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Inside the Island Connection...
 Volume 2 Issue 25
PRESORT STANDARDUS POSTAGE PAIDCHARLESTON SCPERMIT NO 437
page 11
Charleston ballet
page 8-9
boat show
page 6
wild olive
April 3, 2009
FREE
hinking inside and outside o the box usually requires dierent mindsets:detailed organization vs. broad creativity. But then there are the people or whom “the box” does not exist. Seabrook resident Paul Covert is one o thesepeople. While most Seabrookers are ast asleep, lulled to bed by the susurrant sounds o the nearby ocean, Covert is scribbling away on scraps o paper and sketching blueprints which bind creativity, necessity and eciency into one vehicle – or in this case, abicycle.I your umbrella ell over rom a gusty wind on the beach, it’s most likely that you would just sigh, get up and shove it back into the sand, maybe shoring it up withbeach bags or extra handuls o sand to keep it rom happening again. For Covert,that umbrella alling was the spark o an idea resulting in a novel approach to packingor the beach. Covert’s beach buggy is designed to hold all the items needed or acomortable day on the sand and a convenient way to get it there. Te push buggy actually moves easier when more items are placed on it. It carries two beach chairs, acooler, beach towels, an umbrella, an optional dog basket and provides solid support orthe umbrella over a descent-sized table which unolds rom the ront. Te whole buggy moves with the lightest push rom your fngers and turns on a dime. And Covert didn’tstop there. Te second option merges the beach buggy with a bicycle, so that no matter where you pedal, you take the party with you. “I’ve taken it to Freshfelds quite a ewtimes,” smiled Covert. “I can’t leave it parked or more than a minute without peoplecoming up and asking what it is.” And he is always more than happy to demonstrate. Ater disassembling the beach buggy bike, a process which takes less than two minuteson his prototype, he’s comortably seated with cooler-on-hand, ready to catch some sunor listen to a concert at the Village Green. Although Covert is seeking investors to help him put the beach buggy into massproduction, his handmade vehicles are already available at Rosebank Farms or by callinghim at 696-8623. Te unolding tables are custom made with the client’s choice o theme, created by sealing colorul, themed cloth under several layers o polyurethane.o show that he’s not playing avorites, he’s already created both a Gamecock-themedcart and a Clemson iger cart, both o which are available or sale. And he’s still busy creating. I you ask him, he’ll tell you all about his plans oran exercise center powered solely by the clients’ use o the machines, or his idea or aremote controlled submersible that could explore the ocean depths while controlling itsaely rom the shore. He’s drawn out the plans or a bicycle designed or a paraplegic,and he’s already built a compact baby changingtable with easy-access drawers, a dog gate thattakes up less space than a gol club when storedand an engaging disc toss game which he’saectionately nicknamed “Frank”.Covert frmly believes that there are currently hundreds o products on the market today  which don’t work well, thousands that could beimproved and an endless number which are yetto be created. With the right investors, Covertsaid, he hopes to place as many o his productsinto production as soon as possible and makethem available to the general public. For moreinormation, contact Paul Covert at paul.imagination@yahoo.com or call 696-8623.
The covert inventor 
By Kristin HacKler
(above) Paul Covert shows how his invention, the beach buggy, carries enough equipment for a great day at the beach, and folds back into a small, easy to move cart. Te dog seat is optional. (below) Covert rides his bicycle beach buggy down the street and quickly sets up a comfortable sitting area for two.
 
www.islandconnectionnews.com
Financials
For the rst two months o 2009, MayorMcNulty reported that the own hasan excess o revenues over expenditureso $86,291.26, a $20,237.01 positivevariance rom the budget. However,McNulty stressed that this was pretty much 100 percent because o timing.“We budgeted a $13,000 insurancepayment and a $7,000 audit bill orthis month that have not been paid yet, which is pretty much the dierence inthe budget, so it [the budget] is actually  just about what we planned.” He alsopointed out that this same time last year,the own reported $149,000 in excess o revenues; a dierence o almost $63,000.“Tere are our areas where wereceive revenue,” said the Mayor.“Accomodations ax, which we won’tsee until our third quarter because therst quarter or Charleston County is in June; Business licenses, or which we’vecollected $126,000 to date which is what we budgeted or, but is $52,000 lessthan last year; local sales tax, or which we budgeted $10,000 and only received$5,000, which is $8,000 less than lastyear; and lastly, ranchise ees, which won’t come in until May and June. Idon’t expect much shortall in ranchiseees and I don’t know about AAX,but our business licenses and sales taxesare down. We’re on budget, but we’resignicantly behind 2008.”Councilman Holtz noted that this waspretty much the same story or mostmunicipalities across the country. TeMayor agreed, but reminded Councilthat there are ew things that the owncan cut back on. “We only have threepeople on sta, but maybe we couldrescind their bonuses,” he laughed. But inall seriousness, he reminded everyone thatthey had to be careul with the budget.
Earth Days are ofcial
Because o a small group o excited acesin the crowd, Mayor McNulty jumpedahead in the meeting agenda in orderto read an important proclamation.“Whereas a sound natural environmentis essential to a healthy society and whereas environmental realities requirehumans to make adjustments in ourrelationship to the earth; and whereasknowledge o ways to live in harmony  with our environment already exists and whereas local communities can do muchin reverse environmental degradationand contribute to a healthy society;now, thereore be it known, the own o Seabrook recognizes April 22 – 25, 2009,as EARH DAYS and commits itsel to programs and projects that enhanceour community’s natural environment.”Council approved the proclamation,number 2009-02, and Earth Daysvolunteer Lynda Fox immediately passedout ocial Earth Days hats to all o theCouncil members.Later in the meeting, the 20 x 40 oottent that will be used as the home baseor the Earth Days estival was permittedto be erected on the ront lawn o theSeabrook Real Estate oce or the dayso April 22 – 25, and a 4 x 8 oot nylonsign announcing the event will be placedon the lawn or one week in advance o Earth Days and during the days o theevent itsel.
Forming an all-encompassing Emergency Operations plan
“We’re not without a plan, we just want to make it more meaningul,”said Holtz. During the last Ways andMeans meeting, Council met with twocontinuity planning organizations inorder to decide which would be able tohelp the own coordinate an ecientand thorough Emergency Operationsplan or all o the own’s entities. Bothgave excellent presentations, but thesecond company, Atlantic BusinessContinuity Services out o Summerville,provided plans or both response andrecovery and would work with allorganizations concerned, including thePOA, the water utility and the Club. Although neither company reportedthat they had experience in coordinatingmunicipalities, only businesses, own Administrator Pierce had been unableto nd another municipality that useda coordinator or their Emergency Operations plan, and so was unable tond a coordinator that had experience with municipalities. Te ABCSrepresentative, Scott Cave, had alsogiven a time line or completion o theplan, stating that it might take up to sixmonths, but could be done in as littleas three months. Although the Council was a little worried about the length o time the plan might take, they all notedthat the sooner they got started on it,the better. Te own voted unanimously to go with Atlantic Business Continuity Services.
Bumps in the road?
Councilman Holtz also reported that Ways and Means had met with acontractor, who suggested that they take steps toward making the crosswalk at the Bohicket Marina more visibleinstead o putting in rumple strips. “oput in bumps, we’d need to reduce thespeed limit to 20 miles per hour,” saidCouncilman Savin, a limit which pretty much scrapped the idea o rumple stripson the 35 mph Seabrook Island Road.Holtz noted that there are already threesigns in place or the crosswalk and thecrosswalk itsel is brand new. “We can’tdo much more with it now,” he said. Tedecision was tabled until urther notice.
Te million dollar question
“Everyone I talk to on the island is worried about the same thing,” saidCouncilman Savin. “It all comes back tothe economy; everyone’s 401K, savings,stocks … they’re all in trouble.” Healso reerenced the letter signed by 50,now 80, mayors across South Carolina,including Mayor McNulty, which wassent to Governor Sanord, urging himto accept all o the stimulus money orthe state. “I know we showed a decreasein revenue today, but we have money that should be returned to property owners,” said Savin. “I suggest we return$1 million to the property owners.”Mayor McNulty asked how he proposedto do this, and Savin suggested usingthe water utility and returning themoney as a rebate. Council discussed theidea briefy, wondering i that amount would leave them enough in the own’semergency unds, but as CouncilmanDuBois reminded them, they couldn’tdo anything until the own’s nal auditeither way. Mayor McNulty closed thediscussion by saying that Council wouldbring it up again ater the nal audit when they would have more o an idea on
2 April 3, 2009
Civic Calendar 
The IslandConnection 
Lynn PierottiPublisher
lynn@luckydognews.com 
Kristin HacklerManaging Editor
kristin@luckydognews.com  
Swan RichardsGraphic Designer
swan@luckydognews.com 
Ali AkhyariAssistant Editor
ali@luckydognews.com  
Brittany UrbachReporter
brittany@lukcydognews.com 
Chelsea LanganAdvertising
chelsea@luckydognews.com 
InternsJennifer MillarBridget HinkebeinBri HorahanAshley AndersonEvans CraddockContributorsJennifer BarbourJerry FarberLynda FoxCarroll GantzJan GenosiTom KulickDwight S. IvesGale MessermanPublished byLucky Dog Publishingof South Carolina, LLCP.O. Box 837Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482843-886-NEWS
Future deadlines:April 8 forsubmissions.
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Publishers of 
 Island Eye News
,
The Island Connection
and
 The Folly Current 
.
Monday, April 6
Kiawah Island EnvironmentalCommittee
3pm - 5pmown Hall - 2nd Floor Conerence Room
Tuesday, April 7
Kiawah Island own Council
2pm - 4pmown Hall Council Chambers
Kiawah Island Ways and MeansCommittee meeting 
8amKiawah Island Municipal Center’s 2ndFloor Conerence Room
Wednesday, April 8
Kiawah Island Planning Commission
3pm - 5pmown Hall Council Chambers
Seabrook Island Planning Commission
 All Planning Commission meetings willbe held at 2:30pm at the own Hall unlessnoted otherwise on the own bulletinboard.
Friday, April 10
Good Friday 
Kiawah oces will be closed
Monday, April 13
St. Johns Fire District Commission
7pmSt. Johns Commission Building3327 Maybank Highway, Johns Island
Tuesday, April 20
Kiawah Island Public Saety CommitteeMeeting 
3pm – 5pmown Hall – 2nd Floor Conerence Room
Kiawah Island Board o Zoning Appeals
4pm - 5pmown Hall Council Chambers
Tuesday, April 28
Seabrook Island own Council All own Council meetings will be heldat 2:30pm at the own Hall unless notedotherwise on the own bulletin board.
Kiawah Island own Hall
21 Beachwalker DriveKiawah Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9166Fax: 768-4764Email: cwilson@kiawahisland.org
Seabrook Island own Hall
2001 Seabrook Island RoadSeabrook Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9121Fax: 768-9830Email:lmanning@townoseabrookisland.org
 Johns Island Council
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351Maybank Hwy, John’s Island.Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
Charleston County Council
4045 Bridge View Drive, NorthCharleston(843) 958-4700
City o Charleston
75 Calhoun St.(843) 724-3745
SI Council 
continued on page 3
Seabrook Town Council – March 24, 2009
 
 where the own was going to go.
Utility recovery 
 Joe Hall o the water utility briey explained how they were workingto establish an identity thet policy in compliance with ederal and statelegislation – an ordinance which wasadopted by the own soon ater Hallgave his presentation. Hall noted thatthe water utility mainly uses the bank drat system or payments, which is oneo the saest ways available to transactpayments. He pointed out that the waterutility used the template provided by theMunicipal Association to dene theircompliance with the identity thet policy and, although the template is a largedocument, only about 10% o it appliesto the water utility. As or the FEMA project, everythingis going well. Te project at Station 1,located at Royal Pine, is already ormingand pouring concrete and everything isrunning on schedule.Finally, Hall reiterated what therecovery time or Seabrook Island would be ollowing a storm surge rom ahurricane. Because o the FEMA grant,the water utility was able to waterproo all o the major components to the sewersystem. I they hadn’t been waterprooed,structures such as the buildings aroundthe renovated pump stations would havebeen required to be raised to the level o most residents’ rst oor in order to keepthem rom being ooded in astorm surge. “With the FEMA system, we could be back up andrunning in up to three weeks,”said Hall, when asked how quickly the sewer system wouldbe back online ater a stormsurge. “Teoretically, we couldbe back in three days,” he said,though it depends on the amounto damage to the area and to thesystem.
 
Ordinance 2009-01
: Identity Tet policy – rst reading 
 As per Joe Hall’s description, ordinance2009-01 requires creditors that holdconsumer accounts to develop andimplement a written identity thetprevention program providing or theidentication, detection and response topatterns, practices or specic activitiesknown as “red ags” that could indicateidentiy thet. Te identity thet policy isavailable at own Hall and will becomeefective as o May 1, 2009. Te Councilapproved the rst reading unanimously.
Citizen’s comments
Gary Kotva o Baywood Drive stated tothe Council that he was disappointedthat the own had not taken CERunder their insurance. “I know they couldn’t do much in a major disaster, but with a smaller hurricane, these people would be a huge benet to the island,”said Kotva. “Please reconsider yourdecision.” John Tompson also spoke,stating that CER had ound no policy that would protect them both personally and as an organization. “Tis is no one’sault, because CER was misled,” saidthe Mayor. “o your credit, you [CER]grabbed the ball and ran with it, but thenall o a sudden you were told that you weren’t insured.” Kotva asked why theCER team couldn’t be under the own’sinsurance and it was explained that theown didn’t have the acilities to manageCER, as they would be the own’sresponsibility. Ron Bourn, the leader o CER, stated that the majority o CER would understand i the own neededto exert some control over them i they  were brought under the own’s coverage,but the Mayor closed the discussion by stating that they would take everyone’ssuggestions under advisement.
Charleston Visitor’s Bureau update
Katie Chapman o the CVB stated thatthey were thrilled with the crowds at therecent Food and Wine Festival. Te eventsold more tickets than last year and wascovered by several major media outlets,including the AP, the New York imes,the Washington Post and the BBC. Shereminded the Council that the Americanravel Writers Association would bevisiting the island in June and that shehad recommended Seabrook Island to themagazine
Luxury Travel Advisor 
as a greatplace to visit.
www.islandconnectionnews.com
 April 3, 2009
 
3
Regimes/Associations represented:
 Atrium, Beach Club, Bohicket, Charles owne Place,Dune Crest, Hidden Oaks, High Hammock, MarshPoint, North Beach, Ocean Wind, Pelican Watch, Sealot,Shadowwood, Shelter Cove, Spinnaker, Summerwind,arpon Pond, reelot, Wedgewood.
Guests
: WayneBillian, Jerry Cummin, om PrevostTe minutes o the December 13, 2008, meeting wereapproved. reasurer Fraser reported a cash balance o $1,123.67. Communications Chair Caracciollo reviewedthe status o COVAR representation and requested thatchanges be reported to him as soon as possible. ARC Afairs Chair Morawski reviewed new policies andprocedures in the ARC Manual, including externallighting, ags, ences, and wildlie corridors. He notedthat the Manual can be accessed on the SIPOA web site.
President’s Report 
SIPOA annual meeting and elections: President Gantzbriey reviewed the annual meeting and the results o theelections and the reerendum. He noted that two villaowners now serve on the SIPOA Nomination Committeeand the COVAR Board will schedule a meeting with thenew SIPOA Board President to discuss villa issues.
“COVAR Corner” articles in
Seabrooker 
: Te
Seabrooker 
editors have agreed to provide space in eachmonth’s edition or COVAR written articles o interestto villa owners.
COVAR representation on SIPOA/Seabrook Island Club Joint Study Group
: PresidentGantz is one o nine members appointed to serveon a group established to develop data, identiy issues, and investigate possible changes in theuture governance o Seabrook Island. Te Study Group will report to the SIPOA and Club Boardson the results o its research but will not makeany recommendations. Property owners may submit written questions, issues, or commentsor consideration by the Study Group to LaurieBenjamin at lbenjamin@discoverseabrook.com.
 Wind and Hail Insurance Group (“WHIG”):
 An ad hoc group o Seabrook Island property owners has been established to look into theavailability and cost o wind and hail insurance.COVAR has been invited to designate arepresentative to work on the project. PresidentGantz asked or a volunteer to serve in thatcapacity.
Pending South Carolina legislation aecting homeowner associations
: Pending legislation would afectthe structure, operating procedures, and rights o property owners as well as require an annual payment tothe State rom each association. Some associations andSouth Carolina citizens have already provided commentsto the SC Legislature. Te COVAR Board will review the legislation and preparecomments, i required, on behal o COVAR.
Election o COVAR Ofcersor 2009-2010:
Te ollowing villa owners werenominated and elected to serveone year terms:President – Carroll GantzVice President – RichardSchankenSecretary – Gary Quigley reasurer – James Fraser
Candidates or own o Seabrook Island Council:
 Wayne Billian, Jerry Cummin,and om Prevost, candidatesto ll a vacancy on the own Council, each madepresentations in support o their candidacy and respondedto questions and comments rom the audience. Eachcandidate provided a one page document to COVAR ordistribution with the meeting minutes which providesinormation on their candidacy or villa owners unableto attend the meeting. Te next COVAR meetingis Saturday, June 13, 2009, 10-12 noon at the POA Community Center.
COVAR meeting minutes – March 14, 2009
Seabrook Town Council proudly show of their Earth Day hats.
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