Boat issue unresolved; town officials wary of cost
MOUNT PLEASANT — Crab Bank is supposed to be for the birds, but its shallows are home also to a 50-ton, double-masted sailboat for which there is no record of taxes being paid since 1997.
It is among 35 vessels that police have identified as part of an investigation of abandoned vessels.
In addition to unpaid taxes, safety is a major issue, Police Chief Harry Sewell said Monday. Eight of the boats are sunken and pose a hazard to recreation. The ones that are floating could become "a missile" in a hurricane, Sewell said.
Previous story
Fighting eyesores, hazards; Municipalities working to get floating or sunken hulks out of their waters, published 11/03/08
He presented the results of the abandoned boat investigation to Town Council's Police, Judicial and Legal Committee. Council members agreed that abandoned boats are an eyesore, a safety issue and a potential environmental hazard because of the possibility of leaking fuel, but what to do about the issue was unresolved.
Sewell said he hoped that a certified letter to the owners will resolve the situation for about half of the problem boats. "The rest of them will take some time," he said.
The town is close to being approved for $48,000 in state funds to remove six of the vessels. The committee considered whether to approve an ordinance that would fine abandoned boat owners up to $1,000. It also would give authorities the option of imposing a 30-day jail term.
Committee members were reluctant to commit the town to the expense of enforcing the proposed ordinance. They suggested contacting other municipalities and the state Department of Natural Resources to explore a cooperative effort to solve the problem.
"It is a good idea. The devil is always in the details," said Town Administrator Mac Burdette.
"We need to bring all the parties together. Until we get a funding source, we should not touch this ordinance," said Councilman Billy Swails.
Councilman Nick Collins agreed. "Let's get some answers first. I think it needs a little bit more work," he said.
This year, the General Assembly approved legislation granting municipalities the legal right to address the problem of abandoned boats, and it provided $100,000 for the effort. Georgetown and Folly Beach also have applied for state funds to remove abandoned boats.
Some council members questioned why state and federal agencies could not be more involved in the issue. They were told that the federal government is responsible for navigable waters such as the harbor shipping channel. Councilman Paul Gawrych said the town needs to contact high-ranking officials at the state DNR to find out if the agency can lend assistance.
"It is a safety issue. That's our priority. In addition to being an eyesore," Councilwoman Thomasena Stokes-Marshall said.
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Comments
This article has 7 comment(s)
Posted by CedarPosts on November 4, 2008 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You would think that in a state where tourism is king, Columbia would be able to come up with a little more than what amounts to a drop in the bucket.
I've traveled the ICW, rivers, inlets and sounds up and down the Carolina coast all my life and the number of abandoned boats has soared over the last ten years.
What an eyesore!
On the other hand many have become land marks and points of reference.
I think if someone where to photograph these boat and map them maybe the public would be as outraged as I am that this issue has not be resolved. I can think of a dozen that are within 1/2 hour's boat ride from the city marina. Many just across the Ashley River.
More about the Ashley Boats at http://lifefloatingby.blogspot.com/2008/...
Posted by theronce on November 4, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is on the back burner simply because a relatively few citizens see it or have the opportunity to see the beauty of the rest of it. If someone can recruit one the rich good old boys that we elect today as an ally, then you could get some real movement on this. Is it easier to do that with public funds or hold the owners personally responsible.
Posted by Neponset on November 4, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a time honored way of getting rid of old unwanted boats, unfortunately the current crop of boats are made of materials that don’t rot, get eaten up by marine worms or rust/corrode fast enough.
Perhaps some sort of floating facility that goes around plucking up the boats, sucks up the fuel/oil, breaks them up, segregate the different materials and then off loads them for disposal.
Posted by bigwhip on November 4, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is political fodder. The Coast Guard doesn't want to touch it. The state pols are afraid of it.Local pols like to talk it up and grandstand thinking they will garner a few votes, and all know that money is needed to cure the problem. Where will money come from? Now that there is a financial down turn and our Governor has dropped the hammer on the state pols (long needed), the solution is as far away as ever.
Maybe with the coast of SC being the tourist mecca that it is, some of the tourist revenues could be utilized to clean up this mess. Also, some form of annual registration say of all vessels (pleasurecraft) over 22 feet in length with each county to aid in tracking would help. Otherwise this issue is going to remain political fodder.
Posted by blackwoman on November 4, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Impose a larger fine or the possibility of imprisonment (as a deterrence)which will be imposed for abandoning your boat. With citizenship and boat ownership comes certain responsibility. Or give a tax break to the salvage company who will properly dispose of these wrecks.
Posted by Phossil40 on November 4, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe I naive but as I see the solution maybe rather simple. Put the burden back on the boat owners. Get the registration number off the boat and then trace it back to the owner. Then file a tax lien for non-paid taxes giving them 60 dates (arbitrary date) to pay. At the end of 60 days then file a tax lien on them for unpaid taxes. This goes on their credit report Also give them "X" number of days to remove the boats or they will be charged with littering. Failure to remove will cause addition charges to be brought against them and result in more charges to be filed as a civil misdemeanor and go on their police record. This should stir up some action, especially with the owner of the 3-masted sailboat owner.
Posted by MartinAVanderHorst on November 4, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Blackwoman that a sturdy fine - possibly greater than the proposed $1,000 - and potential jail time ought to be available to the towns or county to use against owners who improperly discard their boats. Right now the issue isn't too large because only the boating community and residents with water views have to deal with the eyesores/hazards. Over time, however, tourists and motorists on nature trails, road bridges, and other areas will eventually begin to notice them as well. Listen to Gary Santos in Mt. Pleasant and let's start biting the ankles of our local reps.