Since May 2007 PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON SC PERMIT NO 137 POSTAL PATRON
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 24
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FEBRUARY 21, 2025
S TAT E L AW A D D S N E W PROVISION TO GRANT GUIDELINES BY THERESA STRATFORD
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For The Island Connection
ayor Bruce Kleinman expressed some disappointment in the new state registration requirements needed for the Community Promotion Grants and the Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grants. The organizations are now required to prove appropriate registration. Kleinman said that South Carolina now requires it under state law. Town Council had to approve the new language in the January 28 Town Council meeting. The new provision in the grants guidelines reads: “Pursuant to the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act (S.C. Code of Laws Title 33, Chapter 56), all charitable organizations that solicit contributions or have contributions solicited on their behalf must register with the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office on an annual basis unless they fall under one of the statutory exemptions. Applicants must provide a copy of their current registration or exemption with their application.” Three other provisions for grants are: 1. Is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of (continued on page 2)
The Beauty of Seabrook Time to Increase the EV Island at Sundown
Charging Rate BY THERESA STRATFORD
A
For The Island Connection
s promised at the end of July 2024, Seabrook Island Council decided to reassess the rates at the beginning of the year for the EV chargers at Town Hall. Toward the end of the summer last year, the Town set the EV charging rate at cost plus 17.65%. At that time, Seabrook Island Town Administrator Joe Cronin just wanted to recoup the cost of electricity. That meant that they would be breaking even at 85% X 1.1765, which equals 100%. It was also back at the end of July last year that Cronin suggested that Town Council reassess the rate, possibly every six months. They decided to reassess it at the beginning of 2025. So, here we are at the beginning of 2025. Cronin presented some stats on the EV chargers. “Once the EV chargers went live, we were pretty much out of the peak tourism season,” Cronin said. He reported that since the end of July 2024, there were 55 individual users, and the average duration of charging was three hours and 50 minutes. The Town brought in $443 during this period of time from the EV chargers. Since Town Council spoke about bringing in some maintenance cost for the EV chargers, Cronin presented how the Town could accrue a bit more of a profit without increasing the rate too much over the current 18 cents per kilowatt hour, which only covers the town’s electricity to run the EV chargers. To accrue some of the cost for maintenance, Cronin said that Town staff suggests 25 cents per kilowatt hour, (continued on page 3) which covers the town’s cost for electricity, plus
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