Home Inspection in Isle of Palms, SC

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD)–The Isle of Palms City Council made a decision on hiring a new executive administrator Wednesday in a special meeting.

This comes after controversy surrounding the circumstances under which the candidate was chosen.

The city voted to offer Douglas Kerr the position, after he had served previously as the administrative assistant, however many citizens are frustrated saying that proper procedure for selecting Kerr was not followed.

Isle of Palms has been searching for a new executive administrator since late 2024 when the previous administrator announced her resignation. They announced Tuesday afternoon that they had chosen the previous administrative assistant Douglas Kerr for the position in a 6 to 3 vote. Mayor Pounds says he believes they hired the best person for the job.

“We’ve had a significant amount of turnover in the last five years in our leadership team, between fire chief, police chief, rec director, finance director. We have a couple other key retirements coming up this year and from my view, institutional knowledge is really critical. There is a lot of projects going on and they are multiyear projects typically and to have some of that history stay with us is critical to keep the city running in a good way,” said Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds.

Last night at the city council meeting, many residents expressed frustration with the selection process. They say Kerr was not one of the five candidates narrowed down by the committee and was added to the list by the mayor without the city’s approval.

“No actions may be taken by the mayor independent of a council vote. So, the process itself, there has never been a public meeting whereby a decision to add Douglas Kerr into the mix of candidates has been made. That’s been researched and that’s a fact. The mayor acted outside his authority, void of process, void of integrity and inserted this candidate into a process where we all knew unfortunately, he had 5 votes to push through and that’s what we witnessed today,” said Randy Bell, a former Isle of Palms city councilmember.

News 2 reached out to the city to confirm the list of five finalists and have not heard back.

Another point of contention in the meeting was the salary increase for the role, which is expected to be between $150,000 and $180,000. During public comment at the February 25th meeting, residents said was an incentive for Kerr to apply for the position, that he had previously not expressed interest in.

Now that Kerr has been offered the position, Mayor Pounds hopes the public can move forward

“The only decision this council needed to make was who is the best person for this job, for this city. In my personal opinion, I feel like we did that. Hopefully we can get it negotiated quickly, and we can move forward,” said Pounds.

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Published: Feb. 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM EST|:

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - Isle of Palms leaders have applied for permits to dredge parts of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway and the city marina to deepen the water access.

The permits, filed in January, note that parts of the marina measure only eight feet deep and the plans are to make the intercoastal entrance 12 feet deep and the Morgan Creek inlet where the marina is located ten feet deep.

The project is part of regular upkeep and the last time the marina was dredged was in 2011. Mayor Phillip Pounds says it’s an important way to preserve waterway access.

“We spend so much time and effort on the beach side of our island. This marina, this dock, the dredging, you know, it’s the focus on the intercoastal side or the creek area that sometimes doesn’t get as much attention as you like, but again, the purpose of the marina was to provide access to the water for those that didn’t have it,” Pounds says.

In 2023, the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism earmarked $1.5 million for the city to spend on dredging. That source will be the main fund for the work, which does not have a final price tag as it is in the early application stage.

“It just naturally silts back in. So it’s time to do that again. So hopefully we’ll get the permit this year, and at some point, line up a contractor and get the project done, maybe late this year, more likely first half of next year,” Pounds says.

The project plans to remove up to 20,000 cubic yards of soil, sand and silt material from the bottom of the channel. There are a few proposals for what to do with those materials.

Ideas include putting the materials under the Isle of Palms connector, onto Goat Island, at Inlet Creek or Swinton Creek on the opposite side of the intercoastal waterway. Another proposal is to put the sediment material on parts of the Wild Dunes Harbor Course, building up the land.

The routine dredging applications come around the same time the city celebrated the opening of its first public dock on the intercoastal waterway.

The mayor and city leaders hope to continue improving the plot of land at 40 51st Avenue making it an asset for visitors and residents alike.

“They’ve added a boat club with our new tenant over here at the marina. So it’s just been a lot of amenities added to this area and improvements made. We’ve invested a lot of time and energy and money, obviously, out here,” Pounds says.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Protecting the South Carolina coast is a priority for many, including coastal community leaders, environmental advocates, state and federal lawmakers, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This week, these stakeholders are gathering at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms for the 11th annual South Carolina Beach Advocates meeting. (WCIV)

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — Protecting the South Carolina coast is a priority for many, including coastal community leaders, environmental advocates, state and federal lawmakers, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This week, these stakeholders are gathering at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms for the 11th annual South Carolina Beach Advocates meeting.

IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds emphasized the importance of preserving the coastline, describing the area as "a slice of paradise" with its seven miles of beach, easy access, ample parking, and vibrant local businesses.

However, maintaining the beachfront is both challenging and costly. Mayor Pounds revealed that the city plans to participate in a $20 million renourishment project next year, with the city bearing a significant portion of the cost. He expressed a desire for the state to play a more active role in funding such initiatives.

"For us not to have an ongoing state-level funding mechanism for beach renourishment is something that needs to change," said Pounds. "That's one of the main focuses of this group."

Pounds noted that future renourishment spending could reach $200 million in the coming decades. While the city plans to fund most of the work for now, Pounds acknowledged the need for external assistance.

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"We can't tax our way out of that scenario. We can't bring enough short-term rentals. We can't bring enough tourists to the island to pay for that," he said.

The city is exploring partnerships with the state and other entities, including early discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Several other coastal communities have already partnered with the Army Corps.

Jeff Livasy of the Army Corps of Engineers highlighted the significance of their work in the region. "It means everything to us. Although we're a part of the federal government, we live, work and play here in the Lowcountry," Livasy said.

The Army Corps' Charleston division recently completed a renourishment project on Folly Beach. Livasy emphasized their long-term commitment to coastal projects, stating, "We partner with them for the long term. Not just annual projects. But some of our projects have a fifty-year life."

Published: Mar. 1, 2025 at 11:21 PM EST|:

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - Isle of Palms had their annual Front Beach Fest on Saturday.

The popular annual event marks the unofficial start of tourist season.

Ocean Boulevard was alive with music and laughter as a large crowd of locals and visitors gathered for the festival.

Festivalgoers had the chance to enjoy food, shop from local vendors, and listen to live music.

Isle of Palms Recreation Supervisor Kelsey Marsh said the event takes around six months to plan. This year, he said they sifted through more than 200 vendor applications.

“We have 54 vendors. We fit as many local vendors as we can. We like to have restaurants all out here. They don’t have as much business in the offseason, so this is a great way for them to kick off their busy season,” Marsh said.

He said area businesses greatly benefit from the festival, especially during the slower off-season months, and the beach fest acts as a vibrant kickoff to the bustling tourist season.

City Councilman Rusty Streetman said the event festival greatly benefits local businesses and restaurants, especially during the slower off-season months.

He said the fest is like the unofficial kickoff for the busy and vibrant tourist season imminently approaching.

“It’s at a time of the year when we don’t have summer tourists. So, it’s here in our shoulder season so that people that typically would not be at Front Beach this time of the year have an opportunity to come out here and enjoy themselves,” Streetman said.

With a large crowd of attendees, Streetman said both residents and visitors are clearly eager for the upcoming hustle and bustle that the sunshine-filled season brings.

“Being able to be with our neighbors who live on the island, being able to greet people who do not live on the island and also welcome them. Just the whole crowd, the music, the food, the whole vibe is just very positive,” he said.

For others, the festival offers a valuable opportunity to raise awareness for their charity and showcase the pups they’re working hard to find loving homes.

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One organization that had a table set up at the festival is called Rosie Rescue, a Mount Pleasant-based non-profit dedicated to rescuing dogs from euthanasia lists at overcrowded shelters.

“I think a lot of times, some rescue dogs and shelter dogs get a bad rep,” Rose Rescue volunteer Lisa Cates said. “When they’re out mingling among everybody, you really get to see their personality, how friendly they are, how amazing they are. I mean, we’ve got dogs here that are just suckering everybody in. It really just shows their personality that you don’t get to see if you just go to a shelter and are walking through the kennels and everything. It’s really good exposure for them.”

Cates mentioned that there were numerous inquiries about the dogs available for adoption, highlighting the event’s success in connecting people with these lovable pups.

For resident Mark Behan, Front Beach Fest was his first outing since moving to Summerville from New York.

“I feel like I’m on vacation every day, and that’s why I love living here. I feel like I’m not miserable when I wake up and it’s not 10 degrees, and I can wear a T-shirt every day, and it’s great. Vacation vibes,” Behan said.

Front Beach Fest organizers said the event gets bigger and bigger every year.

While many are soaking up the vacation-like atmosphere, restaurant employees are also getting a taste of summer, as the festival signals the return of a busier work season for local staff.

With something for everyone, the festival not only brought the community together but also marked the perfect start to the busy season.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Charleston and Isle of Palms agreed to settle a lawsuit against a number of short-term rental companies, including Airbnb and VRBO, in an attempt to recoup some taxes and fees that the businesses owe.

Both city and town councils approved a settlement agreement at their respective meetings on Jan. 28. But neither government publicly disclosed how money they will receive from the businesses that have been operating for years without paying local accommodation taxes or business license fees, according to the complaint.

Attorney Jesse Kirchner, who along with two other lawyers, represents 14 South Carolina cities, towns and counties that joined the suit. He told The Post and Courier after Charleston's vote that the deal isn't final until all municipalities sign off. Once all agree, Kirchner said details of the settlement will be released.

Earlier this month, Mount Pleasant Town Council accepted a payout of nearly $500,000 in the same suit. Mayor Will Haynie, the lone vote against the settlement, disclosed the figure that Mount Pleasant would get saying it was not enough to "make up for what it's going to do to this town."

Haynie said he's worried about state legislation that could remove the town's cap on short-term rental permits and essentially open the floodgates to these companies that collect from tourists taxes and fees that never make it to the localities they're visiting.

The municipalities that initiated the lawsuit are some of South Carolina's biggest tourism destinations, including Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, North Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island. Mount Pleasant later joined the suit, as did Beaufort County, Edisto Beach, Port Royal and Greenville.

The complaint alleges the companies failed to pay local accommodations taxes and, in some cases, business license fees despite collecting payment from rental operators and vacationers who use their sites.

Annual license fees are based on a businesses' gross income, according to the city of Charleston's website. This year, the city expects to collect $52 million from the licenses — the city's second-highest revenue generator behind property taxes, according to figures from a November budget workshop. The money flows into the city's general fund, which covers its day-to-day operation.

Municipalities across the state levy accommodations taxes of up to 3 percent on hotels and other rented lodgings. In Charleston, the tax is set at 2 percent. The fee is paid by the renter, collected by the hotel or business renting the space, and paid to the municipality.

This year, Charleston expects to bring in nearly $12 million through the local Accommodations Tax, or "A-tax" as its commonly called. The money helps pay for upkeep of popular tourism spots. At the city’s historic Battery, the tax funded a six-year and nearly $75 million restoration of the crumbling century-old sea wall.

Short-term rentals, and how to manage them, have been a sticking point for many communities. Charleston and Folly Beach are among a handful of municipalities that have instituted regulations or caps on short-term rentals. North Charleston recently considered the same.

Editor's note: The headline has been updated to reflect that the pending settlement only involves Airbnb. No other defendant has settled, according to attorney Jesse Kirchner.

Reach Ali Rockett at 843-901-1708. Follow her on Twitter @AliRockettPC.