​UPDATE!!
​
Authorities confirmed Suspect is now deceased and threat to public is over.
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Early today, Charleston County Sherrif's Office authorities ask citizens around Mary Ann Point Road on Johns Island to exercise caution as multiple public safety agencies search for wanted suspect Ernest Burbage.

Keep all doors and windows locked including vehicles, and stay indoors unless you must go out. He is considered armed and dangerous, call 911 if you see or hear anything suspicious.

Updates will be posted as they are recieved.

​The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections will conduct a General Election within the Town of Seabrook Island on Tuesday, November 07, 2023. This is a nonpartisan, at-large municipal election. Election results for each position will be determined by the plurality method.

The term of office for the Mayor and members of Town Council will begin in January 2024 and expire in January 2026. The term of office for the position of Utility Commissioner will begin in January 2024 and expire in January 2030. 

Candidates

Filing for the Town of Seabrook Island's municipal election closed on Thursday, September 07, 2023, at 12:00 pm. The following individuals have filed to run as candidates:

Candidates for Mayor

• Jeri Finke​
• Bruce Kleinman

Candidates for Town Council

• Chuck Cross
• Raymond Hamilton
• Dan Kortvelesy
• Darryl May
• Paul D. McLaughlin
• Gordon Weis
• Sharon Welch

Candidate for Utility Commission

• Robert Aaron

Election Day Polling Location

The following polling place will be open on Tuesday, November 07, 2023, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

• SIPOA Lake House - 2319 Seabrook Island Road, Seabrook Island, SC 29455

Voter Registration Information

Any person wishing to vote in this election must register no later than Friday, October 06, 2023. Voter registration by mail forms will be accepted if postmarked by Friday, October 06, 2023.

Voter ID Requirements

Please note that statewide photo ID requirements will apply. When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following types of photo ID at your polling place:

• SC Driver's License
• SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
• SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
• Federal Military ID
• US Passport

Click here to learn more about photo ID requirements.

Early Voting

Early voting begins on Monday, October 23, 2023, and ends on Friday, November 03, 2023. Early voting centers, listed below, will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed Saturday and Sunday). 

• Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Headquarters: 4340 Corporate Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405
• West Ashley Seacoast Church: 2049 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
• Mt. Pleasant Seacoast Church: 750 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
• Main Downtown Library: 68 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

​
​Absentee Voting

Registered voters who cannot vote in person may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. An absentee ballot may be obtained from the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. You may call (843)744-8683 or email absentee@charlestoncounty.org to inquire about the availability of absentee ballots.

For more information about Absentee Voting please visit the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections website: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/bevr/absentee-voting.php

Absentee Ballot Examination

The examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes will be examined by the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 06, 2023, at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office located at 4340 Corporate Rd., North Charleston, SC 29405. 

Provisional Ballot Hearing

A hearing will be held to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in this election by the County Board of Canvassers a 9:20 a.m. on Thursday, November 09, 2023. This hearing will take place at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office at 4340 Corporate Rd., North Charleston, SC 29405.

At 9:00 a.m., on Election Day, the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections will begin the examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes. This process will take place at the Board of Elections office, 4367 Headquarters Road, North Charleston, SC.  

Election Day 
​
Polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. 

Always check your polling place at scVOTES.gov prior to the election.

Useful Links

• Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections
• ​South Carolina Election Commission
• South Carolina State Ethics Commission​

Voting is open NOW!
 
We are thrilled to have been nominated as a top 5 finalist in the Land Rover Defender Awards, giving LMMN the chance to win a Land Rover and $25,000! We are the ONLY organization in South Carolina and the ONLY marine mammal finalist in this category. This would be a huge win for South Carolina and marine mammals everywhere!
 
It would mean the world to us if you can help us win. We need your help to VOTE every day from today to October 4th. We also need the masses to vote. So please ask your friends and networks to support our cause and VOTE!
 
“Through their compassionate acts of service and integrity, it is with great honor that we recognize these organizations that embody the heroism of Defender. The Defender ethos is centered around achieving the impossible with a focus on giving back, and these organizations are nothing short of that. We are proud to celebrate their extraordinary achievements and dedication to their missions.” 
 
Public voting will take place from Friday, September 15, through Wednesday, October 4, to determine the ultimate winners of the six categories of the 2023 Defender Service Awards. To view the finalist videos and vote, please visit Defender Service Awards at
 
https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/animal-welfare.htm

PUBLIC NOTICE

Charleston County Mosquito Control has scheduled a spray truck for Zone "K2," which includes the Town of Seabrook Island. The treatment is scheduled to take place during the overnight hours beginning after 11:00 PM on Sunday, August 27th, and will be completed prior to 7:00 AM on Monday, August 28th (weather permitting).

As a reminder, mosquito treatment requests may be submitted at any time through the town's website at https://www.townofseabrookisland.org/mosquito-control.html.

For more information about the Mosquito Control program, please visit Charleston County Mosquito Control.

Notice is hereby given that the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections will conduct the General Election for Town of Seabrook Island on Tuesday, November 07, 2023. Any person wishing to vote in this election must register no later than Sunday, October 08, 2023. Voter registration by mail forms will be accepted if postmarked by Monday, October 09, 2023.

Candidate Filing

Candidate filing opens at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 10, 2023, and filing closes at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 07, 2023. The offices, fees, and requirements are listed below.

​A Statement of Economic Interest form must be filed electronically (on-line) at https://ethics.sc.gov/ prior to filing a Statement of Candidacy and/or Petition. Those requiring electronic filing assistance may contact the South Carolina State Ethics Commission at (803) 253-4192.

Early Voting

Early voting begins on Monday, October 23, 2023, and ends on Friday, November 03, 2023. Early voting centers, listed below, will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed Saturday and Sunday). 

• Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Headquarters: 4340 Corporate Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405
• West Ashley Seacoast Church: 2049 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
• Mt. Pleasant Seacoast Church: 750 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
• Main Downtown Library: 68 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Absentee Ballot Examination

The examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes will be examined by the County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 06, 2023, at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office located at 4340 Corporate Rd., North Charleston, SC 29405. 

Provisional Ballot Hearing

A hearing will be held to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in this election by the County Board of Canvassers a 9:20 a.m. on Thursday, November 09, 2023. This hearing will take place at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office at 4340 Corporate Rd., North Charleston, SC 29405.

Election Day 
​
Polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Always check your polling place at scVOTES.gov prior to the election.

On July 9, 2023, a SIPOA resident doing yard work on his property adjacent to the golf course was attacked by an alligator living in a lagoon nearby. While the Property Owner was walking 6-8 feet from the lagoon edge, the alligator quickly emerged from the lagoon, knocked the Owner to the ground, and clenched the Owner’s leg in his jaws. Fortunately, the alligator relaxed its grip, and the Owner was able to escape to safety. The alligator returned to the lagoon.
 
The Owner contacted 911. SIPOA officers and EMS responded. The Owner was transported by EMS and his injuries were treated at MUSC.  During that time the Charleston County Sheriff, SCDNR, an alligator trapper and SIPOA officers were on site. The alligator was captured and transported.
 
This was a terrifying and rare alligator encounter with a surprisingly fortunate outcome thanks to the Owner’s quick thinking. As we know, not everyone in similar situations is this lucky.
 
SIPOA publishes alligator safety reminders on a regular basis from early spring through fall. We would like to take this opportunity to again remind our Owners and their guests to be aware of alligators, and actions to take should they encounter one.
 
Alligators less than four feet long are incapable of eating anything larger than a small turtle and are too small to pose a threat to even small pets or people. Alligators at least four feet in length that are aggressive and pose a threat to people, pets or property are considered “nuisance alligators”.
 
FOR YOUR SAFETY:

• Keep your distance. Alligators can run faster than you.
• Do not attempt to move alligators out of the road.
• Stay away from alligator nests or small alligators. Female alligators are very protective of their territory.
• Keep your pets and children away from alligators.
• Do not corner or trap alligators.
• Be alert around the shore of freshwater ponds or wetlands.
• Don't feed alligators. Not only is it illegal, but feeding alligators threatens peoples’ and animals' safety. Providing food for these wild animals makes them bolder, encourages them to seek out people, and alters their natural diet in an unhealthy way. If you enjoy seeing alligators, please understand that feeding them endangers them. When alligators lose their fear of humans, they become aggressive and must be removed. Remember- a fed alligator is a dead alligator. If you see someone feeding alligators, contact the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-922-5431.

 
If you have a concern about an aggressive or nuisance alligator on SIPOA properties or roadways or at your residence, call the Gatehouse at (843) 768-6641. SIPOA will contact our on-call professional alligator trapper licensed by SCDNR to evaluate the alligator which then may be removed and euthanized.  If you are on the golf course, contact the golf shop or Sean Hardwick at the Seabrook Island Club for assistance.
 
In any location, if you are attacked by an alligator or you observe an attack, call 911 for emergency response. Don’t waste valuable response time by calling the Gatehouse – 911 should be your first call for any emergency.  When 911 is called, the Gatehouse is automatically notified by Charleston County and can respond as needed. 
 
Again, we are fortunate that this didn’t become a tragic event. We are very thankful that our resident escaped, and injuries were minor. Please keep these safety precautions in mind when outdoors. Be Aware, Be Alert and Stay Safe!

The Town of Seabrook Island Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee is currently accepting applications for FY 2024 State Accommodations Tax (ATAX) funding. Interested applicants must submit a completed application to the Assistant Town Administrator by 12:00 pm on Mon. August 7, 2023. The ATAX Advisory Committee will consider funding requests during its upcoming meeting on August 29, 2023 at 11:00 am, at which time the committee will vote on funding recommendations to Town Council. 

State ATAX funds must be used to attract or provide for tourists, and cannot be used for any item that would normally be provided by a county or municipality. Eligible projects include:

• advertising and promotion of tourism so as to develop and increase tourist attendance through the generation of publicity;
• promotion of the arts and cultural events;
• construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities for civic and cultural activities including construction and maintenance of access and the nearby roads and utilities for the facilities;
• the criminal justice system, law enforcement, fire protection, solid waste collection, and health facilities when required to serve tourists and tourist facilities. (The amount of the expenditure is required to be based on the estimated percentage of cost directly attributed by tourists);
• public facilities such as restrooms, dressing rooms, parks and parking lots;
• tourist shuttle transportation;
• control and repair of waterfront erosion; and
• operating visitor information centers.

For additional information regarding eligible ATAX expenditures, please refer to the SC Department of Revenue’s official advisory opinion contained in SC Revenue Ruling #98-22.

A responsible person from the submitting organization must attend the ATAX Advisory Committee meeting on August 29, 2023 at 11:00 am to present the request (limit to five minutes) and to answer questions from committee members. The meeting will be held at Seabrook Island Town Hall, 2001 Seabrook Island Road. 
​
Recommendations made by the ATAX Advisory Committee must be approved by the Seabrook Island Town Council before funds may be committed to the applicant or dispersed by the Town.

For more information, please contact Katharine Watkins, Assistant Town Administrator, by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at kwatkins@townofseabrookisland.org.

​FY 2024 ATAX Grant Application Forms
Application Deadline: Mon. August 7, 2023 (12:00 PM)
​

• FY 2024 ATAX Grant Application Form (PDF)

The Town of Seabrook Island Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee is currently accepting applications for FY 2024 State Accommodations Tax (ATAX) funding. Interested applicants must submit a completed application to the Assistant Town Administrator by 12:00 pm on Mon. August 7, 2023. The ATAX Advisory Committee will consider funding requests during its upcoming meeting on August 29, 2023 at 11:00 am, at which time the committee will vote on funding recommendations to Town Council. 

State ATAX funds must be used to attract or provide for tourists, and cannot be used for any item that would normally be provided by a county or municipality. Eligible projects include:

• advertising and promotion of tourism so as to develop and increase tourist attendance through the generation of publicity;
• promotion of the arts and cultural events;
• construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities for civic and cultural activities including construction and maintenance of access and the nearby roads and utilities for the facilities;
• the criminal justice system, law enforcement, fire protection, solid waste collection, and health facilities when required to serve tourists and tourist facilities. (The amount of the expenditure is required to be based on the estimated percentage of cost directly attributed by tourists);
• public facilities such as restrooms, dressing rooms, parks and parking lots;
• tourist shuttle transportation;
• control and repair of waterfront erosion; and
• operating visitor information centers.

For additional information regarding eligible ATAX expenditures, please refer to the SC Department of Revenue’s official advisory opinion contained in SC Revenue Ruling #98-22.

A responsible person from the submitting organization must attend the ATAX Advisory Committee meeting on August 29, 2023 at 11:00 am to present the request (limit to five minutes) and to answer questions from committee members. The meeting will be held at Seabrook Island Town Hall, 2001 Seabrook Island Road. 
​
Recommendations made by the ATAX Advisory Committee must be approved by the Seabrook Island Town Council before funds may be committed to the applicant or dispersed by the Town.

For more information, please contact Katharine Watkins, Assistant Town Administrator, by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at kwatkins@townofseabrookisland.org.

​FY 2024 ATAX Grant Application Forms
Application Deadline: Mon. August 7, 2023 (12:00 PM)
​

• FY 2024 ATAX Grant Application Form (PDF)