2022 Disaster Awareness Day |
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After a two-year hiatus, The Town of Kiawah Island is pleased to be hosting this year's Disaster Awareness Day event sponsored by both Kiawah and Seabrook Island!
At this event, our communities will get together to discuss everything related to storm preparation, emergency communications, and evacuation. Each of our three panels will provide the most recent information to the community while answering questions as well.
Click here to submit questions to the storm preparation, emergency communications and evacuation panelist. All questions must be submitted by 12 PM on Friday, June 10.
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TOKI Employee Spotlight: Meet Short-Term Rental Compliance Clerk, Jan Fox |
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What brought you to the Town?
Twenty-five years ago, I started managing the Charleston Visitor Center at the Town of Kiawah's Municipal Center through the CVB. After 20 years with the CVB, I became the Town's receptionist. As of 2020, I am now the Short Term Rental Compliance Clerk.
Is there anything about your career that you enjoy the most?
I very much enjoy all of my co-workers and the residents of Kiawah. After being a part of the Town for many years, I have met many wonderful people.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I love right where I am; my husband and I have some property on Johns Island and enjoy every bit of it. It is our little piece of paradise.
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, of course! My inner child will never let me grow too old for Christmas.
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Red Knot Research in the Southeast |
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You are invited to the third of four shorebird Zoom talks hosted by the Kiawah Island Shorebird Stewardship Program. This takes place this evening, Wednesday, June 8 at 6:00 PM.
This is a beautiful opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary lives of our beloved Red Knots. We all know they visit our island every Spring, but this presentation will tell us about what we have learned from ongoing research on them.
The presenter for this talk will be Fletcher Smith of the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources.
Smith is a shorebird biologist who has worked with migrating birds for over 17 years. Red Knots have significantly declined in the last 50 years, but what is being done to understand more about why? He will share interesting findings from a long-term Red Knot project of counting, surveying, trapping, and banding. He will also share what’s been learned about the Knots from this past season. Learn how Kiawah and Seabrook are critical to the survival of this species!
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Current nest count: 178
Help us protect our turtles by keeping in mind:
- Never harass, touch or disturb hatchlings or eggs.
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Take all items with you when you leave the beach (chairs, coolers, trash) and fill in your holes, as these can be significant hurdles for turtles.
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Lights out for Turtles! May - October, all outdoor lighting facing the beachfront should be turned off from 9 p.m. to dawn. Artificial light (flashlights, cell phone lights, etc.) on our beach can cause nesting females to abandon nesting attempts and disorient hatchlings as they make their way to the ocean. Red lighting is much more sea-turtle friendly, but even red lights should never be shined directly at a nesting female or a hatchling. Free red flashlight filters are available at the Municipal Center.
Each year, nesting efforts are monitored by the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, a group of dedicated volunteers. Unfortunately, there are no volunteer openings for Turtle Patrol this year. For the 2023 season, a call for volunteers will begin in January 2023. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for season highlights.
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Vote in Statewide Primaries |
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The statewide primaries are next week on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Voting will take place at The Sandcastle (1 Shipwatch Road) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for registered voters of Kiawah Island.
Voters can view their sample ballot here.
You can also choose to vote early until 5 p.m. Friday, June 10. The dates, times and locations of early voting centers can be found here.
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King Tides Predicted for June 2022 |
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A "King Tide" is a non-scientific term used to describe the highest seasonal tides which occur every year. Charleston's average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., but during a King Tide event, it can reach 7 ft. or higher. King Tides are naturally occurring tides that are caused by a spring tide (when the earth, sun, and moon align during a new or full moon, increasing tide ranges) corresponding to the point in the moon's orbit when it is closest to the earth, which is known as perigee.
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, we can expect to see King Tides on June 13-16.
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Beach Ordinance Reminders |
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Please be aware of the following ordinances for your safety and the preservation of our environment. Anyone found in violation could be ticketed, including property owners and visitors.
Beach Rules
- Stay off the dunes and use boardwalks.
- No glass, metal shovels, plastic carryout bags, plastic straws, Styrofoam, balloons, or drones allowed.
- No overnight storage of beach equipment.
- Fill in your holes before you leave the beach.
- May through October - all outdoor beachfront lighting must be turned off from 9 p.m. to dawn to protect nesting sea turtles.
- There should be no artificial light on the beach at night, including flashlights (handheld or cellular).
- Never approach sea turtles, hatchlings, or nests.
- Seasonal leash ordinances are in effect (detailed below).
Leash Ordinance (penalties up to $465)
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March 16 through October 31, dogs must be on a leash at all times, even in the water, from the western boundary of the Critical Habitat Area (near Beachwalker County Park) to the eastern edge of the Beach Club. View map. Electronic leashes are prohibited, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
Violations in progress should be reported immediately so corrective action can be taken. Ordinances are enforced by Beach Patrol (call or text 843-518-2880) and Code Enforcement officers (24-hour hotline 843-259-2137).
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Solid waste bills will be mailed out Friday, July 1. Residents can submit their payments via online or by phone.
To pay online:
Click here to access the online portal or copy and paste the link below in your web browser:
https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/kiawahislandsc
To pay by phone:
Call 833-212-7808 to make your solid waste bill payment over the phone. You will need your account number and the street number of the account to complete the transaction. Credit and debit cards are accepted.
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Short-Term Rental Violations |
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Complaints regarding short-term rentals should be brought to the attention of Town Code Enforcement Offices for follow up. To report addresses that are potentially in violation, please use one of the following reporting methods:
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Previously mentioned announcements:
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Upcoming Committee Meetings |
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Public Safety Committee - June 15 | 11:30 a.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals - June 20 | 3 p.m.
Ways and Means Committee - June 27 | 3 p.m.
Town Council - July 5 | 2 p.m.
Procedures
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Town Council meetings are always live-streamed on the Town's YouTube channel. Other committees that conduct their meetings in person where the public can attend are not live-streamed.
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Agendas are available here and will reference the meeting's location. Dates, times, and locations sometimes change. Before planning to attend a meeting, check our website.
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