2021 Quarter 1 Town Notes

Town Notes ot es 2021 Quarter 1

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

2020 Municipal Election and Swearing-In Ceremony Kiawah Island voters have elected the 17th municipal council of the Town of Kiawah Island (incorporated on September 13, 1988). Of the 2,065 registered voters, 1,091 voters turned out to cast their ballots. Voters elected former Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem John Labriola for mayor (four-year term). For Council, voters elected two incumbent candidates Maryanne Connelly, Daniel Prickett (two-year term), and two new Council members John Moffitt and Dr. Scott Parker (four-year term).

The terms of this administration are staggered. The official voting results can be found on www.kiawahisland.org/latest-news.

On Friday, December 4, the newly elected Town Council members were sworn into office by Municipal Judge John Strauch. Following the ceremony, Town Council held a special call meeting and passed amended Emergency Ordinance 2020-09.2, which extends existing requirements including face coverings and other emergency restrictions to address COVID-19 until February 3, 2021.

Town Council is scheduled to hold their Strategic Planning Session at the Municipal Center on Wednesday, January 20, from 1:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Thursday, January 21, from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The public is welcome to attend. Face coverings are required. The agenda will be posted ahead of the retreat at www.kiawahisland.org/meetings-minutes/town-council

Left to right: Dr. Scott Parker, Dan Prickett, Judge John Strauch, Mayor John Labriola, Maryanne Connelly, and John Moffitt

Town Notes | Q1 Town Office Closures Monday, February 15, 2021 – Presidents' Day

Solid Waste Notices January

Christmas trees will be collected with yard debris on Thursdays. Trees must be undecorated and placed at the curb. Solid waste bills mailed.

February

No change in service.

March

Brown Trash Collection: Friday, March 5 See adjacent article.

April

Paper Shredding – Wednesday, April 28 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Center. Please remove all clips.

Staples do not have to be removed.

Want to go paperless?

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If you would prefer to read Town Notes digitally and stop receiving the hard copy, please email klaughlin@kiawahisland.org to be removed from the mailing list. Please include your name and mailing address in your request.

Bob Hill

Brown Trash Collection Friday, March 5 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 announced last year 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.

Stay Connected Are you subscribed to the Town’s biweekly email notifications? To be added, send your name and email address to sbraswell@kiawahisland.org.

We're Social

Mayor’s Corner

John D. Labriola

I am truly honored to be elected Mayor to the exceptional place we get to call home. Kiawah has been a significant part of our family's life for many years. My wife Ardath and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this community. I am excited to move forward serving the community over the next four years alongside my fellow Council Members Maryanne Connelly, John Moffitt, Dr. Scott Parker, and Dan Prickett. These talented individuals will bring extraordinary skill sets to work on behalf of the community. This seventeenth administration of the Town has been preceded by Mayors Lipuma and Weaver's excellent leadership. We will continue to build upon their success.

The Town has challenges ahead. We must first continue to remain vigilant through the COVID-19 pandemic. Public safety is our top priority, and we will continue to take protective measures to ensure the community endures the pandemic as safely as possible. As you are aware, following our swearing-in, we immediately passed the amended Emergency Ordinance 2020-09.2, which extends existing requirements, including face coverings and other emergency restrictions, to address COVID-19 until February 3, 2021.

We will continue to enforce protective measures to reduce the spread of the virus, and when available, we will work toward aiding in the distribution of the vaccine to the community.

Mitigation and Sea-level Rise report by working with our partners to improve the island's resiliency and infrastructure risks. This process has already begun through the work of the Adaptive Management Plan Taskforce. We also have another important environmental issue to tackle, which is the impact Second-Generation Anticoagulant (SGAs) poisoning has had on our ecosystem and wildlife population. We are working collaboratively with state regulators to enforce positive changes to protect this world-renowned habitat.

Thirdly, we must protect the island's market position as a premier residential/resort community by working with the entire Kiawah community to address the five critical steps outlined in the HR&A housing study.

The Town must remain financially strong, support our property owners, and protect the environment. We all want Kiawah to continue the vital position it has in our lives. The key to addressing these challenges is providing thoughtful and collaborative efforts to discuss and make decisions, working with all Kiawah community members. This year has been difficult for all of us, but as we look ahead to 2021, we need to have a sense of optimism and support one another.

I encourage all property owners to tune in to our Council meetings by attending in-person or watching the live-stream on the Town's YouTube channel. This Council will be holding our Strategic Planning Retreat on January 20-21 at the Municipal Center. The public is welcome to attend. Thank you for your support, and I hope that you and your families had a wonderful holiday season. I look forward to serving you in the next four years.

Secondly, we intend to focus on protecting our environment by addressing the island's vulnerabilities found in the Flood

Emergency Order Extended On December 4, 2020, Town Council passed amended Emergency Ordinance 2020-09.2, which extends existing requirements including face coverings and other emergency restrictions to address COVID-19 until February 3, 2021. Face coverings must be worn in certain public areas and by employees that interact with the public within the Town of Kiawah Island. Face coverings are required to be worn by the public while: • • • •

Waiting to enter or entering a restaurant at all times except when seated for dining or beverage service Waiting outside or inside to pick up a carry-out order at a restaurant Entering or waiting to enter any business, club, or association facility Entering the Municipal Center (masks will be provided for persons who do not bring a personal mask)

Businesses and restaurants are responsible for enforcing this Emergency Ordinance with regard only to their employees and conspicuously posting the information for guests and employees. There are exceptions for young children and persons with specific health issues that prevent wearing a face covering, and persons in private offices. The entire Ordinance is available at www.kiawahisland.org/emergency-ordinance-extended.

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Charitable Grant Applications

St. Johns Fire District

Given the available resources, the Town of Kiawah supports a variety of charitable and educational organizations that are recognized as 501(c)(3), non-profit, and tax-exempt entities providing services to the residents of Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island communities. The Town allocates an amount not to exceed $150,000, which becomes available after the adoption of the budget effective July 1. Charitable Grant Applications and a copy of the Town’s detailed policy are available now at www.kiawahisland.org/latest-news Applications are due Friday, January 15, 2021, at 3:00 p.m.

Applications will receive a preliminary review at the March 23, 2021 Ways and Means Committee meeting. Final approval will be at the April 6, 2021, Town Council meeting.

Meeting Procedures During the height of COVID-19, the Town live-streamed all committee meetings as they must be made available to the public.

Some committees are returning to in-person meetings. This will change what the Town live-streams as we transition back to our standard format. Committees that conduct their meetings over video conference will be live-streamed on the Town's YouTube channel. Committees that conduct their meetings in-person where the public can attend will not be live-streamed. Agendas are available at www.kiawahisland.org/meetings-minutes and will reference the location of the meeting.

By: Ryan Kunitzer Fire Marshal, Battalion Chief

Kiawah Island's new fire station is set to be completed in the Spring of 2021. Fire Station #4 (located at 12 Sora Rail Road) will be approximately 9,000 square feet when completed and home to Engine 704 and Tower 701. Currently, Tower 701 has been reassigned to Fire Station #6 on Ocean Course Drive. Engine 704 remains at a temporary facility on the Sora Rail site.

Construction crews have recently completed adding the roof and interior framing to the new fire station. When finished, Fire Station #4 will include three apparatus bays, additional bunk rooms for personnel, dedicated physical conditioning and workout room, and a decontamination room. "Barring any unforeseen delays, we look forward to having Fire Station #4 operational before the PGA Championship," mentioned Fire Chief Colleen Walz. Residents can track the progress of Station #4 on the department's Facebook page by searching: St. John's Fire District.

COVID Testing Sites

Listed below are the closest testing locations to Kiawah. Please call or visit the establishment's website for further instructions.

Additional locations can be found at https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations Medical University of South Carolina MUSC Health West 2060 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407 PCR test by a medical professional.

Results within 72 hours.

Appointment Needed: Yes Referral Needed: Yes Test is free with code COVID19. https://muscvirtualcare.zipnosis.com Doctors Care (James Island) 743 Folly Road Charleston, SC 29412 (843) 762-2360 Rapid test.

Appointment Needed: No Referral Needed: No doctorscare.com/coronavirus-information

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CVS Pharmacy 3575 Maybank Hwy. 2803 Maybank Hwy. Johns Island, SC 29455 Drive-through, pharmacist guided self-administered test.

Appointment Needed: Yes Referral Needed: No Test is free.

Results within 2-5 days. www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

Dottie’s Pharmacy 325 Folly Rd. Charleston SC 29412 Rapid or PCR tests Appointment Needed: No Referral Needed: No Fee per test.

Testing hours: Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. dotspharmacy.com

Premier Medical 354 Folly Rd. Suite 5 Charleston SC 29412 (843) 225-2374 Appointment Needed: No Referral Needed: No premiermedicalsc.com/content/COVID-19

DHEC-Well Health Lowe's-Charleston 770 Daniel Ellis Dr. Charleston, SC 29412 (877) 837-8461 Appointment Needed: Yes Referral Needed: No www.gogettested.com

Town Council Changes

Business/Rental License Renewals

During 2020 two fundamental changes were made by the 16th administration that will affect all future councils. In September, Town Council approved Ordinance 2020-08, which changed and staggered the mayor and council members' term limits beginning with the 2020 election. Specifically, it changed the mayor position to a four-year term, two council members for four years, and two council members for two years. This change will promote continuity in town councils in the future.

The Town began business/contractor/rental license renewals online on January 1. Applications renewed after February 28 will be charged a late fee of 5% per month starting March 1, 2021. SC Legislators have taken actions to standardize the licensing process among state jurisdictions and reduce procedural burden on business. As a result, there are changes to business license regulations taking effect in 2022. The first step in the business licenses standardization process is adopting the standard license period and due date to make doing business across multiple cities easier. Therefore, 2021 Kiawah Island business licenses will be extended to 16 months and valid until April 30, 2022. After that, the license year will be from May 1 to April 30. All licenses must be renewed through the Town’s online service portal www3.citizenserve.com/townofkiawahisland Business license requirements, classification, rates, and instructions on how to use the online portal, are provided on the Town’s website at www.kiawahisland.org/business-licenses

Paid Positions | Term Lengths

General elections for the municipal council will be held every two years to fill the offices available at the time. Elections for council members will be staggered so that two council members shall be elected in each general election every two years. In the next election in 2022, the current two-year term council positions will change to four-year terms. Following that change, all council positions will serve terms of four years. Then in 2024, the mayor position and the other two council positions will be up for election.

Additionally, at their final meeting in December, Council passed an ordinance to set stipends for the future mayor and council member positions beginning with the next administration. The mayor's annual stipend will be $8,000, and council members will be $4,000 per year.

2020 Court Report Below is a summary of Ordinance violation tickets issued in 2020. The list does not include all violations.

Rental Properties: All rental properties are required to have an annual rental business license. To obtain or renew a business license, visit www3.citizenserve.com/townofkiawahisland. Applications renewed after February 28 will be charged a $1000 late fee. If you use a property management company, the agency will renew your license and pay all applicable fees. It is the responsibility of the rental owner to report all gross income generated by each property, including gross income generated through a property management company, home-share platforms (such as VRBO, HomeAway, or Airbnb), or any other source, in accord with the requirements of Sections 4-304 and 4-306 of the Town's Municipal Business License Ordinance. If you are no longer renting your property on Kiawah Island, you must close your rental license by emailing the Town’s business license department at businesslicenses@kiawahisland.org.

Business License Related

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Failure to Obtain a Business License Working without Correct Permits Failure to Obtain a Rental Business License

Short Term Rental Related

19 61

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Filing a False Rental Application Failure to Advertise Business License # on Rental Advertising Violation of the Emergency Rental Ordinance

Lifestyle Related

31 13 30 2 16

Littering Failure to Restrain Pets Verbal Warnings 719 Written Warnings 71

Parking Violation Harassment of Alligators Speeding

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elevation shown on the previous FIRMs dated November 17, 2004, for the given property. This change has a series of steps to go through before final consideration of its approval at the March 2, 2021, Town Council meeting. Any drawings submitted between January 29, 2021, and March 1, 2021, will be reviewed using the new flood insurance rate maps without the benefit of the new BBHE designation.

New Flood Maps The Town's new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) become effective on January 29, 2021. The new maps will impact the requirement and cost of flood insurance for some residents and affect base flood elevation requirements on new construction.

The maps are created by the Charleston County Government, SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to better reflect changing conditions and flood risks.

Base flood elevation, what is it?

The base flood elevation refers to the elevation associated with the "100-year flood", or a flood with a 1% chance of occurrence in any given year. The BFE is the regulatory requirement for the elevation or floodproofing of structures. The relationship between the BFE and a structure's elevation determines the flood insurance premium.

Why is this important to me?

Floodplain managers, insurance professionals, contractors, inspectors, and land surveyors all use base flood elevations as the basis for determining your home's elevation. Insurance agents use the base flood elevation and your home's elevation to determine your risk factor as it applies to your flood insurance rates. 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.

How can I find out what my current base flood elevation is?

Flood maps and a tutorial video on how to determine your base flood elevation are available on www.kiawahisland.org/ flood-awareness. If you have questions, contact the Town's Floodplain Manager/Building Official, Bruce Spicher at 843-7689166 or bspicher@kiawahisland.org.

Adaptive Management Plan

By Cathy Pumphrey

In July 2020, the Community Association, supported by the Town, established an Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) Taskforce as a next step from the 2018 Sea Level Rise Report generated by the Town's Environmental subcommittee. The Taskforce's goal was to initiate the development of an Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) for Kiawah that would plan, prioritize, and stagger investments in addressing the impacts of sea-level rise, climate change, and flooding on the island.

In July, the Taskforce began phase one, which was to assess property owner concerns and identify community thresholds defined as a point at which an undesirable or unacceptable condition negatively impacts the quality of life, economic viability, or Kiawah standards. They conducted their assessment through community engagement efforts, including virtual focus groups, a community-wide survey, and community stakeholders' interviews. In December 2020, the AMP Taskforce briefed the Town Council and the KICA Board on the findings in Phase 1 of their work. A summary is provided below. The full report is available at www.kiawahisland.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AdaptiveManagement-Plan-Phase-1-Final-Report.pdf.

The data results of phase one indicated there is a high level of concern and interest in the impacts of sea-level rise, climate change, and flooding on the island. Threshold areas identified were the impact of flooding on roads, utilities, property, access to amenities, as well as the impact of sea-level rise and climate change on the beach and dunes, salt marsh, maritime forest, and vegetation.

Key recommendations for the next steps include for the Town and the Community Association to:

Changes Pending The new maps may prove beneficial on insurance premiums but have had unintended consequences on designs for new commercial and residential projects in determining mean roof heights.

Currently, roof heights are measured from the base flood elevation for the given property. The reduction in base flood elevations across the island under the new maps will create an undesired effect on roof heights and the ability to park under homes.

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Refine the threshold areas by identifying indicators

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Commit to developing and institutionalizing a fully functioning AMP on behalf of the Kiawah Community.

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Continue to collect information on and improve our understanding of the Kiawah environment, including supporting research programs that add to our knowledge base.

To resolve this issue, Town Council will be considering a zoning ordinance change to add a new designation called Base Building Height Elevation (BBHE). This designation will allow the mean roof height on new projects to be measured from the base flood

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Monitor and provide an annual report of key information about the impacts of sea level rise, climate change, and flooding to the Kiawah community and other stakeholders.

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For more information on the AMP process and recommendations, contact Lucas Hernandez at lucas.hernandez@kica.us.

Fall Migration Banding Summary

By Aaron Given, Wildlife Biologist

In addition to tracking migration patterns and monitoring populations, bird banding data is important because birds are indicators of environmental health. Because they can be sensitive to environmental changes, their behavior can be used to diagnose the health of an ecosystem. The 2020 fall migration banding season marked the 12th consecutive year of monitoring fall migration on Kiawah Island. This year the team banded 7,199 birds and had 1,674 recaptures of 92 different species at the two banding sites: Captain Sam’s (west end) and Little Bear (east end).

Captain Sam's Site Overall, numbers were similar to last fall and within a 1/3 of a percent compared to the average of the last nine years. 4,566 new birds were banded along with 1,166 recaptures of 80 different species, which included one species never banded at this site: Connecticut Warbler. This was the first time a Connecticut Warbler has been documented on Kiawah Island. Several species had record-high numbers, including Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, American Redstart, and Blackpoll Warbler. Alternatively, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow exhibited record low numbers.

Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Gray Catbird (897) 2. Common Yellowthroat (880) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (509) 4. American Redstart (369) 5. Red-eyed Vireo (220)

First Time Capture This was the first time a Connecticut Warbler has been banded on Kiawah Island.

Little Bear Site

Little Bear exhibited a 2.9 % increase in the number of birds banded but had an 8.7% decrease from its six-year average. 2,633 new birds were banded along with 508 recaptures of 71 different species which included five species never banded at this site before: Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black-whiskered Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler.

Some of the same species that exhibited record high numbers at Captain Sam’s did so at Little Bear: Swainson’s Thrush, American Redstart, and Blackpoll Warbler. Species that had record low numbers include Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, and Cape May Warbler.

Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Gray Catbird (568) 2. Common Yellowthroat (531) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (172) 4. Painted Bunting (152) 5. American Redstart (146)

First Time Capture This was the first time a Golden-winged Warbler has been banded on Kiawah Island.

Rare Bird Alert!

This is the first time a Black-whiskered Vireo has ever been recorded on Kiawah Island.

Additionally, it is only the 2nd record of this species in South Carolina. Black-whiskered Vireos are found throughout the Caribbean and only reach the United States in south Florida.To read the full report, visit kiawahislandbanding.blogspot.com.

Deer Population Survey Deer numbers on Kiawah are monitored using spotlight surveys and have been conducted by Town Biologists since 1997. Surveys occur in early fall and late winter each year and then are averaged together to create an annual estimate of deer density, expressed as deer per square mile. The 2020 fall survey was completed in October, showing a density estimate of 123 deer per square mile (roughly 900 deer island-wide). This is the highest deer density on record for Kiawah Island.

Density data from all fall surveys since 1997 shows increased deer numbers in recent years. The winter survey is scheduled for mid-January 2021. The official deer population estimate for 2020 will be available in February 2021. The increase in deer numbers is directly related to Kiawah’s declining bobcat populations, which has been heavily influenced by second-generation anticoagulants. Read more about this concerning issue at www.savekiawahbobcats.com.

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Second-generation Anticoagulants found in Screech Owl and more In November, Town Biologists received results from four additional animals that were submitted for anticoagulant testing. The new animals tested include one bobcat, two raccoons, and one screech owl. Three out of the four animals showed exposure to second-generation anticoagulants (SGAs).

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Uncollared female bobcat hit by a car on the Parkway near Cassique on Sept. 10 – low exposure to two SGAs

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Raccoon found dying near Ocean Course Clubhouse on Sept. 28 – no exposure

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Raccoon found dead on deck of a residence on Goldeneye Dr. on Sept. 28 – exposure to one SGA

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Screech Owl found dead on bike path near Tallow Tree Ln. on Oct. 10 – exposure to one SGA

To date, 13 out of 14 animals submitted for testing have been exposed to SGAs. These results show the substantial impact of SGAs on Kiawah’s ecosystem.

Town Council Passes Environmental Resolution In October, the Town Council passed Resolution 2020-04, strongly discouraging the use of anticoagulant rodenticides to protect Kiawah's wildlife and ecosystem, and adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the best pest management practice for the island. They also request that residents, businesses, and pest control companies take the Bobcat Guardian pledge at www.savekiawahbobcats.com.

Residents can practice IPM to address rodent problems: • Identify specific rodent problems and locations by doing a thorough survey of the property. Only take action if a problem exists. Seeing a rodent in your yard is not a rodent problem.

• Use non-chemical methods of rodent control (eliminate food/water sources, exclude rodents from structures by sealing exterior holes and cracks, use traps).

• Only use pesticides as a last resort for large infestations inside structures. The pesticide should only be applied for a short time (typically ten days) and then stopped once the problem is resolved.

Eliminate the Toxic Foursome Tell your pest control provider not to use second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAs) on your property. These include: Brodifacoum | Bromadiolone | Difenacoum | Difethialone Know Pesticides – It's All About Ingredients If pesticides are necessary, use bromethalin or cholecalciferol.

Brand names of products containing these rodenticides are: Cholecalciferol – Terad3 Blox, d-Con Pro Bait Station Blocks Bromethalin – Tomcat Bait Station Blocks, Victor Fast Kill Refillable Rat Bait Station.

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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 asks that residents pledge to never 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. Applications are available on the website.

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

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

New Neighbor Alert!

Despite the news of our declining bobcat population, we have some uplifting news. Recently, Town Biologists collared Bobcat 450 at Captain Sam's Spit. She was a familiar face as this adult female was first collared in April 2008, making her at least 13 years old! She weighed 13 lbs, 3 oz, and was last collared in 2013. Biologists now have two collared bobcats on the island.

Biologists sent blood samples from Bobcat 450 for anticoagulant rodenticide testing, and the Town will share the results with the community in the biweekly eblast. Photos: Filipe DeAndrade

– A pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and their ducklings have been spotted making themselves at home in the Preserve. Infrequent but routine visitors to Kiawah in recent years, it appears this feathered family might have found a permanent residence on the island – or just an extended stay.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have expanded their range in the southeast and are present year-round now in SC. Sightings have been reported dating back 8-10 years on the island.

Over the last several months, resident and Town volunteer Bob Hill trailed the duck family, sharing updated pictures and videos on social media along the way. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to catch all the duck tales.

Turtle Patrol Season Recap

New Signage

This year Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol volunteers served over 5,000 hours to monitor turtle nesting protection efforts. The Town would like to thank Lynne Sager (Nest Protection Permit holder) and all our Turtle Patrol volunteers for their hard work and dedication to these magnificent animals. Below are this season's stats: First nest – May 4 First hatchling emergence – July 11 Last nest inventoried – October 18 Total nests – 341, with 136 of them relocated (mainly due to being located below the high tide line).

• Total eggs – 38,000+ • 254 false crawls (tracks but no nest-laid) • Average incubation period – 55 days • • • •

Highlights

Rare Discovery

Turtle Patrol has new signage that will be displayed seasonally, reminding beach patrons to admire Kiawah turtles from afar and not to use flashlights on the beach at night during the season. Also, Turtle Patrol made an amazing, rare discovery of a single leucistic hatchling while inventorying the last nest on the island. Leucism is a condition where animals have reduced pigmentation. Leucism is different from albinism as albino animals have a complete loss of pigment, leaving them completely white with red or pink eyes. The story was featured worldwide by the New York Post, People Magazine, Fox News, and more.

Photos: Alison Frey, Turtle Patrol

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Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Audit Presentation The Town of Kiawah Island continues to strive for financial excellence in its management of public funds. Mauldin & Jenkins, CPAs, and Advisors, a licensed, certified public accountants firm, has audited the Town's financial statements. The independent audit's goal was to provide reasonable assurance that the Town's financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, are free of material misstatement. The independent audit involved examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. In November, Town Council received the 2019/2020 audit conclusions by Mauldin & Jenkins, who issued a clean opinion for the Town's financial report, the highest level of assurance an external auditor can provide. The Town was also awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (CAFR Program) designation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.

Both the audit presentation and the Town's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report are available at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency.

to ticket offenders, including fines up to $465. Anyone experiencing problems regarding noncompliance should notify the Town immediately. Beach incidents should be reported to Beach Patrol at 843-518-2880. Incidents that occur off the beach should be reported to Code Enforcement at 843-768-9166.

Charitable Contribution Spotlight

Founded in 1996, Respite Care Charleston is a non-profit bringing "more good days" to caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. With five locations around the Charleston area, the organization is able to provide close and convenient assistance to many Lowcountry families in two forms: social day programs and support groups.

For those living with dementia, Respite Care's social day programs are designed with their particular needs in mind and aim to improve each participant's quality of life. Caregivers can rest easy knowing their loved one is engaging with others during activities like singing, painting, memory fitness, and light exercise. The day programs were rated a remarkable 9.9 out of 10 by caregivers in 2019.

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 Pets must be leashed at all times when they are outside of your home unless they are in an enclosed area. The only exception to this Ordinance is on the beach, in the designated year-round dog off-leash area, and designated seasonal leash areas for the remainder of the season. Leash ordinances are enforced by Beach Patrol and Town Code Enforcement officers who are authorized

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Respite Care's support groups are a free resource offered in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association and give families and caregivers a place to share and learn. Connecting with others experiencing the same challenges can help ease the burden of care and provide practical advice like problem-solving strategies.

The Town of Kiawah's Charitable Fund contribution of $5,500 goes directly to programs serving Johns Island residents. Participants' demographics varied in 2019, but scholarships ensured no family was turned away due to financial circumstances.

This year, like many organizations, Respite Care faced challenges due to COVID-19 but resumed in-person operations at several sites this fall. Johns Island residents have been temporarily folded into the James Island group, and Respite Care hopes to reopen the Johns Island site in January. Support groups have continued throughout the pandemic, keeping participants connected when it truly mattered most.

Visit https://respitecarecharleston.org to learn more, volunteer, or make a donation.

Shop | Sip | Socialize | Stay New Merchants! www.freshfieldsvillage.com

Noddy 574 Freshfields Drive | 843-718-8929

Doin’ the Charleston

164 Gardeners Circle | 843-243-9292 Located on Gardeners Circle near Ladles and Village Dentistry, Doin’ the Charleston specializes in gourmet foods, gifts, entertaining accessories, custom gift baskets, and more. Think about grabbing a hostess gift for your next dinner party or a memorable takeaway from a revered family vacation. Custom gift baskets and Lowcountry staples abound in this new store location.

Noddy, a unique Charleston based Southern Goods store, offers a curated collection of products made by southerners—thus creating an extraordinarily refreshing shopping experience. Noddy proudly represents each state in the South and offers items for the home, men, women, and man’s best friend. The shop is now open on the Village Green next to J.McLaughlin.

Indigo Health

621 Freshfields Drive, Suite 210 | 843-303-9335 Indigo Health, located off Freshfields Drive on the second floor above Coastal Footwear, is our latest addition in health and wellness. They offer chiropractic and massage therapy services, providing wellness care with compassion, Indigo Health aims to educate and empower the community to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. Give them a call to reserve an appointment on your next visit!

JAYNE

465 Freshfields Drive Always finding new ways to expand your wardrobe, our latest women’s apparel store has just arrived! Located across the street from Indigo Books, JAYNE offers an ever-changing selection of women’s luxury apparel brands. Another place to grab summer styles!

Patricia Reno Huff Gallery & Art Studio 165 Village Green Lane, Suite 210 | 404-245-5766

Located on the second floor above Beija Flor off Village Green Lane, the gallery features original artwork by local artist Patricia Reno Huff.

In addition to the gallery, group and private art classes are offered in oil, watercolor, and pastel. For a schedule of classes and more, visit https://patriciarhuff.gallery/instruction

Jersey Mike’s Subs

350 Freshfields Drive | 843-872-9987 Jersey Mike’s Subs is a fast-casual sub sandwich shop now open on Freshfields Drive next to Dolittle’s and BB&T. The sub shop is known for its premium meats, cheeses, fresh vegetables, and in-store baked bread. The shop also offers boxed lunches and a full catering menu.

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2020-2021 Season

Arts Council Announces Three Virtual Concerts In June, the Town of Kiawah Island canceled the first half of the Arts & Cultural Events season with the hope that events could resume safely in early 2021. Although no in-person events are being considered until after April 2021, the Arts Council held their first virtual event in December 2020. We are thrilled that over 200 households registered for the virtual Frederick Moyer holiday concert.

The Arts Council invites you to enjoy three more virtual events from the safety of home.

February 13, 2021 February 28, 2021 March 21, 2021

The Small Glories Quentin E. Baxter presents the Quentin Baxter Quintet Quentin E. Baxter presents the Jeremy Wolf Group

We will release more information about these events through the Arts Council e-blasts and on www.kiawahisland.org/events.

Evaluations for in-person events are ongoing and include an assessment of various factors impacting the safety of artists, guests, volunteers, and staff. When the Arts Council resumes in-person events, all applicable State and local requirements, such as capacity constraints and face coverings, will be strictly enforced.

The Arts Council is hard at work, both on the current season and planning for the 2021-2022 season to come.

They have made extraodinary efforts to reschedule events that were canceled as far back as spring 2020, some of these events the Arts Council members have been now working on since 2018.

We thank you for your patronage and look forward to welcoming you back to performances when the situation allows.