Surfside Beach, SC

Do you have a passion to serve your community?

Would you like to serve on a volunteer board, commission or committee for the Town of Surfside Beach?

Applications are accepted at any time for these volunteer positions.
You may print a form from our website, call the town clerk at 843.913.6333 or send an email to townclerk@surfsidebeach.org to have a form sent to you.

As of Nov. 9, 2021 the following boards, commissions and committees have vacancies or terms expiring:

Accommodations Tax Committee (1 vacancy, 1 term expiring)
Board of Zoning Appeals (1 term expiring)
Business Committee (1 term expiring)
Construction Board of Appeals (2 vacancies)
Planning Commission (1 vacancy)
Ralph Magliette Senior Citizens Committee (6 vacancies)
Storm Water Committee (1 term expiring)

For more information, please visit our website https://www.surfsidebeach.org/committees

RESULTS – OCT. 26 SURFSIDE BEACH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

The Surfside Beach Town Council met at the Dick M. Johnson Civic Center on Tuesday, October 26, for a Meeting (6:30 p.m.).

COMMUNICATIONS included a finance report from Finance Director Diana King. She stated the General Fund Revenue before transfers is $134,000 higher than last year. All revenue categories have increased in this fiscal year except interest revenue. However, expenditures have also increased due to the purchase of capital equipment and the new Town Hall facility.
Council received a presentation from Greene Finney, LLP, regarding the Town’s audit for fiscal year ending, June 30, 2021. Greene Finney, LLP, issued the town an unmodified opinion, stating the Town is in good financial condition as of June 30, 2021.
Public Information Officer and Events Supervisor, Robert Blomquist, updated council on event efforts and plans to improve communication.
Public Works Director, John Adair provided an update on the Dogwood Swash project. It is anticipated that section of Ocean Boulevard will reopen at the end of November.
Additionally, the Stormwater Committee provided a recommendation regarding the tree ordinance.

BUSINESS 

-- Town Council passed Second Reading of Ordinance 21-0938 – Chapter 4 – an ordinance to amend Chapter 4, business licenses and permits (Article I)
-- Town Council passed First Reading of Ordinance 21-0943 – An ordinance of the Town of Surfside Beach to amend Chapter 4, Article II – VIII of the code of ordinances for the Town of Surfside Beach, South Carolina.
-- Town Council passed Second Reading of Ordinance 21-0942 to rezone the parcels of land purchased for the new Town Hall from their current zoning to Public Land (PL).
-- Town Council passed Second Reading of Ordinance 21-0937 an ordinance to update the flood damage prevention and adopt new flood insurance rate maps.
-- Town Council passed Second Reading of Ordinance 21-0933 an ordinance of the Town of Surfside Beach Chapter 17, Article VII, landscaping and tree protection.
-- Town Council approved the purchase of a new K-9 vehicle for the Surfside Beach Police Department.
-- Town Council gave approval to administration to move ahead with Civic Plus to develop a new Town website.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

-- Following a meeting in executive session, Town Council approved a 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment for all Town employees.

If you would like to review any of the ordinances mentioned, please access the October 26 interactive meeting agenda here: 

https://www.surfsidebeach.org/Data/Sites/1/media/town-council/agendas-and-minutes/2021/1026/10--26-2021-agenda.pdf

Town of Surfside Beach,

We are less than one week away from the 2021 municipal election. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to speak with each of the candidates and learn about them and their platforms.

The candidates in this year's election each provided a statement about who they are and why they feel you should vote for them.

Please take a moment to read through what they have to say. The candidates are listed alphabetically by first name.

CLICK HERE for candidate profiles.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

MEETING NOTICE

A Town Council Workshop has been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. to discuss amendments to Chapter 4 of the Town Code of Ordinances - Business licenses, Permits and Regulations.

The meeting will be held in the Dick M. Johnson Civic Center.

TOWN SERVICED LIMITED (OCT. 27, 28 & 29)

Please note, business services through Town Hall will be limited next Wednesday - Friday (Oct. 27 - Oct. 29), as staff transitions in to the new Town Hall building.

Anyone seeking Town business licenses or permits should secure those by Tue. Oct. 26.

The Town's emergency services will not be interrupted during this time.

The Dogwood Swash culvert bridge is starting to take shape. Concrete box culverts are now on site and being installed.

Stormwater will flow through these boxes providing greater resiliency to storms and storm surge, mitigating future flooding issues.

With this phase of the project underway the contractor hopes to have the project complete and that section of Ocean Boulevard back open by the end of November.

(Concrete culvert boxes sit along Ocean Blvd. awaiting installation.)

(A section of Dogwood Swash, between Dogwood Lake and Ocean Blvd)

The Town of Surfside Beach mourns the passing of former Mayor Doug Samples, and expresses its deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends.

Mr. Samples served the Town of Surfside Beach for many years. He volunteered with the town’s stormwater committee from 2000 through 2002 before running for a position on the Surfside Beach Town Council.

Mr. Samples was first elected to serve on Council in 2002, and served for three terms before being elected mayor in 2012. He served as mayor until 2016.

Mayor Samples was honored by the South Carolina House of Representatives with a House Resolution in May 2016, recognizing him for his focus on “improving and maintaining the quality of life… by directing efforts to improve public infrastructure to retain the town’s ‘family beach’ atmosphere and image, supporting the town’s tourism industry, and encouraging business investment.”

Information about funeral arrangements will be provided by Goldfinch Funeral Home.

We are less than 3 weeks away from the local Town Council election.
Political signs are allowed, but must not be placed within public right-of-way.

In most instances a good primary guide is to keep signs behind telephone and power poles. Or in the absence of such poles, a good rule of thumb is at least 15 feet from the edge of the road.

In some locations along Ocean Blvd that right-of-way is at least 25 feet from the edge of the road.

Candidates are welcome to check adjacent to the dumpster behind the Surfside Beach Police Department for any signs that may have been removed.

Political signs must also be removed within 5 days of the election.

For more information on the Town’s regulations regarding signs, please refer to the Town’s Code of Ordinances: Chapter 17, Article VI, Sec. 17-623(D).

RESULTS – OCT. 11 SURFSIDE BEACH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

The Surfside Beach Town Council met at the Dick M. Johnson Civic Center on Tuesday, October 11, for a Meeting (6:30 p.m.).

COMMUNICATIONS included a quarterly report (July 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2021) from the Surfside Beach Fire Department, delivered by Chief Rob Clemons. In the report Chief Clemons outlined some of the departments successes and improvement areas. Chief Clemons also provided an update on department staffing as well as plans for an organizational audit, and the setting of department/division goals and objectives.

Chapter 8, Article 5, Sec. 8-68 was discussed as it relates to communication by candidates for Town Council. After discussion Council passed a motion to suspend Sec. 8-68, line (b), until after the upcoming Nov. 2, 2021, town election.

BUSINESS 

-- Town Council passed Article 1 of Chapter 4 (Business Licenses and Permits). The remaining articles of Chapter 4 will be discussed at a Town Council Workshop, date to be determined.

-- Town Council passed First Reading of Ordinance 21-0942 to rezone the parcels of land purchased for the new Town Hall from their current zoning to Public Land (PL).

-- Town Council passed First Reading of Ordinance 21-0937 an ordinance to update the flood damage prevention and adopt new flood insurance rate maps.

-- Town Council passed Resolution 21-0141 – Workplace Safety.

If you would like to review any of the ordinances mentioned previously, please access the October 11 interactive meeting agenda here: 

https://www.surfsidebeach.org/Data/Sites/1/media/town-council/agendas-and-minutes/2021/1011/10-11-2021-agenda.pdf

Next week's Town Council meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will still take place inside the Dick M. Johnson Civic Center.