More keen insights from a long-time islander...

The Whiney Coyote is back and crankier than ever! So what am I whining about this time? A lengthy article was published in The  Moultrie News by island resident Wayne Stelljes. Did you get a chance to read it? Please do. Let me know what your thoughts are on his remarks. But first I ask that you read the other side of the story. No matter how flat the pancake, there are always 2 sides.

In the May 17,2013 issue of The Island Eye, our newly (and narrowly) elected mayor, Mike Perkis, stated that his most important goal was to bring this island back together. He wanted to run town business through consensus building. He said it would be hard work, and the process would be slow. But, he said, the results would be worth it.

In the January 31, 2014 issue of The Island Eye, Mayor Perkis announced the times of Council Meetings and Council Workshops. He asked residents to attend, ask questions, and provide feedback so that he and Council members could make decisions that were in the best interest of our community.

Sounds good, doesn't it? But how can a resident gauge if Mayor Perkis means what he says? My island friend and I took him at his word; we attend many council and workshops meetings.

On February 3, 2014, my friend and I attended the Council Workshop. You might be interested to know that there were only 3 other residents at this meeting. When discussion began on Film and Photography fees, my friend asked the Mayor if she could ask a question. Mayor Perkis responded, "No. No, you can't". He instructed the council members to "keep going".

My friend reminded our mayor that islanders were told they could ask questions. Our mayor responded that he wanted the meeting to "move along." My friend was persistent in her efforts to ask her question. Mayor Perkis asked her if her question was "short". What difference does it make if her question was long or short? She had a question and wanted an answer. Isn't that what our mayor has repeatedly encouraged islanders to do?

This Whiney Coyote was feeling discouraged and unwelcomed. No questions unless they're short? Keep reading, please.

We remained quiet until the agenda addressed the Water Sewer Committee. My friend, God bless her, dared to ask another question. Now I must say this question was an important one because there is so much "chatter" about our system being linked up with Mt. Pleasant's.

 By the way, trying to understand the Water/Sewer Department is akin to trying to learn Russian in one week. Our problems are significant. Asking questions is critical to understanding the scope of the problem and its potential solutions.

My friend asked: "Who from Sullivan's Island is meeting with the folks over in Mt. Pleasant?" Our mayor ignored the question and said that they were finished talking about that topic. Council member and mayor pro tem, Jerry Kaynard, interjected by saying that when council is finished with an item they do not have to stop and answer questions from island residents. Wow! So now questions had to be short, AND they must be asked at exactly the correct
moment.

Begrudgingly, Mayor Perkis said that he and he alone was meeting with Clay Duffie, General Manager of Mt. Pleasant Waterworks, and some of his commissioners. We asked and were told that there are no minutes or record of these meetings. One follow-up question asked why the Chair (Susan Middaugh) of the Water and Sewer Committee was not included in these discussions. Her response was startling. She said she is excluded from the discussions with Mt. Pleasant because she was not on Council when these talks began. Wouldn't her involvement be pertinent to our water/sewer issues?

I'm feeling whiny because I don't want my government to control me. I don't think you do either. This island is small enough that we can have an active, participatory style of government. When a mayor says that an islander can ask a question if it is "short" -something is wrong. When a council member refuses to answer a question because it wasn't asked at the right time - something is wrong.

To be completely honest, this council did not want to answer our questions because they don't like us. We ask probing, tough questions. We are not falling in lockstep with their agenda, and the resentment is palpable.

Do we want a government that we can trust, or do we want a government that unilaterally acts on its own power? Many of us think this Mayor and Town Council need close monitoring. A new Town Hall, the commercialism and expansion of Middle Street, the changes to our park, the unending saga of the water/sewer issues, the accreted land lawsuit, and the tenure of town employees are hugely significant issues. Their impact will affect each of us.

Did you get a vote or a voice on any of these island-altering issues? We think our island has a lot to lose if it is not carefully managed. We think that "charm" and "tradition" are as much a part of our history as the battles fought at Fort Moultrie.

This Council feels that our questions interrupt their agenda. They do. And they should. There lies the distinct difference between my side of the story and that of Mr. Stelljes. Sadly, this mayor and his council believe that they have all the knowledge necessary to empower themselves and singularly decide what is best for our town. A government that dictates to its citizens is a dangerous one. And we all know all too well what follows:

                     "First they came for the coyotes…”

Whiney Coyote (Karen Coste)

http://islandeyenews.com/?p=10085: Perkis Prevails

Excerpt: “Engaging our residents, working together, as we work through decisions on these opportunities will help develop a more consensus environment,” he added. “Building consensus is hard work and the process sometimes takes a little longer, but the end results always make these efforts worthwhile.” (Mayor Mike Perkis)

For more information on Sullivan’s Island issues and the potential impact on the entire community, go to: sicommunityimpact.com.