Mayor's Message

Dear Island neighbors,
 
I hope you and your families had a fine Christmas and holiday season and are on your way to a healthy, happy and safe 2025.
 
With luck, those New Year’s resolutions are still alive and well, but if not, you can always add one more to the bottom of the list: If any of the ones above have been broken or bent, that is no excuse to drop them, just get back on track. Or, if need be, find the track.
 
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE RECAP
 The annual New Year’s Day Polar Plunge was again very well-attended by a large and motley and well-behaved crowd. The water was cold but it’s been a lot worse in some past years (uhh, it is a January 1 event), and the ambient temperature was enough above the water temp to allow for pleasant après-plunge hanging around.
 
As always, this was no holiday for our Fire, Police and Public Works staff and our Fire and Rescue volunteers, who made sure everyone stayed safe. Please remember to thank them when you get a chance.
 
Recalling that this is also a fundraiser for the SC Special Olympics, it’s not too late to make a donation. You can go to https://bit.ly/2025SIPolarPlunge .
 
SWEET FOLLOW-UP TO TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
On September 14th, there was a very serious motorcycle vs car crash on Jasper Boulevard. Upon the initial response of Police and the Fire Dept, the motorcyclist was conscious but in critical condition. While awaiting the arrival of EMS he went into cardiac arrest. The Fire Department personnel immediately initiated CPR. The motorcyclist was revived and was transported to MUSC.
 
Fortunately, the motorcyclist, Army Lt. Abner Martinez, ultimately recovered and was released from the hospital. In a remarkable display of gratitude, he reached out to Division Chief Carl Fehr of the Charleston County EMS to request a time to meet with all the first responders involved with saving his life.  
 
Chief Fehr arranged for a ceremony to recognize those involved on December 20th in the Charleston County Council Chambers. Present to meet Lt. Martinez and his wife and daughter were a number of our fine first responders who assisted the victim. There were six members of our Sullivan’s Island Fire Department (Assistant Chief Amanda Hawver, Capt. Adam Ivan, Firefighter Paul Sottile, Firefighter Marc Micalizzi, Firefighter Lee Pearson and Volunteer Jeff Woodard) and four members of the Police Department (Deputy Chief Monty Anders, Sgt. Chris Wallace, Sgt. Elias Shaffer and PFC Tyler Mahon).
 
Importantly, the County EMS responders and the 911 dispatchers who handled the calls were also present and recognized. This was an opportunity to highlight the great interagency cooperation that Charleston County citizens enjoy every day to protect their safety. It is rare to have a chance to see all the individuals whose efforts are all critical to saving an individual’s life. Thanks to EMS Division Chief Fehrs for organizing this event.
 
Please see the Live5 News report of this heartwarming event at https://bit.ly/408DYzh
 
BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL TIME IMPENDS
Business license renewals were mailed to all active account holders on January 6th. Town staff will start accepting applications beginning February 1st. Renewals are due April 30th. Beginning May 1st there will be a 5% penalty fee added to your account for each month you are late.
 
DOG LICENSE RENEWAL TIME
It’s also time for the pooches to renew their licenses...or for their humans to do it on their behalf. The new license year began on January 1. You can get info here: https://sullivansisland.sc.gov/dog-licenses
 
BEACH RENEWAL PROJECT
You may have noticed the activity on the beach at and near Breach Inlet. This project by the Army Corps of Engineers was designed to bring well over 700,000 cubic yards of sand and related material (formerly dredged from the Intracoastal Waterway) to the Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms shores around Breach Inlet. They started with Sullivan’s Island and we will have received roughly 250,000 cubic yards before the contractor moves operations across the Inlet to IOP, hopefully around the end of the month.  
 
The Corps project entails pumping this material nearly three miles from spoil sites across the Waterway, and discharging it generally near the tide line. The Town has retained our own contractor to move much of it upward (landward) from there to further enhance the beach. That work will continue for a short while after the Corps project.
 
Our contractor will also move a very small portion of this material to Station 12 to shore up (sic) the eroding beach at Fort Moultrie. Some of that material will be expected to migrate down along the beach (toward the harbor end of the Island) through natural processes.
 
Finally, our contractor is moving about 50,000 cubic yards at the Inlet farther landward at Thompson Park, as a stockpile for future use.
 
See you around the Island!
 
Pat O’Neil
Mayor
843 670 9266
oneilp@sullivansisland.sc.gov
 

The New Engine Has Arrived!

This month the Sullivan's Island Fire and Rescue Department took possession of a new, custom designed pump engine. The 2024 E-One Typhoon Pumper, now Engine 1201, was designed specifically for use on Sullivan's Island with light-weight aluminum construction that will be more corrosive resistant in the salt air. Also, the electrical systems have been elevated from their normal position in the truck to accommodate high water transportation. An electric positive pressure ventilation fan was installed that is used for smoke extraction which helps increase visibility, lower the temperature, reduced the toxicity, and control the smoke movement during a fire.  The department is now using battery powered equipment when possible and the new engine was designed with cabinets fitted to hold battery powered equipment complete with chargers for the equipment. The engine has a 1,000 gallon water tank and a 1500 gallon per minute pump rate. Engine 1201 took 2 1/2 years to design and build.
 

On the evening of September 14, 2024, motorcyclist Lt Abner Martinez was involved in a major collision with a car on Jasper Blvd. Members of the Sullivan's Island Fire and Rescue and Police Department were first on the scene where they performed CPR and other life saving procedures to resuscitate and stabilize Lt Martinez so he could be transported downtown to MUSC. Months later on December 20th at a ceremony at Charleston County Council Chambers, Lt Martinez and his family thanked the Sullivan's Island first responders along with personnel from multiple other county and municipal departments who worked to save his life. Special thanks to all the Sullivan's Island personnel who worked to save Martinez including Fire Assistant Chief Amanda Hawver, Captain Adam Ivan, Firefighters Mark Micalizzi, Paul Sottile and Lee Pearson, Volunteer Jeff Woodard, Police Deputy Chief Monty Anders, Sergeants Elias Shaffer and Chris Wallace and Patrol Officer Tyler Mahon.

2025 Dog Licenses Available 
2056 Middle St



Final Presentation of the Stormwater Master Plan
January 28, 2025
6:00 pm
2056 Middle St

 
SI Business License Renewal
February 1, 2025
2056 Middle St

Stay current with the latest updates of Town projects on our website or follow the links below.

Stormwater Projects

• Stormwater Master Plan (FEMA BRIC BR-194-0008) 2020
• Island-Wide Stormwater Improvement: Basins at Station 16, 25, 28.5 and 31 (SCIIP- South Carolina Infrastructure and Investment Program)
• Station 18-19 Stormwater Improvements (FEMA 4241)
• Stormwater Outfall Improvements Station 19 & 25 (SCEMD 4492 COVID-19)

Historic Preservation Projects

• Historic Resource Survey Update
• Historic District Design Guidelines Consultant

Recreation Projects

• Battery Logan Rehabilitation and Vegetation Management
• Cove Inlet Bridge Renovation
• Master Plan for Stith Park
• Nature Trail Phase II: Trail Construction Services
• Nature Trail Phase II: Boardwalk and Ramp Construction
• Interior Demolition for Old Town Hall Building

Resilience and Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan

• Beach and Dune Restoration- Breach Inlet USACE Supplemental Project
• Resilience and Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan
• Accreted Land Management Plan

Join Council in congratulating those employees who celebrated employment milestones with the Town during the month of September! Thank you for all of your hard work keeping our Sullivan's Island awesome!

Nehemiah Clarke
Code Enforcement, 4 Years on 01/25/2025

Originally from Jamaica, Nehemiah transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to work for Raytheon Engineering Company. Eventually he relocated to this area to work for BP Amoco Refinery in Wando, SC as an accounting manager. He also has experience with the City of Charleston Police Department as a Code Enforcement Officer. You can reach Nehemiah at nclarke@sullivansisland.sc.gov.

 
Tommy Rabey
Water Distribution System Lead Operator, 1 Year on 01/01/2025

Tommy has been with SIWSD since January 2024. He currently holds an A Water Treatment License and an A Water Distribution License. You can reach him at 843-883-5749 or email at trabey@sullivansisland.sc.gov

Council Meeting
Stormwater Master Plan Seamon Whiteside and Associates
Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Water and Sewer Meeting
Thursday, January 30 at 9:15 - 10:00 am

Public Facilities Meeting
Thursday, January 30 at 10:30 am

Historic District Review Guidelines, Thomason and Associates 
Presentation and Open House
Tuesday, February 18, 2025- 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Snow on Sullivan's Island

  What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
~John Steinbeck