Third time no charm for bid on Surfside Beach pier

SURFSIDE BEACH -- Yet another round of bidding for the town's pier restaurant space has yielded no results for Surfside Beach.

The town-owned space was put out for bid a third time on Tuesday, and the town still has no tenant.

Now the town is waiting for an opinion from the South Carolina Attorney General's office to figure out its next step.

Surfside officials want to know if it is able, under state and local law, to hire a commercial real estate agent to help get the space rented. It sent a letter to that office on Nov. 23 seeking the answer to that question, said Mayor Allen Deaton earlier this week.

Deaton did not comment after the bidding on Tuesday.

A commercial broker could bring in more interest from outside the local market, said Tom Sponseller, president of the S.C. Hospitality Association.

He said they also could "give the city a better idea of what the true value of the space is.

"It's all supply and demand," Sponseller said, and judging by the lack of bids there is not a lot of demand for this space.

Sponseller said its hard for businesses to "make the numbers work" in publicly owned spaces because there's always a chance they could be out-bid when their lease expires.

The start-up costs for a restaurant are high but those costs are usually spread over the 20 to 30 years of operation.

Towns usually only offer five-year leases before they have to be put out for bid again, which is "not a very long period of time for anyone to open a business, especially a restaurant," Sponseller said.

Jack Cahill, owner of Nibils and the current lease holder of the pier eatery until Dec. 31, said he paid more than $70,000 a year in rent to the town, in addition to taxes.

And he said a new owner might have to do some expensive work on the space before it is operational.

Cahill said the space was previously grandfathered under earlier code standards, but the new owner of the building might have to bring it up to code with changes such as an attached bathroom, new grease traps and a new hood system.

"All that stuff's going to add up," he said. "Maybe that's why they can't lease it."

An answer is expected soon from the attorney general, but councilman Doug Samples said he thinks the town should have sought an opinion earlier in the process "before we chased the past tenants out."

He said he expects the letter to say that the town has met its obligation in terms of the competitive bid process and that it can now move forward with other options.

"The town is in a very, very difficult situation I believe of our own making," he said. "I hope that council learns from this experience."

Samples said he doesn't think a council meeting should be held to figure out the next steps until after New Year's.

"The next step in this process needs to be conducted openly and transparently to ensure that no funny business transpires," he said.

The next regular town council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

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DHEC holds up Surfside Beach deck

SURFSIDE BEACH -- The residents of Surfside Beach were supposed to be able to enjoy the town's entertainment deck at its July Fourth celebration. But five months later, the deck remains a wooden skeleton.

The town and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management are engaged in a discussion about the classification and regulation of the deck, and it could mean that the town will have to dismantle the skeleton and reconfigure the plans.

"The town had applied for, but did not receive, the necessary permit for the deck construction," when it began work this summer, said Dan Burger, DHEC spokesman.

He said the proposed deck is much larger than the 144 square feet allowed.

Surfside Mayor Allen Deaton said the town is now working with DHEC to figure out a way to build its approximately 1,000-square-foot entertainment deck. One of the ways under discussion, he said, would be to classify it as an "other structure," similar to the way the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk is classified.

Deaton said he does not know how much had been spent on the entertainment deck so far, noting that the project has been done and approved in pieces and that town officials originally thought the materials to build it were already in the town's possession.

According to the town's online financial records, it has paid $14,942 to A.P. Reale & Sons, which had a sign posted on the deck saying that it built it.

"We disagree on the type of structure that it is," Deaton said of DHEC. "They've pigeonholed into this section pertaining to decks."

Deaton said the town just wants "the same protection that the city of Myrtle Beach has."

"There is a section for other structures," he said. "And this could end up being part of a boardwalk eventually."

Deaton said town officials and DHEC are discussing an "expanded" project that could satisfy both entities.

He said that the expanded project will be presented to the Town Council soon for its consideration.

Deaton said the pier is "our gateway," he said. "We want it to say, 'You have arrived in Surfside Beach.'"

He said the town and DHEC met earlier this week and are close to an agreement.

"We're probably going to have this resolved in the next couple weeks," he said, noting that no fines have been levied against the town.

He said he has had face-to-face meetings with Earl Hunter, DHEC commissioner, to resolve the issues and has appealed for help from S.C. Rep. Nelson Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach. Hardwick is chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, which oversees DHEC.

But Burger said the town's permit for the construction of the deck has been put on hold until enforcement issues are resolved related to the town's early construction and oversize plans.

He said to resolve the enforcement problems the town will have to show that "the deck has either been removed or is in compliance with the regulation." Once that happens he said DHEC can restart the permit application review and "apply special conditions as necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations," or Surfside Beach can also withdraw its current permit application and resubmit it.

Deaton said DHEC previously suggested that the town move the proposed deck farther from the pier so it would not be subject to these regulations.

"But then it would be in the parking lot," he said, noting that the town has enough problems with parking in that area without taking away more of it.

He said the entertainment deck would actually protect the beach dunes from beachgoers.

"The dunes could flourish underneath that structure," he said. "We're good stewards of our beach ... and we feel that we have the right to develop that area."

DHEC regulations say that "Emergency Vehicle Access Ways, Small Wooden Decks, Gazebos and Other Structures which enhance beach access" are allowed in the beach area so long as they follow certain regulations.

One of the allowed uses that would fall under "other structures" are "non-water dependent structures." According to regulations, those structures, which include hotels, residences and parking facilities, have been allowed in the past but no new ones are allowed within the beach/dune area without a special permit.

Deaton said once the permitting is figured out, the deck construction as it is currently planned could be finished in about two weeks.

Deaton said the town has the proper permitting in place from DHEC for repairs to the pier itself, including replacing rotting pilings and deck boards, and Deaton said that part of the construction project should be under way soon.

He said because the entertainment deck is a new structure the regulations are different. He said he is hopeful that the issues will be resolved "sooner rather than later."

"It was supposed to be a quick project," he said.

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Nibils bids farewell to Surfside Beach, moving to Myrtle Beach

SURFSIDE BEACH -- A line of people waited for Nibils restaurant to open at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Some waited an hour for a seat in the eatery at the Surfside Beach pier where diners could gaze at the ocean while enjoying meals.

But it was the beginning of a bittersweet day for Surfside Beach residents who have flocked to the restaurant since Jack Cahill, his wife, Margaret, and six children opened the business 23 years ago.

Nibils is moving to 3301 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.

Cahill decided to relocate the business after more than a year of struggle over getting a lease on the building from the town of Surfside Beach.

After leasing what formerly was a Pizza Hut between a gas station and a beachwear store 10 miles away in Myrtle Beach, Nibils will open for business there on Valentine's Day weekend, Cahill said.

And, after enjoying the food for more than two decades and becoming friends with the Cahill family and staff that served it up, many customers agree they'll follow Nibils. "We've been coming here for 20 years," said Roy Houston. He and his wife, Alice, live in Rochester, Mich., but also own a home two miles down the beach from Nibils.

"The folks there have become like members of our family," Houston said. "We watched Jack Cahill's children grow up and we've just had a great relationship with the family and everybody who works at the place."

Glenn Curtis was annoyed that Cahill's effort to renew his lease on the Nibils building became embroiled in a prolonged controversy when town officials voted to take bids from Cahill and others who might be interested in operating there.

Dissatisfied with the first round of offers, officials asked for additional bids from Cahill and others interested in renting the property. To avoid further stress and ensure that he had a firm location, Cahill decided to seek a new home.

"I've been coming here since they opened," said Curtis, a former Staten Island resident. "You just don't know how the people of Surfside feel about Nibils having to move. They're really upset."

Eula Mae Winningham and her husband, the Rev. Fulton Winningham, were among the 300 customers who came to enjoy the final meals the Cahills would serve in the wood-paneled dining room.

Now retired, she had worked as a dishwasher, cook and finally a member of the wait staff after the Cahills opened the business.

"Oh Lord, I am really, really upset. I worked here, my children worked here and my grandchildren worked here. It's so sad to see it close," she said.

But she's happy the business is only moving north to Myrtle Beach.

"Wherever Mr. Nibils goes, we'll also go," she said.

Cahill moved to Surfside in 1984 from the Bronx.

All six of his children went to "Nibils University," he said, helping out with the business. Two still work there. His daughter, Maureen Cahill-Butwin is manager, and his son John Cahill Jr., a community education teacher with the Horry County Schools, works Fridays and Sundays in the kitchen.

"I was 12 years old when I started working here. I learned more here from my parents than any Ivy-League college could have taught me," Maureen Cahill-Butwin said. The staff and customers became like close kin, she said.

They were supportive when she gave birth to her daughter, Helena, seven months ago, helped out when Jack Cahill had surgery after suffering a double pulmonary embolism two years ago, and rallied together and ran the restaurant for the Cahills when Maureen's sister Meghan suffered life-threatening injuries in a car accident several years ago.

"It's been very unique and humbling during the last year to see the impact that we've had on people's lives," John Cahill said. "It's all because of the open communication that has existed between dad and our customers. They feel like we're not just here to get their $5 for breakfast but to be their friends."

Jack Cahill said he will miss the location where he's spent so much time during the last 23 years, especially what he calls "the big pond" that spreads to the horizon before the windows that face ocean. But he has contracted with a muralist to paint a similar view in the new quarters.

The advice from his first chef when he launched his New York restaurant should continue to serve him well when he, his wife and children and the full staff will make the move to the new business home.

He said all worked hard to create a caring, family climate because that first chef told him that good service makes good food taste better and that bad service can make even good food taste bad.

"He also said that if you think you're going to get rich, don't go into the restaurant business," Cahill said. "But I couldn't ask for more. We've made a good living here. I have six children with college degrees, and a personal bond with lots of customers."

And, he added, one thing about the move pleases his wife. With college expenses behind them and a lower rent payment at the new location, the family and staff will only serve breakfast and lunch. The only dinner will be the traditional St. Patrick's Day event that has become a tradition.

"She says now we won't have to work so hard," Jack Cahill said.

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Surfside Beach details job hunt

The man selected to be the new administrator of Surfside Beach brings with him a decade of experience as a former administrator in Lexington and a long career as a federal parole supervisor.

Town officials on Wednesday night released information about Jim Duckett as well as the other candidates who had been considered.

The town's interim administrator, Micki Fellner, confirmed Wednesday that Duckett retired in April from his job as Lexington administrator and is currently working as the interim administrator for the town of Williston.

The information was provided to The Sun News after two, separate requests for information filed under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. The most recent filing was Tuesday.

Surfside Mayor Allen Deaton said the town didn't release the specifics on the job finalists Tuesday because it was not prepared to do so, having only documents with sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, at the meeting where Duckett was chosen.

"All [Fellner] had was original copies of resumes," Deaton said.

The town released more details about three of the four final candidates - Duckett, Robert Anderson and Walter Munchheimer - Wednesday night. The fourth candidate did not want to be named, afraid it would jeopardize his current employment, Deaton said.

If Duckett, 61, accepts the town's offer, he will bring more than 10 years of local government administration experience.

Duckett, in an interview with The Sun News on Wednesday, said he retired as a federal parole supervisor in 2000 and soon after began working as the assistant town administrator for Lexington.

After five years in that role he became the administrator.

"I had a good opportunity to learn the business there," Duckett said.

He also was able to build a succession plan, he said. He stepped down in May 2010 to allow his successor to step up.

He then went to work for the Town of Williston, in Barnwell County, as its interim administrator around June.

Duckett said he plans to accept the offer from Surfside Beach, barring any contract negotiation issues. Duckett was making $115,000 a year when he left Lexington. His application says the least he'll accept in Surfside Beach is $75,000.

He said he is prepared to finish his duties in Williston by Dec. 6 and come to work for Surfside Beach as soon as practicable after that.

A Charleston native, Duckett said he is glad to be coming back to the beach and said he plans to stay in Surfside for a while.

"I'm thinking in terms of a three-year commitment," Duckett said, noting that details of his contract still have to be worked out.

Deaton said Duckett was chosen because "he seemed to be a good fit ... with his philosophy and his demeanor."

He also said Duckett's previous experience with budgets will come in handy.

Duckett said he is hoping to be able to build trust with the council and town staff.

"I think it will certainly be interesting in Surfside," he said.

Robert Anderson, one of the other finalists for the administrator job, recently accepted a position as the City Administrator of East Jordan, Mich., Fellner confirmed Wednesday. He previously had served as the city administrator in Marion and has family ties to Surfside Beach.

Walter Munchheimer, the other named finalist, worked previously as a finance director for Palm Beach County, Fla., according to information provided by Fellner and council members.

The former Surfside administrator, Ed Booth, resigned in May.

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Surfside Beach taps town administrator

SURFSIDE BEACH -- The town of Surfside Beach has selected a new town administrator.

Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to offer Jim Duckett the position, and the town now will begin negotiations with him. Council members did not release information Tuesday about Duckett or the other candidates other than their names. More information about the candidates will be available today.

There were four finalists in the search that began with more than 150 applicants, Mayor Allen Deaton said after an executive session.

Duckett, Robert Anderson, Walter Munchheimer and another man who did not want to be named were the four finalists, he said.

If Duckett accepts the town's offer, he will replace former Surfside Town Administrator Ed Booth, who resigned earlier this year.

Booth turned in his resignation on May 4 during a specially called meeting. His resignation was effective as of May 11, and Micki Fellner has been acting as the interim town administrator since.

Soon after resigning, Booth began working with television personality Cecil Chandler's restaurant company, which has since been disbanded, called Surfside Beach Cafe at the Pier LLC.

That move by Booth led to accusations that he passed inside information to that company, which was bidding for restaurant space on the town-owned pier.

Booth has said previously that his work with Chandler was not a conflict of interest because when he was town administrator, he was not involved with developing the town's bid criteria.

But, in July, Herb Hayden, executive director of the State Ethics Commission, said the commission was reviewing documents sent to them by the solicitor's office regarding those allegations.

Hayden said the review was "to see whether or not there are any potential violations."

Later, Hayden said the commission could not confirm whether an investigation into Booth's actions is under way.

But the town is hoping to move on from all that, Deaton said.

"This is a good opportunity for council to move forward," he said.

Deaton said Duckett was chosen above the other candidates because he "seemed to be a good fit ... with his philosophy and his demeanor."

"Generally, councils inherit their staff members," Deaton said. "This is a great opportunity to put someone in place that's a good fit for our team."

Also Tuesday, the town council selected Interim Police Chief Mike Frederick to serve as its police chief, with a 5 to 1 vote. Councilwoman Ann Dodge was the lone opposing vote, and Councilman Doug Samples was not present for the meeting.

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In Our Towns | Surfside senior dies on Lexington road

POLICE

Surfside senior dies on Lexington road

A 64-year-old man from Surfside Beach has died as a result of a motor vehicle crash that happened on Nov. 5 in Lexington County.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the man was involved in a crash on Highway 602 in Lexington County around 7:41 p.m. on Nov. 5.

He died at 3:21 a.m. on Nov. 12 as a result of that crash.

Sgt. R. K. Hughes of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said he did not have any information on the crash or the man and no one from the Lexington County coroner's office was available on Saturday for comment.

Local

Lane closures expected on U.S. 17

Plan some extra driving time into your schedule if you'll be on the North Strand this week.

Lane closures on U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach are expected this week as contractors begin to install underground utilities, according to a news release.

The work is set to begin Monday between Third and Seventh avenues South, said Pat Dowling, city spokesman. In December, the northbound outside lane on U.S. 17 in that area will be closed. Lane closures also will occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the week.

Businesses located in the area will have access to their properties from U.S. 17 during the day, but the project may require some driveway closures during nonbusiness hours, Dowling said.

Be a Santa for a senior this year

Home Instead Home Health Care is gearing up for its sixth annual Be a Santa for a Senior event, and is looking for people who want to give gifts, businesses that can host giving trees and seniors who need gifts this year.

Each year the event has grown. Last year, more than 2,000 gifts were donated so that 500 senior citizens who would have otherwise been without Christmas were able to open four gifts each.

Often the gifts are practical, such as warm clothing or blankets, socks, shoes, toiletries or even food items - things they cannot afford to buy themselves, and will not receive if not for the kindness of donors.

Home Instead will host a gift-wrapping party on Dec. 14, with Christmas music and snacks for volunteers who come to help package up the gifts that will be distributed to elderly people living independently or in care facilities up and down the Grand Strand.

To get involved or to sign up to receive Christmas gifts, call Home Instead at 215-9777.

Winter's coming; hospital offers flu shots

Conway Medical Center will offer flu shots from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23 and from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Nov. 24. The center is located at 300 Singleton Ridge Road in Conway.

Appointments are required. The cost of the flu shot is $20. Medicare is accepted for payment with a Medicare card.

For an appointment or for more information, please call the Community Outreach Department at 347-8068 or 234-5019.

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Nibils leaving Jetty to the position of Myrtle Beach Surfside, beach

SURFSIDE BEACH - After more than 20 years in the same location on the beach of Surfside, moves Nibils.

Jack Cahill, owner of local history, announced Tuesday evening of Surfside Beach City Council meeting after in a letter to the Commission advising that it was withdrawing its previous offer space and that it would pose an another.

"The hardest decision of my life", said Cahill. He said that the restaurant will move Myrtle Beach.

Owner of Restaurant Nibils Jack Cahill operates a food order history 3 May 2010, Surfside Beach.Cahill has been in a fight to retain the lease company, after that the town bought the space, there are two ans.lorsque person showed but Cahill Monday morning for a prior meeting mandatory on-site for potential bidders, it felt that it would be the only soumissionnaire.Plus later, he received a call from officials of the city saying that the meeting was not mandatory for the deadline for submission on 17 May. ""Well, I imagine that to some extent they [the city] want me here," says Cahill after receiving the call to 4: 30 p.m. "Oh well, it is their loss."

He said after months of working with the city in an attempt to keep its current location, the family decided it was time to go.

His wife Margret Cahill, said that it seemed the city continuously put obstacles in their path.

"We just can't keep climbing the walls," she says. "You know when you're not wanted.?

Maureen Cahill-Butwin Cahills, the girl and the restaurant manager after his mother comments that it was not the Surfside Beach people who did not want them.

"This is customers who wanted not us", she said, flashing back tears and blowing. " It is the clients that we through all this, and for this, we are also grateful.?

"We are going to go," said Jack Cahill.

But not far from the company restaurant or Nibils name.

Jack Cahill said restaurant Surfside Beach closed after Thanksgiving and reopen it in a new location in Myrtle Beach on the Valentine's day.He said that he would announce that the new location is after it first informs staff this morning.

Since any tender submitted for the space, the city of Surfside Beach should reconsider their options, said Mayor Allen Deaton.

"I am really disappointed," said Deaton."Staff will discuss what are the options and will get back to the Council.

Deaton said the city "followed the rules" to extinguish the space for the submission and "have done our due diligence."

He said what kind of business would go into space or any other details were open to speculation. ""I have no crystal ball", he said.

Examples of Board Member Doug was visibly disturbed by decision to leave the location of Surfside Beach Nibils.

"This is the worst of all possible outcomes," he said. "I hope that Mr. Cahill would consider to contact the administrator to continue the large operation what he had.... but if not, it is certainly a loss of the city.

Cahill said the fact that they were the only appears for the "mandatory pre-bid meeting" to the first submission of space should have been that the city could negotiate lease with eux.Mais instead of this, the city said "mandatory" is not compulsory.

He said this event, requirement city Nibils lot be pay-per-parking and other problems have led to the decision of the family.

"Until the last two years that we were bénis.Toutefois, now it's time to end our relationship with the beach of the town of Surfside,"he said.""

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