Spring/Summer 2019 JOIN US Annual Meeting and BBQ April 27, 2019 4:00 PM Edisto Beach Civic Center, 42 Station Ct. Meeting 4-5 Social 5-5:30 Dinner and Carryout starts at 5:30 www.ebpoa.org Established in 1985 The EBPOA does not endorse any candidate. We are non-political. We supply information so you can make informed decisions about the Town of Edisto Beach. Despite increasing costs with postage, legal expenses, etc. your Board has maintained the current dues over the last several years. Annual dues $30.00. This rate applies to a family or a single individual. This $30.00 rate applies whether you are able to attend the Annual Meeting and BBQ or not. There has been some confusion as to the policy, but the Annual Meeting, BBQ and social hour are complimentary for those able to attend. We are now over 1000 members strong. Edisto Beach information is emailed to members and/or added to our website (www.ebpoa.org), not opinion, just information to help preserve and protect Edisto Beach. Statement of Purpose To incorporate property owners in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, in order to function adequately, properly and in a timely manner on any and all matters in which we have a similar or common interest. To protect our beach and its environs, its residents and people from excessive population density, over-development and commercialization. To have legal representation on a retainer basis so that our Association will be able to act in unison on any question that may be controversial, illegal or potentially damaging to our way of life. To have an organization which will have representatives at each and every meeting of our municipal government and in this regard to have proper input into the activities of our town council, its boards and committees.
-2- President s Report This indeed has been a busy & challenging year. Water System Upgrade Project A major concern has been with the schedule for the system falling behind, and the prime contractor, Wharton-Smith, not seemingly focused on ultimately bringing the project in on schedule. Once this became known to the Town leadership and to their constituents including EBPOA in October, 2018, an aggressive effort was initiated by the Town s Mayor and Town Administrator resulting in the following: 1. The prime contractor s Architect/Engineer (A-E) of record, Thomas & Hutton, completed & delivered the required design documents in December, 2018 for DHEC to consider in granting a construction permit for the RO Water Treatment Plant (WTP). DHEC granted the permit on December 20, 2018. 2. The Town hired a project engineer, Arnold Ellison, to oversee the water system upgrade project for the Town. He has issued seven progress reports to date beginning on January 3, 2019. 3. Wharton-Smith has assigned a seasoned Project Manager, Brandon Campbell, to manage Wharton- Smith s daily activities. 4. The Town has committed to a completion date for the RO WTP of October 23, 2019. 5. The Town has issued an eleven page schedule for the RO WTP which reflects the October 23, 2019 milestone completion date for the RO WTP. Note that the reason the RO WTP is the primary focus is because the project s critical path runs directly through the RO WTP. The current projected completion date of October 23, 2019 is much later than the late spring/early summer, 2019 completion date projected originally. However, it is clear the Town has turned their prime contractor around with the project now moving, in our opinion, toward a successful completion of the ROWTP in the fourth quarter of this year. Certainly, the October, 2019 date may be achieved but completion in the fourth quarter would be more a reasonable assumption and a notable finish. Finally, what would be a reasonable date to expect that good water will be in our homes? Assuming a fourth quarter completion of the RO WTP, then final testing and commissioning activities must be completed which hopefully will conclude with a DHEC operating permit. Thus we would optimistically project late 2019 to early 2020 for good water in our homes. We ll have a better handle on this in late spring. We will continue to monitor on a weekly basis. We do clearly have a long way to go and we should expect this to be a challenge for our Town management and their contractors. We ll keep you advised. Thank you for your continuing support and I look forward to seeing many of you at our Annual Meeting on April 27, 2019. Membership Committee Bob Sandifer, President Good Water on the way As the Membership Committee, our task is to maintain the records of the EBPOA. In reviewing our current rolls, we see that our membership covers a wide spectrum of backgrounds, interests and locations. While we were founded to support our Edisto Beach property owners, we are discovering that an increasing number of our members are not owners of property at Edisto Beach, but they are people who have fallen in love with our little seaside town in one way or another, they love spending time here, and they have encouraged our work by joining the EBPOA. We informally call them Friends of Edisto, and we love having them in our organization. What binds all of us is the common desire to Keep Edisto, Edisto. During this membership drive, we welcome back all of you who are renewing your memberships, all new property owners, and all who want to be Friends of Edisto. We look forward to working together in 2019! Archie and Beth Johnston, Membership Committee
-3- beachfront property owners. The easements would extend seaward of a line which can be found at the EPBOA (www.ebpoa.org), click here. Also on this site is shown a construction line which delineates the landward toe of the proposed dune. The extent of the project would be from the state park to Big Bay Creek. Speaker 2018 Treasurer s Report We concluded 2018 with $38,354.62 in assets. Financially, EBPOA remains positioned to take action if the need arises to protect our membership s interest. Many thanks to our Board members and those from our general membership who have contributed so much to our success. Your continued hard work and support are key to us continuing to be effective in protecting our membership s interest. All of you are very important to the success we have enjoyed since our founding in 1985. Sjannah Sanders, Treasurer The initial project will be paid for 65% by the Corps and 35% by the town. The project is projected to be for a 50 year duration with renourishment scheduled at 16 year intervals. Hurricane repairs within the easement area will be totally at the Corps expense as will the scheduled renourishments. If renourishment due to erosion is required between the 16 year intervals the town will have to pay 35%. The controversial stipulation of the easement is that it must be perpetual, nonexclusive, irrevocable and assignable The Town Administrator, Iris Hill, is investigating whether the Corps will change the perpetual language to something like for the duration of the project since the project is only authorized for 50 years. Any extension of the project would fall under the duration time frame without alteration to the easement. Likewise, a cancellation of the project would terminate the easement. At present, the location of the easement line is adjustable and a meeting with Corps representative is being scheduled to discuss line locations, easement terms, and dune and berm dimensions. The meeting will be, as always, open to the public at a time and date to be announced. David Cannon Beachfront Committee Report As you may be aware, the Army Corps of Engineers has received funding for a renourishment project consisting of building an approximately 7 foot high dune (as measured from the natural ground level) and a berm extending seaward from the dune. The project is contingent on obtaining easements from 100% of the
Edisto Beach Property Owners Association P.O. Box 147 Edisto Island, SC 29438 \ Board of Directors: Bob Sandifer, President Mickey Blancett George Kostell John Morgan, Vice President Charlie Boozer Lois Morgan David Cannon, Secretary Patsy Cannon Ron Scroggy Sjannah Sanders, Treasurer Mary Kay Dirr Greg Smith Archie Johnston Beth Johnston Bill Smyer Patti Smyer Mickey Van Metre