Home Care In Pawleys Island, SC

PAWLEYS ISLAND — A group seeking to form a new town on the Waccamaw Neck says it’s received more than half the signatures it needs to submit an application for incorporation, but a major hurdle remains: who will provide and pay for law enforcement services.

Incorporation proponents and the sheriff offer two different takes on how to clear the hurdle, with the sheriff going so far as saying that the group pushing for a new town has so far not agreed to meet with him to discuss public safety issues.

The Pawleys Litchfield Municipal Study Group, a nonprofit led by Pawleys Island resident Andy Hallock, hopes to incorporate a portion of the Waccamaw Neck stretching from south of Brookgreen Gardens to north of DeBordieu. The proposed town would have a population of 16,400 people, making it the largest municipality in Georgetown County.

The new town would encompass most of the 29585 ZIP code, according to the Pawleys Litchfield Municipal Study Group. Those who live in the lower Waccamaw Neck and have a Pawleys mailing address would largely be included, with some exceptions.

Last summer, the group began communicating with the public via email and Facebook. It recently began holding in-person meetings for the first time.

The effort to incorporate is driven primarily by a fear of overdevelopment on the Waccamaw Neck. The group seeks to take control of the area’s development decisions and to escape Georgetown County’s new comprehensive plan, which was finalized last year.

”All we’re looking to do is have an autonomous planning and zoning function,” study group member Jim Register said at an Aug. 9 information session.

Law enforcement is biggest remaining hurdle

The group needs to comply with a list of requirements before the Secretary of State can issue a certificate of incorporation for the proposed town.

Among the requirements is proof that the town will either directly or indirectly provide law enforcement services substantially similar to its existing protection.

At the Aug. 9 meeting, Hallock told residents the town would continue to receive services from the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office. He said because residents are already paying for law enforcement with their county taxes, they would continue to receive the same level of service.

“Nothing changes between the last day as an incorporated area and the first day of an incorporated municipality” Hallock said.

But Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said that isn’t true.

The sheriff’s office would continue to respond to 911 calls, but there are other services it would not provide in the event of incorporation, Weaver said.

He explained that the new town would need to create a plan to pay for the housing of inmates, animal control services and court costs.

No such plans were included in the budget presented at the recent information meeting.

Additionally, the accommodations tax the new town would collect would take away from the A-tax money that the sheriff’s office uses for beach patrol services. Therefore, Weaver said he would not provide beach patrol services to the new town.

Weaver also raised concerns about agreeing to provide services before looking over the town’s land use plans. He said he wants to know what exactly he’s agreeing to protect.

“If they can answer all those public safety questions from my citizens, then I'll be glad to issue a letter,” he said. “But they can't.”

Weaver said he’s neither for nor against incorporation. His concern is that the group isn’t sharing factual information about what law enforcement for the town would like.

He said he’s been asking to meet with Hallock since May, but Hallock has yet to respond to his requests.

Weaver said he will not be pressured into signing an agreement without documentation of the town’s plans.

“They're trying to put political pressure on me, since I'm an elected official,” he said. “I can promise you, I am not going to change my stance based on misrepresentation. I'm not going to do it.”

Hallock declined to answer questions from The Post and Courier.

How would a new town work?

On Aug. 9, the study group presented an estimation of the town’s budget. It told residents it expects to bring in more than $1.6 million in revenue in its first year and more than $3.6 million in its second year.

It predicts the town’s expenses would be $868,590 each year for the first two years.

The group said $1.3 million of the new town’s revenue would come from insurance tax rebates. Other sources of expected revenue include State Aid to Subdivisions — funding for counties and municipalities through the Local Government Fund — and A-Tax money. Both would start to be collected in the second year of the town’s existence.

The town council would have discretion over what surplus money would be used for, although Hallock said some of it would likely be set aside for unanticipated expenses.

Hallock told residents that incorporation would not mean an increase in taxes and that the town could not legally impose a property tax.

Charlie Barrineau of the Municipal Association of South Carolina said there’s no law that explicitly prohibits new municipalities from imposing a property tax. However, the state Attorney General’s Office published an opinion in 2014 that states a new tax couldn’t be imposed without specific statutory authorization.

“They believe that if this was taken to a South Carolina court, that the court would rule that a newly incorporated municipality could not add a property tax millage,” Barrineau said.

He said existing taxes may not increase as a result of incorporation, but it would be up to the new town council to make that decision.

Hallock said the next step for the study group is to assemble an application for incorporation and submit it to the Secretary of State. The application needs to include a feasibility study and a petition signed by 15 percent of the area’s voters, among other requirements. The group aims to collect 3,000 signatures.

“We are well on our way to doing that,” Hallock said.

The feasibility study is roughly 90 percent completed, but the group still needs to determine the assessed value of the property in the area. That information comes from the county, Hallock said.

It will also need to submit a plan for how it will provide at least three municipal services before the third fiscal year after incorporation. The town or a contracted agency may provide the services, according to the MASC incorporation handbook.

The study group said the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District has already agreed to provide its services to a new town.

The town would handle its planning and zoning, and would create a comprehensive plan separate from the county’s, according to Cindy Person, director and legal counsel for Keep It Green Advocacy.

Person said the county’s new comprehensive plan allows for a dramatic increase in population and density on the Waccamaw Neck. At the recent information meeting, she told attendees that the county plan would allow for a maximum of 4,682 new houses to be built. That would mean a 70 percent increase in population, she said.

”If we do nothing, that’s our future,” Person said. “If we incorporate, the lower neck residents are provided with an opportunity to control their own future.”

The information was collected with the help of an expert in GIS mapping, she said.

Amy Armstrong, director of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, said she disagreed about the potential effects of the county’s comprehensive plan.

She said the new comprehensive plan would decrease the allowable density by half if the zoning is brought into accordance with the plan, which the county has said it will do.

Person argued that the plan only appears to decrease density when compared with the existing zoning ordinances.

The study group doesn’t have a deadline for when it plans to submit its application, Person said.

”The target date is as soon as possible,” she said.

A committee would review the application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to whether the area meets the minimum standard requirements for incorporation.

Then, an election would be held. Residents would vote on whether they want to incorporate, the name of the town, the form of government, whether elections would be partisan or nonpartisan, and the terms of the mayor and council members.

Another election would be held to choose the town’s officials.

Hallock said having a town council comprised of only Waccamaw Neck residents would mean more favorable land use decisions for the area.

“It's important that we have local people making the decision on what this area is going to look like over the next 10 years and beyond,” Hallock said. “That’s the key.”

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) - With strong rip currents along the coast this week, town leaders are reminding beachgoers there’s no flag system or lifeguards on Pawleys Island.

Beach-goers need to be aware that there is no flag warning system in place or lifeguards to notify them of potentially dangerous rip currents, which are expected throughout this week.

“It’s scary, it’s scary but I remember my parents told me you get caught in one don’t fight it. Just try to go with it and go up to the side,” said Jeffrey Shaefer.

That’s one visitor giving some life-saving advice, decades after he was caught in a current.

“It just pulls you straight out, and if you try to fight it, you can get tired. Then at that point you start struggling, then there can be bad consequences,” Schaefer said.

Town officials believe rip currents were to blame for a drowning in July, which has prompted them to install warning signs with attached torpedo buoys in high-risk areas.

If you’re planning to get out to the beach here in the next few days, Police Chief Michael Fanning is urging you to keep an eye out for others.

However, he said, do not try to be a hero if you aren’t an advanced swimmer.

“I mean you may be a good enough swimmer to save yourself, but if you don’t think you have the strength or capability of saving somebody else, don’t put yourself at risk,” Fanning said.

“Call 9-1-1 and just keep an eye on them, so when we get there you can tell us exactly where they are or where they were last seen so we can start our search from the conditions we see there.”

Young children are advised not to swim or be in the water alone during this week’s conditions.

“I’d be real concerned if I had a young child that was wanting to get in the water because it’s kind of pushing everybody around a little bit,” said Jack Fetner, a father visiting Pawleys Island with family.

Officers are patrolling high-risk areas more often this week on four-wheelers to monitor rip currents and look for swimmers in distress.

As of Monday afternoon, Fanning said there haven’t been any scares yet, but he remains concerned for thrill-seeking surfers.

If you see a distressed swimmer, public beach accesses are stocked with live preserver rings. However, if you are in a pinch, throw out any type of flotation device to help with rescue efforts.

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Pawleys Island, S.C. - The family of 38-year-old Chase Childers have launched a fundraising campaign after he recently drowned while saving a family who were struggling in a rip tide at a Pawleys Island beach. So far, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $128,000.

According to investigators, Childers swam out to save a family of five, but despite managing to save them, he could not escape the current himself. His body was found shortly after authorities arrived at the scene.

Following Childers’ death, the Pawleys Island Town Council held a meeting to discuss both short and long term solutions to mitigate future risks. Local officials say that while there were no hazardous surf warnings issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the time of his death, the sand bar in the area can create strong rip currents. In fact, law enforcement report that there have been five drownings in the same area, all within the last 26 months.

“The Town urges caution when entering the water at any time and alertness of the ocean’s currents, particularly during high surf. While Pawleys Island beaches are consistently rated as some of the best on the entire East Coast, we would like them to be known as the safest as well. We regret the recent drownings and Town Council will investigate all means available to mitigate the risk of future occurrences, including efforts to educate visitors on the dangers of rip currents.” Said Pawleys Island Mayor, Brian Henry.

In terms of short term solutions, the council proposed increased signage in the area as well as in nearby property rentals to educate vacationers about rip tides. They're also considering adding more flotation devices at public beaches in the event of an emergency rescue.

Long term solutions consisted of potentially coordinating with future pier developers to implement a localized recovery operation such as docking rescue jet skis.

Where Southern charm meets beautiful natural surroundings and rich history, you’ll find South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Among beloved vacation destinations like Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Bluffton, the Lowcountry is home to several smaller towns that don’t get as much attention but are just as worthy of a visit. South Carolina’s Sea Islands, located just off the coast of the mainland, are exactly the types of under-the-radar beach towns that make the perfect getaway. On Edisto Island, pronounced ED-IS-TOE (kind of like Eddie's Toe), you won’t find any high-rise condos or hotels, chain restaurants, or neon signs. Instead, you’ll discover uncrowded beaches, scenic tidal creeks and rivers, and charming beach houses and rentals that are suitable and affordable for any group size. Just 42 miles from bustling Charleston, time has a way of slowing down on Edisto Island. As you cruise the 14-mile-long Edisto Island National Scenic Byway on the way into town, you’ll find yourself taking one big exhale. By the time you make it onto the island, any worries will be long gone. Here are the best things to do on Edisto Island.

You may be tempted to spend your entire day on the beach at Edisto Beach State Park, and we wouldn’t blame you. The better thing to do is spend a day relaxing on the serene shoreline, then come back the following day to discover everything else the park has to offer. Wander along trails that take you through hammock islands, maritime forests, and eventually to the Environmental Learning Center. While there, take time to learn about the island’s history and the types of flora and fauna that call it home. If you're keen to stay even longer, you can book a campsite or cabin, and spend the night.

This zoo and education center focused solely on reptiles was the vision of brothers Ted and Heyward Clamp, who translated 50 years of snake hunting and adventure into the state’s first serpentarium in 1999. Home to incredible indoor and outdoor exhibits of alligators, turtles, lizards, and of course, snakes, a visit to this attraction is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Officially called the Botany Bay Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area, this more than 4,600-acre tract of land is the most historically and ecologically significant property on the island. Formerly privately owned and the site of two plantations, the land is now managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Visitors can experience Botany Bay’s gorgeous natural ecosystems that include maritime forests, salt marsh, tidal creeks, freshwater ponds, and hammock islands. If you visit, be sure to spend time on the beach, where the elements have bleached fallen trees bone-white, creating a striking sight to see.

If you want to see Edisto Island the right way, ditch the car and its noisy engine and opt for the sweet nostalgia of traveling on two wheels. Bike rentals can be found at Edisto Essentials or Island Bikes and Outfitters. Once you’ve snagged a set of wheels, set out on the Edisto Island Bike Path, a five-mile, flat-terrain trail that takes you all over town. If you get tired along the way, there are plenty of shops and restaurants where you can take a quick pitstop to refuel or rest.

Explore The Island’s History

Edisto Island has always been home to someone. The island got its name in the 1500s thanks to the Edisto Native Americans, but it has seen many lives since then. Learn all about the many groups, from Native Americans to Spanish pirates to English settlers to wealthy cotton planters to enslaved people, who have lived on the island and influenced its development at the Edisto Island Museum. One of the museum’s permanent exhibits called “From Africa to Edisto Island: The Gullah Story” gives voice to the rich history of Gullah culture on the sea islands.

A former rice plantation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now protects this land that’s part of the larger 350,000-acre Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin System, the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystem on the Atlantic Coast. Spend a day hiking or biking around the land that’s home to all kinds of wild species, from fish to migratory and resident birds to reptiles. Guests can also fish, hunt, and visit the Grove Plantation Manor, a late-Federal plantation-style home that’s on the National Register of Historical Places and now holds the refuge’s offices.

Go Shopping Around Town

You’ll find a few separate places to shop at one address here, which makes it an ideal place to spend an afternoon browsing. South Edisto Trading Co., also known as SET Co., offers branded T-shirts and apparel to commemorate your visit. At Sabal & Oak, find boutique clothing, accessories, and gifts. Edisto Surf Shop carries beach apparel like hats and tees.

Edisto Island may be small, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to cross back over to the mainland to find everything you need for an outstanding weekend away. Any good beach trip requires an equally great beach read, and you can find the right novel to match your mood at the Edisto Island Bookstore, which has been a fixture on the island since 1989. Inside the quaint shop, search through shelves of used and new books in every genre. Just be sure to give the shop cat a little scratch under the chin before setting off.

With These Hands has promoted the arts in Edisto Beach for more than 30 years. The gallery showcases local and national art across a number of mediums, including pottery, glass, paintings, photography, jewelry, metal, fiber, and prints. Inside the colorful gallery and shop, you can find something perfect to accent your home, be it a framed oil painting of a South Carolina sunset or a handwoven sweetgrass basket to display on your dining table.

Not just a specialty store, but a community gathering space, Revel is known for bringing people together. Inside, you’ll find all kinds of gourmet food gifts from Bloody Mary mix to gourmet sea salt. You’ll also find a huge selection of gifts ranging from bath and body products to art to tableware. The real magic of Revel lies in its events. Stop by to hear live music on the porch, or come for Revel Reveal, where local artists have a chance to share their new work with the community.

Try The Local Cuisine

If you’re the kind of traveler who loves a local secret, then you’ll be right at home at Whaley’s, a former gas station that’s known for its top-notch seafood. Opened in 1948 (and one of the island’s oldest establishments), Whaley’s isn’t particularly fancy—except when it comes to the quality of the food. Order the crab cake or shrimp and grits. A tiki-style drink, listed on the menu as a “local libation,” is also a must.

If a meal with a view of the water sounds right up your alley, you’ve got two options: pack a picnic for the beach or head to Coot’s Bar & Grill. As the island’s only beachfront restaurant, you won’t find a better view than the one from the back deck of this casual eatery. Look out for live music and drink specials on most nights of the week.

The family behind George and Pink’s has been farming on Edisto Island for more than 50 years, which means their crops—and their business—have stood the test of time. Pull off Highway 174 onto the sandy Eddingsville Beach Road and you’ll find this produce paradise shaded under the arms of ancient oak trees. In the summer, you can pick up tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, okra, watermelon, peaches, and more. Each season brings a different selection. Once you’ve stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies to get you through your stay on the island, treat yourself to a slice of fruit pie or some boiled peanuts as a reward for your future healthy eating.