Dear Island Neighbors,

I’m proud to inform you that Phase 2 of our nature trail in the protected land is now open! It runs through the land from the Station 16 beach path to the Station 18 ½ (lighthouse) path. It offers some views of that Town land that you may not have caught before. Check it out!

Thanks to Town Administrator Joe Henderson, Director of Resilience and Natural Resources Rebecca Fanning and former Town Administrator Andy Benke for their leadership on this project through all its twists and turns, and thanks to the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for their financial support.

At the same time we cut the ribbon on this new trail, we dedicated the first nature trail to Islanders Susan Middaugh and her late husband Larry. Over many years, both have contributed greatly to the protection and appreciation of the wonderful natural resources we enjoy here. The trail starts and ends on the Station 16 path, running a circuitous loop that takes you through a variety of habitats.

If you’ve only seen the protected land from the beach or while heading to the beach, these two trails may give you a new appreciation of this rare resource.

Beyond that, this month’s theme is WATER!

WATER: THE BILL
I always find it a charming Island note that we still have, and people use, a drop box in front of Town Hall where you can deposit your check to pay your water bill. Please keep it up!

However, I know that this system doesn’t work for everyone...for example, people like me who can’t be counted on to reliably open their postal mail or email, write checks and take them down to the drop box (or put them in the mail)... on time.

For folks such as me...and maybe you, there is a solution: Autodraft payments, where your monthly bill’s amount due is automatically withdrawn from your checking account, with no need to open your bill, write a check, find an envelope, and find a stamp or take it to the drop box. (Oh, the horror!)

You will still get a bill in the medium of your choosing, paper or electronic, so you stay on top of your usage and costs.

To set up your autodraft payment, contact Mary Poole, our Administrative Specialist who handles water and sewer billing. You can call her at 843 883 5733 or email her at mpoole@sullivansisland.sc.gov.

WATER: THE PAST
You know that your water bill (paper or online) compares your monthly usage with the same month of the prior year. But suppose you want to go farther back?

Mary advises that you can access your water usage information going back as many as 15 years! Just go to https://bit.ly/SIWDHistory. You’ll need your account number (upper right hand of your bill). Enter it in the appropriate box and hit Search. Then click “View Additional Account Information”, and when you get to that page scroll way down to get the record of your monthly usage amounts, in a table or (farther down) a line graph showing your entire usage history at a glance.

WATER: THE FUTURE
As we are all aware, because of numerous factors, the waters that surround us (AKA Sea Level) are rising. You may recall that we have had a long-standing project, funded largely by a federal grant program, to guide us in developing a master plan to halp us become more resilient to sea level rise. The presentation of the final draft of our consultants on this project unfortunately had to be rescheduled previously. It is now scheduled for the meeting of our Planning Commission at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14, with an open house immediately after the meeting. Please come out to learn more! Note:This is different from the stormwater management plan that was presented recently.

In the same vein, we know that parts of the Island, especially the back beach side, will continue to be affected by more frequent and more severe episodes of salt water tidal flooding. (Remember December 17, 2023??)

As a demonstration project for landscaping plans that can survive such events, Rebecca Fanning has established a model garden of salt-tolerant plants in our conservation-protected “Old Dump” site on the marsh at Station 19. Check it out when you can.

See you around the Island!

Pat O’Neil
Mayor
843 670 9266
oneilp@sullivansisland.sc.gov