Folly Beach Mayor, Tim Goodwin

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Beginning July 1, yard debris cannot be placed in plastic bags due to a directive from Charleston County. Charleston County is prohibiting the use due to County personnel having to remove the plastic manually from composted yard waste, and the process is very labor intensive. The City is looking at several options and when we find an option that is best for our community, I will let you know.

Our new Director of Public Safety’s first day is Tuesday, March 29. We are excited about his acceptance and are looking forward to the Chief joining our team. As I stated in my prior letter, the city will have a “Meet and Greet” for the public to meet the new Chief. Be on the lookout for the date and time, we will make sure the notice is put in several places so you won’t miss it.

I also talked about Ordinance No. 06-11 in my last letter, which caused quite a bit of consternation for owners of rental property. The prior ordinance read that owners of rental properties could not pull a permit or perform work on said properties; it had to be done by Residential Specialty Contractors, even work of a non-structural nature. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Our Building Official, Eric Lutz, had a teleconference which lasted over an hour with one of the officials from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations (LLR). After going over the ordinance and telling the gentleman from LLR what issues he had encountered with members of the public, the Building Official was advised he could have some discretion administering this section of the code. With that being said, Ordinance No. 06-11 has now been amended to allow owners of rental properties to pull permits and conduct the following work as an exception to Title 40, Chapter 59, Section 40-59-260 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina: 1)Floor Covering, 2)Painting/Caulking & Wall Papering, 3)Drywall Repairs, 4)Replacing Screens/Screen Doors, 5)Pressure Washing and routine interior and exterior cleaning. If you have any questions, call Eric Lutz at 513-1838 or contact him via email at elutz@cityoffollybeach.com .

The City Council and I adopted amended rules and regulations for Folly River Park on March 22. The prior rules were adopted several years ago and were seriously outdated. The new amended version will be in effect on July 1, 2011. You may pick up a copy from City Hall or download it from the web site. Also adopted was a new ordinance pertaining to individuals or organizations who wish to use public property such as the beach, streets, parks, and/or community center, or any other public building for special events, i.e., festivals, parties, parades, etc. The ordinance states the process which must be followed in order for an event to be approved by City Council.

With 80 degree weather returning, the beach crowd is beginning it trek to Folly. Public Safety will have one of the PSOs or someone trained to operate the red light out controlling the traffic and hopefully it will help as much as it did last year. We continue to look for individuals who would like to be a part of the civilian beach patrol to assist with picking up trash from the beach and educating our visitors. If you are interested in either volunteering or working part-time, please pick up an application from City Hall or go to the city’s web site, www.cityoffollybeach.com, and download an application.

Remember, our community is what we make it so let’s do our part and make it all it can be. If you have any concerns or questions, please call me at 513-1835 or e-mail me at tgoodwin@cityoffollybeach.com.

Sincerely,

Tim Goodwin,
Mayor

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The City of Folly Beach is beginning preparations for the Christmas season. In my previous letter I had mentioned some important dates for all Folly residents, as follows: The Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at Folly River Park on December 1 at 7 p.m.; The Children’s Christmas festival will held at Folly River Park on December 10 at 6 p.m.; and the Christmas Parade will start at 1 p.m on December 11 and will take place along Center Street.

This is the time of the year when “good will” toward others and mending fences really puts our hearts in the holiday mode. We all have our opinions, as it should be; however, let’s put difference of opinion aside and concentrate on coming together to celebrate this holiday season.

Council recently has been addressing the Civilian Beach Patrol which has resulted in a lot of input from the public, which is very much welcomed. Decisions made when taking public input into consideration brings forth a better outcome. The majority of the comments seemed to be whether or not city funds should be used to continue this program during the winter months. There have been concerns expressed on both sides of the issue, and a lot of misunderstanding regarding the intent of the administration and council as to the future of this program. Neither administration nor council intended for the Civilian Beach Patrol program to be terminated. The program was only suspended for a short period of time for a couple of reasons, the first being that the program was suppose to end on September 30, and the second being the need for council to hold work sessions to address the three components of the program: the Civilian Beach Patrol, Volunteer Program, and Public Safety’s Beach Enforcement program. With the economy in its present condition and the possibility of the State turning over control of our local hospitality tax, which funds this program, to a Governor’s Tourism Committee in Columbia thereby reducing the amount Folly would receive, it is important to blend these three components into one program. The City can then use the funds in a way that will most benefit this community. A work session to address the Beach Management Program, which includes the Civilian Beach Patrol, has been scheduled for December 7, 2010. The work session is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. The council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with Council going into Executive Session at 6:05 p.m.

In January of this year, I introduced a resolution which council approved whereby citizens who are 65 years or older and reside full time on Folly, are on a fixed income, and who own the property in which they live, are entitled to one free 90-gallon roll cart (garbage can). All you have to do is come into City Hall and talk to Marlene Estridge, Vivian Browning, or Steve Robinson.

Also, if you have not gone on the city’s web site to register your cell phone and e-mail address, please do so at your earliest convenience. The city’s web site is www.cityoffollybeach.com. Click on “Outbound 9-1-1” on the home page and follow the directions given. This ensures any message the city considers important will be sent to you. If the city is able to get the majority of e-mail addresses of our citizens, we will have the ability to send surveys so we, Mayor and City Council, will know your opinion on issues which could affect you.

At the council meeting on December 7, 2010, one of the components of the Beach Management Plan, as mentioned above, is the Volunteer Program which includes several categories, such as beach patrol, clerical, homeland security, and others. If you feel you have would like to contribute your time and give something to your community, call Marlene Estridge or Vivian Browning at 513-1830 and give your name and telephone number. Richard E. Byrd, the first man to fly over the North & South Poles, said that, “Few men during their lifetime come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.”

With our economy still in a state of decline, we, Mayor and Council, have committed to establishing a new normal of government spending. To achieve a new normal of government spending takes a balancing act because we have to make sure we are not overspending while also making sure we are not overcutting. The City’s savings (or reserves) are in outstanding shape while still maintaining the required $1M in the fund balance. However, the city cannot rest on its laurels; it still has to take necessary steps to ensure this city will be financially healthy, quality services will continue to be provided, natural resources protected, beaches renourished and the Folly Beach atmosphere left unblemished.

The New Year, 2011, is fast approaching and will bring many changes. Whatever it brings, I wish for each of you and your family a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Tim Goodwin
Mayor

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We are entering into our Holiday Season with all the celebrations that come with it. The Holiday Season is my favorite because it seems to bring out the best in all of us. Peace on earth and good will to all seem to be the creed by which we live during this time more than any other. During this time the City brings many events to celebrate the season. Kick off begins with the Turkey Shoot scheduled for the following dates to begin at 7:00 p.m.:

Turkey Shoot: October 29 & 30, November 5 & 6, 12 &13, 19 & 20, and 22 to 24, starting at 7 p.m. at Folly River Park.

The Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on December 1 at 7 p.m. at Folly River Park, and Children’s Christmas with Santa is December 10 at Folly River Park, starting at 6 p.m. Finally, the Christmas Parade* will be held on December 11 at 1 p.m. in a march down Center Street.

*Participants in the Christmas Parade can begin showing up any time after 11:00 a.m. to begin lining up for the parade. I am proud to say Folly’s parade is one of the best around. The City usually has over 110 groups participating. Trophies are given for different categories, including Best Golf Cart; Best Alternative Transportation. There will also be monetary awards given for various things. If you are interested in being in the Folly Christmas Parade, call Mary Cunningham who facilitates this event at 708-1113.

One of the events you want to make sure to attend is the Children’s Christmas. It has been a Folly Beach tradition for about 50 years with Marlene Estridge being the Head Elf for over 30 years, and Toni Connor-Rooks as the Assistant Head Elf for about 14 of the 30 years. The City is also fortunate to have Charlotte Goodwin, Pauline Rey and Paula Hinton. This event is a wonderful experience for children and parents, alike. Watching the children as Santa comes in on the fire truck with sirens blasting is one of the most wonderful experiences of the Christmas season. I urge all the families on Folly Beach to come to Folly River Park on December 10 at 6 p.m. and enjoy this wonderful occasion. The Park will be filled with wonderful lighted Christmas images for all to enjoy with Santa sitting under the Pavilion for the children to visit. As usual, Santa Claus will be handing out Christmas stockings filled with candy, fruit, and a gift for all the children. Be sure to bring your camera to capture this occasion.

Recently, City Council adopted an ordinance which requires seasonal rentals to fill out a Rental Registration form at the time they renew or apply for a 2011 Business License. Those affected will receive notification by the way of a letter explaining the process. The ordinance simply requires an agent in charge to be listed and requires all owners and or agents of seasonal rentals to post Folly’s rules and regulations. The Agent does not have to be a Real Estate Agent.

I have recently met with Chief Boatwright regarding a Community Policing Program which will be put in place in the very near future. There are many components to this program with all being good for our community. Any suggestions you may have for this program, please e-mail me at tgoodwin@cityoffollybeach.com or call at 513-1835. This will be a positive move toward Public Safety and our citizens forming a bond and working together for a better community.

The City has been fortunate in the past to have tourism funds, accommodation and hospitality taxes, to fund different things which benefit the city and which would otherwise be paid through property taxes or other funds. For example, renourishment in the amount of $150,000 annually is one of the needed items funded with these taxes. Also funded are the following: a portion of the Fire Program, Beach Management which includes the Civilian Beach Patrol, repair of walkovers, putting up sandfencing, and other important items. However, recently we were advised that the Tax Realignment Commission has been given a proposal from the Accommodation and Hospitality Tax Sub-Committee. If this proposal goes into effect, the City would lose the 65% A-Tax Discretionary Funds which helps fund Sea ‘n Sand, Folly Palooza, the Arts Festival, Tides of March, surfing events, etc. In addition, the proposal the Governor’s appointed Board called the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee (TERC) located in Columbia will be given oversight of the city’s local accommodation and hospitality taxes. We will have to have their approval before funds can be spent and they will be given a management fee out of the funds. Now is the time Folly needs to pull together and contact your representatives in Columbia or the Charleston County Legislative Delegation and ask them to stop this proposal. The contact information can be obtained either through the web site or call Robin at 513-1837 or Mary at 513-1836 for the numbers.

Again, thank you for the pleasure of serving the best citizens living in the best community in the State of South Carolina. I am honored to be the mayor of this city.

Sincerely,

Tim Goodwin

Mayor

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Mayor Tim Goodwin

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Summer is over and now we need to focus on hurricanes, renourishment, construction of the new bridges, parking, and other equally important matters. We have been watching hurricanes come and go since June and are thankful, so far, that the hurricanes are going away from Folly instead of coming toward us. All of you have either read, or heard from someone, about the City’s new “Community Alerting System – Outbound 911.” This is a notification system which the city will use to notify you of important events such as weather emergencies, emergency evacuations, local security and crime alerts, water main breaks, power outages, and amber alerts. The City will also be able to use this system to advise you when you can return to Folly if there is a hurricane and a form of identification needed. Later on, when we have the e-mail addresses of the majority of Folly Beach citizens, the city will be able to send surveys so we will know how you feel about various things affecting your life on Folly. We are excited about this new method of notification and hope you are, too. To ensure the City has all the information needed to notify you, please access the City’s web site, www.cityoffollybeach.com, and click on “Outbound 9-1-1” and fill in the requested information. If you do not have a computer, call 513-1836 (Mary) or 513-1837 (Robin) and they will register you. All information will only be used for the Folly Beach Alerting System; no information will be provided to other agencies, individuals or entities without your consent.

Another important matter to focus on in October is HALLOWEEN. The Halloween Carnival this year will be at the Community Center on Saturday, October 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. A portion of West Indian will be closed starting at the stop sign and ending at the end of the Community Center’s property. You better be ready for the costume competition: we had some great costumes last year and we are looking for some more unusual ones this year. Also, some favorite activities will be repeated, including the cake walk and the ghost walk. Don’t forget: October 30, starting at 6:30 p.m. Be ready for a Folly Halloween!

I know some of you are wondering when the city is going to address some of the items mentioned earlier in my letters: dogs on the beach, dog tags, golf carts, etc. These are still on the agenda to be discussed and acted upon. We will get to them; however, other matters had to be addressed first such as bridges, relocation of sewer water main and waterline conflicts. Another work in progress is the expansion project. It is on time and on budget. This is due to the efforts of Eric Lutz, building official and facilities manager, who is following this project every step of the way to ensure Folly Beach is getting the biggest bang for its buck. City Council and I will meet for a work session at 6 p.m. on September 28 and prioritize our goals and objectives. We also plan to meet at 6 p.m. – one hour prior to our regular meeting on October 25 – to discuss one of the other items on our agenda. We will announce the other work sessions on October 25, 2010.

Our A-Tax Advisory Board met last week to hear applicants make their presentations for the FY09-10 discretionary A-Tax funds. Requests included the Governor’s Cup, the Wahine Classic, Sea ‘n Sand, Festival of the Arts, Digital Billboards, two dressing rooms for the Washout, and others. The amount needed to fund all of the applicants’ requests equated to $251,960. The A-Tax funds, which came in during the 2009-2010 fiscal year, amount to $216,499. The City’s A-Tax Board – which consists of Paul Chrysostum, Chairperson, and Mat Barba, John Davis, William Hampton, Cliff Harvey, Debbie Brandner, and Amanda Jackson – faces this type of situation year after year. To these Board Members, I would like to say I know what an arduous job you have distributing these funds when they are not sufficient to meet all the requests. I appreciate your time and the effort you always put into this process. You do, and have always done, an outstanding job and I thank you.

On Thursday, October 7, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., the dock at the Folly River Park will be dedicated to the memory of Karen Stringer. Karen was a gifted artist who made many contributions to the City of Folly Beach. She brought the Festival of Arts to the City which was a big success. Karen’s vision of Folly was a town with shops full of art and other unique pieces created by Folly Beach artists. She was also the moving force behind the Sea ‘n Sand Festival for many years. Karen was a life-long resident and was always in tune with the residents’ needs and willing to give a helping hand where one was needed. Please join us for the dedication of “The Karen Stringer Recreational Pier.”

Until next month, if you have any concerns or if I can be of assistance, please call.

Sincerely,

Tim Goodwin
Mayor

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Mayor Tim Goodwin

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

The final days of summer on Folly are winding down and the beach is gradually being returned to the turtles, birds, and Folly residents. Even though our visitors have their place and we welcome them, it is exciting when it is time for all of us to take a deep breath and do all the things we avoid doing during the time of crowded beaches, heavy traffic and noisy nights.

Folly has come a long way since last year when we faced problems such as underage drinking, open container, trash on the beach and various types of behavior that was not only illegal but unacceptable. At one of the first work sessions held after the election ,City Council as a whole made a commitment to begin a campaign to educate visitors about the rules and regulations so visits could be fun while avoiding behavior which could result in going to court and paying a fine. This commitment resulted in news articles which were very informative including letters to the deans of all colleges located in this vicinity with rules and associated fines attached, and commitments on the part of our Public Safety Officers to saturate, enforce, and educate.

As you all are aware, one of Folly’s greatest assets is the employees. Today I want to take this opportunity to recognize four of our employees and congratulate them on their appointments by City Council. Marlene Estridge was reappointed as the City Clerk-Treasurer. Marlene has held this appointment for many years and has done an excellent job. Her knowledge of the history of Folly Beach is unsurpassed, making her a popular source of information. We are very fortunate to have someone of her caliber to serve in this position. Ben Peeples was also reappointed. Ben has been with the City for too many years to count and has won many battles for the City during those years. We are privileged to have Ben as our City Attorney and appreciate his willingness to accept this reappointment. John Kachmarskey was reappointed as the municipal judge. John has been with the City for approximately ten years and does an excellent job at all times. The job, however, gets to be especially challenging during beach season when there are heavy crowds and more tickets are written. We are pleased that he wishes to continue in this position. Mary Cunningham was appointed Municipal Clerk. She has been with the City in a full time position for approximately five years and before that, she was part-time. Mary can always be counted on to undertake any tasks presented to her and gets them done in a timely manner. She is efficient, hard working and helps us all stay on schedule. Again, congratulations! I am proud to be associated with all four. I hope others will join me in congratulating these worthy individuals.

Also, Council elected a Mayor Pro Tempore during the August 24 Council meeting. City Council is charged by State Law to elect, after each regular two-year election, one of their body as the Mayor Pro Tempore. The Mayor Pro Tempore serves for two years and acts as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor, and acts as Mayor if a vacancy occurs until a successor is elected and qualified. Council Member Laura Beck was elected to serve in this position. Welcome aboard, Laura.

Several weeks ago there was an article in the paper about one of Folly’s Home Town Heroes, Dr. Dilan Ellegala, a neurosurgeon at the Medical University. He and his medical team have spent a lot of time in Africa doing medical training. One time, while in Tanzania, he performed brain surgery in an operating room where there was only the doctor, nurse, and someone holding a flashlight in case the lights went out. There was no “ventilator” to keep the anesthetic flowing, only a relative of the patient who took over hand pumping the chemical when the anesthesiologist tired. After returning to the United States, Dr. Ellegala organized the Physicians Training Partnership, a program which is geared to training surgeons who will stay in their homelands and help train other African surgeons, rather than use their new skills to work in the West. After reading this story and others of Dr. Ellegala’s accomplishments, I knew there was no doubt that that the residents of Folly Beach would like to meet Dr. Ellegala and hear more about his mission work. Therefore, on Thursday, September 9, at 7 p.m. at the Tides (Holiday Inn), there will be a celebration of Dr. Ellegala’s achievements. Please join us and meet Folly’s Home Town Heroes.

The City’s independent auditors have completed the audit for Fiscal Year 2009/10. Unless notified otherwise, the auditors will make a presentation to City Council at a work session prior to the regular meeting on September 28. The work session will begin at 6 p.m.

Mayor and City Council will be having work sessions in the near future to address various matters as discussed in prior letters, i.e. golf carts, dogs on the beach, dog tags, new bridges and waterline conflicts, just to name a few. We will be posting the dates, times, and subject matters at City Hall, on the web site, and at the Post Office.

Also, be on the lookout for information and articles on our new “Outbound 911” which is the City’s Alerting System. This is a new and innovative way to notify residents of important events.

Labor Day is around the corner so Have Fun – Be Careful – Be Safe – Obey the Rules – Leave No Litter – If you Drink, Don’t Drive – and – If you Drive, Don’t Drink. Also, if you have a complaint, if you have a suggestion, or if you would like to volunteer and help your community, please contact me at 513-1835 or email me at timgoodwin@bellsouth.net.

Sincerely,

Tim Goodwin
Mayor

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On or about March 1, the Folly Beach dispatchers joined other dispatchers in Charleston County to form the 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center. Most of you are aware dispatchers are to be transferred; however, some of you were not aware it would be as early as March 1. Director of Public Safety Boatwright has sent a letter addressing the 911 system: what it will do, when to use it, and other information which will be valuable to keep for future reference.

The purpose of this letter is to assure everyone that the most important aspect of all of this is you and your safety and well being, as well as the well-being of your animals. I am committed to making this transition as easy for you as possible while giving you this reassurance: Your needs, whether it concerns public works, public safety or anything else have always been and will continue to be my first priority.

I know one of the major concerns is our Folly Beach animals and what will happen if help is needed after 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on the weekends. I have met with Chief Boatwright to ensure animal related services after hours have been addressed in a way which will be satisfactory to our residents. All animal-related service calls and non-emergency matters will continue to be taken and dispatched on a 24/7 basis. Citizens only have to call the number they are accustomed to calling for service, which is 588-2433. After-hours animal related service calls will be assigned to a Folly Beach shift supervisor to ensure the appropriate animal services response is taken. Animal Services Officer Ralph Bryan, working in partnership with Carol Linville of Pet Helpers, will continue to build a cadre of animal services volunteers so that “on-call” assignments can be shared.

Knowing you have other concerns about this transition which you would like to discuss, I am available to meet with you during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For your convenience, however, I am extending my weekday hours to be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The only dates and times I will be out of the office are Saturday, March 13, 2010, and March 15 – 18, 2010. When we meet, I will do my best to address your concerns and answer questions regarding the transition of the on-site dispatchers to the Consolidated Dispatch Center and any other concerns you may have.

When Council and I first addressed the 911 Consolidated Dispatch in 2008, there were several reasons we made the decision to join other communities in Charleston County and transition to a Consolidated Dispatch Center: 1) the dispatchers in the Center will be well-trained; capable of relaying information over the phone that could save lives; 2) Folly Beach had a significant number of turnovers in the Dispatch Department, as many as nine in one year; 3) the calls on non-emergency incidents will still be handled ultimately by the Folly Beach Public Safety; and 4) after a period of three years, Charleston County will be paying the entire cost of the dispatchers; Folly Beach will pay nothing. This is a significant savings for the City of Folly Beach and during these times of economic hardship, it is important that the city make every effort to keep cost at a minimum without sacrificing or compromising the safety and well being of our residents.

I look forward to hearing from you and am hopeful this addresses some of the concerns you may have.

Carl B. Beckmann, Jr.
Mayor of Folly Beach

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Being a New Year, January has begun with a bang. It would seem that January would be a slow month in City Hall, but to the contrary there is much going on. Residents considering running for Public Office began picking up their packets on January 19, 2010. That being said, April elections will be interesting. We have had several water main breaks. Fortunately, the water was not off for too long in the affected areas. Council approved the Public Safety Expansion and we are moving forward with that project as quickly as possible before construction material costs rise.

Events for February include the 2nd Annual Folly Gras on February 13, 2010. Watch for details or call Mary Cunningham at City Hall. On February 6, Folly Beach will host the Save the Light 5K and half marathon run to raise money for the Morris Island Lighthouse. See the Folly Beach web site for more information on the run.

I want to talk a little about a new program we are trying to initiate to better control our litter and trash concerns. For now, we are calling it the Volunteer Civilian Police Patrol. Councilman McCarty and Chief Boatwright are working the details so we can get the remainder of this program started this spring. We already have the Volunteer Beach Management Patrol in place and hope to build the Volunteer Force with various sections such as an Administrative Branch, Beach and Parking, and Roving Patrol just to name a few. If you believe you might be interested, please contact Councilman McCarty at City Hall.

Please stay tuned to City Hall and our website for updates on the Construction of Folly Creek and Folly River Bridges, drainage projects, and the Transportation Study. If you would like to read the report from Wilbur Smith and Associates, please call me and I will make my copy available to you.

Carl B. Beckmann Jr.

Mayor

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Good morning or good afternoon.

September has been a quiet month, so far. We are still seeing some tourists which are good for business. Unfortunately the tourist trade is almost a necessity. Our local businesses collect Hospitality and Accommodations taxes, which in turn, adds revenues to the city and is used as an offset for property taxes. We receive most of the funds back from the State but not all. We as locals should support all of the businesses on Folly. They are part of our City too.

Does anyone remember the “Faith Chapel”  most recently located at 406 East Arctic? Those young enough to remember will have to think long and hard about this one. According to an article I received from Ms. Mabel B. Pace, the Faith Chapel was the first Church of any type to locate on Folly Island. Two books written about Folly have incorrect information regarding other churches being the first on the Island.

Speaking of history, I am always looking for old photos and news articles about Folly. I would like to “build”  a pictorial history along with the news articles and place them in our library at City Hall. Bet you didn’t know we had a City Hall Library?

October, to me, is the one of best months on the beach. No people, no dogs, no trash, just you, the birds, the surf and your thoughts.

We are progressing nicely through Council discussion with the Re-write. Please join us some morning. Right now we are meeting on Wednesday mornings at 0900 in Council Chambers.

Have a great Folly Day!

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I hope everyone survived the 4^th of July Holiday. I must say in all my years I have never witnessed so many people on the beach. People we can’t do much about except to possibly control their behavior. The Council is working some issues and recommendations. The Council invites all residents to a Town Hall Meeting on 4 August beginning at 7:00 PM at the Holiday Inn. We want to hear from you because these issues may seem simple BUT they are very complex when dealing with all pieces and parts.

I attended a meeting with the DOT and architects concerning the Folly Creek and Folly River bridges. We walked the projects and looked at various elements. The DOT will schedule another public hearing in October for everyone to review the almost final design. The personnel I spoke to today say the start date is late 2010. We did talk about getting all utilities out of the way before construction. We don’t want to be like the Ellis Creek project!

My thanks to all the Volunteer groups and especially Folly Residents who come out and pick up trash and continually do so.

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The City needs your help once again. We have several Boards and Commissions where seats are vacant and really need to be filled. This is an excellent opportunity for you to assist the City in moving forward. Please send your résumé/CV and your letter of interest to our Municipal Clerk, Mary Cunningham. Mary will have a list of the seats available during the first weeks of July.
It appears, from what I’m told, that the Citizens of Folly Beach feel they are exempt from all laws we have in place. In particular is the leash law and dogs on the beach! I will tell you, you are not exempt from prosecution. You above all should be setting the example for our visitors and guests. Please do not become a casualty.
There is not much we can do about the heavy traffic on the weekends, so I’m asking each of you to be patient and understanding. If you must leave the Beach on the weekend, time your travel so that you can return in the mid to late afternoon. We are a public beach and unfortunately we have to endure the hordes that invade each weekend. I met with the mayors from the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island recently and we are not alone. They have the exact same traffic problems. We discussed this subject at some length but did not come up with any untried solutions. We plan to meet on an on-going basis and will try to come up with ideas to resolve some of our mutual problems; like traffic.
Its turtle season, so please remember to turn off your outside lights after dusk. If you see any houses on the front beach that have their outside lights on, please ask them to turn them off.

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