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Daufuskie Island council urges tighter contract terms as Beaufort County evaluates ferry operator plan
Summary
Daufuskie Island Council chair told Beaufort County Council the ferry operator’s ability to raise fares without limit has harmed riders; the county said it issued a notice of noncompliance and the operator has submitted a plan now under evaluation.
Cade Yarbrough, chair of the Daufuskie Island Council, told Beaufort County Council on July 15 that the island’s advisory body supports the county’s recent notice of noncompliance to the ferry operator and urged a more structured process for committee and staff engagement on island projects, including input on RFPs and contract terms.
"A major problem with our community and with the ferry is the operator’s freedom to raise fees without limitation," Yarbrough said, urging the council to include fee guidelines in any RFP or contract to protect riders.
Yarbrough thanked county staff and certain council members for assistance on Daufuskie community projects (a community building and beach restrooms) and asked the county to create a clearer process for island input while ferry contract and infrastructure work are in development.
At the meeting’s end, after the council returned from executive session, Chair Passamette reported that the county had sent a notice of noncompliance to the ferry service provider, the operator had responded with a plan, and the county was evaluating whether that plan meets contractual requirements. "As we get more information, we will let the public know where the stance is of that," the chair said.
The county also listed the ferry contract as one of the items covered by executive session authority (legal advice and negotiations). Staff did not disclose details of the operator’s plan in the public session; county officials said they will provide updates when evaluation is complete.
The exchange left three clear public items: the Daufuskie advisory council’s request for formalized input during procurement, the county’s notice and the operator’s written response now under county review, and continued follow‑up from staff to the council and public.
