U.S. Rep. Tim Scott inspects Folly Beach erosion

With his first official inspection of erosion on Folly Beach coming on Christmas Eve, U.S. Rep. Tim Scott told Mayor Tim Goodwin not to expect Santa Claus to arrive with federal renourishment funds today or in 2012.

Scott, however, vowed to join with other federal, state and local leaders in working with the city to help secure whatever funds are available to rebuild the storm-ravaged beach, which he considers important economically on a national level.

"For lots of very positive reasons, the Edge of America -- also known as Folly Beach -- is one of the jewels of our country," said the Republican 1st District representative, noting its importance in tourism dollars and jobs.

Later in the day, Scott planned to text-message Gov. Nikki Haley to let her know that he wanted to talk about the erosion issue on Folly Beach after the Christmas holiday, he said.

On Aug. 27, Hurricane Irene nearly flattened the edges of Folly Beach, notably the northern and southern ends of the island. The ill effects of the storm continue. Folly Beach County Park, which has 400 parking spaces, has been closed to the public since the storm and isn't expected to reopen next year. The park is estimated to host 100,000 people a year and contribute $500,000 to the local economy.

Because Irene was not a direct hit, none of the South Carolina coast was declared a disaster area, thereby making it ineligible for federal disaster relief funds. Goodwin described Irene as "a hurricane with a little bit of wind, a little bit of rain and a whole lot of erosion."

On Christmas Eve morning, Scott, his future chief of staff Joe McKeown, Goodwin and property owners Edwin S. Taylor and Bill Skipper toured the county park and an area on the north end where homes, including one declared uninhabitable, appear one direct hit away from being goners.

Wary of the next hurricane season, and concerned that funding for a 2013 planned renourishment may be in jeopardy, the Folly Beach contingent underscored the "Local Cooperation Agreement" that the federal Army Corps of Engineers made with the city in 1992 to provide renourishment assistance every eight years -- or sooner or later, depending on the need -- for 50 years. The last project was in 2005.

The federal assistance would include a 15 percent local match. Goodwin is quick to note that Folly already has that money, $2.7 million, in the bank for a project he estimates will cost $18 million.

But Scott candidly told the men gathered at the northern residential tip of the island that financial promises by the federal government are being broken in districts across the nation. And that the days of earmarks are over.

Scott, who describes himself as a "budget hawk," said he will have built a solid case for proving that the renourishment of Folly is of national economic significance. He added that Folly officials should plan to forge new coalitions and alliances to find other financial sources for renourishment in the future.

Folly officials, however, insist that the beach erosion problem is like none other, especially in South Carolina, because it was created by Charleston Harbor jetties built by the federal government in the 1890s.

Taylor -- namesake of the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier on Folly and a Patriot's Point Development Authority board member -- thinks the federal government and S.C. Ports Authority are the main entities that have a responsibility to help out.

"If I were hard-pressed, I'd go to the folks who benefit from the jetties, which are causing our problems," he said.