Council members discuss important issues in advance of April 5 election
by Jenny Peterson | Staff Writer
Four candidates are running for three open seats on Folly Beach City Council and Mayor Tim Goodwin is running unopposed at an election set for Tuesday, April 5.
Two council candidates, D.J. Rich and William Farley, are seeking re-election; Eddie Ellis was previously on Folly Beach council and local attorney Keith Bolus would be a newcomer to the council.
Here, candidates discuss the issues they feel are most important, how they’d tackle short-term rentals and what excites them about the future.
Voters can head to the polls on Tuesday, April 5 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Baptist Fellowship Hall, 61 West Indian St.
The last day to register to vote by mail is March 5. The last day to register in person at the board of elections in North Charleston is Friday, March 4. Visit www.scvotes.gov for information.
D.J. RICH
Co-Owner, Planet Follywood
Why are you running for city council?
It has been an honor to serve as your representative for over 10 years now and I want to thank you for your continued support. We have been working hard to protect natural resources, increase safety, promote livability and provide top notch city services, all while maintaining one of the lowest tax rates in Charleston County. Folly Beach City Council has accomplished an extensive list during the last decade including recent projects like replacing our aging water pipes, island wide drainage projects, instituting a dune protection buffer and standing strong against big government for our island’s COVID-19 protection. We also put great plans in place for our island’s next 10 years, and with our strategic, beach preservation and comprehensive plans in place, we have a great path ahead. I look forward to our community’s future. We must continue our path forward, build on what previous councils have done, and not reinvent the wheel. We still have 60-year-old pipes to replace. We still need to protect our natural resources. We still have drainage projects to complete. We will always need to look for new, innovative revenue streams (along with maintaining small government) to keep our taxes low. We will always have beach renourishment and stabilization projects to fight for. With your vote on April 5, I would be proud to continue that path forward and fight for Folly Beach.
List three things that you think are the most important issues facing the city.
Beach renourishment and stabilization are always the City’s top priority. We have made great strides over the years to ensure continued federal, state, and local funding. We are committing paid parking revenues and enacted a 1% accommodations tax specifically for beach funding. Our beach management team (Mayor Goodwin, Dr. Nicole Elko, Aaron Pope and Eric Lutz) are rock stars at working with the Army Corps, renourishment triggering, finding local sand sources and obtaining storm renourishments. All in all, we are on a great track in this department. Moving on from that, our top issues are infrastructure and livability. These are constantly evolving issues that need continued improvements. We have accomplished a lot of drainage projects and we need to continue working on them. We have made great strides with Short Term Rental nuisance issues and are in the middle of enhanced regulations to keep the community’s character. We have enhanced pedestrian paths, recreation offerings, park systems, safety and other livability improvements, and we will continue to work on them.
Pick the one that’s most important to you and how will you go about working on it?
One item that I am particularly fond of is reworking Arctic Avenue. While working on the Center Street committee a few years ago, it became evident that Arctic Ave should be next for improvement. It addresses livability, safety, infrastructure and more. Our ideas then included one wide travel lane, marked paid parking on each side, and a multiuse path that is separate from traffic that would be a safe passage for pedestrians, bikes, etc. Improving the paid parking will help provide funds for beach renourishment and other amenities such as bathrooms. We saw it as a win-win situation then, and I still see it that way now. We have bids out for engineered improvement recommendations, so stay tuned as this project progresses. Hopefully we can turn some of these ideas into reality
Do you feel the council has a responsibility to do anything to limit or modify short-term rentals (STRs) on the island?
We are in the middle of this adventure now. With the recent rise in real estate prices, a lot of our properties are selling and converting into short term rentals. It’s a double edge sword. The accommodation tax dollars that STR provide are a huge portion of our annual budget. This allows us to keep our residents’ taxes low, help provide top notch city amenities (public works, public safety, recreation, etc), infrastructure replacement, beach renourishment and more. Without STR, we would not be able to keep this level of service. We also have residents who use STR to supplement housing costs. Tourism is our only industry, and without it, the local taxes would skyrocket. The other side of the sword is the negative effects of STR. Livability issues such as noise, parking, turnover, etc. are items we are always evaluating and trying to keep minimal. We don’t want to lose our community character by losing residents and becoming an island dominated by STR, but we also need to be cautious with property rights. We must find an acceptable balance, and that is something we are and will continue to work on.
What excites you the most about the future of Folly Beach?I
t is exciting to see the fruition of our last 10 years. Government works very slow, so it takes time to see the final product. We’ve been on a great path protecting natural resources, enhancing community character, and keeping a conservative budget while vastly increasing our reserve funds. We need to continue the path so that we leave the next group of leaders with a solid foundation. We need to continue the path to keep our community character. We need to continue the path to keep Folly the island we love.
EDDIE ELLIS
Local Business Owner
Why are you running for city council?
I am running for City Council, because it is the public service I’m most suited for. The 16 years on Council make up almost a third of my life. It is a part of me. It is in my heart and soul. The experience and knowledge I bring to the table make me a valuable asset to the group. I have proven that I am an effective, passionate, and loyal public servant.
List three things that you think are the most important issues facing the city.
1. Zoning and Land Use – a city’s atmosphere, in terms of character, energy, aesthetics, and impression are all defined through zoning and land use.
2. Community Safety – It is often said that all politics are local. This is never more real than when your home is on fire or when your loved one needs emergency medical attention. Our local government is responsible for providing these services.
3. Fiduciary Responsibility – Almost every issue is affected by city finances. Every service provided must be financed some way.
Pick the one that’s most important to you and how will you go about working on it?
Fiduciary Responsibility. If elected, I will continue to contribute reasonable, obtainable, prudent goals to the City’s ongoing strategic plan. I will continue to locate outside revenue streams, as well as work with Mayor and Council as a team to achieve the same. I have an extensive, proven voting record of making sound, prudent decisions with tax dollars. Over the years, I have helped increase the city’s reserves, re-organized the structure of the city’s water and sewer utilities to operate self-sufficiently, covered and rebounded from massive unexpected expenditures and increased, improved, and maintained the city’s capital assets, and kept the tax rate low.
Do you feel the council has a responsibility to do anything to limit or modify short-term rentals (STRs) on the island
Mayor and Council have the responsibility of zoning and land use, as well as ordinances addressing livability issues. Therefore, in the State of South Carolina, for every local government, the answer is yes. The City of Folly Beach has already modified how STR will operate through city regulations and has limited and quantified the number of STR through mandatory licensing and registration. Furthermore, the City established a STR Committee and has received its findings and recommendations. Mayor and Council will address this after the election. You will want me on Council for this vote! I have always supported STR, as I and so many others have made a living over the past twenty years from the industry. However, if an unprecedented, unreasonable increase in STR has a significant negative impact on Folly’s quality of life, and/or decreases the year-round population to the point of Folly turning into a resort city, I will be justifiably concerned. I am in the input and information gathering process of addressing this issue. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and input at eddieellis333@gmail.com or 843-518-1670.
What excites you the most about the future of Folly Beach?
What excites me most about Folly’s future is that as population grows, we will have many new neighbors. The 2020 US Census documents a year-over-year population growth on Folly Beach, and estimates the same in the future. I’m really excited and pleased to meet these new residents.
KEITH BOLUS
Local Attorney
Why am I running for City Council?
I believe that I can make a difference. I have lived on Folly full-time since 1986 and having been raised on James Island and Folly Beach, I have a historical, institutional knowledge of Folly, which will be beneficial guiding Folly to the future. I believe that my legal background as an attorney of 35 years will be a great asset for City Council. A lot of issues that Council deals with have a legal component. While the City has outstanding legal counsel, sometimes a second opinion can help even if it’s just knowing what questions to ask. Also, I want to give back to the community that has given so much to my family and I.
List three things that I think are most important issues facing the city.
The most important issue that is largely hidden is beach renourishment. It largely goes unmentioned because the Mayor and the City has done a fantastic job of securing Federal contracts for renourishment. With rising seas, renourishment will become even more crucial for Folly’s future. If elected, I will assist in any way that I can. The second issue, which is closely related to the first, is flooding. Again, with rising seas, flooding has been and will be a greater concern. Folly simple cannot retreat from the coast. The City must assist homeowners in ways to protect property. The third issue is, of course, Short Term Rental or STR. I have been sounding the alarm about this for the last 15 years. Solutions range from outright bans to increasing the fees to operate STRs. Whatever the resolution is, it must be accompanied by enforcement. You can have the best rules around, but they mean nothing if not enforced.
Pick the one that’s most important to you and how will you go about working on it?
The issue today that is adversely affecting residents’ quality of life are short-term rentals. A short-term rental committee, commissioned by the Mayor, has issued some useful suggestions and I believe their recommendations are a good place to start. While I believe that a majority of the residents want changes, and I am one of them, there is a wide range of solutions. If elected, I will work with all stakeholders in devising a commonsense solution.
Do you feel the council has a responsibility to do anything to limit or modify short-term rentals (STRs) on the island? Absolutely. (See above answer)
What excites you the most about the future of Folly Beach? What excites me the most about the future is the present and that is the people of Folly. Folly is a unique mix of individuals. I have been to many different beach communities, but there no place quite like Folly. So, what excites me is that I get to live here on Folly, warts and all. Long live Folly!
WILLIAM FARLEY
Retired, former Chief of Police in Gaston County, NC
Why are you running for city council?
I am seeking re-election to continue my passion and dedication to serving the community of Folly Beach. Since the beginning of my law enforcement career (in 1982) I have always been a public servant. I continued public service when I accepted a position with the FBPS Beach Patrol (2016) and when I was elected to City Council (2018). Since then, I have applied my education (Masters of Public Administration), unique skillset and experience in the service to Folly Beach. I have been a team player who has worked well with citizens, city staff, and my colleagues on Council. I have been actively engaged in identifying and addressing problems and have been a part of our city’s successful pursuit of Strategic Plan goals. We have made great progress towards improving our infrastructure, preserving our beach and improving city services. In the last four years, our City has become safer, cleaner and stronger. I would be honored to maintain my position on council and keep this momentum moving forward over the next four years.
List three things that you think are the most important issues facing the city?
Infrastructure improvements, beach preservation and livability/quality of life.
Pick the one that’s most important to you and how will you go about working on it?
Infrastructure improvement and beach preservation are important issues to our city. Council has implemented a multi-year plan to address these challenges. It will be incumbent of future councils to stay the course and to continue with the multi-year plan for these improvements. Livability and the quality of life are a continual challenge for Folly Beach. As a city, we have no problem attracting vacationers to our city on the Edge of America. We have been highly successful in promoting ourselves as a desirable destination. We have been less effective in demonstrating that Folly is a wonderful place to call home. We need to fix that. Short term rentals are but a part of the problem. Four years ago, changes were made that addressed some of these issues, but that is not enough. There are good restrictions in place, but we need to do a better job of enforcement. The Short Term Rental Committee has worked hard and they have made several suggestions to alleviate some concerns. I believe we are moving in the right direction. We have improved programs to help build our community of residents. The creation of a Community Coordinator Position and the development of a more robust parks and recreation program have all occurred in the last four years. FamCamp and holiday programs all help to build this sense of belonging. We need to continue developing these local focused programs. These programs should be not only for our youth but also our adult citizens. This is how communities are built, united, and ultimately how they thrive.
Do you feel that council has a responsibility to do anything to limit or modify short term rentals (STRs) on the island?
Yes, council does have a responsibility to address Short Term Rentals. Council is responsible for making sure Folly Beach remains a great place not only to visit, but also a great place to call home. The Short Term Rental Committee has done a great job of analyzing the situation and presenting a variety of responses to address the problem. The next step will be to take these responses and engage all of our community, involve staff, and implement effective and balanced policies/practices for our City. I look forward to being part of this effort.
What excites you most about the future of Folly Beach?
Our desirable location, dedicated community, and unique beauty ensure a very bright future for Folly Beach. During the last couple years while dealing with a pandemic crisis our team has accomplished so much. One only needs to look at the report on the Strategic Plan to see what we have accomplished, and what we are on track to accomplish. Pedestrian paths, a refurbished City Hall, new public safety equipment, removal of derelict vessels from the river, and a solid plan to renew water and drainage infrastructure are but a few examples. I am grateful to have been part of such a great team and I ask for your vote to continue the work for the next four years.
