Seriously – isn’t it hard to believe we are already thinking and planning for back-to-school time? This summer I hope you have enjoyed some fun on our island or another piece of paradise elsewhere.
As we have done in the past few years, we will be meeting with representatives from numerous area partners - Mt. Pleasant, Sullivans Island, Charleston County, SCDOT, ABC News 4 and others - to debrief on the traffic and safety issues associated with our busy tourist season to review what worked and where we can improve. These meetings typically happen in October each year. For now, though, I do want to give a huge shoutout to all our city staff for their efforts to keep things going and safe year-round but especially when we have so many visitors on our island. If you see one of our employees around our community, stop and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.
Recently, you may have seen some news coverage of a lawsuit settled between multiple South Carolina municipalities/counties and Airbnb. In February, Airbnb agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against them in 2021 over unpaid accommodations taxes and business license fees. The City of Isle of Palms was one of several Lowcountry municipalities involved in the suit, joining Charleston, North Charleston, Folly Beach, Mount Pleasant and Edisto Beach. As part of the $60 million settlement, Isle of Palms received $1.1 million, which we have allocated to our Beach Preservation Fund. These funds will support beach renourishment efforts, including the restoration of protective dunes and the placement of additional sand in the most affected areas. This was a long process but a great result for our city.
I hope you will participate in the upcoming events in our community:
August 9th – Annual Half-Rubber Tournament – IOP Rec Center, games begin at 8:00 a.m.
August 12th – Special City Council meeting – Workshop – City Hall, 5:00 p.m.
August 14th– Sea Stroll and Learn – 25th Avenue beach access, 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
August 21st – Farmers Market – IOP Rec Center, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
August 26th – City Council meeting – City Hall, 6:00 p.m.
August 29th – Coffee with the Mayor – IOP Rec Center, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve! See you around the island.
Phillip Pounds, Mayor IOP
843-252-5359