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Daufuskie Island residents urge Beaufort County to cancel ferry contract, demand rebid
Summary
Multiple Daufuskie Island residents asked county council to void the county's ferry contract with the current operator and put the service back out to bid, citing repeated mechanical failures, hazardous boarding ramps, lack of disability accommodations and malfunctioning climate control that endangers elderly and medically vulnerable riders.
A group of Daufuskie Island residents told Beaufort County Council on Aug. 26 that the county should cancel the existing ferry contract with the Lowcountry operator and issue a new request for proposals, saying the current service fails to meet safety and accessibility expectations.
"Quite simply, it's a failure of performance," said a speaker identifying themselves as Cade Yarborough, who said a petition and a four‑page position statement were provided to council and that more than 325 signatures were collected in four days. Other speakers — Freddie Grama Jr., Eddie Pennybaker, Yvonne Wilson and Pam Cobb — described multiple problems, including a vessel that frequently breaks down, unsafe dock boarding that caused falls or near‑falls, inconsistent air conditioning that left passengers overheated during medical trips, and a lack of reliable disability accommodations.
"We're not asking for a Cadillac ferry; we're asking for a safe ferry," Freddie Grama Jr. said, describing near‑falls on a makeshift dock; Eddie Pennybaker, who said he is the only full‑time licensed electrician living on the island, urged the council to "void this contract and reissue a new RFP," citing threats of litigation from the South Carolina Disability Rights Group and islanders' repeated complaints to county staff.
Council responses during the public‑comment period were limited to receiving the testimony, and later in the meeting the council referenced the Daufuskie ferry matter in executive‑session agenda items tied to attorney‑client matters. Residents asked that the county prioritize safety and accessibility when considering whether to maintain the existing contract or procure a new operator.
The speakers asked the county to consider multiple alternative operators and said there are several interested parties prepared to provide service if the county rebids the contract.
