2020 Quarter 4 Election Candidates

Town Notes ot es 2020 Quarter 4

4475 Betsy Kerrison Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 • 843-768-9166 • www.kiawahisland.org

2020 Municipal Election The Kiawah Island Municipal Election will take place Tuesday, December 1, 2020. It will include voting for one seat for Mayor, two seats for two-year terms for Town Council, and two seats for four-year terms for Town Council. Filing closed at noon on October 2.

Below is the candidate roster. Look for the candidate biographies beginning on page 4.

Candidates Mayor 4-year term (contested) John Labriola Klaus Said

Town Council 4-year term (uncontested) John Moffitt Scott Parker

Town Council 2-year term (contested) Maryanne Connelly Dan Prickett John Ross

Meet the Candidates Thursday, November 12, 2020 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Location The Kiawah Island Community Association will host a Meet the Candidates event. Due to COVID-19, the event format will be a virtual event that will be live-streamed for the community, but not open for public attendance. More information will be released in future communications.

The community will be able to hear directly from Mayoral and Town Council candidates on important Town of Kiawah Island issues. Submit questions in advance to Holly Newman at holly. newman@kica.us.

When do I vote? Before the election day as absentee or at the polls on election day Tuesday, December 1, 2020, from 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. Photo ID is required (South Carolina Driver’s License, ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo, Federal Military ID, or U.S. Passport).

Where do I vote? The Sandcastle (1 Shipwatch Road) How can I vote? Residents can vote in person at the polls or absentee. Absentee voting begins 30 days before the election.

Absentee Voting Information Registered voters who cannot vote in person may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Qualified voters may vote absentee in person or by mail. Common criteria for absentee voting include: • persons sixty-five years of age or older • persons who plan to be on vacation • persons who are physically disabled Additional criteria information is available at www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/bevr/absentee-voting.php Obtain an Absentee Ballot Voters can visit www.scvotes.org and fill out an absentee application online or can request a ballot from the Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration office by calling (843)744-8683 or via email to absentee@charlestoncounty.org or via live chat with a Board of Elections representative at www. charlestoncounty.org/departments/bevr/absentee-voting.php In-person Absentee Voting Vote in-person at the Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration office located at 4367 Headquarters Road, North Charleston, SC 29405.

Voting hours are from 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Photo ID is required. In person absentee voting generally opens approximately 30 days prior to an election and closes at 5 pm on the Monday prior to an election.

Town Notes | Q4 Town Office Closures Wednesday, November 11, 2020 – Veterans Day Thursday, November 26, 2020 – Thanksgiving Friday, November 27, 2020 – Day after Thanksgiving Friday, December 25, 2020 – Christmas Friday, January 1, 2021 – New Year’s Day

Solid Waste Notices November

Thanksgiving Week Service Change: No yard debris pickup.

December

Brown Trash Collection: Friday, December 4. See adjacent article. Christmas Week Service Change: No change in service.

January

New Year's Day Service Change: No change in service.

Christmas trees will be collected with regular yard debris on Thursdays. Trees must be undecorated and placed at the curb.

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Bob Hill

Brown Trash Collection Friday- December 4 All brown trash must be placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection. For larger items such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc., please call Carolina Waste at 843-5761100 to schedule a pickup at an additional cost.

What classifies as Brown Trash?

Lawn chairs, grills, folding or beach chairs, mattresses & box springs (single or twin only), bicycles, strollers and small appliances (vacuums, toaster ovens, toasters, microwaves).

Hazardous Waste Collection Discontinued Charleston County has announced it will no longer accept bulk hazardous waste collections. As a result, the Town will no longer collect these materials for disposal. Residents must transport their hazardous waste items to the Bees Ferry Landfill located at 1344 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston (West Ashley (843) 571-0929). What classifies as hazardous waste? Computers, monitors, televisions, printers, household & garden chemicals, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, paint, varnish, pesticides, batteries, and CFL/fluorescent/incandescent bulbs.

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We're Social

Mayor’s Corner We are nearing the end of a year in which politics have permeated much of our public discourse.

Many of us are understandably a bit fatigued by it all and may not be excited about another election. But local elections do matter. A lot. Here on Kiawah Island, we share in a desire to see the community remain a great place to live and to own a home. The decisions and actions that will most matter to whether this aspiration is achieved are not made in Washington D.C. or Columbia, but will be local actions made here on Kiawah by our citizens.

We need you to participate in our upcoming Town election.

We have seven excellent and well-qualified candidates.

The mayor and council members do not simply volunteer for this job. They are entrusted with this responsibility when you elect them and are accountable to you for providing leadership to this community. You have the opportunity to choose those candidates that best share your vision for Kiawah and will ensure that you have an effective and responsive local government. This edition of Town Notes introduces our two candidates for mayor and our five candidates for four Council member positions. Please take a moment to read about each and vote in our December 1 election.

A recent independent study sponsored by the Town affirmed that Kiawah sits today in an enviable position. We maintain a premium and nationally recognized "brand" that sets us apart from other coastal residential/resort communities.

Together, the Town, community association, Resort, KP, and many other civic and social organizations strive to offer our property owners a unique homeowner experience. That experience is derived from our location, the premier quality of

our physical assets, our unparalleled natural environment, and a diverse array of amenities and lifestyle opportunities.

That study concluded these same unique attributes can be expected to contribute to strong future property values and continue to offer property owners a great lifestyle experience. But that rosy outlook is tempered by important challenges.

Among the most critical are ensuring continued reinvestment in our community's private and public infrastructure, managing significant expected future growth in housing, population, and tourism, and protecting our natural environment. As we address these issues, we need to continually reassess what constitutes a "premier" community, grade ourselves regularly and honestly, and act quickly and decisively when we fall short. These challenges can be met if we have an involved community and sound leadership within our major public and private organizations.

Since coming to Kiawah, I have spent a good deal of time involved in some capacity with the Town Council, community association board, and the fire district. I have especially enjoyed working with the many dedicated and talented employees in these organizations. Any accomplishments are the product of their hard work, combined with the support and contributions of the Council members that I have shared this responsibility with and the dozens of volunteers who lend their time to our many committees. My "to-do" list never seemed to get shorter, and I will almost certainly leave with more unfinished items than I would have liked.

I wish the very best to my successor. I ask that you provide them the same input, involvement, and support that I have enjoyed.

Judge Strauch Announces Retirement Judge John Strauch has announced his plans to retire from his position as the Town's Municipal Judge at the end of his term on March 1, 2021. Judge Strauch was appointed on March 5, 2013, and has served two terms. The Town would like to thank Judge Strauch for his six years of service and wishes him a long, happy retirement.

With Judge Strauch's upcoming retirement, the Town is seeking a new Municipal Judge to train under Judge Strauch's direction until his term expires in March. More information on page 9.

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Mayoral Candidate Four year term | Contested | One to be selected John Labriola jdlabriola@gmail.com

Kiawah has been a major part of our family’s life for many years, both as a vacation destination and living here as permanent residents. My wife Ardath and I purchased our property in 1997, and it has become a special place for us. We feel very fortunate to be a part of a community where so many people are committed to the beauty and security of the environment. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University and an MBA from the University of Detroit. After 40 years of employment at William Beaumont Hospital, I retired in May of 2010 as the CEO of the Beaumont, Royal Oak Hospital, a 1,061 bed Academic Medical Center.

We moved to Kiawah from Michigan and became full-time residents in the spring of 2010. We lived in a villa at Parkside until our home on Bluebill Court was completed in September of 2011. Our two daughters and four grandchildren often come to enjoy the Island. In 2010 I began my volunteer work on Kiawah joining the Town’s Arts Council.

This group of dedicated men and women work diligently in obtaining these valuable benefits for our community. They are instrumental in bringing a wide variety of performing and visual art events to the Town.

As a resident, it was a privilege to have further opportunities for civic service. I was elected twice to Town Council, serving as Mayor Pro Tem from 2012 to 2016. My commitment then and now was always to represent and make decisions that benefited the entire community. A major objective of Council was to ensure the future financial strength of the Town. Strategic plans were put into place and implemented that have had a positive effect on accomplishing that objective.

We accomplished: • Annexation of Freshfields providing a new revenue stream • Successful completion of the Municipal Center Project • Negotiated sale of old Town Hall to KICA and subsequent rezoning • Participated in Hurricane evacuation • Developed relationships with all Kiawah constituents I believe my extensive experience in civic and professional organizations provide me with leadership, governing, communicating and decision-making skills. There is still much to be done, so I am again requesting your support.

I served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, a Catholic University sponsored by the Dominican Sisters from 2009 to 2015. In 2015 I joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of the Health Care Management Program at Siena Heights. I was also a volunteer and member of the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach on Johns Island from 2011 to 2016.

The community we live in is a unique and special place for all of us. The Town has had excellent leadership with Mayors Lipuma and Weaver and their Councils, but the Town will face future challenges. We must remain financially strong, support our property owners, and protect the environment. We all want Kiawah to continue the vital position it has in all of our lives. I feel the key to addressing these challenges is to ensure that the elected leadership provides thoughtful and collaborative efforts in discussion and making decisions, working with all Kiawah community members.

I ask for your vote as Mayor of the Town of Kiawah Island on December 1st.

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Mayoral Candidate Four year term | Contested | One to be selected Klaus Said klaussaid@gmail.com

Laura and I first came to Kiawah in the mid-nineties for a beach and golf vacation with our young kids, and we have been coming back for nearly 25 years now – as renters, vacation homeowners, and as full-time residents after I retired. For our family, Kiawah holds a powerful attraction as a unique community with its blend of beautiful, unspoiled natural habitat, unrivaled sporting and leisure activities, and a diverse and welcoming group of residents, all with close proximity to one of the greatest small cities in the country.

Running for office was definitely not something I ever saw in my future. Living in Kiawah has convinced me otherwise. I feel a responsibility to try to contribute to the effort to ensure that Kiawah remains unique, a special place for your first or second home, a desirable place to visit, and a great place to do business in – all while preserving the natural and still largely unadulterated beauty of the island.

Laura and I have been closely involved with the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League for over twenty years, and we are also active supporters of the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston and Reading Partners of South Carolina. In 2018, the year we became permanent residents, I ran for and was elected to the Town Council.

To say the past two years were a rewarding experience would be a significant understatement.

Mayor Weaver asked me to chair the Audit Committee, represent Council at a Sea Level Rise workshop, and work with the Town Planner and the Town Administrator on various special projects. Additionally, I was deeply involved with the rest of the Council on the two major issues during this period: the short-term rental regulation with all its complex issues and the Town’s response to and management of the COVID pandemic.

I believe excellent work has been done on the Council under Mayor Weaver’s steady leadership, and I would like to continue that leadership as Mayor. Many issues loom for the next four years, and they all will require increased and improved cooperation between the Ks on Kiawah – Kiawah Partners, Kiawah Resort, Kiawah Island Community Association, and the Town. I would like to think that my long career running large, complex trading businesses with a diverse group of stakeholders has prepared me for this challenge.

My educational background includes Jesuit High School in Germany, a BA in Business from the University of Cologne, Germany, and an MBA from St. Gallen Graduate School of Business in Switzerland. I worked for JP Morgan for 17 years in Frankfurt, London, and New York, followed by six years at Credit Suisse, running some of the firms’ largest sales and trading businesses. I also spent time as a portfolio manager at a large family office and, in 2013, co-founded an independent currency trading firm. Laura and I have been married for 32 years. We have three children, aged 25, 27, and 30, all of whom spent many summers here when they were young, and they all use every opportunity to come back to a place they love as much as we do.

If elected, I pledge to do my very best to ensure that Kiawah continues to thrive. I would be honored to receive your support.

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Candidates for Council

Four Year Term | Uncontested | Two to be selected

John Moffitt johnmoffitt5523@gmail.com

My wife and I first visited Kiawah in 1984, bought our lot in 1994, and built our house in 2000. I worked in retail for 20 years. I spent 13 years at a catalog showroom company, Best Products in Richmond, Virginia. I also helped run the supply chain for Family Dollar Stores for seven years. Between those two stops, I spent ten years in the supply chain software industry with IBM and E3 Corporation. In 2008, I had the opportunity to start a small software company in the space planning area, and after three years, turned it over to my other partners. I have also been a supply chain consultant for about ten years, working primarily in the retail and wholesale distribution industries. I retired in 2017 and began spending most of my time at Kiawah. We moved here full-time in February 2019, when my wife retired. The beauty, quietness, and relaxed pace first attracted us to Kiawah and still excites us.

I have a BS and MBA from the University of Richmond and served in the Virginia Air National Guard for six years. We have two grown children and two grandchildren. Kiawah has grown considerably since we first visited. I think that the development has been done with the view of maintaining the ambiance that is Kiawah.

I want to be involved in efforts in our community that positively influence the way Kiawah continues to develop. I was appointed to the Planning Commission in January 2019 and reappointed in January 2020. I have enjoyed this service. As a council member, I think I can continue to provide leadership and guidance as the Town grows and develops. Issues facing us, such as sea-level rise, are not trivial. Reaching sell-out will change the way we promote and continue to develop Kiawah.

The Town must work with Kiawah’s various constituencies, such as the Community Association, the developer, the Conservancy, and the Resort. Kiawah is also part of the larger community, including neighboring islands and Charleston County, and working with those groups will greatly influence Kiawah. I appreciate your support.

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Scott Parker scparker6753@comcast.net

My wife Colleen and I are retired physicians, practicing first in Indianapolis, Indiana, and later in Greenville, South Carolina.

We were introduced to Kiawah through a former part-time resident. After our third or fourth visit, we were thoroughly enchanted and bought our first home here in September 2004.

After my retirement, we became full-time residents in 2013 and built our current home in 2014.

In my professional life, besides the practice of medicine, I had management and operational responsibilities. While in Indiana, I was the managing partner for my seven-person practice and led the merger of three other private practice groups into a 21-person practice. In 1997 our practice was acquired by a publicly traded professional practice management company. In 1999 Colleen and I moved to Greenville, SC, where I became the laboratory medical director for Palmetto Health Baptist Easley Hospital. Later the hospital was jointly owned by what is now Prisma Health. During my time, I progressed to Hospital Medical Director for Clinical Quality and Safety and the last five years served as Chief Medical Officer.

Since retirement, I have been active and involved with my new community. I was a volunteer tutor in mathematics at both Frierson Elementary on Wadmalaw and Haut Gap Middle School on Johns Island. I was involved with the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic fundraising efforts, leading their main fundraising event for four years raising in excess of one million dollars. I have served both on the Public Safety Committee and am currently on the Board of Zoning Appeals. I am an avid golfer and duplicate bridge player and am the current President of the Charleston Bridge Center.

I believe that the Town, among all the stakeholders on Kiawah, is best positioned to lead the efforts to ensure that Kiawah not only retains its standing as one of the premier resort communities but also enhances and expands the “Kiawah Brand” improving its visibility and prestige. Thank you for your consideration.

Candidates for Council Two Year Term | Contested | Two to be selected

Maryanne Connelly fanwood1@gmail.com

My first term as a member of the Town Council is marked with thoughtful consideration and execution of policies in the interest of property owners as well as our visitors. Along with the Mayor and my fellow Council members, we have made a positive impact on the future direction of the Town. I am asking to be re-elected to serve the Kiawah community.

My commitment to community started with a Building and Zoning issue with my New Jersey home. I decided to become part of the solution to this problem. I was appointed to the Planning Board and the Environmental Commission and subsequently elected to Town Council, also serving as Police Commissioner for nine years before being elected Mayor.

In 2000 I was a candidate for the United States Congress, NJ 7.

Our environment is front and center to all who live here. I supported the passage of the Single-Use Plastics ban and an ordinance to amend our comprehensive plan to adopt changes resulting from the Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise studies.

I will continue to fight for the elimination of rodenticides to protect our bobcats.

Environmental issues require constant monitoring, and I pledge active involvement in them.

As head of Public Safety, my committee meets regularly with our public safety

Dan Prickett prickettdan@gmail.com

In the upcoming election in December, I will be seeking a second term as a member of the Kiawah Island Town Council. This current year has been a special challenge for our town as it has been for many of its citizens, property owners, and guests. We have not been able to socialize and gather together like we normally do, which has been difficult and disappointing for most everyone. Our Arts Council has had to cancel the concerts and special events we so much enjoy. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort and the Kiawah Island Club have had to curtail many of their activities. The Town has had to put in place requirements for social distancing and masking in order to help stop the spread of a deadly virus that has gripped our entire world. On a more positive note, Kiawah Island has become a refuge for many guests and property owners seeking a safe and peaceful place during this pandemic.

Property sales have taken off, and many new people are finding Kiawah Island’s natural beauty and recreational options very attractive. However, we will continue to be challenged during the next year as we do not yet know when a vaccine may become available and when things can return to “normal”.

During my first term, I have been privileged to support the Town as liaison to the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Arts Council. Each of these bodies fulfills an important

John Ross johnpross@icloud.com

My wife and I purchased our cottage on the Island in 2004 and used it as a vacation home until 2014, at which time we completely remodeled it and moved from Washington D.C. to become full-time residents in 2016. We have enjoyed island life for the last four years and felt very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

I am an economist by training with a BS from the University of Maryland and a PhD from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. I have spent my entire career in the public sector, primarily examining ways in which the private sector and the public sector could cooperate to facilitate controlled economic growth and community development. My career started as a tenured associate professor at Virginia Tech, moving from there to a position with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There I directed research examining factors that are important to a city’s growth and ways in which the Federal Government could enhance that growth.

While with HUD, I was instrumental in the development of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit and the New Markets Tax Credit.

After retiring from HUD in 1999, I joined the government of the District of Columbia as a senior advisor on economic development finance. My job was to figure out how the public sector and the private sector could work together to finance major development projects with City financial participation.

Bios continued

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Candidates for Council

Two Year Term | Contested | Two to be selected Connelly agencies to review monthly departmental activity. The most significant activity that has been taken is the implementation of a full time force patrolling Kiawah 24/7.

Alongside my commitment to the Town, I am a volunteer for the Respite Care Program of Charleston County, I participate in Habitat’s Women Build, and serve as a board member for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.

My professional background as a Human Resources Executive at AT&T involved the development and implementation of corporate strategy in several AT&T businesses including Business Services, International, Consumer Products, and Bell Laboratories. I completed several Executive Development Programs including the Tuck School at Dartmouth and the Thunderbird School of International Business. I was a member of the executive planning team for the AT&T Divestiture.

My educational background includes a BSSt. Elizabeth’s University, MBA- Fairleigh Dickinson University, MA Education and Special Education Certification – St. Peter’s University.

My husband Ed Marks and I have lived on Kiawah full-time for five years but have been coming to Kiawah since the purchase of our property in 1984.

Prickett

Ross

and distinct role in our community. It has been my job to keep the council up to date on their agendas and issues and keep the committees aware of the Town’s priorities.

The volunteer citizens of our community who serve on these various bodies do an incredible job throughout the year, and it is an honor to support them. I also undertook a special assignment for Mayor Craig Weaver to identify the key risks the Town might face in the foreseeable future and help identify our level of preparedness.

We put together deals financing the Washington National’s baseball stadium, the Convention Center hotel, the Mandarin hotel, the Spy Museum, and the Shakespeare Theater, among others.

While in Washington, I served on the board of directors of Events DC (the Washington Convention Center), Destination DC (the Washington tourist board), the DC Sports and Entertainment Board, the National Capital Revitalization Corporation, and the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation.

By way of background, my wife Nancy and I have been full-time residents for 13 years, and we have owned property here for over 23 years. I served on the Planning Commission for six years prior to my election and served on the committees that designed and built our Municipal Center on Betsy Kerrison. We are members of the Governor’s Club and the Kiawah Island Club. I also currently co-chair the Kiawah Art Guild.

While living in Washington, I was an adjunct professor at American University, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown University. The most fun I had was volunteering for ten years as a baseball coach for the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. I now serve on the Town’s Audit Committee.

After completing my undergraduate work and graduate studies, I served as a commissioned officer in the US Army and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1970. My career in banking and investment management took us to Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, New York and Charlotte. I retired as executive vice president for Wealth Management at Wachovia Corporation, now Wells Fargo.

I seek and would welcome your support in the December election.

Meet the Candidates Thursday, November 12 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Location 8

My background in cooperation between the public and private sectors leading to controlled economic and community development led to my interest in running for a seat on the Town Council. I believe that the most important issues facing us as residents are: what do we want the island to be like in ten years and what can the Town do to help us get there. We have a good start with both our Ten-Year Strategic Plan and our recent Housing Market Study.

I want to be a part of the team that helps to move these issues forward.

The Kiawah Island Community Association will host a Meet the Candidate’s event. Due to COVID-19, the event format will be a virtual event that will be live-streamed for the community, but not open for public attendance. More information will be released in future communications.

The community will be able to hear directly from Mayoral and Town Council candidates on important Town of Kiawah Island issues.

Submit questions in advance to Holly Newman at holly.newman@ kica.us.

Kiawah Island Housing Market Study In August, Town Council reviewed the Kiawah Island Housing Market Study conducted by HR&A Advisors over a period of six months. The presentation of the housing study was conducted at the August 26 special call Town Council meeting, which can be viewed on the Town's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/ TownofKiawahIsland Kiawah’s comprehensive package with natural and man-made amenities drives its reputation as a top-tier residential resort community. HR&A presented five critical steps to maintain market position as Kiawah matures: 1) Drive Reinvestment 2) Maintain Competitive Positioning 3) Sustain Lifestyle Marketing 4) Attract Future Generations of Buyers 5) Balance Short-Term Rentals Each stakeholder on Kiawah plays a roll in supporting long-term market health. To read the study, visit www.kiawahisland.org/archives/popular-links

Main Road Corridor The online public information website for Segment C will launch Monday, October 12, 2020, at 5 a.m. Charleston County recently completed the collection, modeling, and analysis of traffic data to develop the proposed alternatives. Citizens will have the opportunity to review information about the project’s purpose and need, the proposed alternatives, and provide input through November 12. Main Road Corridor Segment C begins at the intersection of Bohicket Road and Maybank Highway and extends to Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Several options will be examined for the segment, including widening River Road, widening Bohicket Road and constructing a new road across the island. To provide comments and for more information, visit www.mainroadcorridor.com/segment-c

Community Flood Rating and New Flood Maps The Town of Kiawah Island is a part of the National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System which is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum program requirements. Kiawah has a class 5 rating, and residents should qualify for a 25% discount on their rates. Contact your insurance provider for specific details.

New Flood Maps The Town of Kiawah’s new flood maps will become effective on January 29, 2021. The new maps impact the requirement and cost of flood insurance for some residents and affect base flood elevation requirements on new construction. The Town has produced a video to help residents navigate the new flood maps and illustrate how they can determine their base flood elevation. Residents can access the maps and the video on the Town's flood awareness page at www.kiawahisland.org/flood-awareness.

Town Seeks Municipal Judge Candidates With Judge Strauch's upcoming retirement, the Town is seeking a new municipal judge to train under Judge Strauch's direction until his term expires in March. The Town is seeking a candidate that Town Council will appoint as Municipal Judge to serve for no less than two years, but no more than four years. The selected candidate must attend seven days of training in Columbia, five days of which are devoted to criminal law issues and two days dedicated to problems common to criminal and civil law matters.

After completion, the judge must pass an examination based on what has been covered in the training sessions, consisting of 100 questions of which you must answer at least 70 correctly. If the judge is a member of the SC Bar, they are not required to take the examination but must attend the training sessions.

The judge must also annually fulfill a continuing legal education requirement (minimum of 14 hours). Candidates with prior legal experience involving litigation and trial of cases are preferred but not required. Interested persons should contact Town Administrator Stephanie Tilllerson at stillerson@kiawahisland.org.

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Least Terns Return to the East End Beach Beach Leash Ordinance Seasonal Change November 1 – March 15 – Pets are allowed to be off-leash from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. everywhere on the beach except in the critical habitat area. Pets must be leashed from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. Owners must remain with their pet, have the pet under control, and have a leash in their possession if there is a need to leash their pet or if requested by other beachgoers or by Beach Patrol. Violators could be ticketed. Electronic leashes are prohibited.

More at www.kiawahisland.org/beaches

Invasive Species Alert State and federal officials are asking Lowcountry residents for help in locating and stopping the spread of a new exotic pest in our area. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) was first detected in the United States in 1996. ALB populations are currently in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and as of May 2020 in South Carolina. The initial discovery in our state was in Hollywood, about 11 miles northwest of Kiawah, and since that time the beetle has also been found in West Ashley and on Johns Island.

Asian longhorned beetles feed primarily on maple trees, willows, elms, and birches. The loss of trees to this pest species throughout the country could spell huge economic losses for land and homeowners and the nursery and forest industries. Trees targeted by this pest species are typically destroyed from the inside-out as the ALB larva feeds inside the tree. Mature beetles leave the trees they have been feeding in, making exit holes as big as a ballpoint pen, around late May through October.

Mature ALBs can range from one to one-and-a-half inches long, with four-inch-long antennas. The beetles are characterized by black and white coloration and bluish feet. Symptoms of the beetle’s presence include sap oozing from the exit hole and sawdust on the lower tree branches.

How to help Learn how to identify signs of ALB infestation by visiting www. asianlonghornedbeetle.com.If you think you have found an Asian longhorned beetle or an infested tree, contact Clemson DPI at invasives@clemson.edu or 864-646-2140.

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For the first time since 2009, Least Terns successfully nested in large numbers on the east end of Kiawah’s beach! Prior to this year’s nesting season, Town Biologists identified two areas east of the Ocean Course that had good potential nesting habitat.

At the end of March, these areas were closed to public access and marked with almost 100 yellow “Bird Nesting Area” signs. In April, the birds started showing up. Wilson’s Plovers and American Oystercatchers were the first to arrive, displaying courtship behaviors and defending territories against rivals. In early May, the Least Terns chose the marked nesting area furthest east of the Ocean Course for nesting, and by the end of May, there were an estimated 150 nests. In fact, several nests were laid outside of the designated area, and the signs had to be moved out toward the beach to protect them. In June, most of the chicks had hatched and were running around the nesting area, waiting for their parents to bring back a fishy meal. By early July, the chicks had grown large enough to fly, and the nesting area's activity had almost come to an end.

For the last several years, a sandbar has been forming off the east end of Kiawah. Currently, the sandbar is very large and less than ½ mile from Kiawah. At low tide, it is exposed and usually covered with resting gulls, terns, and pelicans. This sandbar has been reshaping the east end beach and has helped create perfect nesting conditions for beach-nesting birds. The sand has built up enough to protect the nests from being overwashed during storms and high tides. Additionally, the location is far enough away from the main part of Kiawah to reduce the pressures from mammalian predators like raccoons. This area should continue to build as the sandbar works its way toward Kiawah. Barring any major erosional events, the Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, and American Oystercatchers should be back to Kiawah next year for another successful nesting season. If you have questions, email Aaron Given at agiven@kiawahisland.org

Temporary SGA Ban Request Denied As reported in the last Town Notes, the Town and the Kiawah Conservancy had requested a temporary, one-year prohibition on second-generation anticoagulant (SGA) use on Kiawah Island to the SC Department of Pesticide Regulation. In August, The Clemson Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) denied the Town’s request. The temporary ban would have immediately removed these products from our ecosystem and mitigated any further damage to our bobcat population and other wildlife while our community works on a permanent solution to this issue. The Town has been working with the DPR to increase education and training for pest control companies. As a result, the DPR has developed an education program to promote Integrated Pest Management as an alternative to SGAs, which are overused in the industry. It is of the utmost importance that our community come together quickly and commit to making the necessary changes.

Our effort to remove SGAs from Kiawah is the fastest way to make a difference. Since the Bobcat Guardian pledge program was rolled out, we have had an encouraging response from residents, businesses, and pest control companies that serve our island. However, we have a long way to go to create an ecosystem where our bobcat’s population recovery is possible.

The Town will continue to work to develop ways to mitigate the issue. While the notion of importing and introducing new bobcats to the island is a possibility, it will make little or no difference if these toxic products continue to be heavily used on Kiawah.

Toxic Rodenticides Found In Other Kiawah Wildlife The adverse effects of anticoagulant rodenticides on Kiawah’s bobcat population are well-documented. Since August 2019, seven bobcats (one of which was a female pregnant with four kittens) have died due to SGA toxicity or exposure. Town Biologists have long suspected that if these toxic chemicals are present in bobcats, then they are likely to be present in other animal species on the island. Because of this concern, Town Biologists began collecting samples from other animals found sick or dying on the island. To date, Biologists have collected and sampled five raccoons and one opossum. Samples were sent to the Michigan State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in early September.

Become A Bobcat Guardian The Town has received an inspiring amount of support for bobcat preservation efforts. The Bobcat Guardian pledge is a voluntary commitment from residents, businesses, and pest management providers to eliminate SGA rodenticides on Kiawah. The Town is asking residents to pledge never to use SGAs on their property, either by informing their pest control provider to cease use or by not applying SGAs themselves. In doing so, we can eliminate the toxic foursome including Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, and Difethialone and give our bobcat population a chance to recover.

Pledge participants are listed on www.savekiawahbobcats.com alongside business partners and pest management providers who have committed to eliminating the use of SGAs on Kiawah. We are going to need community-wide participation to mitigate the issue and save our bobcat population. Take the pledge today and help us spread the word.

Bobcat Guardian Providers & Business Partners The Town would like to thank the pest management providers and business partners who quickly answered this call to action. A list of those who have pledged is available at www.savekiawahbobcats.com.

We welcome additional providers and business partners and applications are available on the website.

NEW!

Watch our new public awareness video at www.savekiawahbobcats.com

The results were received, and all six animals were found to have at least one anticoagulant rodenticide in their system. In addition, anticoagulant levels in several of the animals were similar to the levels seen in the three adult bobcats that died directly from anticoagulant poisoning. This would suggest that many of these animals died from the accumulation of these rodenticides.

This new evidence reconfirms the dangers and impacts to Kiawah wildlife from the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. Help protect all of Kiawah’s wildlife today by signing the Bobcat Guardian pledge and help us spread the word. Visit www.savekiawahbobcats.com for more information.

11

Charitable Contribution Spotlight Dear Arts Council Patrons,

Home. Health. Hope. These are the three pillars at the heart of Operation Home, an organization helping Lowcountry families remain in their homes by increasing safety and accessibility.

Founded over 22 years ago, Operation Home began as a compassionate response to one neighbor’s need. That experience led to the discovery of many more substandard homes housing some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

A growing number of families live in “shelter poverty,” a condition where high housing costs make it impossible to pay for other household expenditures. Shelter poverty disproportionately impacts older adults and those on fixed incomes, and 26% of households in the tri-county experience it.

As a result, leaking roofs go unrepaired, portions of homes are unusable by disabled residents, and heat and air conditioning are a luxury – until Operation Home steps in. In 2019, they assisted 550 families by repairing roofs and floors, modifying bathrooms, installing wheelchair ramps, and providing heaters and air conditioning units.

The Town of Kiawah Island awarded Operation Home $6,500 to help with projects for vulnerable low-income homeowners on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. The roof pictured above and below belongs to a 76-year-old Johns Island resident caring for her grandson. The roof was in serious disrepair with several leaks before Operation Home did a full replacement, allowing this family to stay in their home of 56 years.

To learn more visit www.operationhome.org.

As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on live events. Given the unique set of challenges the pandemic has created, the Town of Kiawah Island decided over the summer to delay the start of the Arts & Cultural Events season until early 2021. The Arts Council will be evaluating planned 2021 events on an incremental basis moving forward, and there will be no events held in the month of January.

We are saddened that we are unable to provide residents with our normal programming but feel this is the most responsible course of action given the demographics of our citizens and the priorities of the Town as a whole.

Arts Council events are sustained through the efforts of a dedicated group of resident volunteers. In order to create a safe environment, we will be working diligently to develop procedures that, among other things, may limit capacity, minimize contact, increase spacing, modify ingress and egress. It will be our goal to implement these measures seamlessly while presenting our programming at the highest quality possible. We thank you for your patronage and look forward to welcoming you back to performances. Look for more information in the coming months.

www.freshfieldsvillage.com

Sidewalk Saturdays October-December 3rd Saturdays of the Month Join us this fall for Sidewalk Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd Saturday of the month in October, November & December. The event will feature sidewalk sales, new merchandise, gifts with purchase, in-store events, and more at participating retailers and restaurants. Stroll through the Village to enjoy the fresh air and much needed retail therapy. Plan a stop at one of our restaurants for a caffeine fix, quick bite of lunch, happy hour cocktail, or post-shopping dinner. Guests must follow safety protocols, wear masks, and adhere to social distancing guidelines while participating in the event.