First off, I would like to thank the “Tides” for the wonderful fireworks display during the “Flip Flop Drop”.  I would also like to thank Public Safety and the Fire Department for the use of the fire truck.

Having said that, I’m disappointed to hear the “Tides” is now saying they didn’t give the city permission to use the hotel to drop the Flip Flops, when, I understood, they had. Then two weeks before the event, they said “no”.

That’s the main reason we ended up using the fire truck.

Then, it’s my understanding, the Mayor was asked for special considerations in regards to some of our ordnances, in order for the “ Tides” to better enhance their “Guest experience”, as they call it (and other ordnances totally unrelated to the Flip Flop Drop), in exchange for “allowing” us to use Hotel for this event.

Sound familiar?

The Mayor said “no”. He wasn’t about to play “Let’s make a deal” when it comes to enforcing city ordnances. Good for him!

As it all turned out, I think the New Years Eve on Folly Beach, was a total success.

Don’t you just love it?

Jim Nicklaus

Editor,

Despite all the verbiage about giving guests a “great experience,” it’s clear that Weitz was holding the City up to break the rules for him — not only for Tides, but for his real estate business.  And the parking lot issue?  My understanding is that it’s not about removing sand from the lot (that happens all the time), it’s about taking 30 feet of active beach to put up a sand fence and build a dune so they won’t have the nuisance of having to clear the parking lot.  That stretch is heavily used for things like the half-ball tournament.

In the past, mayors have bent over backward (and more) for businesses and developers on Folly.  I’m glad this Mayor is making everyone play by the rules.

Susan Breslin

Editor,

I just read your article dated Jan 2, 2012 on “Dropping the Flip Flop” and it contains a major error.  I am Ken Hickman, who met with Ken Merkel initially on the Flip Flop drop from the Tides Hotel.  Charlotte Goodwin was also present at this meeting.  We met with Ken Merkel and his Maintenance Manager about dropping a flip flop from the Tides.  We reviewed the conceptual design.  Ken  Merkel asked if we could make it larger so that it could be seen as you approached Folly Beach.  We agreed to a design with two larger flip flops.  We toured the Tides and agreed on a location for the drop from the ninth floor facing Center Street.  We told Ken Merkel that we would submit this to council and ask for a variance so that people could be on Center Street during the drop with drinks in cups.  Ken Merkel thought that this was a good idea and would use it in advertisements for the Tides New Year’s party.  The plan was then presented to city council and variance approved.  We then order materials and started construction with the help of other Folly residents.   Thus, the plan was verbally agreed upon by the Tides management prior to presentation to City Council.

About a week before Christmas, Charlotte Goodwin, Jim and Kathy Nichols, and myself met with Ken Merkel at his request.  Mayor Tim Goodwin was also present at the end of the meeting.  Ken Merkel said they had some logistical concerns and that they may be able to work these out with some concessions that Avocet wanted from the city.  We then left, except for Mayor Goodwin who remained for a discussion with Ken Merkel.  It was very clear that this was not an issue totally about the Flip Flop drop and alternate plans were made.

It is a shame that Avocet used the Flip Flop drop to try and resolve issues with City of Folly Beach and that the Folly Current printed this article without obtaining all the facts from both sides.  You implied that Charlotte Goodwin and myself lied to City Council and I believe an apology is due.

Ken Hickman

The author replies:

I disagree that the story contains a ‘major error.’

This statement is true:

Their plan was to drop them from the 9^th floor of The Tides hotel, and Goodwin assured Council that she’d spoken with the hotel and gained their approval.

This is also true:

The Tides claims it never agreed to host the event in the first place.

The Tides clearly claims that they never agreed to it, as backed up by their comments. If the Flip Flop Drop planners understood that the Tides had agreed to it, even if they’re correct, that does not make the Folly Current’s statement that The Tides ‘claims it never agreed’ inaccurate.

I strongly disagree with any assertion that my story implies that Mr. Hickman or Ms. Goodwin lied.

Stratton Lawrence

Editor,

Like so many Folly land owners and lovers of the island, we came to the edge of the world to escape from the “real world” and enjoy a slice of life that hadn’t quite been caught up in all the political and irrational human behavior most of us wish would just go away and let us live in peace and harmony.

I read your article about the Flip Flop Drop and it becomes obvious again and disturbs me again that a writer has the power to influence his or her readers whether you gather all the facts relative to a story or not.  In this case, it’s apparent to me, as a Folly property owner and part time resident, that your story leaned towards implying that the Mayor of Folly and members of the City Council are disrespectful to the island’s taxpayers.

Your headline, “So what does it mean for the city when they feel like the mayor is disrespectin’? “  You are leading outsiders (and insiders) who read your story to believe that WE ALL feel the mayor is disrespectful and that’s not true. It just might be you who is being disrespectful–because you didn’t report the facts completely and therefore maybe not truthfully, discrediting others.  Reference the message sent to you by Ken Hickman. He was at the planning meeting for “the Drop” and he shared with you the real sequence of events and verbal agreements. The fact is, the largest island taxpayer is asking our governing body to make concessions which higher powers, (being our state government) considers illegal. Because our island leaders attempt to govern by the law, and with equality for all, you and others imply disrespect.  Truth is, most of us other tax payers would call that “the right thing to do”!

And as far as moving the sand that is encroaching on the parking lot, would the islanders really want to risk the agreement that is in place for beach re-nourishment by allowing select beachfront properties to do what they want? If the mayor and his council allowed this and it cost the island the re-nourishment agreement, they would all be called names worse than “disrespectin”.

Now switch to the other story within your story. You mentioned the overflowing septic system at 803 West Ashley. That septic system has been spewing raw sewage since it was installed in 2009 until the property was finally shut down by DEHEC in December of 2011.  If you as a reporter want to report the truth, interview Knights Septic Service and you will find that that system had to be pumped two times a week, and sometimes three, for months. During the Thanksgiving holidays 2011, it once again spewed raw sewage for hours to the witness of neighbors and Folly police. It was pumped dry one day, spewed again the next day and had to be pumped again the next day–AND it’s supposed to handle more than 800 gallons a day!  The largest taxpayer on the island represented and promoted that property and is aware of the frequency of violations, yet implies that city officials are “disrespectin“. Shame on them too!

How would you like to own the property next door?  Would you like your family and friends, kids and pets to be exposed to this? I don’t think so.

What does this have to do with the mayor and city council members and the real story?  I have attached a letter from DHEC which was delivered to the owner of this property and septic system which was managed (until very recently–that’s interesting too) by the largest tax payer on the island.  As far as I am concerned, they (Avocet) are guilty by association.  Even though the situation is dangerous, and deadly (raw sewage contains ecoli) and disgusting, the mayor, city council members, town administrators, and police, all aware of the ongoing situation, tried to work with the property owner and his property managers (Avocet) to alleviate the situation. Mismanagement, neglect and abuse finally caused the mayor and higher authorities, meaning DHEC to send the orders that you see, which has temporarily stopped the problem.  Look at the dates and frequency of occurrences.  How can anyone say that they (city officials) aren’t trying to be accommodating and “respectin“?

Bottom line is, stories like yours that aren’t fully researched and factually reported, have negative impacts on your readers and have damaging effects on the lives of others.  What a shame that the media has such power! And what a shame that that happy little island can’t just be a happy little island!

My bet is, you do care and you are a good writer, you just missed an opportunity to educate your readers how hard it is for elected officials to make tough decisions in order to govern for the good of the majority.

With all due respect,

Art Barber

Charleston Forge

Chairman/CEO

251 Industrial Park Drive

Boone, N.C. 28607

828.264.0100

www.charlestonforge.com

The author responds:

Mr. Barber,

Your letter repeatedly cites a headline that was not printed in the Folly Current or on the newspaper’s website, but at my personal blog, strattonlawrence.tumblr.com. This post was also linked to my personal Facebook account. That post, written as a description with a link to the story at FollyCurrent.com, read as such:

On Folly Beach, The Tides hotel and Avocet Properties are ‘big business.’ So what does it mean for the city when they feel like the mayor is disrespectin’? And should local government be bending (or flexing..) the rules for its top tax contributor? Do they even have the rules right? I take on those questions in a look at the back-and-forth in this week’s Folly Current.

It should be evident that ‘they’ refers to the Tides and Avocet, not to the people of Folly Beach. It almost appears as if you only read the one line you repeatedly quote, pulling it entirely out of its context. In the Folly Current’s opinion, the story, as published, contains no bias or slant in favor of the mayor, the city, or Avocet. We stand by our commitment to objective journalism.

Again, what you call a ‘headline’ is actually a dramatic misreading of a line, removed from its surrounding context, that was never published by the Folly Current.

Stratton Lawrence

I regret to inform you all that we have decided to stop the OCRM permitting process for the Christmas Tree Dune Restoration Project. This project has grown into something that is bigger than any of us anticipated, and the length of time it will take to send in a complete application, that has a chance of gaining approval, is too extreme. Instead, we will focus on completing the legwork and background information so that we can start the process earlier next season, hopefully turning in a quality application that all parties involved can get behind and support. I want to thank all of you for your help on this, and I wish I had some better news for you. I am currently talking to Budget Tree’s about using thier equipment to mulch the trees that the City has already collected so that “Plan B” can be set up. If anyone else would like to assist in this project over the next 11 months, please let me know.

DJ Rich

Folly Beach City Councilman

Co-Owner Planet Follywood

PO Box 1153

Folly Beach, SC 29439

Dear Editor

We would like to thank everyone for helping and coming out to support Follypalooza. The children had a wonderful time. All monies raised help with our cancer pateints on Folly. To date this year we have raised and donated over $6,600, before Follypalooza, to our Folly family with cancer. If you know of nayone on the island needing help please write Folly Angels, PO Box 1699, Folly Beach 29439 or call Flo at 412-1866.

Thank you,

Folly Angels

Editor’s Note: This letter came to our office sometime since Follypalooza and was either lost in the mail or lost in our own files. We discovered it this week.

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By Brian Sanders

Yes, it was a pleasure to burn!  Remember Fahrenheit 451, the book by Ray Bradbury, the title being the temperature at which paper burns?  If not, it is a classic Orwellian novel about a world gone amuck, where reading is prohibited and book burnings are your typical social gathering.  The opening line of this book was: “It was a pleasure to burn…”  I had a somewhat social gathering in the works, but I was burning oak tonight (not books mind you), palmetto fronds, some leaves, and a pallet or two perhaps.

This pleasurable burn was big.  It was a classic bon-fire at the Lunch Hook, which I like to have on cold nights; a great platform for roasting oysters and eating them in the flickering light and warmth of flame.  A fire on a cold night, or any night for that matter, seems to attract the damnedest folks.  Build the fire and they will come, and come they did.  Perhaps I do encourage too many visitors with my big bon-fires, but I usually have a blast with them; the fire and oysters, that is.  Okay, I have a blast with the ‘folks’ also, but they sometimes don’t know how to behave or when to leave.  I usually keep these ‘blasts’ close to my vest.  This night, however, is too funny not to share; perhaps it is a little tragic too.  So, I share with you this tragic hilarity.  I have changed the name of one of the following characters.

It was early, perhaps eight or nine pm, and I struck a match to some fine kindling carefully arranged in my fire pit.  I had plenty of additional fuel waiting; small oak branches, medium and large ones too.  I built a virtual pyre, flames leaping ten to twelve feet, licking at my canopy of live oaks.  I’m burning at no less than 451 degrees Fahrenheit, or 233 degrees Celsius if you are European…  Allow me to digress.

Do you know how to make a fire?  I’m not talking about rubbing two sticks together, or tossing gasoline on an old tire.  You are in civilization and there is a Bic lighter somewhere nearby.  If not a lighter, there are some matches close at hand.  There are probably also some sticks in the nearby yard.  An old newspaper somewhere?  Go gather.  This is the science to building a good fire, and I’ve built my share.  Here is some guidance:

Gather a softball size of matchstick-sized twigs and a wad of parched newspaper.  Create a baseball of the newspaper, top with the twigs and set alight with a lighter or the ubiquitous match.  You may need to blow on it some, coax it into a good flame.  Add small and then large branches as needed.  As the larger branches burn in half, toss the halves into the fire.

Did you buy a damned ‘log in a bag’?  WTF?  Okay, moving on…set the ‘log in a bag’ aflame and add more wood as needed.  Gather some twigs anyway.  If you go camping with me you won’t be toting in any ‘logs in a bag.’ We will gather our firewood from the surrounding forest.  Start small and work your way up; that’s how building anything worthwhile begins.  We will, however, carry out everything we carry in, except the ashes.  As the motto goes, “Pack it in, and pack it out.” Burn the rest.

A few years ago I was doing trail maintenance on the Bartram Trail in north Georgia, repairing sections of hiking trail washed-out by storms, chain-sawing away trees fallen across the trail and fixing bridges over small streams.  I and a few guys would hike in and spend three to four days on the trail.  We cooked our own food and slept in tents.  I did this for two years.  On one occasion, I had a guy with me who was…an idiot.  He would do anything you asked, but by the time you showed him how to do it, you may as well have done it yourself – such as building a fire.  I gave Stanley the task of carrying the heaviest pack and manning a rake.  I worked the chainsaw.  There was no way in hell I was gonna entrust him with a chainsaw!

Stanley was the nephew of a friend and needed some work, so he and I hiked in for a three day stint of trail maintenance.  As already noted, I had determined that he was not to be trusted with complex tasks or equipment, so at the end of the first day I told him to build a fire while I went to find a nearby stream to get some water.  In the waning light I made sure we had our tents up and strategically located adjacent to an existing fire pit.  I had a water purification pump with too many parts for Stanley, and didn’t want him to break or lose any of the parts.  Surely he can have a campfire going by the time I get back.  Who can’t make a fire?

Stanley couldn’t, and no, he didn’t.  I returned to our camp with two gallons of H2O to find not only no fire, but Stanley stacking huge branches and logs in the designated fire pit.  It was all neat and looked like a damned teepee for pigmies, but it wasn’t a fire.  I sat the water down and walked around the fire pit with my flashlight, it now being dark.  Was there a tiny flame in there somewhere?  Nope.

“What the hell, Stanley?” I asked, shining my light in his eyes like a state trooper.  He rubbed his hands together, shuffled his feet and strategically placed yet another log on the unlit fire.  I made one more circuit around the cold fire pit and then kicked over the teepee of logs.  He was horrified.

“What are you doing?”  he cried, grabbing one of the logs rolling away.  I didn’t respond, except to toss all of the wood out of the fire pit.  I found a fist-sized bundle of twigs, some pine needles and started a small fire with a single match.  I added some larger wood as the flames grew, muttering and cursing to myself.  Soon the fire pit was ablaze and I was adding the big logs I had kicked over.

“I was going to douse it with gas from the chainsaw and…”  He started but I cut him off.

“We need the gas for the job.  We don’t need gas to start a fire,” I responded, digging into the food pack, looking for my stash of rum.  Finding the sweet nectar, I sat back and worked the fire Stanley had failed miserably at.  Later I cooked our meat and beans on said fire.

Back to the funny yet tragic part of the more recent Lunch Hook bon-fire and oyster roast adventure.  I was tossing log halves into my pyre when Bruno and his girlfriend came along.  He flopped into a nearby lawn chair (almost breaking it) and his girlfriend bumbled around behind him, lurking in the shadows.  She seemed a little anti-social, and he made no effort to introduce her.

“How you doin bubba?” Bruno announced his question, drawing from his beer and breaking wind.  Holding my breath and tossing another oak log on the fire, I got up-wind.  Bruno had a ‘dung-eatin’ grin on his face; appreciating the aroma of his own stuff no doubt.  He is an odd fella no doubt as well, but an okay guy.  I guess.  When he’s getting his drink on, however, watch out!  He hit me broad-side when he yelled at his lurking woman:

“Go on an get now!”

She had simply approached him with a question or a request of some sort.  He shooed her away (having told her to ‘go on and get’) and leaned toward the fire, putting new strains on my poor lawn chair.  She scooted across the street to Bert’s Market.  I was somewhat flabbergasted, but not near as much as when she quickly returned and began to adamantly, yet quietly, speak into his ear.  Bruno lurched up, spun around, and with beer in the air announced:

“If you gonna talk, put on something sexy!”  Pause and with much affection he added, “Go on and get now!”

He crashed back into the poor lawn chair and killed it, and I almost fell into my pyre.  As soon as I finished choking on my beer I decided that I was prepared to defend his girlfriend if she was gonna hit him on the head with one of many nearby logs.  But alas, she simply slumped back across the street to Bert’s.  I took this opportunity to go pee.  I really didn’t need to use the bathroom, I just needed to get away and laugh.  I elected to ‘go on and get’…to my couch, the doors locked, radio and lights off, the fire dying.  I would check on the fire and roast oysters when they were gone.  I hoped that would be soon.

I don’t need a stupid idiot to help me with anything.  I can do badly on my own.  I once heard that as soon as you made something idiot-proof, someone would make a better idiot.  I guess there is no ‘idiot-proof’ fire.  Do you hear the echo of ‘Go on and get now!’ the background music a duo of dueling banjos?

Brian Sanders

bp.sands1034@gmail.com

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By Jud Bushkar

PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Morris, Follyhood.blogspot.com

As January draws to a close, I look back on the first month of 2012 with mixed feelings.  The weather on land and ocean temperatures have been extremely mild.  The near shore water temperature hovered in the mid to high 50s.  Last January, you may remember, brought ocean temperatures in the low 40s.  These temperatures caused miles of bait fish to wash up on Folly Beach.

Air temperatures have also been unusually mild this past month.  You may wonder how anyone could possibly feel anything but joy when confronted with the Chamber of Commerce’s idea of winter weather.  Am I unhappy about not being able to showcase my winter wardrobe that is equally at home on the slopes or the runway?  Perhaps I long to shovel snow or scrape my car’s windshield as my forefathers did.  Nope, my sadness stems from the lack of surf on this here Folly Beach.  There have not been more than three good surf days all month.  More often than not, the Atlantic has been nearly as docile as the local weather.

During December and January I am typically limited to early AM surf sessions on days I work.  If you believe the Earth science you slept through in ninth grade, you expect that days are getting longer.  It is now possible to surf until around 6:30 at night.  Let me be the first to use the word “harbinger” this year.  The fact that I can surf after work is truly the first harbinger of spring.

Increased daylight is not the only positive change occurring.  Time travel with me back to August of 2011.  Hurricane Irene had just tenderized the near shore sandbars at Folly Beach.  The movement of these sandbars and accelerated beach erosion greatly affected the quality of surf during the next three months.  Specifically, surf quality would deteriorate at high and low tides.  Lately, the surf on Folly Beach seems to be less dependent on tidal heights.  Waves seem to have a good shape for most of the incoming tide.  The backwash that plagued the Washout at high tide has disappeared.  Also, the Washout’s propensity for closing out at lower tides has been reduced.

If you are keeping score, you will note January’s lack of swell can only improve; the days are getting longer, and Folly’s sandbars have been groomed over the last three months.  Each of these point to a February that should bring better wave riding conditions than we saw this past month.  Now all we need is some swell.  Remember, being a conscientious surfer means reading each column I write and shopping at every business advertised in the Folly Current.

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News In Photos:  Joe Paterno Reportedly Fakes Own Death, Seen Meeting With Dallas Cowboys Ownership

Local Woman Still Wondering Who Won Taste Of Folly

FOLLY BEACH, SC— Area island simpleton, Alex Hunter, recently wrote a letter to the editor bringing up the constantly asked question of ‘Who won the Taste of Folly?’

“I just want to know who won the damn thing…we got this contest and nobody has any idea who is the best restaurant on the beach,” wrote an obviously irritated Ms. Hunter, the subject of a controversial sex change a couple months ago.

“I need to know these things,” she continued.   “And who the hell won the Chili cook off?!?  We had the judge vote for the restaurants and the citizens vote for the restaurants…which one matters?  Who are the judges?”

An obviously perturbed Ms. Hunter further explained her frustrations with the event.

“As far as I can tell the only clear winner at the Taste Of Folly was Tony Scarpetti, Folly Beach’s Champion of the Waitress Relay Race.”

Local Man Tells Writer Same Story Over and Over Again While Typing Previous Story

FOLLY BEACH, SC— An area man currently portrayed as a recently trans-gendered Folly simpleton, Mr. Alex Hunter, just spent the past 45 minutes drunkenly telling this writer the same story over and over while typing the story you just read.

“Seriously, Dave, how is it that I take part in the Taste of Folly Date Auction and get bought by a man? Are you kidding me?!?  For a mere 70 bucks, too…its ridiculous.”

I tried to explain it off to happenstance, a joke of sorts, and continued writing away at the previous story.  Until…

“Dude, for real though, a guy bought me at the date auction.  How messed up is that?  Be perfect for one of your stories about me, I guess, since I’m a chick now and all.”

At which point I laughed, having already mined the humor out of that one silently to myself, and continued writing in my own little space.   But, as she’s prone to do, Alex felt there was more to add to the story.

“ I mean, just because my grade school wrestling coach stuffed Dr. Seuss books down my crotch just to make weight doesn’t mean I want a guy to buy me at the date auction…”

…And then I quit listening as he told the same story over and over and wrote this story, now the 2^nd Fonion story to contain real tales from Alex Hunter.

News In Photos: Lebron James Proposes To High School Sweetheart; Down 1-0 In Ring Contest

Astronomers Say Miscalculations Of Earth’s Rotation To Cause Rare 29-Day Black History Month

PALO ALTO, CA— Astronomers at the Palo Alto Observatory announced today that miscalculations in the Gregorian Calendar, the most commonly accepted calendar amongst members of the human race, will cause the addition of an extra day at the end of February 2012.  Often times referred to as a ‘Leap Year,’ the added 24 hours, caused by the Earth’s ‘yearly’ rotation around the sun of an uneven 365.25 days, will fall on February 29.  A number of cultural abnormalities happen as a result, including all people born on ‘Leap Day’ actually celebrating their birthday as well as a rare 29 day Black History Month.  They further explained that it allows people an extra day to actually remember it’s no longer 2011 as well as added time to file taxes.

Editor’s Note: Hey, the Fonion is fake news! Enjoy, and don’t take it seriously.

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By Denise K. James

Work Session, 6 pm

Council met to discuss the four topics of transient vendors, beach franchise, elections, and maintenance through James Island’s Public Service District.

The topic of transient vendors began with zoning administrator Aaron Pope, who explained a switch in the ordinances. Ordinance 24-11 regarding the vendors, was never dealt with. The ordinance was replaced by Ordinance 3-12.

“Ordinance 3-12 is an amendment stating that, if you were a licensed, transient vendor last year then you may continue to be a transient vendor this year,” explained Pope.

Council Member Pennell Clamp asked, “What about if we don’t have as many transient vendors this year as we did last year? Will the spaces be filled by new vendors?”

Pope replied, “There will not be anyone else to fill in initially. Not until we decide on a new package.”

Council member Paul Hume suggested that once the vendor package is done, new vendors might be able to apply. Pope confirmed that it would be effective immediately.

Council moved on the Beach Franchise Topic. Mayor Goodwin asked if anyone on the Council had anything to change, but nobody did.

Council then moved on to the elections topic, which opened with Mayor Goodwin saying, “We need to figure what to do about these elections.”

Council Member Paul Hume spoke up. “I don’t really understand the purpose of having the county of Charleston either more or less involved. I truly do not get it. If we do keep doing the elections ourselves, there’s a lot involved. There’s a six year cycle, for example.”

“We could change that,” said Mayor Goodwin.

Council Member Charles McCarty said, “I suggest that we ask the county to draw up a distinct proposal regarding the costs and benefits of switching to them.”

“But how will we know the process of doing it ourselves in comparison to their process?” wondered Hume.

“Perhaps a few people could take a class on running our elections ourselves, so we’d be educated on each process,” said Mayor Goodwin.

It was decided that Council would begin the assessment of election processes by approaching the county for a proposal.

Council then moved on to the topic of JIPSD Maintenance. The discussion opened with Charlie McManus, City Comptroller.

“In 2001 there was an agreement on treatment and transportation between Folly Beach and the James Island Public Service District, but it has run out,” he began. “There is also a need for a new agreement for regular maintenance on the sewer system.”

“What will the cost change be with a new agreement?” asked Mayor Goodwin.

“Not much,” replied McManus. “We’ll charge about the same. General maintenance ran about $3000 per month last year, for regular upkeep without any extras.”

“What did it cost for the entire year last year?” asked Council Member Clamp.

“It was about $42,000 for the whole year,” responded McManus.

Council seemed unconvinced that the contracts would be exactly the same, especially without hard numbers to look at.

“All of the previous agreements have been submitted to the city attorney for careful review,” McManus assured them. “If the attorney sees a discrepancy, he’ll bring it to everyone’s attention and we will be able to work through it.”

Council seemed satisfied with this information.

Council Meeting Notes, 7 p.m.

All council members were present.

COMMENTS AND APPEARANCES

Mayor Goodwin opened by thanking Pet Helpers for assisting residents with lessons on how to handle animals. Then he turned his focus to beach renourishment.

“This has been quite a roller coaster,” he said. “But as of yesterday, things are moving along. Ernie Moore, the Chief of Repair and Recovery with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that he got in touch with Congressman Tim Scott, who contacted Governor Haley to see about getting help for us. In the conference call I learned that about $5.5 million worth of sand was washed away. That doesn’t include other damages. We’re still getting total figures together to send over. If Haley signs the orders, it will go to President Obama, to see if he’ll declare this as an emergency. The one catch is, we still have to pay 25 perecent of the $5.5 million, which would be around $1.3 million for us. We’ll have things to work out. But at least the ball is rolling.”

Mayor Goodwin also told everyone that PRC decided to go ahead with turning the Sand Bar into an eco-lodge.

“They said they still think it’ll be good for the city. O’Rourke said he’d be glad to come back and answer any questions. I guess we’re all going to find out what the heck an eco-lodge is,” he remarked with a laugh.

Jordan Sullivan approached the Council regarding a sporting tournament event for May 19. Most of the games would involve “Balls that Bounce on Water,” a special device that would be sold during the event.

Council Member Hume pointed out that it’s against Folly’s ordinances to sell things on the beach.

Council Member Eddie Ellis piped up, “Yes, this event sounds like a great idea, but if we agree to it then we’ll have to let everyone’s uncle from Orangeburg come on down and sell their kids’ handmade crafts on our beach.”

Sullivan agreed that selling her product during the event may not work. Council encouraged her to rethink the event and come back.

Michael Riffert approached Council regarding his property on East Erie, which flooded extensively last year. He said that he’d like to connect the property on East Erie with city sewer, rather than using a septic system, at his own expense.

Council deliberated on how much would be involved with changing over to the city’s system. Council Member Ellis said the properties were already equipped; they just needed to be connected properly.

Council Member Hume told Riffert to talk to Public Works first.

Next, Joel Flores approached the Council regarding a fundraiser basket ball game for Josh Dybzinski, a Folly Current graphic designer who was in a car accident. Flores proposed that the city basketball courts would be reserved for the game during the Sea and Sand Festival.

Council approved the fundraiser unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Resolution R01-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council initiating “Operation Home Safe” for the protection of life and property of all citizens of Folly Beach.

Council Member Ellis said he wanted to put the Operation off and get outside funding.

Mayor Goodwin moved to kill the resolution and bring it back later.

Motion to kill passed, all in favor.

Resolution R02-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council adopting the 2012 regular meeting calendars for the Folly Beach City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Community Promotion Foundation, Utility Advisory Board and Official Holiday Calendar.

Council Member Stuckey said she would like to switch February 7 meeting since she cannot attend.

Mayor Goodwin motioned to cancel the Feb 7 meeting, in favor of a February 21 meeting only.

Motion passed 6-1 with Council Member Paul Hume opposed.

Resolution R03-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council authorizing the expenditure of $3,000 for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to be given during “Operation Home Safe.”

Motion to kill passed, all in favor.

Resolution R04-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council directing the City Administrator to return 100% of the local option sales taxes for property tax relief, if FY11-12 revenues exceed FY11-12 expenditures by at least $100,000.

Mayor Goodwin motioned to postpone until July.

Motion passed, all in favor.

Ordinance 24-11 - An ordinance amending the Folly Beach Code of Ordinances by amending Chapter 14 on Transient Vendors.

Mayor Goodwin motioned to kill the ordinance in favor of new ordinance 3-12.

Motion to kill passed, all in favor.

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution R05-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council granting the sum of $500 to the Folly Beach Senior Citizens based on the Community Promotions Foundations’ recommendation for the distribution of community funds.

Passed, all in favor.

Resolution R06-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign two agreements between the City of Folly Beach and the James Island Public Service District for the maintenance of six lift stations and the transport of waste water.

Council Member Clamp asked whether the billing would come from James Island or from the City of Folly; it was confirmed that the billing would be done by the City of Folly.

Passed, all in favor.

Resolution R07-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council approving appointments of City officials.

Council Member Ellis motioned to open the floor for Nominations and nominated Bentley Price as Chief Judge.

Price was named, all in favor.

Resolution R08-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council approving appointments of city officials.

Council Member Ellis nominated Joshua P. Stokes for Associate Judge.

Council Member Stuckey nominated Christopher Skipper for Associate Judge.

Stokes was named, 5-2 with Stuckey and McCarty opposed.

Resolution R09-12 – A Resolution by the Folly Beach City Council authorizing and directing the administration to continue daily operations of the water and sewer utility at the same spending levels as FY10-11.

Passed, all in favor.

Ordinance 01-12  - An ordinance annexing a certain property, located on Oak Island, more commonly known 2362 Palmer Creek Bend, TMS Number 328-03-00-086, into the City of Folly Beach by the 100% Petition Method. (First Reading, Introduced by Mayor Goodwin)

Mayor Goodwin voiced his concern that it costs the City of Folly Beach money to annex people.

Council Member Clamp said, “I sympathize with these folks wanting to be part of Folly Beach.”

Council Member McCarty said he would like more financial analysis.

Council Member Ellis motioned to postpone until February 21.

Motion passed, all in favor.

Ordinance 02-12 – An ordinance amending the Folly Beach Code of Ordinances, Chapter 31; City Government; by enacting a new Section 31.40; Municipal Election Commission. (First Reading, introduced by Mayor Goodwin.)

Passed, all in favor.

Ordinance 03-12 – An ordinance replacing Ordinance 24-11, stating that Licensed Transient Vendors from 2011 may continue into 2012.

Passed, all in favor.

COMMENTS

Council Member Paul Hume said he needed to make a correction about his statement regarding the Federal Government outlawing incandescent light bulbs.

“You can still buy them until they’re gone,” he said. “You just can’t manufacture them anymore. I needed to make that clear!”

Council Member DJ Rich thanked restaurant owners for their participation in Taste of Folly. He also reminded everyone about the fence-building party for the dog park this weekend.

Council Members Dale Stuckey, Eddie Ellis, and Pennell Clamp reminded everyone to contact legislators regarding the beach renourishment issue.

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Ever wonder what happened to the Folly Current’s Police Blotter?  Not me.  Here we are, three issues into 2012, and I’ve yet been able to obtain the police reports needed to write each piece. As a matter of fact, since taking over writing the Blotter after Blake Bunch left in the beginning of November, I’ve received only 2 sets of reports.  In spite of weekly requests, whether it be in person or via email, the most recent report I have is for a robbery at Kangaroo Gas Station on December 11.

For almost 2 months, each Monday that I walked up to the newly constructed, taxpayer-funded police barracks to get the promised printed reports, I’d find that the person assigned to do so wouldn’t be in until that night.  Or the following night.  Or out until Friday morning.  At any rate, aside from the first time —an occasion I’d later learn would spoil me — and one other apparent slip up, they’ve told me the best bet would be to come back the following Monday.  So Monday’s With David it became…until that Monday in January the man behind the glass informed me that Chief Brown decided to withhold the officer’s narratives from all future printed reports.

The problems with this are endless, first of which is that this whole two month long debacle appears at a time when the press/police relationship regarding the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act are already in the public eye. That being said, a decision to withhold the narratives from the police reports would alone make the Blotter cease to exist.  The only information available would boil down to ‘attempted robbery’ or ‘1^st Degree Assault.’  I would be forced to spin stories of crime and buffoonery around the beach, an exercise in stupidity that compromises the point of a city’s Blotter and benefits nobody.

To be fair, I was told I could take the one page reports and request narratives from there.  And, quite fairly, I asked if I could go ahead and request the Officer’s narrative for every report every time.  Of course, this only becomes pertinent if I could at least obtain a police report to begin with.  And of course, weeks later, here I am writing this.

Knowing of my editor’s working relationship with both Mayor Goodwin and Chief Brown, I clued him in on my troubles.  Stratton hopped on it without fail, teaching me about the SCFOIA as well as the Post and Courier’s recent foray into the same murky waters. In an email on January 13^th, Chief Brown explained the following:

Stratton, the Mayor called yesterday after your phone call. I want to release all the information we can but also need to ensure we are properly protecting our victims. I know this is a change from years past and I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. I do not want this to strain our excellent working relationship. I have several phone calls out for information. But I will release the narratives but may have to block some names out either way. I will reach out early next week.

Stratton responded with the following:

Hey Chief – I waited on your call last week.. Hoping we can get this squared away today. We have missed Blotter in the last two issues and have some major catching up to do.

Did you see the story in the Sunday edition of the Post & Courier? http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch12/0112/arc012213362891.shtml

It makes it pretty clear that these reports are public record, in their entirety. It may actually be wrong to be marking out names, although that’s fine with me since we won’t print them anyways. Of course, giving them to the Current without forcing us to constantly submit FOIA requests is your call.

Either way we need to get all of them. I need to tell David he can come get reports by 2 or 3 pm today, as his deadline to get the Blotter to me is 3 pm tomorrow.

Thanks! Stratton Lawrence

To which Chief Brown responded:

You were on my list of folks to touch base with today. I did read the Courier and did receive an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office. If the investigation is active we can restrict details pertinent to identifying the suspect. What I am going to do is print the reports out on Sunday and redact information as needed. Hope this helps.

Finally! On the same page. Right?  Just in case, Stratton sent out one more email:

That sounds good and I appreciate the help.

Can David pick up some reports today? He is about a month behind

Chief Brown responded with ‘Tomorrow.’  So I showed up this Wednesday afternoon only to receive the standard Monday response I’d grown accustomed to.
I understand printing “The Blotter Reports” is at the low end of the FBPD’s proverbial Totem pole of duties.  That being said, I‘m still not sure how it’s three months later and I‘ve only written one Blotter (and now this little tirade, I suppose).

At this point the corner being painted leads to filing FOIA reports for each issue, a tedious, headache inducing exercise for all parties involved.  Especially for something that could be so much easier.

Editor’s Note: While this piece by David Crawford should be read as opinion and entertainment, it does highlight a very real issue regarding the FOIA relationship between the press and the police, both on Folly Beach and in Charleston County. Our hope is to resume Blotter coverage in the next issue through a good faith relationship with Public Safety, hopefully avoiding the legal headache of submitting individual FOIA requests for a column many readers seek out and enjoy.

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February 4, 2012

The Tides Hotel on Folly Beach and BLU Restaurant and Bar are teaming up with Save the Light for the annual Save the Light Half-Marathon
and 5K walk or run. This weekend’s event is in efforts to raise funds for the stabilization and restoring process the Morris Island Lighthouse.

“This is an event that supports a tremendous cause and has continued to gain in popularity.  We at the Tides are hoping to help turn this into a premier event for Folly Beach and Charleston runners,” states Ken Merkel, the Tides General Manger.

The run will kick off Friday night at BLU Restaurant and Bar with a pasta dinner special for runners and family members from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The Tides Folly Beach, the Official Event Host, has also created special room rates and packages for the event and will host a post race awards ceremony.

This USATF certified event starts and finishes near the Pier on Folly Beach at 8:30 am. The Half-Marathon is a RUN ONLY event while the 5K is open for runners and walkers. For registration and more information visit www.actioncarolina.com.

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By Christine Wilkerson

With the ban on bicycles on the James Island Connector set to go into place as soon as signs are up, bikers will have no safe, legal way to get to the peninsula from James Island or the reverse. The news that the City of Charleston will start enforcing a little known rule that restricts bicycles on roads with exit and entrance ramps has frustrated and angered the community. Many bicyclists depend on the James Island Connector as a way to get to and from work, and recreational riders regularly use it to go out to Kiawah and Folly Beach.

It is not known when signs will go up, but Mayor Riley has said that the city will acknowledge the signs and will enforce the law. Tom Bradford of Charleston Moves says, “the alternative route over the Wappoo Cut bridge is extremely dangerous and predictably, people will get hurt or possibly killed.” Bradford believes the law is absurd and untenable in this day and age. Countless people commute across the connector on a daily basis. Charleston Moves will be meeting with Road Wise representatives in hopes of working towards a solution with the Department of Transportation.

Fran Clasby, who lives downtown, frequently uses the James island Connector to ride out to Folly Beach to visit his family. Clasby points out that the city of Charleston adopted a “Complete Streets” policy back in 2008 that unfortunately does not apply to the James island Connector.  The “Complete Streets” policy only applies to new or retrofitted roads. The policy states that in making decisions relating to the planning, design and maintenance of public street projects or public street reconstruction projects, the city shall ensure the accommodation of travel by pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit, and motorized vehicles and their passengers, in a regular part of the permitting process for such public street construction and/or reconstruction projects.

The resolution acknowledges that the city of Charleston is committed to creating thoroughfares that safely accommodate all modes of transportation. It also acknowledges that a large percentage of the Charleston population does not have access to personal automobiles and the only alternative transportation options are walking, bicycling or using public transit. It further states that increasing walking, cycling and the use of transit offers the potential to improve the health of the community, decrease congestion, decrease air pollution, decrease dependence on fossil fuels and their foreign supply sources, and increase the efficiency of road space and transportation resources.  The irony is that at this point in time, no plans have been announced by the mayor or Charleston city council or any other representatives of the city or county to contact DOT on behalf of the community to work out ways of keeping the James Island Connector open and make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Katie Zimmerman of the Coastal Conservation League points out that there are several inexpensive ways to make the James Island Connector safer for bicyclists, such as lowering the speed limit to 40, adding rumble strips and signage, and alerting motorists to look out for bicyclists.

“We’re a city that is supposed to be bicycle friendly,” Zimmerman points out. Charleston is indeed listed as one of the top 50 bicycle friendly cities in the United States in Bicycling magazine. CCL asks people to contact their elected officials at the local and state level and tell them the James Island Connector needs to be kept open and retrofitted to accommodate bikers and pedestrians.  Contact information for elected officials is available on CCL’s website.

Some feel the city is “blaming the victim” since Dr. Mitchell Hollon was killed on the Connector by a driver not paying attention.  All of a sudden there seems to be a liability problem, and instead of making it safer for bikers and pedestrians, they get banned all together. Others argue that the connector is a “freeway” because it might eventually join up with I-526, and therefore the ban is the right thing to do.  To make things even more confusing, the DOT has previously said the completion of the “526 parkway” would likely contain access for bicyclists and pedestrians. So then would all bikers and walker have to get off before crossing over to Calhoun Street?

I think the only thing most people can agree on is that the James Island Connector is the easiest and safest way for bicyclers to get back and forth to the peninsula. As a public road, it must be open to all modes of transportation.  Remember whose tax dollars paid for this thing.  Although we know there is a brain disease that stops all rational thought when people get elected, write them anyway and tell them how you feel about this. Write your council person, legislator, congress person and anyone else that might help and hope that maybe, just maybe once, they will listen to the will of the people.

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By Stratton Lawrence

A house fire or burglary can be a devastating event to a family, taking a toll both financially and in the emotional loss of losing one’s possessions and heirlooms. At the January 10 council meeting, Councilmember Eddie Ellis proposed two resolutions packaged together as ‘Operation Home Safe’ to help prevent break-ins and fires.

“Working with the chief of police, the fire marshal, and building official Eric Lutz, we developed a program where any full time resident can call public safety and set up an appointment to have the fire department come down with a checklist and inspect your home for fire safety hazards,” explains Ellis. “They’ll also give you tips on how to make it burglar proof and make your house more secure.”

The program would give participants free smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, provided they participate in a short training program on their usage. Ellis’ plan calls for $3,000 to be used from council discretionary funds to fund the program. He adds that participants would get a certificate from the city that could help obtain discounts from home insurance companies, also clarifying that a liability waver would prevent people from holding the City accountable in the event of an accident.

Ellis met some resistance from council, mostly in the form of requests for clarification and explicit caps on spending levels. He specified that the city would begin by purchasing about 200 smoke detectors and 80 fire extinguishers. The extinguishers would cost $18 each and the smoke alarms are $7, says building official Lutz.

Several council members pressed Ellis for details about limits on individual households, before voting unanimously to postpone the resolutions until after they could be discussed in a work session.

Mayor Goodwin says he thinks the city can pursue the resolution, but because of the financial obligation it could ultimately be tailored for senior citizens.

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Logistics of New Years Eve event bring tensions to light

By Stratton Lawrence

In the end, 2012 began on Folly Beach with a happy celebration. Dropping a giant pair of flip-flops as the clock struck midnight seemed right in line with our island’s laid back reputation. But unbeknownst to many of the revelers on Center Street, working out the logistics of where the flops would be dropped proved difficult.

When Charlotte Goodwin and Ken Hickman came before City Council on November 15 to request a variance allowing open containers outside for the midnight ‘Flip Flop Drop,’ everyone seemed on board. Their plan was to drop them from the 9^th floor of The Tides hotel, and Goodwin assured Council that she’d spoken with the hotel and gained their approval.

Weeks before New Years Eve, however, the plans were altered to drop the flops from the ladder of a fire truck, rather than the hotel. The Tides claims it never agreed to host the event in the first place.

“I personally believe it is unfair that some people in the community believe that The Tides reneged on the Flip Flop Drop,” says Jonathan Weitz, President of Avocet Properties, which owns and manages the hotel. “While it was discussed conceptually, Ken (Merkel – General Manager of the hotel) had some very serious logistical concerns and wanted to discuss the relationship with the City. We find it very unfortunate that The Tides was announced as the location before all the logistics could be discussed.”

According to Mayor Tim Goodwin (Charlotte is his wife), Avocet approached the city with a few requests in exchange for hosting the event. After serving food and drinks on the beach for over 20 years to customers who rent chairs in front of the hotel, says Merkel, the city disallowed that practice at the end of last summer. In addition, The Tides has met regulatory questions from the city in their efforts to move sand currently encroaching on their parking lot.

Lastly, Avocet took issue with Mayor Goodwin for insisting that a vacationing family of renters evacuate a house managed by the company that had a leaking septic system in November. Avocet Director of Property Management Dee Bruggeman explains that the house, located at 803 West Ashley, had a history of septic problems, requiring the owner to completely replace the system in early 2011. After a full summer season of rentals without incident, the system malfunctioned unexpectedly in the fall.

Mayor Goodwin balked at the idea of meeting Avocet’s requests in exchange for hosting the Flip Flop Drop at The Tides.

“We hold them to the same standards that we hold everybody,” says Goodwin. “We can’t give them a ‘bye’ on any city ordinance or regulation. Everybody has to be treated the same.”

Combined, Avocet and The Tides are the single largest tax contributor to the City of Folly Beach, says City Administrator Toni Connor-Rooks. Despite that, Goodwin says, he’s not willing to make special exceptions, even when a rule has been overlooked for decades.

In August, Goodwin says that he was offered a ‘shooter’ by a waitress from the hotel while talking with friends on the beach, nearly 200 yards from The Tides.

“We have an ordinance that says no goods or services can be sold on the beach except the rental of jet skis, umbrellas, and chairs, and those are by franchise; plus, the state says you can’t serve alcohol in a public place,” says Goodwin. “I can’t tell (Snapper Jack’s) and (Planet Follywood) and (Locklear’s) that they can sell food and drinks on the beach. If you play favorites like that then you get into a real problem.”

Tides GM Merkel believes that the hotel’s situation is unique.

“Even within the City administration, different people have interpreted that ordinance a lot differently than the Mayor does,” says Merkel. “We continue to try to improve and get more people down on Folly, and one of the ways to do that is to continue to improve on our guest experience.”

Merkel points out that hotel staff clean the public beach three times a week during the tourist season, at no cost to the city. He says that allowing customers to place an order at the hotel, or even from their rental chair, and have it delivered to them is integral to the hotel’s vision for the guest experience. Merkel admits that the employees who approached the Mayor may have ventured too far down the beach, but he disagrees that the action warranted a ‘hard mandate’ ceasing a long-standing practice at the hotel.

“It’s tough when you feel like you’re trying to do as much as you can, and it doesn’t feel like you’re appreciated or there’s no reciprocal-type thing,” says Merkel, adding that the beach-serving issue arose just before Hurricane Irene. With the season ending, the issue wasn’t again broached until conversations about the Flip Flop Drop commenced.

Merkel also voices frustration about efforts to remove sand from The Tides’ parking lot and place it back on the beach, claiming that the City has forced them to jump through hoops to gain approval.

Goodwin claims that for that particular issue, the City is simply assuring that the necessary steps are taken to assure that any sand-moving actions don’t affect requests for renourishment through the Army Corps of Engineers.

After the Thanksgiving weekend issues at 803 West Ashley, a million-dollar home, Avocet ultimately decided to drop the property from their rental listings. Bruggeman claims that the owner and Avocet actively worked to remedy the problem, pointing out that after the septic system was replaced, the number of guests listed for the house was dropped from 14 to 12. She adds that DHEC signed off on the new septic system as fully functional, and says the backup over Thanksgiving weekend came as a complete surprise.

Mayor Goodwin claims he received phone calls from neighbors upset about raw sewage leaking from the system. He personally visited the house, speaking with an Avocet representative who agreed to relocate the vacationing family to another property. Bruggeman claims that the Mayor addressed the guests directly, while Goodwin says he dealt specifically with Avocet’s property manager.

Goodwin says it’s just another case of enforcing the rules fairly with every business.

“You can’t keep having sewer running down the street, and you can’t sell goods on the beach. The Tides property line ends at the sea wall,” says the Mayor. “Just because nobody complained or got caught in the past, it’s just like speeding — don’t get mad when the one guy does catch you.”

Regarding the Flip Flop Drop, The Tide’s Merkel says that not hosting it had little to do with the other issues they addressed with the city. The hotel hosted its largest private party to date on New Years Eve, and Merkel had serious concerns about onlookers viewing the Drop without filtering through the hotel and into the private party, which featured fireworks on the beach side of the hotel.

“The logistics just got to be overwhelming,” says Merkel. “With the fact that we were battling a high tide at 12:20 a.m. that evening, all indications pointed to it being a nightmare to monitor it and provide extra security.”

Avocet’s Weitz adds that the company was open to discussions about making the Drop work at the hotel, but that “the strained relationship with the City did not put us in the best frame of mind to try to work through those logistical issues.”

Weitz points out that his company donates space and food to the Surfer’s Healing nonprofit, office space to Save the Light, and land for children’s activities during the Sea and Sand Festival.

“We think it is important for local businesses to be a part of the fiber of the community and actively participate to make the community better.  Our actions over the last six years have demonstrated our commitment to keeping Folly Beach a great place,” says Weitz. “However, it has to be a two-way street and the city also needs to recognize that we are a part of this community and contribute greatly to the revenue needed to provide vital city services.”

During the first two weeks of January, The Tides and BLU Restaurant closed their doors for an early spring cleaning and renovation, investing $250,000 in new paint, refinished floors, steam cleaning, and an overhaul to the pool area. The hotel reopened on January 13.

“We are not looking for preferential treatment, we just would like to be able to continue to provide the great customer service we have become known for,” says Weitz. “I think it would be great to be able to sit down with City officials and discuss what they would like to see from the island’s only full service hotel. We have tried very hard to differentiate ourselves from all the other hotels that line the strip in Myrtle Beach and other beach towns by providing a unique beachfront experience.”

Weitz stresses that the guest experience extends to the beach area in front of the hotel, and says that allowing guests to order a hamburger from their beach chair has been common practice for years (since before his company even purchased the hotel) and is part of the hotel’s effort to show visitors ‘how great Folly is.’

As both the largest taxpayer and an influential member of the business community, Avocet and The Tides’ perception of a deteriorating relationship with the City could have larger ramifications. Merkel points out that the City’s financial coffers have largely weathered the national recession, thanks in large part to the people that visit Folly Beach and the tax dollars that thus reach the local government.

Since the Folly Current began making inquiries to council members about the issue, an ‘olive branch’ has been extended to the company, and a meeting to work out the perceived issues is in the works.

Mayor Goodwin also emphasizes that he’s always available to talk and work out any problems. “But I am not in a position to tell anyone that they can do things that are not just like everybody else can do them,” he adds.

“We just want to give Folly wider appeal and get more people to come down here,” says The Tides’ Merkel. “It’d be a lot easier if we were all getting along together.”

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