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Daufuskie residents warn council ARPA projects, ferry and barge service face urgent problems; parks master plan adopted
Summary
Speakers from Daufuskie Island told council ARPA-funded community-building plans face legal and logistical hurdles, raised concerns about hot, poorly conditioned ferry trips and a potential barge-service loss; council approved the county parks and recreation master plan in the same meeting.
Residents and community leaders from Daufuskie Island urged the Beaufort County Council to protect ARPA-funded community-building projects, raise ferry-service climate-control issues and respond to imminent barge-service interruptions.
Public comments and requests: Cade Yarborough, chair of the Daufuskie Island Council, said county staff notified the island that planned ARPA-funded community-building sites may be in jeopardy because of condemnation proceedings at a selected site and that bathroom and community-building timelines are at risk. He said ferry riders experienced excessively hot conditions and reminded council the ferry contract requires climate-controlled vessels; he asked the county to follow up with the ferry operator and to preserve allocated funds or provide alternate sites to meet ARPA deadlines.
Daufuskie detail and urgency: Erin Quinn, a Daufuskie resident and public-health professional, said the island’s small permanent population and large seasonal visitor numbers make local medical and community spaces essential and urged council to consider alternative building sites so ARPA funds are not forfeited. Yarborough and Quinn said they would continue stakeholder outreach and requested council assistance.
Parks master plan adoption: Separately, the council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Beaufort County parks and recreation master plan for active facilities. The plan was presented as part of the agenda and passed without objection.
Next step: Daufuskie representatives said they will follow up with county staff; council did not take immediate action in the meeting’s public-comment period beyond acknowledging the concerns and advising staff-level follow up.
