a place where we gather for events like the Tree Lighting and Fourth of July, where our kids play after school before heading to Dunleavy’s for free soda and popcorn, and where island kids— and sometimes adults—occasionally get dirty sliding down the mound on cardboard. We play tennis, pickleball, and basketball on its courts and explore its bamboo forest. This expansive park is a true gift. But it can be improved.
PATRICK O’NEIL (INCUMBENT)
One of the joys of serving on town council is seeing the entire community come together to work on projects that will significantly improve our quality of life for the long term. One of these experiences began shortly after I was elected to town council in 2021. During a recreation committee meeting, the idea
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was proposed to examine the possibility of creating a community-driven plan to transform Stith Park into an even more vibrant gathering place.
During numerous committee meetings, town council workshops, and council meetings, the council collected resident input and considered initial proposals for a comprehensive redesign of the park. Ultimately, the town selected engineers to develop options for enhancing the park’s existing amenities and creating additional recreation opportunities for the community. Residents were invited to provide additional input on these options during three open house meetings in 2023. All of this input was then incorporated into a proposed draft master plan, high-level cost estimate, and budget action plan.
This plan now provides a roadmap for improving the heart of our community and building even stronger ties among residents through improved public spaces and community events. As envisioned, the renovation would provide a wonderful gathering space for residents in a place that celebrates our island community and history.
The first stages of this plan are already underway. The town recently approved work to renovate the park’s drainage and stormwater infrastructure so it no longer floods, as well as the creation of additional golf cart parking on the edge of the park for those using the park. The town is also in the process of replacing and improving the play equipment in the Tot Lot. These projects should begin next year. Once this work
is complete, the remainder of the renovation will occur in a deliberate, collaborative, and financially responsible manner.
This comprehensive renovation will be truly special and will reflect the improvements requested by residents. We need to do it—and do it right. As a parent of two young children growing up on the island, I want to ensure the town continues this work. I hope for your support so we can do it together.
LAURA SCHROEDER
No. The town does not offer enough recreational opportunities because we’ve failed to maintain and improve the ones we already have.
It takes a lot to raise a child. Children need clean, safe spaces to play—places that let them explore and discover while giving parents peace of mind. Cleanliness keeps parks hygienic and pleasant, while safety measures make families feel secure spending time there. One of our tidal pools tested at unsafe bacteria levels for months, and nothing was done. Families deserve better stewardship of all the places where their children play. Parks should build neighborhood pride and reflect the beauty and livability of our island.
Before inventing new projects like pocket parks and nature trails, we should maintain and improve what we already have. I walked through Stith Park recently. Please scan the QR code below to see photos of the current state of the park and decide if it meets any of the above standards. For a community that takes such pride in our environment, there’s no excuse for unsafe, outdated public spaces.
The RFP for the Stith Park Master Plan was re-
Isle of Palms Hosts Holiday Street Festival
By Kelsey Marsh
Head down to Front Beach on Isle of Palms and kick off the holiday season island-style. The annual Isle of Palms Holiday Street Festival will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, from 2 to 7 p.m. on Ocean Boulevard. This free event will feature live music, carnival rides, local arts and crafts vendors, restaurants, and a visit from Santa Claus. The Sullivan’s Island Elementary Chorus will kick off the event at 2 p.m., followed by The High 5 Band, with Haley Mae Campbell closing the festival. The city will officially light the 24-foot tree at approximately 5:30 p.m., and Santa Claus will visit with children from 4 to 6 p.m.
Throughout the event, local crafters will sell handmade gifts perfect for the holiday season. In addition to free carnival rides, attendees can enjoy face painting and more.
For more information, visit www.iop.net/recreation or call the Isle of Palms Recreation Department at 843-886-8294.
leased in 2022. A local consulting firm was hired, residents participated in meetings and design reviews—and still, the plan is unclear. It’s another expensive study that never turned into results. Three years later, not a single element has been implemented—until last night’s Town Council meeting, when council approved a play boat and some mulch—just 13 days before the election.
While I’m happy to see some basic progress, we still don’t know what the finalized park will look like or if and when it will ever be completed. Wouldn’t you like to know how the park project will be phased, budgeted, and executed? It’s worth noting that even this small step—a play boat and mulch—was funded in part by donations from the Park Foundation.
True leadership means investing in the future—our children, our parks, and the water we all share—not in pet projects that do little to strengthen our community.
I believe we need to invest in our youth. To stay vibrant, we must support all generations. Although I no longer have young children living at home, I feel these families deserve someone on council who will advocate for them.
SCOTT MILLIMET (INCUMBENT)
The town has actively engaged with residents over the past two years to determine the steps needed to upgrade Stith Park and its amenities. It is the collective opinion of Sullivan’s Island residents that will determine the park’s future.
Three charrettes were held from September to early December 2023, allowing residents to share input on the park’s redesign and on recreation
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Real Priorities. Common Sense.
As Ranked by Laura Schroeder
•Residents First . HIGH PRIORITY
•Flood Prevention. HIGH PRIORITY
•Maintenance of what we already have. HIGH PRIORITY
•Responsible Spending. HIGH PRIORITY
•Clear Communication. HIGH PRIORITY
•Timely Action. HIGH PRIORITY
“
The foundation of strong, residentfocused leadership is accountability, follow- through, and ac tion. They are not optional—they ‘ re the job”.
-Laura Schroeder
Laura Schroeder Sullivan’s Island Town Council
Dear Neighbors- October 22, 2025
If you read recent coverage of our town election, you might think everything on Sullivan’s Island is running smoothly — that we’re transparent, responsive, and that those of us raising concerns are simply restless.
I wish that were true.
In reality, what looks like transparency has been carefully staged. The sudden surge of hard-hat photo ops, ads claiming responsiveness and the cheerful sound bites don’t show commitment — they show campaign strategy.
Residents have been telling me that for years, they have been asking for accountability and straight answers. Those requests were met with silence, dismissiveness, and disdain and carefully managed optics.
Just last night, at the Town Council meeting, one incumbent called residents who waited until the end to speak about the Resilience Plan “disingenuous” and said their questions made him “hot.” That’s not transparency. That’s frustration with being questioned.
Transparency isn’t a livestream. It’s a culture of openness— one where questions are welcomed, not deflected, and decisions are explained, not hidden behind consultants or closed-door meetings. Real transparency doesn’t start 13 days before an election.
This election isn’t about who can quote the town code or smile through a meeting. It’s about whether leadership reflects the values of this island–honesty, respect, and care for the community we share.
When residents asked to protect our maritime forest, to maintain our parks, to fix drainage that’s been studied for fifteen years, we weren’t “complaining.” We were doing what citizens are supposed to do: holding government accountable.
I’ve attended meetings, read the reports, and asked hard questions– not to grandstand, but because I care about what happens next and I care about the future of this island. I believe our residents deserve proactive communication, fiscal responsibility, and a council that listens before deciding.
The incumbents may call this “criticism.” I call it civic engagement.
Sullivan’s Island has always been passionate, opinionated, and worth fighting for. We deserve leadership that sees that as strength, not annoyance to be tolerated.
On November 4, I respectfully ask for your vote — not because I’m the loudest voice, but because I’m the one who will keep asking the right questions, even when it’s inconvenient. I want to thank all my friends and island neighbors who have helped along the way with feedback, honesty, support, and true willingness to collaborate.
It truly does takes a village.
With gratitude,
Laura Schroeder
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directs visitors where to park and where not to park. I will continue to focus on working with our community partners as we look for additional improvements. Any funding necessary for improvements could come from SCDOT, Charleston County, grants, or IOP.
JON REGAN WALTERS
Traffic and parking have worsened over the past four years. Mount Pleasant continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in South Carolina, adding more than 4,000 new residents a year, and that growth directly impacts our island. Every new subdivision east of the Cooper means more weekend traffic on the Connector, and there is only so much infrastructure a small barrier island like ours can handle.
We have already maximized parking along Palm Boulevard. Turning residential side streets into parking lots is not an option. The long-term solution must focus on moving people, not cars.
I support expanding the Beach Reach Shuttle as a core part of our transportation plan. My proposal eliminates parking on Palm Boulevard between 21st and 41st avenues, making access in that corridor shuttle- or rideshare-only. To make it work, CARTA must operate the shuttle daily, not just on weekends, and the Connector Bridge should be reconfigured to include a reversible express lane that serves both emergency use and the shuttle system.
I have already spoken with CARTA representatives this year, and as mayor I will escalate this issue with Columbia, Charleston County, and Mount Pleasant. The financial burden should not fall solely on Isle of Palms residents. Funding should come from state and regional partnerships and potentially structured parking fees for nonresidents.
I live on Palm Boulevard and see the problem daily. Isle of Palms is a city,
The Isle of Palms Recreation Department will host Coffee and Canines on Nov. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bark Park, located at the IOP Recreation Center, 24 28th Ave. Bring your furry friend for a laid-back morning featuring live music from Dallas Baker and coffee and breakfast treats from Daddy’s Breakfast and Espresso. For more information, visit www.iop.net/recreation or call the Isle of Palms Recreation Department at 843-886-8294. Isle of Palms Recreation to Host Coffee
Nov. 15
By Kelsey Marsh
Leader in Luxury Real Estate
Letter to the Editor: A Submarine Candidate for Mayor
By Susan Middaugh
In an election where a top issue is transparency, it is very surprising to see a new candidate for mayor surfacing at the last minute as a write-in candidate. This timing ensures he could sidestep the two-month process of openly declaring his positions in the Moultrie News, the Island Eye News, and in face-to-face conversations with Sullivan’s Island residents. He has also avoided answering the difficult questions posed by the Island Eye News, which all other candidates addressed. We know where they stand.
The only thing we know about this late-blooming opponent is that he thinks there should be opposition. My opinion is that the current mayor is unopposed simply because no one can do that difficult job as well.
I served on the island Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) with this new mayoral candidate, and after he resigned, I heard him represent individuals seeking variances before the BZA. It did not surprise me that he was part of the legal team that lobbied the town to remove the protective zoning from the Sand Dunes Club so that it could be developed into a for-profit club offering its members a restaurant, fitness center, and cultural events—so they could interact with their neighbors, or at least those who could afford the $60,000 joining fee plus $6,000 in annual dues.
The neighbors offered strong opposition, and Town Council turned this down. Today, you can interact with your neighbors at the homegrown, nonprofit Island Club down by the Fish Fry Shack for $250 per year—and the mayor and Town Council have been very supportive.
Of course, it is legal for any resident to run as a last-minute write-in candidate, but voters can ask: How ethical is this? How transparent?
Susan Middaugh
2420 Raven Drive
Sullivan’s Island
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equipment to add or improve. For example, a swimming pool was eliminated by popular consensus after the first round of community input, while pickleball courts were maintained throughout the process. The final draft included not only pickleball courts but also an inclusive playground, restoration of the historic “mound,” and improved access and parking.
Most recently, on Oct. 6, 2025, a presentation was made to Town Council for a remake of the Tot Park. Partial grant funding makes it highly likely that approvals for the new and improved Tot Park will be granted, with an early 2026 completion date. An extensive engineering plan to improve park drainage has been approved, although permitting and funding sources are still pending. It makes no sense to move forward with other improvements until the drainage issues are fully addressed.
The master plan for the park is available on the town’s website. While that plan calls for a sizable passive area for activities, I would like to reassess the feasibility of adding a soccer field toward the back of the park that would be available to all ages. Needless to say, all improvements at Stith Park must be reviewed through the lens of available funding and competing priorities.
However, the bottom line is this: a world-class town like Sullivan’s Island deserves a park that reflects our residents’ needs and desires for top-tier, safe recreational space. Continued resident input will ensure we get it.
MELANIE BURKHOLD
YES — Given our significant debt, urgent infrastructure and maintenance needs, and livability concerns, Stith Park already has more than enough recreational activities. An October 2024 survey revealed that residents are concerned about the proposed, costly Stith Park Master Plan due
to its expense (65%) and want to focus on infrastructure instead (71%). This survey shows the Town Council needs to listen to residents and prioritize essentials over nonessentials. We do not need to take on additional, unnecessary debt. It’s also important to remember the town has miles of beaches for recreation.
Stith Park is vibrant and well used. The basketball, tennis/pickleball, and backboard courts are always busy. The wide-open field, playground, and the beloved tradition of sliding down the mound on cardboard boxes see constant activity. However, we can’t ignore the decade-long drainage problem and the 35-year-old play structures in the Tot Lot.
What would I like to see improved? For more than a year, I have repeatedly emailed and spoken at Town Council meetings about the immediate need to replace the outdated play structures due to safety and liability concerns. Yet the council unanimously approved more than $450,000 for new vehicles while ignoring my plea to forgo one truck this budget year to fund the replacement.
On Oct. 21, 2025 — just two weeks before the election — Town Council finally voted to replace the outdated play structures, offsetting the cost with a generous donation from the recently disbanded Sullivan’s Island Park Foundation. I would like to thank Council Member Ned Higgins, who chairs the Recreation Committee and advocated for this project for more than a year. I’m thankful the Tot Lot is now being addressed, but disappointed it took an election to make it happen.
As someone who has renovated a community park in Mount Pleasant, if elected, I will help oversee the replacement of the play structures — as Just For Fun Playgrounds LLC cannot begin work until early 2026 — advocate for renovation of the little white house, and implement annual safety inspections by this certified company. I will also push to address the park’s decade-long drainage problem, starting with cleaning the town-owned ditch alongside the
Letter to the Editor: Sullivan’s Island Incumbents Have Delivered
I am not a political person. In fact, I have never written a letter to the editor before, so bear with me if this is a bit of a slog to read. I am writing in support of rehiring the Sullivan’s Island incumbents for another four-year term.
I have not paid close attention to all the campaign literature, but I have noted some allegations that left me scratching my head. First, I’ve seen criticism of the $35 million in bonds that the town used for capital improvements on the island. Does anyone think having a state-of-the-art, flood-proof sewer system on a barrier island is a bad investment? I recently read an article in The Wall Street Journal about the hundreds of communities in the U.S. located in floodplains that aren’t so lucky. By the way, those bonds have an average interest rate of 3%, and the cost of those improvements has skyrocketed since they were implemented.
Rhetorically, I’d like to ask how many homeowners on the island complain about their 2.5%
mortgages that they used to buy their homes, which have doubled in market value in recent years? I’m quite sure most would say it was the best investment they’ve ever made. To me, the council’s financing and timely investment in the town’s infrastructure look equally as prescient.
The other salient criticism that has been leveled, as I understand it, is a lack of transparency. I would like to relate a story from 10 years ago when we first moved to the island. I knew no one here. I had a problem with my water bill and cold-called Mayor O’Neil. He not only returned my call but gave me his time on multiple occasions to try to assist me with my problem. He didn’t know me from Adam but helped me as he would an old friend. I know that each of the three incumbent council members would do the same thing because I know for a fact that each has done so on multiple occasions over the last four years. Any assertion that they have not been solicitous of input from island residents about any
field. Additionally, I’ll propose a maintenance plan that includes inspections for and removal of wasp nests, ant beds, and trash, which are frequent complaints.
We should have a well-maintained and safe park for our community — one that focuses on the basics before new projects.
GARRY VISSER (INCUMBENT)
The improvements to Stith Park are an excellent example of a very public process, using community input to create a plan that serves our residents and their children. Residents should demand that everything be discussed, ideas presented, budgets proposed, and debated in public. The planning process is an excellent example of council activities, where a pool was considered, discussed, and discarded from plans, benefiting from public input. Not some secret plan, as suggested by some, “killed” by public outcry—this is an example of the community voice. The idea of a pool is exactly the kind of public discussion residents should always demand.
Stith Park’s first steps are to remediate drainage on playing fields and address safety improvement needs in the Tot Lot area. That work is already underway, and a budgeting process is in place for each step of the park project. This is careful spending of town assets to preserve and improve the most visible and utilized recreation resource in our community, all done in public meetings with public input.
Should we do more? Improve tennis and pickleball courts, add additional park areas on public lands, improve handicap access, preserve view corridors, and maintain beach access? All of these are ideas worthy of public discussion, input, planning, and budgeting. The key is preserving our community assets, maintaining them, and continuing to pursue grants that help defray the cost of improvements. Essential to everything is the public input that decides the recreation activities in our public spaces.
issue confronting the island over the last four years, in my view, is demonstrably false.
Finally, to me, the most important reason the incumbents will get my vote in November is that, to my knowledge, they have done everything they promised to do when they ran four years ago. During my work career, I found that when interviewing candidates for a job, the hardest thing to discern and predict is the quality of judgment the candidate would exercise once hired. An overworked but accurate analogy is that a political campaign is an extended public job interview. After four years, we have an extensive window into the judgment, competence, and dedication of the incumbents.
I do not know either of the challengers, but I’m sure they are sincere and conscientious, and they might even do as good a job as the incumbents have done. But do we really want to take that chance?
Paul Stephenson 2614 Bayonne St.
Letter to the Editor: Fool Me Once: The Pivot on Wild Dunes & STRs
By Tony Santiago
In late 2022, Isle of Palms residents mobilized to protect livability and rein in future build-out. On Sept. 27, City Council voted 7–2 to draft ordinances capping density in Wild Dunes and protecting conservation and recreation areas. Mayor Phillip Pounds was one of two “no” votes.
Two weeks later, with momentum building, he endorsed moving the ordinances to a public hearing: “I was hopeful we would have a nice collaborative, strategic negotiation to get to a new development agreement with our resort owners... We voted, and that didn’t happen last month. So here we are, and I am going to support this because I think we need to take it to the next step to have a public hearing and then see where it goes from there.”
Residents then did their part — twice. The city held a public hearing at City Hall on Oct. 18, and a second at the Recreation Center on Nov. 1. That Rec Center hearing became the breaking point: Residents packed the room and spoke consistently in favor of limiting growth and passing the ordinances. After those hearings, Council advanced to second reading.
By Nov. 15, Pounds was fully on the winning side: “We wanted to limit future development, which we certainly have done.”
Within weeks, the direction shifted — first on shortterm rentals (STRs), then in public rhetoric.
On Dec. 6, Pounds joined the bloc opposing a threemonth STR pause designed to cool the market and improve data. By February 2023, he was steering away from caps altogether, elevating “monitor and enforce” and spotlighting statistics that softened the perceived problem.
At the Feb. 6 workshop workshop, he kept a no-cap option on the table and, on Feb. 28, supported Alternative 5: “(The) potential path is certainly a no cap — allow the market to determine the number of short-term rentals... and monitor agreed-upon metrics.”
When council members presented islandwide impact math, Pounds dismissed it as fear-driven and insisted, “If we’re going to talk about factual issues, let’s talk facts... the trend over the last 12 years has been going down and not up.” He nudged a live cap motion into executive session; no cap passed that night.
In April 2023, he publicly welcomed a citizen-led cap petition, then voted against first reading of that same cap in July, blocking it from even advancing to negotiation.
By October, the message had morphed again. To The Post and Courier, he framed IOP as inherently tourist-oriented: “It’s a vacation spot, and has always been a rental community, to some extent.”
Here’s the pattern residents should see: When the votes are there to protect IOP, Pounds goes along. When leverage returns to the mayor’s office, he talks “collaboration,” moves the goalposts, and downshifts to no-cap, market-driven policies.
Elect a like-minded council, and we invite a new round of “renegotiation” that reopens density and STR questions islandwide — Wild Dunes decisions that won’t stay behind the gate.
Fool me once.
All letters submitted to The Island Eye News must bear a full name, address and phone number for verification. Only the author’s name and city will be printed. Submissions are excepted via email to ieneditor@luckydognews.com or mail to P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482.
Letters may be edited for length and readability. The Island Eye News reserves the right to reject letters that are libelous, unseemly, not individually addressed to The Island Eye News or that have been previously published elsewhere.
Letter to the Editor: Maybe Not That Fence
By Kimberly Brown
I don’t enjoy being the squeaky wheel — but here we go again.
I am in slight disbelief that campaign signs for all three incumbent Town Council candidates now lean on and line the fence surrounding the African American cemetery on Sullivan’s Island. Public space or not, that location carries sacred meaning.
The irony is something to behold. These same council members spent several months defending a “Gateway to Liberty” sign that drew local outrage and national attention before finally reversing course under public pressure. To now use the cemetery fence as political real estate is not tone-deaf — it is disrespectful.
There are plenty of other public spaces for campaign signs that serve political agendas (like across the street at the entrance sign). And to make matters worse, the fence the signs are leaning against isn’t even maintained by the town. A private citizen generously donates the labor, materials and skill to keep it standing — a gesture of reverence, not politics.
In fairness to all, the mayor’s and the two challengers’ signs are not there. They appear to have exercised judgment the incumbents did not.
That fence marks the resting place of people whose humanity was denied in life. The least we can do is honor it in death and let this ground remain what it is: hallowed.
Kimberly Brown Sullivan’s Island
Letter to the Editor: Facts and Leadership Matter on Sullivan’s Island
By Rita Langley
As we enter another election cycle—and once again see the political temperature rising on Sullivan’s Island—familiar issues have returned to the forefront: the maritime forest, the town’s finances, and the spread of misinformation. As the debate intensifies, it’s worth grounding the conversation in facts and remembering how far this council has brought us.
Four years ago, three new candidates were elected to our Town Council on a platform of preserving the maritime forest. Constituents voted overwhelmingly to protect this unique landscape and to say no to extensive tree cutting. The recent storm damage on Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms reminds us how fortunate we are to have a living barrier that protects our island from erosion and flooding.
We’ve come a long way—Sullivan’s Island now enjoys meaningful, lasting protections for the maritime forest, the result of years of careful leadership and community consensus. Are the new candidates prepared to uphold and defend the protections this council put in place?
There has also been a lot of rhetoric about so-called “pocket parks.” Many of the roads on the backside of the island simply dead-end into the creek, meaning they are public access points that have always existed. The addition of benches at these publicly owned access points simply allows someone without a waterfront view to enjoy the same beauty we all cherish. As public land, it is meant to be shared, not protected for the convenience of a few. Additionally, it is worth noting that one of the new candidates voted for these same “pocket parks” while serving on the Planning Commission, and the concept is clearly outlined in the Comprehensive Plan that the commission approved. That inconsistency warrants clarification.
Sound financial management has been another hallmark of this council. Sullivan’s Island holds an Aa1 credit rating, has built reserves by more than $2 million, paid down nearly $4 million in debt, and earned almost $2 million in investment income over the past two years. That is prudent, professional management—not mismanagement.
Facts matter. Experience and integrity matter. Our current council matters. Sullivan’s Island needs their steady, informed leadership in the years ahead.
Rita Langley
Letter to the Editor: Transparency and Steady Leadership on Sullivan’s Island
By Georges Mahama
Greater transparency is a noble goal in any local government and should be a standard governing principle. It is certainly more meaningful when elected officials, administrators, and residents engage throughout the year, rather than just during the days leading up to a ballot.
Our current council has, in my opinion, institutionalized transparency. Official business is conducted in the open, and numerous opportunities for public involvement are available through monthly workshops, open meetings, and committee sessions that are publicly noticed and accessible in person or online from the comfort of one’s home. True transparency depends not only on open doors but also on active participation from the community.
The current council has also shown fiscal prudence. While it is an understandable human trait to criticize, let’s not overlook the facts. Over the past several years, the town, under the leadership of the current council and the mayor, has taken measurable steps to ensure that the town’s finances remain strong. Reserves have grown from $9 million to $11 million, interest income from sound cash management has approached $2 million, and the 3.2% borrowing rate is unimaginable in today’s world. These are encouraging indicators of fiscal responsibility and longterm planning. Other deliverables include the preservation of the maritime forest—a campaign promise—and the stormwater resiliency project.
The current island leadership has demonstrated competence. As citizens of this island, we are in good hands. We benefit most from leaders who combine openness with steady, informed decision-making. Change for the sake of change may not be the wisdom we need to exercise at the ballot on Nov. 4.
Georges Mahama - 2857 Ion Ave.
FREE BUMPER STICKERS FOR
SULLIVANS ISLAND RESIDENTS
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If you’ve had enough of excessive spending, graffiti on historic structures, or Town-sanctioned fractional ownership (Section 21-19C) — Highlights below — this sticker is for you.
It also fits if you’re done with pet projects or “government hobbyists” on the Town Council who need endless meetings and studies for everything.
And with commercial-use parking being added for hundreds of cars at Battery Thomson, Battery Gadsden, and the school (after hours for the school) — well, you get the idea.
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Text “I want x” with S.I. Street or P.O. Box address to 843-642-7148.
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Limit: 2 per car (max 4 per household)
Eligibility: Sullivans Island residents only — S.I. street address or PO Box required.
SEE FULL VERSION ON TOWN WEBSITE — “FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP”? YOU DECIDE.
Section 21-19C. Split Zoned Lots within the CCOD 1 and 2 Overlay Districts that are not subdivided. (Adopted 3/20/12)
(1) The lot shall remain in single ownership; every owner, member, partner, shareholder, or unit owner must have the same percentage of ownership in both residential and commercial structures.
(2) Every owner, member, partner, shareholder, or unit owner must have equal control over both residential and commercial uses on the lot.
(3) These conditions must be listed on any building permit or business license for commercial use.
(4) These conditions become covenants running with the property and must be recorded with the real estate title in the Charleston County RMC Office before any permits or licenses are issued.
“Sure looks like fractional ownership to me.”
I asked over two years ago for its removal — it’s still on the books.
Stickers will be mailed or handed out directly. Act now — high demand expected! Paid for by Rick Graham. 2102 Ion Avenue, Sullivans Island Not affiliated with any candidates or current members (and probably never will be after they see this sticker).
Letter to the Editor: Incumbents Have Earned Another Term on Sullivan’s Island
By Penelope (Penn) Hagood
I write in support of the mayor and the three incumbents running for re-election to the Sullivan’s Island Town Council. These four men have proven themselves to be true public servants, and they have earned our support for re-election. They have admirably exemplified the highest levels of sacrificial service to our town over the last four years and, hopefully, will continue to serve going forward.
These four have been tireless in responding to the needs and concerns of citizens, whether in issues pertaining to the maritime forest, neighborhood flooding and stormwater management, or in personal moments such as the loss of a loved one. Each has individually shown up time and again. They have listened, been willing to learn about problems, and have taken action.
As just one small example of how each puts the needs of the island and their neighbors ahead of
themselves, each personally arrived on our street with boots and shovels to help at a time when one of their own homes was flooded, their car destroyed, and the others faced similar challenges. Yet they came to serve.
Notably, the members of this current council have persevered in rationally and methodically dealing with decades-old problems — issues that have stymied many previous councils because of how challenging they were. These four have worked collaboratively with everyone to solve them. Repeatedly, they have done this by methodically documenting all aspects of a problem, then creating and beginning to implement plans to address and improve things. They have done this across the island, dealing with multiple issues. They have also creatively sought alternative funding and grant money for such projects. Many of these issues have lacked funding in the past and therefore were un-
Letter to the Editor: Preserving Sullivan’s Island Accreted Land
By Cammie Camp
After studying coastal planning and environmental science at the University of Virginia, I moved to Sullivan’s Island 37 years ago. I am concerned about Town Council candidates Laura Schroeder and Melanie Burkhold’s answers in the Oct. 17 issue of The Island Eye News regarding our accreted land. They both follow a familiar playbook: Laura disparages the current plan as not “science-based,” and Melanie complains that it is “not sufficient” to meet the “realities we face.” She also objects to “intrusive” cameras in the forest and raises concerns about fire risks.
The truth is, the town spent decades developing the accreted land management plan. The plan was created with substantial resident input and a research team of coastal management experts. It established a healthy maritime forest that protects the island and allows for thinning of brush near personal property. The town did not have to allow any thinning. When
you build a home next to public land, the stewards of that land are not obligated to consider the interests of adjacent property owners.
The accreted land was protected to prevent development and to provide a critical buffer between island properties and the advancing ocean. When I first moved to Sullivan’s Island, the stewards allowed top-down cutting of all plants, resulting in a mix of dead or dying species covered in vines. Because they were not tall enough to trap blowing sand, few dunes existed at that time. Now that the forest has been allowed to grow, we see a scientifically predicted pattern of coastal zones that promotes dune formation at the shoreline. The beauty of the maritime forest is that it manages itself—at no cost—and protects us from the island’s number one threat: storms, not fire.
What has always puzzled me is which property owners on the front beach are truly satisfied. Those
Letter to the Editor: Experience and Knowledge Matter
By Linda Perkis
I come from a long line of community servants. My dad was the mayor of a town in Florida, my son-in-law’s mother is currently the mayor of a town in North Carolina, and my husband served on the Sullivan’s Island Town Council for eight years and as mayor for one year before he died. I know good government!
I am so tired of hearing about transparency. It seems that if a candidate has nothing else to complain about, they bring up the old favorite—“transparency.” The current council has been completely transparent. You can attend meetings—they are open to everyone. You can express your concerns. You can write the council. You can meet with council members. Meetings are livestreamed and also recorded for convenient later viewing. Workshops and committee meetings are livestreamed as well. Plus, there are two years’ worth of recorded town
hall meetings available on the town’s website. Let’s bury “transparency”—it’s a nonissue!
Let’s talk about the perceived issues on Sullivan’s Island:
1. There is not going to be a pool at Stith Park.
2. Work has already begun on mitigating flooding issues on the island.
3. By law, municipalities must have a balanced budget. This council has increased our emergency reserves by more than $2 million and paid down more than $4 million in long-term debt. Yes, we have $35 million in debt. However, since our debt has an interest rate of only 3.15%, it would be unwise to pay it off early. We need to pay it off as slowly as possible. Inflation erodes the value of the debt and inflates the value of the capital assets we purchased (new water and sewer treatment plant, new fire station, etc.). This is basic economics! We definitely don’t need a resident-led finance commit-
solvable with a small-town budget. These four can constantly be seen out in the community triaging and prioritizing problems to address and solve them, and they always do so in an open, respectful, and compassionate manner.
In short, this is one of the finest councils Sullivan’s Island has had. These four are making great progress in moving the town forward on many fronts and rationally solving years-old, thorny problems. They are true public servants, gentlemen of fine and honorable character, and they are tirelessly devoted to this community. We are lucky to have them, and Sullivan’s Island will benefit greatly from allowing them to continue serving. I hope you will join me in voting for the four incumbent men for Sullivan’s Island Town Council on Nov. 4.
Thank you, Penelope (Penn) Hagood
at the north end need sand pumped onto the beach to preserve their property, while those behind the accreted land want it cut for views and breezes. Somewhere in the middle, I suppose, a few property owners experience the “just right” scenario.
Contrary to the two candidates advocating for change, I believe current council members have done exactly what we asked. They have openly— unlike the previous council, which held votes to undermine the accreted land plan while the world was distracted by COVID—and forcefully protected the land that safeguards us. Unfortunately, bad actors have required punitive measures and cameras on public—not private—land to prevent cutting and poisoning.
I hope that we can let the incumbents continue their work to protect this essential natural asset.
Cammie Camp
Sullivan’s Island
tee to tell the current council they are doing a great job.
What the opponents should be discussing is protecting the maritime forest. Funny that this issue is not even on their agenda. After all, just four years ago, protecting our maritime forest was the No. 1 issue of the campaign. The lawsuit has raised its ugly head again, and I see absolutely no mention of it by the challengers. Perhaps they are OK with eliminating the forest.
In closing, I see absolutely no benefit to electing new candidates for the council. I only see divisiveness and lack of experience—exactly what we don’t need on Sullivan’s Island.
Remember, experience and knowledge matter! Vote for the incumbents on Nov. 4.
Linda Perkis
Sullivan’s Island
Shining a Spotlight on Autism in the Lowcountry:
Why the Lowcountry Autism Foundation Matters (and Why You Should Support Their Charleston Fundraiser)
By Sophia Townes
When a child is diagnosed with autism, families often face overwhelming hurdles—navigating services, insurance, and finding providers—all while balancing self-care. The Lowcountry Autism Foundation (LAF) helps clear those hurdles by offering free programs, advocacy, and vital community support across the Lowcountry.
With its upcoming LIVE, LAF, LOVE events in Charleston—a soirée and a golf tournament—the foundation invites the community to do more than attend a fundraiser. It’s an opportunity to strengthen local support networks and invest in families who often feel isolated or under-resourced.
What LAF Does
LAF is a local nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, serving communities from Charleston to Hilton Head. Since its founding, the organization has provided over $2 million in free services to more than 3,500 families.
Core programs include:
• Family Support Services: Helping families build a personalized roadmap of services and resources.
• Therapies & Enrichment: Providing art, music, equine, and social skills programs tailored to age and need.
• Support & Peer Groups: Creating space for connection and shared learning among caregivers.
• Water Safety Skills: Providing private water safety and survival skills to prevent drowning, the leading cause of death in autistic individuals 14 years old and under.
All programs are free of charge, filling a critical service gap in the region. Many families would otherwise have to travel far, pay privately, or go without.
Why This Fundraiser Matters
The LIVE, LAF, LOVE Charleston events sustain and expand LAF’s programs in under-resourced areas. Participation helps:
• Keep funds local to directly support Charleston families.
• Bridge service gaps in rural or underserved parts of the Lowcountry.
• Raise awareness and reduce stigma around autism.
• Sustain free programming for families who might otherwise go without.
• Build partnerships with local businesses and community leaders.
How to Get Involved
• Attend the Soirée on Nov. 2, 5–9 p.m., or the Golf Tournament on Nov. 3 at Daniel Island Club.
• Sponsor, volunteer, donate auction items, or spread the word.
• For more information, registration, or sponsorship inquiries, contact LAF at (843) 800-7171 or visit lafinc.org
34th Annual IOP Run for the Child Raises Record Funds for Local Child Abuse Prevention
VFW Auxiliary Post 3137 Recognizes Outpost at Isle of Palms Marina
with Americanism Award
By Pamela Marsh
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary Post 3137 on the Isle of Palms recently honored a local business with its Americanism Award, recognizing patriotism, veteran support, and the display of the U.S. flag during daily operations.
On Oct. 9, 2025, Americanism Committee co-chairs Lisa Lasko and Lindsey Heppler presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Outpost at the Isle of Palms Marina, located at 50 41st Street. The marina’s manager, Scott Toole, was joined by Will Richardson, director of marina operations, and Billy Brittelli, dockmaster, to accept the award.
The Outpost demonstrates strong community support in many ways. The business proudly flies the American flag over the marina, a task made possible with assistance from the Isle of Palms Fire Department, which provided a bucket truck to place the flag on an exceptionally tall pole.
The marina also supports local initiatives, including the IOP Connector Run for the Child, donations to the National Night Out auction, allowing Girl Scouts to sell cookies on the porch, and contributing gift cards to various community events.
In addition to his role at the marina, Scott Toole serves as president of the IOP Exchange Club and is a member of the IOP Chamber of Commerce.
“Congratulations to the Outpost for their commitment to Americanism and for their ongoing contributions to the community,” said the VFW Auxiliary.
By Christian Senger
The 34th annual 2025 Isle of Palms Run for the Child set a new record this year, drawing 2,500 runners — the largest turnout in the event’s history. Organizers expect to distribute about $200,000 to local child abuse prevention and awareness agencies, the most ever for the event, making this its most successful year to date.
Organizers credited participants, volunteers, and sponsors for helping reach this milestone.
The Run Beneficiary Celebration was held Thursday, Oct. 23, giving sponsors an opportunity to see how their support positively impacts the community.
The 2025 IOP Run for the Child beneficiaries include Darkness to Light, Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, My Sister’s House, HALOS, Young Moms Together, Windwood Farm & Family Services, Doors to Freedom, Lowcountry Orphan Relief, CAPA – Beaufort, Landmarks for Families, and the IOP Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Committee.
Deb Barr, liaison for the IOP Connector Run Child Abuse Prevention, co-chair of the event’s sponsorship committee, and chair of the IOP Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Committee, said she welcomes feedback from participants and sponsors to help improve future events.
For more information about the Run or the Beneficiary Celebration, contact Deb Barr at (206) 920-2773.
Scott Toole, marina manager, with members of the VFW Auxiliary of IOP
Papi’s Taqueria on Isle of Palms to Close After Eight Years
By Christian Senger
Papi’s Taqueria, a longtime Mexican restaurant on the Isle of Palms, has announced that its final day of business will be Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
The restaurant shared the news on social media, writing in part:
“After eight wonderful years on the Isle of Palms — years filled with laughter, late nights, (a little tequila), and countless memories — it’s time for us to close this chapter, and time for Papi’s Taqueria to say adios. This is a truly bittersweet goodbye as it carries both a heavy heart and a grateful smile. While it is hard to close this chapter, we do so with full hearts and deep gratitude.
To our loyal customers, regulars, locals, and tourists from all over that have spent a beach day on the IOP with a Margarita in their hands, THANK YOU for every visit, every smile, and every new friendship. We could not have done it without you.”
Papi’s also mentioned that a new concept will take over the space at 1012 Ocean Blvd.
“Though we’re sad to see our time here on Front Beach come to a close, we’re excited for what’s ahead for 1012 Ocean Blvd.,” the post continued. “Although we can’t reveal what’s coming next, believe us when we say that our baby is in very capable hands and there are great things to come.”
Papi’s Taqueria remains open until Nov. 2.
On Thursday, Sept. 25,
Quebec, mais oui!
By Carol Antman
After two short flights from Charleston, Mark and I felt like we’d arrived in Europe: Quebec. August is what frustrated Uber drivers call “orange cone season.” It’s the only time it’s warm enough for road repairs. For us, it was a month away from the Southern heat and a better time to visit than the frigid Canadian winter that requires crampons just to walk out the door and holing up in Montreal’s underground city.
There was a bit of culture shock. Everyone speaks French. Quebec has a larger percentage of native French speakers than Paris. Several residents we met were from North Africa and had immigrated under Canada’s Express Entry system, which benefits French speakers. I’ve been enjoying the Afro pop music they shared with me on Pandora. We wondered if we would have problems with the language, but most people spoke some English. We used Google Translate occasionally. Would we have problems with the politics? Not at all. Everyone was friendly in a reserved, big-city way. “They don’t resent people from the U.S.,” our Québécois friend Dawn told us. “They feel sorry for you.”
The cuisine is a main attraction. It ranges from the sublime (French tasting menus, magnificent pastries, soup-bowl-sized lattes, fabulous seafood and Asian cafés) to the ridiculous (a black slice of seal meat atop a quiche). There were plenty of pâtés and tartars. A radiant kaleidoscope of fresh produce at Montreal’s Jean Talon Market drew us to the strawberries, which we ate by the handful. We stocked up on cheeses and traveled to Île d’Orléans just for the goat milk ice cream. And then there’s the ubiquitous poutine—a mix of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy plus your choice of meats and vegetables. About 900 calories. We tried it once. That was enough. Everyone was outside enjoying the weather. I’d unknowingly booked a VRBO in Montreal’s gay neighborhood, and to add to the excitement, it was Pride Week. Along the pedestrian St. Catherine Street,
(Continued on page 36)
iteration of “Coffee with the Chiefs” was held at The Co-Op.
Photos Provided by Mike Walsh
LENS IOP Firefighter Appreciation Night 2.0
By IOP LENS Foundation
On a beautiful October evening, with stars and moon shining brightly, so did our host and guest bartender, Mayor Philip Pounds.
The IOP LENS Foundation hosted a Firefighters Appreciation Night Thursday, Oct. 23, at Islander 71 to honor local firefighters. Residents of all ages came out to enjoy the evening and meet some of the island’s first responders. Children enjoyed bubble activities and face painting, while music was provided by Rob. The event celebrated the dedication of public safety personnel, who are well deserving of praise.
Mayor Pounds served as guest bartender, mixing his signature margaritas and engaging in lively conversation with patrons.
The annual event, sponsored by LENS and hosted by Islander 71, is part of the foundation’s business revenue-sharing efforts, ensuring funds are available to support first responders’ needs. Programs include hardship assistance, scholarships, community initiatives, and morale-boosting activities. Businesses interested in partnering on future programs are encouraged to contact LENS.
Ted Kinghorn, “LENS Whisperer,” acknowledged the many sponsors and volunteers who help expand the foundation’s community efforts. “Once again, bringing residents of all ages together to share fun activities, good food, and entertainment to promote what is best about our island is very heartwarming,” he said.
For more information about LENS programs, visit lensiop.org or follow on Instagram.
By Mel Miles
The Family Vacation Rental Group (FVR) recently hosted its annual Fall First Responders Appreciation BBQ to recognize and celebrate the dedication and service of local police officers and firefighters who help protect residents, guests and homeowners.
Fire Chief Craig Oliverius expressed his gratitude, saying, “Your support through your actions and words speaks volumes, and it is appreciated more than you might imagine. We are proud to be your fire department, and we work to deliver elite levels of customer service to our residents, business owners and visitors.”
Police Chief Kevin Cornett added, “Thank you for thinking of us and sharing your support. We appreciate everything you do to back our public safety teams.”
The Family Vacation Rental Group is a subcommittee of the Isle of Palms Chamber of Commerce, comprised of 17 locally owned and professionally managed vacation rental companies. Representing approximately 80% of all professionally managed properties, the FVR is committed to fostering communication, cooperation and livability among residents, guests and property managers.
“Our mission is to be a responsible and caring
member of the Isle of Palms community,” said Mel Miles, co-chair of FVR. “We’ve worked hard to encourage our guests to be respectful neighbors — and our efforts are making a real difference.”
FVR’s commitment to community harmony is reflected in a significant drop in livability complaints. For the entire month of August — the peak of the summer season — short-term rentals accounted for only 20% (26 complaints) of all 135 livability complaints, while commercial (2 complaints) and residential properties (105 complaints) made up the remaining 80%.
Photos Provided by FVR
Keep
That Protects What Matters Most To Us The Team
Are you aware that?
• The Maritime Forest protections are under renewed attack — your Council is defending them.
• The Town’s budget is balanced every year — by law.
• Long-term debt is maintained at bargain (3.15%) interest rates, used only for capital projects like stormwater upgrades.
• Sullivan’s Island home values lead the state — #1 in SC and #18 nationally---proof of the value of our quality of life and strong governance
• Stormwater flooding-prevention projects are underway, funded largely by grants.
• You can track every dollar of the budget online via the Town’s Financial Transparency Center.
• You can get meeting alerts by text or email — sign up online.
• An engineering study is scheduled with Dominion Energy for guidance for moving toward burying powerlines.
Are you in favor of:
• Preserving the Maritime Forest and other natural areas with resident access
• Reducing flooding through stormwater infrastructure improvements
• Improving Stith Park, the heart of our community
• Recruiting and retaining experienced police, fire, and first responders
• Promoting civility and community respect
• Making thoughtful, fact-based decisions that prioritize outside funding
• Conducting the Town’s business in a professional, rational, respectful and intentional manner
Continued from page 32
we strolled past ethnic restaurants, patisseries and sex shops while outrageously dressed men competed in relay races, sang karaoke and played carnival games. Free condoms were handed out from a wheelbarrow. A man wearing only a Speedo and a dog mask sang to a boom box. But it wasn’t the only street scene in Montreal and Quebec City. Nearly every day brought another cultural festival—French, English, First Nation. There were free concerts and large music festivals. We watched fireworks from our rooftop and bought VIP tickets to see them up close with booming music accompaniment. Montreal is where Cirque du Soleil began as street buskers. We went to their big tent on the riverfront for their astonishing show Luzia. Daredevils juggling chainsaws and fire drew crowds on Quebec City’s waterfront every day.
We noticed a few cultural differences. Canada is larger than the United States, but the U.S. has eight times the population. “There aren’t as many people to choose from when you start dating,” Dawn told us. Families, as a result, are very diverse. At the English-language Morrin Centre, the director told us, “There is very little racial purity in Quebec.” Because every family has a mixture of ethnicities and lifestyles, the culture is more tolerant. Most bathrooms have private stalls but are coed. One that didn’t had a sign that read: Use whichever bathroom you’re most comfortable with. Dawn pointed out that abortion is legal but “a nonissue”; marijuana is legal “but nobody cares.” We also noticed that several taxes were added to every bill. But our walking tour guide highlighted the benefits: daycare that cost her $10 a day and a transportation system so convenient she’s never needed a car.
We also noticed how prominently First
Nation culture is celebrated. We were told that when the original inhabitants of Canada met the French, they thought the French were foolish for needing to write everything down when they had a rich oral tradition. We learned more at a festival, museum, multimedia show and nature walk. It impressed us that before any performance, the tribal land of that venue is acknowledged. Our days were filled with walking—lots of walking, especially in Quebec, where long staircases lead to the historic district. Along Montreal’s St. Lawrence Street we strolled through a series of ethnic neighborhoods and past the famous Schwartz’s Deli, where a line two blocks long waited for smoked meat sandwiches. Montreal’s botanical garden was preparing for its Garden of Light Festival, with ponds full of gigantic luminary animals. An excursion to the waterfalls at Montmorency was delightful, and a day at the Nordic spa was transcendent. We didn’t learn much French, but we did adopt a local custom: every day we sat in a charming café to enjoy a croissant and latte.
For hot links and more photos, see peaksandpotholes.blogspot.com
DOGESC to Introduce Judicial Reform Bill to Remove Legislative Control of South Carolina’s JMSC
By DOGESC
CHARLESTON, S.C. – DOGESC today announced its first legislative initiative under the Palmetto Revolution: Covenant 250 — a bold judicial reform effort aimed at redefining how judges are selected and ending legislative domination of the state judiciary.
“Restoring the separation of powers and checks and balances that our founders fought and died for is foundational to the Palmetto Revolution. If our founders were ready to die for it, we should be ready to fight for it,” said Rom Reddy, founder of DOGESC.
Under current law, South Carolina is one of only two states in which all judges — from the Supreme Court down to family and trial courts — are effectively appointed and reappointed by the Legislature via the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC). The JMSC is a 12-member body, many of whom are themselves legislators or appointed by legislative leaders, that screens and recommends judicial candidates to the General Assembly.
This system violates the constitutional separation of powers, creates clear conflicts of interest, and undermines judicial independence.
The DOGESC bill proposes to:
• Remove all legislative control over the JMSC and transfer authority to the executive branch.
• Allow the governor to appoint the 12 JMSC members (which may include law enforcement officials).
• Require the JMSC to recommend judicial nominees to the General Assembly, which may confirm them by simple majority vote.
• Ensure that under this plan, the governor does not directly choose judges but appoints the members who evaluate them.
• Restore checks and balances and prevent a small cadre of legislator-lawyers from continuing to dominate judicial selection.
The bill is being sponsored in the House of Representatives by Speaker of the House Murrell Smith and Reps. Gil Gatch, Jordan Pace, Gary Brewer, April Cromer, Brandon Guffey, Brandon Newton, Heath Sessions and Joe White.
It is being sponsored in the state Senate by Sens. Wes Climer, Michael Johnson, Sean Bennett, J.D. Chaplin, Tom Davis, Stephen Goldfinch, Larry Grooms, Carlisle Kennedy, Josh Kimbrell, Everette Stubbs, Rex Rice and Ross Turner.
“Every South Carolinian deserves equal justice under the law, but rampant conflicts of interest and legislative dominance of the judiciary deny us that bedrock American principle of justice,” said Sen. Climer.
Sen. Michael Johnson said, “The Legislature
should never control the judges who interpret our laws. This reform reclaims the separation of powers our founders intended and puts South Carolina one step closer to a government that serves the people, not itself.”
Rep. Gatch added, “South Carolina has a chance to do something lasting — to restore trust by reforming the way we choose our judges.”
“The way judges are selected in our state is unquestionably skewed in favor of powerful lawyer-legislators. This unfair system has been abused over and over. It’s time to put an end to it by giving the executive branch of our government — the governor — equal standing with the Legislature when it comes to choosing judges,” said Rep. Jordan Pace.
Reddy added, “I am especially proud of leaders like Speaker Smith, Freedom Caucus leader Pace and Sen. Climer, who were willing to come together on a bill to restore the dream our founders handed us — to uphold a constitutional oath that calls for a strong, self-governing citizenry with divided, co-equal branches of government that exist at the consent of the governed. Our sponsors deserve all the credit.”
DOGESC intends to partner with legislators, stakeholders and citizens to co-sponsor and advance the bill through both houses during the upcoming legislative session.
The McConnell Foundation’s Gala Raises $100,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research
By Jen McConnell
The McConnell Foundation announced today that its fourth annual Shining Stars Gala raised $100,000 to advance pediatric cancer research. The evening’s fundraising efforts will support a pediatric cancer research lab led by Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka, DO, at the Medical University of South Carolina.
The gala, held at Wild Dunes’ Sweetgrass Inn, featured moving personal moments, spirited live and silent auctions, and recognition of top community sponsors whose generosity helped the event reach its fundraising goal.
“Private philanthropy like this gala is essential to sustaining innovative pediatric cancer research,” Kraveka said. “Our pediatric cancer research lab is funded entirely through private donors and fundraisers, making this kind of community support vital to advancing life-saving discoveries for children battling cancer.”
Reddy. The heartfelt gesture served as a powerful reminder of the mission at the center of the gala and the community behind it.
“As beautiful as the evening was, it’s the meaning behind it that stays with me,” said Jen McConnell, co-founder of The McConnell Foundation. “The children battling this disease are the heartbeat of this gala. They are the reason we pour our hearts into it year after year—to create change, to fuel the research that will lead to better treatments, and to bring hope to current patients fighting cancer and to future children who will one day benefit from the discoveries being made today.”
The focal point of the night honored Cole Henderson, this year’s Shining Star—a designation The McConnell Foundation created to recognize a child and their family who have received cancer treatment. Though Cole passed away in 2021, his family shared how his courage and legacy continue to inspire action for other children battling cancer.
In a special acknowledgment, The McConnell Foundation presented custom T-shirts—decorated by children currently undergoing treatment at MUSC—to its top “Constellation Champion” sponsors: John and Carol Bogosian, First Financial Group, McConnell Real Estate Partners, Naramore Construction / Island Home Management, and Rom and Renee
Zoning
Continued from page 35
density and overall lot coverage—setbacks, aesthetics and context, and materials, façade design and overall architectural style.”
The challenges Hart sees for the Isle of Palms include managing development, environmental concerns, infrastructure strain and lot sizes.
When it comes to managing development, she said, “It’s all about control of density—balancing the needs of property owners with public concerns about growth, strain on infrastructure and maintaining the community’s character. This includes maintaining a certain aesthetic and lifestyle while facing pressures for more development or changes that could alter the character.”
Regarding environmental concerns, Hart said, “Islands are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors like coastal erosion and sea level rise, which require zoning regulations that promote resilience and manage development in vulnerable areas. Increased flooding and the impacts of sea level rise influence where and how development can occur.”
Infrastructure strain, she noted, results from increased development that can quickly overburden existing systems such as roads, water and waste management, making infrastructure upgrades a significant challenge.
As for lot sizes, Hart said the majority of lots on the Isle of Palms are small, which makes the code complex and restrictive. “People are paying a premium when they purchase these properties, so they want to build to the absolute limits,” she added.
Hart also cited interpreting regulations and public opposition as ongoing challenges.
“In interpreting regulations, zoning laws are very intricate, but each project and application is different,” she said. “They must be applied to diverse, often unique situations that require a deep understanding and careful interpretation.”
The evening’s live and silent auctions showcased sought-after local experiences and packages, fueling friendly competition and record-breaking fund-the-need donations. Guests mingled over gourmet buffet stations and signature cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Grain & Barrel Bourbon, ending the night with a whimsical popcorn treat from Holy City Popcorn.
“Only 4% of federal cancer research funding goes to pediatric cancers. Children deserve better,” said Josh McConnell, co-founder of The McConnell Foundation.
The McConnell Foundation is a family-led nonprofit that works to fill that gap—funding research that could lead to new treatments, less toxic protocols and, ultimately, more survivorship stories. With this year’s results, the foundation has now contributed nearly $275,000 to MUSC’s research since launching the Shining Stars Gala in 2022, continuing its commitment to fund lifesaving research in South Carolina and beyond.
Looking ahead, Hart said she expects legal and jurisdictional complexities, infrastructure strain and climate change to be key issues for the island.
“I believe we will see an overlapping of authorities between local, state and federal agencies as it relates to development near the coastline,” she said. “As sea levels rise, low-lying coastal areas will become permanently inundated or experience more frequent flooding. We may have to look at stricter building codes, such as elevating homes or using flood-resistant materials. When it comes to infrastructure, we are already seeing the heavy burden of increased development on fragile island infrastructure, including roads, water systems and waste management. Zoning decisions will need to be coordinated with infrastructure planning to prevent overdevelopment that exceeds the island’s capacity.”
Hart said she has enjoyed working with other city staff members and encourages residents to reach out with any concerns.
“The team at IOP is very small but efficient,” she said. “The different departments are responsive, professional and effective in the community’s growth and development. To all residents, please make an effort to visit the local government or county website for accurate information and updates on zoning matters. If you are having any issues or concerns that affect our community and the environment, please feel free to come into our office and speak directly to one of our staff, and we will be happy to assist you.”
She concluded by saying that the Isle of Palms is now her community as well, which gives her a personal investment in protecting it.
“The health, safety and welfare of the residents here have become a responsibility of my own,” she said. “I am committed to managing land use, overseeing permits and ensuring compliance with local and state zoning laws.”
The Maritime Forest IS on the Ballot
The incumbents up for re-election have already
Julia & Norman Khoury
Rob & Karen Byko
Howard & Joy Holl
Barbra Makie
Buddy Inabinet
Billy Want
Bunky Wichmann
Carl Hubbard
Michael Culler
Jody Latham
Gail Culler
Ned Higgins
Polly Wurthman
Dan Krosse
Dean Kilpatrick
Sarah Harper
Beverly Bohan
Frank & Lynnie Harper
Peggy Schachte
Susan Middaugh
Hal Currey
Mark Howard
Libby Riddle
Linda Perkis
Anna Lynch
Debbie Hazen Martin
Pat Votava
Sam Ratner
Elizabeth Tezza
Larry & Susan Kobrovsky
Mary Lou Shoemaker
Ben & Penn Hagood
Anne Kilpatrick
Lori Venn
Caroline Rion
Bryan Wingard
LEADERSHIP
Cathy Curtis Garth Lynch
Cammie Camp
Rita & Milton Langley
Roy & Kelsey Willey
Roslyn Barkowitz
Tim Emrich
Katy Anderson
Anne Bozzelli
Courtney Somers
Tommy Somers
Eva Stratos
Milton Stratos
Sid & Debbie Glasgow
Paul & Andi Stephenson
Glenn & Marie Cunningham
Georges Mahama
Michael Scruggs & Julie Harris
Mary Lou Shoemaker
JoAnn Cole
Hellen & James Elliott
Lisa & Matthew Crow
Cathy Curtis
Beth Booth
David Clark
Melinda Clark
Christy Greene
Scott Greene
Michael Noll
Sydney Langley
Jill Nguyen
Vuong Nguyen
Howard Rudd
Vicki Rudd
Cyndy Ewing
Maritime Forest
Continued from page 14
island’s first military fortification. It consisted of a 16-foot-thick palmetto cribbing filled with sand. During the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, the native sabal palmetto trees enabled Americans to fend off British warships, marking the first major victory of the American Revolution.
Sand and trees as protectors — that’s precisely the benefit provided by the maritime forest. Yet nature has a tendency to grow and change. That growth is at the root of the ongoing litigation. The appellants claim their property values have diminished because of the forest, yet a simple online search for homes along Atlantic Avenue fronting the maritime forest shows that the accretion is often listed as a positive feature, increasing privacy and protection while maintaining ocean views and access.
At the heart of this pending litigation is the notion that the Town of Sullivan’s Island is obligated to maintain the maritime forest vegetation — and that by not doing so, the town is in breach of contract. The most recent voided settlement spells out those obligations in detail. The original deed gives the town this power but does not obligate it.
Attorney for the plaintiffs, James Hood, said his clients “simply want the Town of Sullivan’s Island to do what it promised to do. Nothing more and nothing less.”
History of the litigation
After Hurricane Hugo ravaged the Charleston area and residents began to rebuild, the Town of Sullivan’s Island sought to protect the accreted land through a heavily restricted deed with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust. After watching a developer bulldoze accretion on Isle of Palms to make way for development, the town had the foresight to protect its own accreted land for residents’ safety as well as for its aesthetic, educational, and ecological value.
In 2010, homeowners Nathan and Ettaleah Bluestein, M.D., along with Theodore Albenesius III and Karen Albenesius, applied for a permit to cut down vegetation between their homes and the ocean. When they were denied, they sued the town (Bluestein v. Town of Sullivan’s Island). They argued that their property values were affected, that the forest was a nuisance harboring wild animals, and that their ocean views and breezes were obstructed. They pointed to the 1991 deed, claiming it required the town to keep the vegetation at the low-brush state that existed when the
Isle
of Palms
LENS
deed was enacted.
For a decade, the case went through several courts, including the South Carolina Supreme Court and the South Carolina Court of Appeals. In 2018, the Court of Appeals sided with the town. In 2020, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling and recommended further proceedings due to the “ambiguity” of the 1991 deed’s language regarding maintenance obligations. A settlement was reached that same year, with the town agreeing to selective trimming — provided the homeowners obtained necessary permits and funded the work.
A new Town Council was elected in 2021. In 2023, it challenged the 2020 settlement, and a circuit court judge ruled it unenforceable, stating that a previous Town Council cannot dictate what a future Council must do with its governmental powers under the deed.
This month, the 2023 reversal was appealed by Nathan Bluestein and Theodore Albenesius III. Ettaleah Bluestein, M.D., passed away in 2019, and Karen Albenesius has since divorced and is no longer a plaintiff.
At the Oct. 8, 2025, hearing before the South Carolina Court of Appeals, the appellants’ attorney, James Hood, described his response to the nullification of the 2020 settlement:
“I think it’s illogical, and I think a conclusion that determines that maintenance of your property as you’re obligated to do it by the restrictive covenants that you negotiated, put on it, and then purchased it back — if you can’t do that as part of your proprietary function, then you can’t put on restrictive covenants. You can’t put historic easements. You can’t encumber property in the future.”
In response, attorney for the town, Greenville-based lawyer William Wilkins, argued that the 2020 settlement was too restrictive on future Town Councils.
“This prior Council is attempting to dictate to future Councils how it must spend taxpayer dollars of some unspecified amount. Without question, this is impairment of governmental powers.”
Looking forward
In April 2024, the Town of Sullivan’s Island hired a director of resilience and natural resource management, Rebecca Fanning, to use evidence-based decision-making to advise on land management and lead community engagement events fostering appreciation for the island’s natural resources.
Fanning said her role’s creation “has been a tremendous step in the right direction toward evidence-based land stewardship practices tailored
to the unique challenges and opportunities of the barrier island environment.”
Sullivan’s Island is Fanning’s hometown, and she spent her childhood playing in the island’s maritime forest and forested batteries.
“I am uniquely aware of the forest succession that has taken place since the year Hugo hit,” Fanning said, “and the added value of those woods with their wonderful understories for providing forage and shelter for migratory warblers, nesting painted buntings, southern leopard frogs, fireflies, mosquito fish, praying mantises, and a host of other amazing creatures that call this place home.”
“Last year under my leadership,” she said, “several front beach homeowners pursued permits to remove more than 1,000 invasive popcorn trees from the maritime forest. Once the invasive removals were complete, I seeded the areas with beautiful saltmarsh mallow to suppress next year’s invasive reemergence, and a riot of pink blossoms emerged to greet the bumblebees that depend on native plant nectar and pollen to feed their young. We are only just getting that popcorn removal permitting process the attention it deserves, and I expect we will at least double that number this winter season.”
Town Administrator Joe Henderson said, “The town is committed to protecting its governmental powers by acting in the public interest on matters concerning the preservation and maintenance of the maritime forest now and in the future.”
At the Oct. 8, 2025, hearing, Wilkins also spoke about the validity of the 2020 agreement:
“This contract provides in perpetuity. It is to last forever, and that certainly is not a proprietary function that is appropriate. I might add that this contract says it is binding on the parties, their heirs, their successors and assigns, clearly making this a contract to last in perpetuity. The agreement also says it may not be modified or amended ‘except upon the mutual agreement of all parties and their authorized agents.’ This is clearly an attempt to give private citizens — the parties, their heirs, their successors and assigns and their authorized agents — the ability to veto any future act that any future Council wishes to take with regard to the accreted land.”
A land trust sign on the nature trail in the maritime forest claims this property at the heart of the lawsuit is “protected forever.” To many residents, it’s a promise of good stewardship for the future, but for a few, it’s a challenge — and a reminder that the fight continues.
The South Carolina Court of Appeals is expected to issue its decision by early 2026.
Foundation Makes Historic $15,000 Donation to Sullivans Island Elementary School
By Ted Kinghorn
The Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support (LENS) Foundation Isle of Palms presented a $15,000 donation to Sullivans Island Elementary School (SIES) on Monday, Sept. 15, marking the largest single grant the nonprofit has awarded to date.
The gift will support SIES fundraising initiatives, including plans for a new aquarium that will enhance student learning opportunities. The pre-K through fifth grade school has long been a valued partner of LENS, regularly hosting community events such as the Boating & Water Safety Program and the annual Bicycle Rodeo, both designed to promote safety and good citizenship among children.
“This donation is truly an investment in the future of our community,” said Ted Kinghorn, director of the LENS Foundation Isle of Palms. “Our mission has always been to support education and safety, and Sullivans Island Elementary embodies both. As a community representative on the School Improvement Committee for the past three years, I’ve seen firsthand the school’s dedication to preparing students not only academically but as responsible young citizens. Our board knew this was the right choice.”
SIES Principal Susan King expressed gratitude on behalf of the school community. “We are so appreciative of the LENS Foundation’s generosity,” she said. “This gift will directly benefit our students and enrich their educational experience. The support of local organizations like LENS helps us create opportunities for our children to thrive.”
They Talk. We Deliver.
They Say: Four years of closed doors | We Say: Four years of open access
•All 96 Town Council meetings and workshops over the past four years – Open to the residents – Advertised in advance – Streamed live and available online afterward
•100+ committee and special meetings – Also open to residents, advertised, streamed live, and recorded
•7 Council members handle 1,500+ emails per month – Covering resident concerns, town business, and community events
•Additionally – Instagram, Facebook, text, and email alerts – Mayor’s monthly reports in the Island Eye News – Monthly town newsletter
•Council members remain readily available to meet with residents or answer questions
They Say: Four years of wasteful, reckless spending We Say: Four years of exceptional financial management
•Complete financial accountability — budgets available online— Visit the Financial Transparency Center on the Town website
•Ended each of the past 3 budget years more than $500,000 in the black
•Earned $1.9 million in interest in wise use of the SC State Investment Pool
•Obtained $14 Million in grant funding for stormwater drainage projects
•Secured $38 million in long-term bonds at a low 3.17% interest rate to buy hurricane–resistant, 50-year upgrades of vital infrastructure
They Say: Four years of the same few voices deciding for everyone else We Say: Residents made their voices heard at the ballot box — and those voices continue to guide the work of Town Council. Expertise. Integrity. Proven
