PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 137 POSTAL PATRON
Since May 2005 • Volume 20 • Issue 1 • IslandEyeNews.com
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April 19, 2024
Dispute between town and water system continues By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News Sullivan’s Island Town Administrator Andy Benke recently sent a check for more than $200,000 to the Charleston Water System in an effort to solve a dispute between the two entities, but, unless the town comes up with another $850,000 or so before July 20, CWS has threatened to cut off the town’s water supply. At an April 1 meeting, the Sullivan’s Island Town Council voted to approve a payment of $227,381.92 to the water system, a figure determined by water utility rate consultant Raftelis, based on a 1994 contract between CWS and the town. Benke said the check was mailed, but, as of April 11, there was no word from CVS and no indication the check had been cashed. CWS CEO Mark Cline insists that the town of Sullivan’s Island owes the water system $1.078 million, a difference of $850,618.08. Since they are still trying to solve this issue through mediation, neither side is saying much, though both the water system and the town released statements regarding the disputed terms of the 1994 contract. “Charleston Water System does not agree with the town of Sullivan’s Island’s viewpoint or its recollection of the historical facts,” Cline said in a
statement released by the water system. “We fully intend to discontinue the town’s water service July 20 unless their past due amount is fully paid and they have entered into a new contract that appropriately covers the costs of providing water service to their community. It’s not fair that our other customers have been subsidizing the town’s service for years now.” “Charleston Water System wants the town to ignore the terms of the signed agreement we entered into almost 30 years ago, after Hurricane Hugo devastated our independent deep water well system,” Sullivan’s Island Mayor Pat O’Neil said in his own statement, (Continued on page 9)
SI might consider taking its power underground By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News The Sullivan’s Island Town Council’s Public Facilities Committee will ask Dominion Energy to send a representative to its next meeting to discuss the possibility of burying some or all of the electric company’s power lines. Committee members discussed putting the lines underground at their April 9 meeting, held after several local residents voiced their displeasure with the way the town’s trees were trimmed so their branches wouldn’t interfere with the electrical lines. Deputy Town Administrator Joe Henderson said Dominion is compiling “some very rough estimates” concerning what it would cost to bury the lines. He pointed out that when the town considered this option in 2019, the estimated cost of completing an engineering study of the pro(Continued on page 5) posed project was between $150,000 and $180,000.
Celebrating Earth Day Sullivan’s Island event promises something for everyone
Photo by Rob Byko.
Kelly Fosberry, left, painted faces at last year’s Sullivan’s Island Earth Day. This year, the annual event, featuring something for everyone, is scheduled for April 27 in front of the Poe Library.
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Noise issues and more Page 2
By Dan Krosse For The Island Eye News It’s an island mystery. What creatures from the South Carolina Aquarium are coming to Sullivan’s Island on April 27? Starfish? Snakes? Sharks? Definitely not a shark, but you will have to join the fun at Sullivan’s Island Earth Day 2024 to find out for sure. Taking place in front of Poe Library – 1921 I’On Ave. – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Earth Day celebration is designed for all ages and is a free event organized by Sullivan’s Island For All, a local organization dedicated to sharing the wonders of the island’s very own Maritime Forest. “We want everyone on the island and beyond to come see how the Maritime Forest fits into the bigger environmental picture,” said SI For All President Karen Byko. “Every experience at the event is centered around nature and conservation.” (Continued on page 5)
A dignified retirement Page 14
Surf bathing on Sulllivan’s Page 17