DI News History - August 2, 2018
TEN YEARS AGO – Return of a port terminal on DI in the works?
A feature story in the July 31, 2008 issue of The Daniel Island News focused on the S.C. State Ports Authority’s rejection of a $25 million offer from the Daniel Island POA for its Daniel Island property.
Former State Rep. Jim Merrill stated that he suspected the SPA still wanted to build a shipping container terminal on its 1,300-acre Daniel Island property, despite a 2002 legislative directive to use the site only for dredge spoil.
“It’s long been my contention that they still want to come back to Daniel Island,” the former Republican Majority Leader told Daniel Island Neighborhood Association members in 2008. “...What we need to do is get that land away from the Ports Authority if your homes are going to maintain their value.”
A coalition of neighborhood associations, environmental non-profit groups and government representatives mobilized and eventually stopped the project with the help of the General Assembly. Its 2002 legislation directed the SPA to build instead at the abandoned naval base in North Charleston.
Details of the POA’s $25 million offer were based on a formula that would require a 30-year, $275 annual assessment on every Daniel Island residence, including approximately 1,500 undeveloped lots still owned by the Daniel Island Company at the time.
Daniel Island resident Mac McBride, also in attendance at the meeting, said paying an annual assessment of $275 would be money well spent if it avoided a headline 10 years from then that said a new shipping terminal would be coming to Daniel Island.
FIVE YEARS AGO – Pets in action!
In the August 1, 2013 issue of The Daniel Island News, the centerspread featured a collage of our readers’ best pet action photos. Photos were submitted of island pets and our editorial and design staff served as the judges. After reviewing each submission, and enjoying the love, action, and care put into each photo and description, winners were announced in the issue. About the contest and first place winner, the judges stated, “These people really got it right. All the photos were great action photos and several of them competed for first place among the judges…finally, the raft photo won out over the shake. The dance photo was also a top contender. We loved these action photos of Miley Rae!”
In other news, an article spotlighted Larry Whetsell, who was the Maintenance Manager for the Daniel Island Property Owners Association (POA) at the time. Larry worked full-time for the POA, and even spent a few hours on the job each and every weekend. He was also on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. A typical day might have included replacing broken light fixtures or sprinkler heads, managing contracts for the island’s common spaces, making repairs at one of the two community pools (at the time), inspecting an island pond, and cleaning up the roadways. That position, now known as field operations manager, is currently held by Chris Hamil.