Census Final Countdown

South Carolina needs your help being fully counted in the 2020 Census and time is running out! The deadline to respond is September 30. Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and public services and determines the number of seats each state has in Congress and political representation at all levels of government.   South Carolina currently ranks 43rd in the nation in self-response. The impact of an undercount is significant. If 100 people in a community are left out, that leaves $3M on the table that should be directed to South Carolina. Other states with a more complete count could receive South Carolina's share of these resources. If you have not already done so, please take the Census today. If you have questions, call 844-330-2020. Local Response Rates as of 9/15 Kiawah - 25.7%  Seabrook - 43.1%  Charleston County - 61%  South Carolina - 59.9%

Take the Census

Municipal Election Filing Deadline October 2

Filing is Open The Kiawah Island municipal election will take place Tuesday, December 1, 2020. It will include voting for a mayor and four council members. Filing opened at noon on September 1 and will close at noon on October 2. More Voting in the Municipal Election To vote in the municipal election, you must be registered to vote in South Carolina at your address on the island. The deadline to register to vote for the municipal election is October 31. More

General Election Voter Registration

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It will include voting for president and vice-president, 1/3 of the Senate, and all of the House of Representatives. State and local races are also on the ballot. (Does not include TOKI municipal election, which is on December 1.) More Deadlines for Voter Registration: In person - Friday, October 2 Online - Sunday, October 4 By mail - (postmarked by) Monday, October 5 Detailed Calendars & Deadlines Voter Registration Guidelines Absentee Voting All registered voters are now qualified to vote absentee under the State of Emergency reason for the November 3 elections only. More Request an Absentee Application Live chat with a Board of Elections representative and request to vote absentee. Complete the online application here. Call (843)744-8683. Submit written request to absentee@charlestoncounty.org. For more information visit www.scvotes.org or Charleston County Board of Elections & Voter Registration.

Budget At A Glance

Have you ever wondered how the Town's budget is managed, where our revenues come from, or what our expenditures are? Check out this year's updated Budget At A Glance that summarizes the budget outlook and spending.  Read it here

Litter Sweep Success

Thank you to the volunteers who took part in last week's Litter Sweep. The KI Litter Sweep supports the goals of Pam and D. Michael Wilson Plastic-Free Waters, the South Carolina Aquarium program aimed at mitigating plastic pollution impacts through community engagement and conservation fieldwork. The group picked up over 2500 pieces of debris from Freshfields to the Ocean Course. Photo courtesy of Alison Frey

Take a Pawse! Become a Bobcat Guardian

We have received an encouraging amount of support for Kiawah's bobcats, but to revive the population we need all hands on deck. Take a "pawse" today and become a Bobcat Guardian! Resident Bobcat Guardian Pledge Property owners within Town of Kiawah are invited to sign the pledge here certifying they will not use SGAs on their property. Please respond only once per property. Provider & Business Pledges Pest control providers and businesses operating within Town limits are encouraged to apply to become a Bobcat Guardian at www.savekiawahbobcats.com.

Please be aware that the next King Tide that could affect the island will occur September 15-21. King Tides are the highest seasonal tides that naturally occur each year. In some cases, they may barely even be noticed. In other cases, a King Tide may cause flooding of low-lying areas and disruption to normal daily routines. More

COVID-19 Updates

The Town continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in our area, and has created comprehensive webpage with resources pertaining to COVID-19 including updated statistics and DHEC reporting links, emergency orders and more.

Face Coverings Ordinance Extended Town Council passed Emergency Ordinance 2020-09, which extends existing requirements including face coverings and other emergency restrictions to address COVID-19 until October 25. A summary is available here.

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.  Tip: Strengthen your home for a storm. Declutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture, and secure items that cannot be brought inside. More Hurricane Guides South Carolina | Charleston County | Town of Kiawah Island

Notification Make sure you are signed up for the Town’s emergency notification outlets here.

Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol

Photo courtesy of Barbara Pagnotta, Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol The current nest count is 345. Nesting efforts are monitored by a group of dedicated resident volunteers each year. Due to COVID- 19, no new patrol volunteers or attendance of nest inventories will be permitted this season.  Help us protect our turtles: Take all items with you when you leave the beach (chairs, coolers, trash) and fill in your holes, as these can be big hurdles for turtles. Only use red lights on the beach at night. Artificial light disorients sea turtles as they try to find their way to the ocean. Free red flashlight filters are available at the Municipal Center. May - October all outdoor lighting facing the beachfront should be turned off from 9 p.m. to dawn. Never harass, touch or disturb hatchlings or eggs. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for season highlights.

Previously Mentioned

Changes to the Term Limits for Town Council  Flood Damage Prevention - Draft Ordinance 2020-10 Littering Ordinance Amendments - Draft Ordinance 2020-11 HR&A Kiawah Island Housing Market Study Accepted

Committee Meetings | Virtual Only

Board of Zoning Appeals - September 21 | 3 p.m. Arts & Cultural Events Council - October 1 | 2 p.m. Arts Council Board - October 5 | 10 a.m. Town Council - October 6 | 2 p.m. Planning Commission - October 7 | 3 p.m. Public Works Committee - October 12 | 10 a.m. Public Safety Committee - October 14 | 11:30 a.m. Until further notice, all committee meetings will be conducted over video conference and streamed to the Town's YouTube channel. Agendas are available here. Meeting dates and times sometimes change. Before planning to watch a meeting, be sure to check our website.

(843) 768-9166 www.kiawahisland.org

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