Daufuskie residents wave red flag about current ferry system’s services, experience | Opinion

Experienced ferry system needed

Interim Beaufort County Administrator John Robinson told Daufuskie residents the county heard us in a conversation about a ferry contract earlier this month.

Their listening skills need work.

No input was taken from the residents.

Members admitted they had not read the contracts; the provider does not have adequate boats.

In my 31 years of visiting/residing on Daufuskie, I have never ridden on an open-air boat in extreme weather with plastic curtains; seen propane and generator-run heaters on deck; spent more than 45 minutes traveling even with rough waters, low tide and winds.

We are not spoiled as the council stated.

We always had experienced providers that efficiently carried people, luggage and cargo.

This provider appears to have no experience with island transportation as well as little knowledge about living on this island.

Reasons ridership is low:

– Safety/health concerns about open-air boats, unsafe heaters, outside exposure in the cold weather;

– Expensive new fees;

– Increased travel time, creating an inability to get to work, and requiring alternative arrangements to be made off-island.

The council said it’s a “good time” for this transition and “hope to have it all worked out by summer.”

This is a slap in the face to the taxpayers here.

Using constituents as test dummies for this trial run of an inexperienced provider is unwise.

We need an experienced ferry provider working in the best interest of the people being served.

Laura Cregan, Daufuskie Island

Make full ferry service a priority

With the 1% transportation sales tax on the ballot for November, a full service ferry service should be a priority of Beaufort County.

Since Daufuskie Island is also a tourist area, what about using some of the accommodations tax revenue to fund proper service ?

Daufuskie residents pay property tax just like the rest of Beaufort County property owners and should not be treated as second class citizens.

Steve Meersman, Hardeeville

Whose idea was this?

Of all the things that people do not need on St. Helena Island, a performing arts center ranks number one.

This is obvious to anyone if you’re familiar with the area. This is not Bluffton, people.

Look at the one-road access, the evacuation situation and the current traffic on St. Helena and tell me that a facility that would attract large crowds from across the region is a smart idea.

And look at the current zoning – rural with a cultural protection overlay – and tell me that the Gullah culture would be protected.

Look at the fishing and farming communities and tell me why need with an artsy crowd invading their island on a regular basis.

Now, if the county is looking for a project to spend extra tax dollars on, more trash pickup would be most welcome by us and everyone who visits our island.

Jerry Floyd, St. Helena Island

Summer’s hunger pangs

A recent press conference held at the Statehouse highlighted child hunger, urging the governor to action.

There are hundreds of hungry children right here in South Carolina.

Gov. McMaster is rejecting federal funds that would give South Carolina kids another year of the summer EBT benefit.

So many children rely on meals provided at their public schools for a large portion of their nutrition. When the summertime comes and this food is not available, the result is many hungry children.

Our federal tax dollars fund a program that gives families extra funds on their EBT cards to cover the gap.

I truly do not believe that our governor knows the terrible consequences that the decision to reject these funds will cause.

Gov. McMaster, please consider shadowing a DSS caseworker for a day, visiting an after-school program in a rural county or having a conversation with a single mom who works multiple jobs.

Please spend some time with the people who will be impacted by your decision this summer. They are real people, not just numbers. They are our future professionals and leaders.

There is still time to change your mind.

Heather Blackwell, Columbia