Quartz CountertopsNear Sullivan's Island, SC

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The mayor of Sullivan’s Island fired the latest salvo Wednesday afternoon in a battle over how much the town owes the Charleston Water System for service as it faces a July deadline.

Mayor Patrick O’Neal released the following statement Wednesday in response to the water utility’s blasting of a proposal that would have the town pay a fraction of what Charleston Water System says is the balance due:

Charleston Water System wants the town to ignore the terms of the signed agreement we entered into almost 30 years ago, after Hurricane Hugo devastated our independent deep water well system. We entered into that agreement at a significant cost to ensure that our residents would have certainty as to the source of our water for decades to come. It’s hard now to accept the baseless claim that CWS (or anyone else) is “subsidizing” Sullivan’s Island when we paid almost $2 million — in 1994 dollars — to support the infrastructure that allowed them to sell water to us and to our neighbors on the Isle of Palms, and when in 2020 we gifted them an easement through our public park and playground so there would be additional capacity to sell water to our neighbors in Mount Pleasant.

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The Charleston Water System on Tuesday responded to a motion passed during Monday night’s town council meeting that proposed the paying of $227,361 to “satisfy in full” the disputed debt. Charleston Water System CEO Mark Cline said the utility “does not agree” with the town’s viewpoint “or its recollection of historical facts.”

“We fully intend to discontinue the town’s water service July 20 unless their past due amount is fully paid and they have entered into a new contract that appropriately covers the costs of providing water service to their community,” Cline said. “It’s not fair that our other customers have been subsidizing the Town’s service for years now, and that would continue under their terms.”

The utility claims the town owes a total of more than $639,000. That figure includes $197,468 in billed but unpaid volumetric charges and $442,478 in bill but unpaid capital charges.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Leaders say the search is over in the hunt for a new town administrator for Sullivan’s Island after months of recruitment efforts.

Current Town Administrator Andy Benke says Joseph R. “Joe” Henderson will be the newest town administrator come June.

Benke first announced plans to retire in Oct. of last year after over two decades of service as town administrator for Sullivan’s Island. His announcement kicked off what officials called an extensive search for a replacement, which they say involved the vetting of 28 candidates.

The Town Council unanimously approved Henderson’s appointment to the position.

Henderson served as the director of planning and zoning for Sullivan’s Island from 2013 until 2022, when he was promoted to be the town’s deputy administrator.

Aside from experience, Henderson qualifies for the job with a number of degrees obtained from a series of South Carolina colleges and universities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Coastal Carolina University, a Graduate Certification in urban planning from the College of Charleston and a Master of public administration from Clemson University.

He also has professional certifications include floodplain management, arboriculture and zone inspection. Before moving to Sullivan’s Island, Henderson working as the zoning administrator and the interim planning director for the city of Conway.

Sullivan’s Island Mayor Patrick O’Neil expressed gratitude for Benke’s 21 years of service before expressing his faith in Henderson.

“We were privileged to have Andy Benke serve as the Administrator since 2003 and wish him well in retirement. His efforts helped keep Sullivan’s Island a desired place to live and visit,” O’Neil said. “As Andy’s Deputy Administrator, Joe Henderson is well suited to succeed him. I am confident that the great work we have started over the past years will continue with Joe.”

Henderson himself expressed his gratefulness to the Town for picking him for the position.

“It’s an honor to continue to serve the community in the role of Town Administrator. We have exciting opportunities and challenges facing the Town in the coming years,” Henderson said. “I’m very fortunate to be supported by the Town Council and the employees who provide the public with exemplary service on all levels.”

Officials say Benke will continue to serve as town administrator until June 18 in order to guarantee a smooth transition.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Sullivan’s Island is a largely untouched Lowcountry paradise that has managed to escape the rush of the vacation rental industry due to the limited space and stringent regulations instated on the island.

Those rules have not stopped a handful of wonderful restaurants from opening near the beach. Here are nine of them, each located on Middle Street.

Dunleavy's Pub

2213 Middle St.

Bill and Patti Dunleavy opened Dunleavy’s Pub on Sullivan’s Island 32 years ago.

It all started when, in the spring of 1992, Bill Dunleavy heard from the people who owned a restaurant that occupied about 4,000 square feet of prime real estate at the corner of Station 22½ Street and Middle Street. They told him they were selling. He said he wasn’t interested in all 4,000 square feet, but he was interested in the bar and the side along Station 22½.

Taking just a slice of the property meant they had to build a new kitchen, new bathrooms and a wall to separate off their piece. But within a month, Bill and Patti opened the doors of Dunleavy’s Pub.

In the 32 years that have passed, restaurants have come and gone on Middle Street, and there is something like twice as many now as when Dunleavy’s first opened.

High Thyme Cuisine

2213 Middle St.

This eclectic eatery has been one of the best-kept secrets on Sullivan's Island for years. Look for lamb meatballs, seared scallops, a grilled pork chop with cheesy grits and more.

Home Team BBQ

2209 Middle St.

Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan put their cheffy spin on traditional barbecue at six South Carolina locations: downtown, West Ashley (the original), Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant, Columbia and Greenville. In addition to classic barbecue favorites and its popular frozen Gamechanger, Home Team serves some of the best smoked chicken wings, Alabama white sauce and nachos in town.

Home Team BBQ's Sullivan’s Island location opened 15 years ago in the space once occupied by Bert’s Pharmacy and Bert’s Bar.

Home Team still utilizes the bar Bert Wurthmann constructed when he converted half of his pharmacy into the beloved Bert’s Bar that served the island until 2007. Island residents who visit Home Team likely recognize Wurthmann in the black-and-white photographs hanging near its entrance today, honoring the building’s historical significance as a social hub for those who lived nearby.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

2205 Middle St.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina has been around since 2012 and now has three locations across the Lowcountry serving up Baja fare. A revamped menu includes pork and pineapple tacos, Mahi Mahi skewers and a Mexicali burrito. For cocktails, the Blue Hawaiian and mango jalapeno margarita are some refreshing options.

Poe's Tavern

2210 Middle St.

While Sullivan’s Island has been visited by many celebrities, from some of Charleston’s first settlers to recognizable writers and movie stars, the island’s most notable former resident is Edgar Allan Poe.

The writer was stationed at Fort Moultrie in the 1820s, and the island had a significant influence on Poe’s work. Sullivan’s Island was a pivotal setting in his story "The Gold Bug" and was referenced in his story "The Balloon Hoax." Today, Poe’s Lowcountry legacy takes the form of Poe Avenue, Goldbug Avenue, Raven Drive and the famous Poe’s Tavern, which specializes in burgers like the Annabel Lee, adorned with a remoulade-topped crab cake.

Sullivan's Fish Camp

2019 Middle St.

Sullivan’s Seafood Restaurant was an island staple from 1988 until Sept. 6, 2020, when owners Sammy Rhodes and Donna Rhodes Hiott permanently closed the local favorite. When they opened Sullivan's Fish Camp in the 2019 Middle St. space in 2022, Ben and Kate Towill set out to honor the building’s past while ushering it into the future.

The Towills are the owners of design and hospitality firm Basic Projects. Kate, head of design for the Charleston-based company, has led the design of residential and commercial properties, including an athletic club and Basic Projects’ two other restaurants: Basic Kitchen and Post House.

Alongside her husband and other members of the team, Kate led the two-year renovation of Sullivan’s Fish Camp, where she wanted to create a 1970s-inspired beachside aesthetic. Her goal was to give the space a fresh look with elements paying homage to Sullivan’s Seafood, like a framed flag and original menu.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - From West Ashley to Sullivan’s Island, businesses spent the day recuperating after heavy rains and strong winds caused them to temporarily lock their doors.

Many of the exterior windows at Hay Tire Pros, off Savannah Highway, shattered, and a large part of their ceiling collapsed on the inside.

Vice President Bill Sekula said that they have always expected severe storms to come through with being in Charleston, but that they have never had this much damage before.

“I guess it was like a microburst or something to that effect, but apparently it was raining harder than usual and then the windows started to buckle and snapped over. These windows on the side just kind of came apart and came out of the building,” Sekula said.

Sekula said glass from the windows was even in the back part of their building which is almost 30 yards away. They had to close the business for the day and return all of their customers’ vehicles. He said the incident happened during hours of operation as employees notified him at around 8 a.m.

The next-door business, Etto Leisure Cars, a golf cart dealer, also saw significant damage. Will Harton, chief executive officer, said that part of their awning was ripped off and hit their power box causing them to lose power.

“I said ‘Oh my goodness.’ You know, you live in Charleston long enough, you know a storm is going to happen. Usually, it’s a hurricane. It’s not a microburst like this, but we will be fine and we will move on from here,” Harton said.

He added that he’s glad that all of his employees are safe and that the building and golf carts can be fixed.

First Alert Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said the damage could have been from a potential microburst or straight-line wind, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that.

The Co-Op Frosé and Eatery on Sullivan’s Island had around two feet of water inside their restaurant. Their staff members spent the day using buckets to help get rid of the water. They said they have had flooding in the past, but never anything over a foot, so this is the worst they’ve seen.

“This morning, we lifted everything off the floor because we were expecting rain and heavy floods, but we didn’t know it was going to get this bad. So, as we were lifting things off the floor, it started coming in through the back door. Next thing you know there is water all over the place and we started getting buckets and mops and throwing water out. We’ve been throwing water out for the past three and a half hours,” employee Havannah Malan said.

She said that they have had to get their floors redone three times, and she expects the business will have to get them redone a fourth time after Saturday’s flood.

The businesses said they hope to repair the damages quickly, so they can return to normal operation as soon as possible.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The Charleston Water System has rejected a motion from Sullivan’s Island Town Council to pay a fraction of what the utility claims is owed for water service as a deadline looms that could turn off the taps for island residents.

During a special meeting Monday night, town council passed a motion proposing the payment of $227,361 it said would “satisfy in full” a disputed debt.

However, Charleston Water System CEO Mark Cline issued the following statement Tuesday in response to council’s motion:

Charleston Water System does not agree with the Town of Sullivan’s Island’s viewpoint or its recollection of the historical facts. We fully intend to discontinue the town’s water service July 20 unless their past due amount is fully paid and they have entered into a new contract that appropriately covers the costs of providing water service to their community. It’s not fair that our other customers have been subsidizing the Town’s service for years now, and that would continue under their terms.

Charleston Water System has argued that as of Sept. 28, 2021, Sullivan’s Island owes them $197,468 in billed, but unpaid, volumetric charges and $442,478 in billed but unpaid capital charges — a total of just under $640,000.

Charleston Water claims says the town changed how much they paid per 1,000 gallons in 2017, even after paying the same amount since the contract began in 1994, going from paying $1.22 per 1,000 gallons to 88 cents per 1,000 gallons.

Monday’s motion states that despite having a written contract with the Charleston Water System to provide water, the water utility attempted to raise rates.

“Years ago, Charleston Water System decided to raise our rates as if our signed contract did not exist,” the motion states. “The town disputed that rate increase and has continued to pay the undisputed amount owed in accordance with our long-standing, signed agreement and placed the disputed amounts in escrow pending a resolution of the dispute.”

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The motion claims Charleston Water wants the town to “ignore other terms of our signed agreement.”

“Based on the recent receipt in Febraury from Charleston Water System of the information required by the town’s nationally recognized rate consultant to calculate the amount of arrearage actually owed, the town now has the information required to satisfy the arrearage,” the motion states.

Charleston Water wrote in a January 2019 letter that “after more than 20 years, the town of Sullivan’s Island does not believe the contract requires them to pay any portion of Charleston Water’s capital expenses, a belief which has no support whatsoever of our board of commissioners or legal counsel.”

After getting a rate consultant, Charleston Water offered Sullivan’s to pay 89 cents per 1000 gallons. According to numerous letters, the island refused.

An opinion from the state Attorney General in 2019, states Sullivan’s Island does not have the authority to interpret contracts, but believes both of these parties must finish their initial term of 30 years and then they are able to terminate it if everyone is notified.

Sullivan’s Island says they disagree with this opinion and there are four unresolved topics between the two: capital charges, fire hydrants, the municipal wholesale rate as an excess demand charge and the rate formula.

Charleston Water says Sullivan’s Island has two choices: to pay all outstanding balances and they can continue to purchase water at the then-published municipal whole rate or find an alternate water source starting July 20 of this year.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.