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Council hears $68 million stormwater master plan; council gives preliminary approval with conditions
Summary
Seamon Whiteside & Associates presented a $68 million Stormwater Master Plan with three priority projects estimated at about $19 million; council gave preliminary approval for a final draft conditioned on confirmed ranking, maintenance strategies, cost updates and inclusion of short‑term solutions.
The Sullivan's Island Town Council heard a presentation on Jan. 28 from Seamon Whiteside & Associates on a Stormwater Master Plan that the consultant estimated would cost roughly $68 million over a 50‑year planning horizon. Aaron Akin, a principal with Seamon Whiteside & Associates, outlined 18 recommended locations for drainage improvements and identified three top priority projects — Osceola Avenue, Station 26½, and the Station 30 extension south of Middle Street to the beach — with a combined preliminary estimate of about $19 million.
Akin said the study is based on months of field data collection and modeled projections across a fifty‑year timescale, and he identified state and federal grant programs as potential partial funding sources. He reviewed short‑ and long‑term solution options for priority locations and provided a possible project timeline and maintenance considerations.
Council members questioned timing, maintenance responsibilities and funding. Mayor Pro‑Tem Justin Novak moved, and Councilmember Scott Millimet seconded, to give preliminary approval to the Seamon Whiteside Sullivan's Island Stormwater Master Plan so the consultant may prepare a final draft; the motion specified that the final report must comport with the ranking system, maintenance strategies, and the increased cost estimate presented that evening. The council approved the motion unanimously. Mayor Pro‑Tem Novak later moved (seconded by Councilmember Ned Higgins) to amend the motion to require the consultant also include the short‑term solutions discussed that night; the amendment passed unanimously.
The preliminary approvals authorize Seamon Whiteside & Associates to produce a final draft for a future council meeting where the council will again review the ranking, maintenance approach, and updated cost estimates before any final adoption or allocation of funds. The council and staff discussed pursuing grant funding, but the final funding plan was not specified and will depend on successful grant awards and further budget decisions.
