Parking decals for renters
By Lauren Dean
Mayor Carl Beckmann has taken full responsibility for the recent problems experienced by Folly Beach renters who were unable to obtain parking decals. “I jumped the gun,” he said, referring to a letter that was sent to residents indicating that only property owners would receive decals this year.
The letter was written by Buddy Maupin, manager of City of Folly Beach Parking Authority, but Beckmann said he did edit it before it went out. “I knew what I was trying to say,” he said, admitting that it apparently did not come out like he meant for it to. According to Beckmann, his intention was to make sure that property owners received the decals because they are the ones who pay taxes. He said it would then be up to the owners of the property to give the parking stickers to their tenants.
Beckmann said City Council had been talking about how to manage the decal issue, which was getting out of hand, according to Beckmann. He said that he and the parking manager had looked at some figures and there were more stickers issued than there were residents on Folly Beach.
“We had people with stickers who live on James Island who were coming to the washout to surf,” he said, adding that he felt it was unfair for Folly residents to have to compete for parking spaces with people who don’t live on the island.
Beckmann said he was not aware until the February 23 City Council meeting that anyone had been denied a parking permit. He said renters have been getting decals and that those who couldn’t get them “didn’t check, didn’t call” about it.
Beckmann said a mass mailing would go out to all postal box holders within the week explaining the procedures involved in order for renters to obtain the decals. He said they must produce two documents proving that they live at Folly Beach. Acceptable documents include a driver’s license showing a Folly Beach address, a Voter’s registration showing a Folly Beach address, a lease indicating the tenant will be a resident through the end of 2010, or a letter from the owner of the property stating that the renter has permission to live at that address and will reside there through the end of 2010. The deadline for getting parking decals is April 30, according to Beckmann.
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