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Hair Salon inIsle of Palms, SC

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Find the Beauty in You at
Chroma Hair Studio & Spa

Choosing the right hair salon in Isle of Palms, SC, is a little bit like finding the perfect outfit. The materials feel great on your skin, the fabric is flattering to your body type, and when you try it on, you just know – this is the outfit that you have been looking for.

With thousands of hair salons and stylists in South Carolina, choosing the right one can be difficult. You want a salon that is clean, comfortable, and chic. But, more importantly, you need a stylist that “gets” you. Someone who takes the time to understand your preferences, your style, and your personality. You need a stylist who listens, is honest, and has the technical skills to turn your vision into a reality.

An excellent stylist epitomizes all those traits and knows how to adapt to changing beauty trends. They aren’t afraid to take on a challenge.

Service Areas

Welcome to Chroma Hair
Studio & Spa

where the most talented hair stylists in Isle of Palms help bring out the beauty in each of our clients. We strive to provide each of our customers with the highest levels of customer service in the beauty industry. At Chroma, we offer a relaxing environment, skillful professionals, and a variety of products with environmentally safe and good-for-you ingredients. Our goal is to make your salon experience special, from the moment you walk in to the second you leave. With a variety of professional hair and beauty services to choose from, we’re sure you will rediscover the “beauty of you” every time you visit our salon.

Here are just a few of our most popular hair and beauty services in Isle of Palms:

Hair Cuts

Hair Cuts

Color Services

Color Services

Styling

Styling

Hair Treatments

Hair Treatments

Makeup

Makeup

Facials

Facials

Eyelash Services

Eyelash Services

Chemical Peels

Chemical Peels

Waxing

Waxing

The key to a great haircut and salon experience is to understand the services we offer, so you can choose the best selection for your needs. What do our salon services entail? Keep reading below to find out.

Professional Hair Coloring in
Isle of Palms, SC

Let’s be honest: DIY hair kits can be tricky to get right. They can be complicated to apply and usually have hard-to-understand instructions. Half the time, the color you’re left with looks nothing like it does on the front of the box. In a perfect world, you should be able to pop into Target, pick a boxed hair color, apply it at home, and emerge out of your bathroom with a new, beautiful hair color. For most people, this never happens.

That’s why ladies who want flawless color, professional application, and ease of convenience get their highlights at Chroma Hair Studio & Spa.

Whether you are changing your hair color completely, or just want a few highlights to switch things up, we are here to create the look and style that you’ve been dreaming about. At Chroma Hair Studio & Spa, we specialize in the latest hair coloring trends using cutting-edge technology. That way, our clients get the freshest looks, coolest colors, and longest-lasting highlights in Isle of Palms. When you get your highlights done at our professional hair salon in Isle of Palms, SC, we want you to leave excited and ready to share your new hair all over social media.

Don’t spend hours in the store trying to find the color you think will look great on you. Our team of professional stylists will consult with you about your vision and craft a custom highlight plan that fits you’re your unique style. There’s a reason why so many customers trust us with their highlights – we genuinely care about your hair and how it looks.

Our professional hair coloring services in Isle of Palms are a combination of art and science. The artistic results only last as long as the hair coloring products used, and we use the best. Our hairstylists and colorists are committed to helping you look and feel fabulous, whether you’re planning a special occasion or just want to impress that special someone.

Professional Hair Coloring

Hair Color Correction in
Isle of Palms, SC

Ever taken a chance on a new look or hair color, only to end up embarrassed and unsatisfied with the results? You’re not alone – we get calls every week from people just like you who need hair color correction in Isle of Palms. Sadly, sometimes even the professionals get a color procedure wrong. Other times, you change your mind about your hair color and simply don’t like it. Whatever the reason, your hair needs to be stripped and recolored quickly.

We’ve treated all sorts of hair problems that need correction – from multiple bands of different colors and tones to uneven re-growth and brassy highlights. Sometimes, our client’s entire hairstyle needs to be corrected. To do this, we stock multiple types of color, bleach, toning and corrective tools to ensure our results meet your color correcting needs. Our team always puts a priority on the health and integrity of your hair. We don’t want to ruin it further, so it may take more than one visit to get your hair looking fabulous again.

Hair Color Correction

The bottom line?

If you or your stylist made a mistake coloring your hair, we’re here to fix that problem and leave you looking even more stunning than before.

Appointment Request

Airbrush Makeup in
Isle of Palms, SC

Whether it’s for a super special occasion or just a date night out, a professional makeup application is an easy way to look amazing. When it comes to professional makeup, there are many choices out there, but only one you need to know about: airbrush makeup.

Generally speaking, airbrushing uses compressed air, which mists your foundation lightly across your skin, using unique foundation cartridges and a pen-like applicator that sprays the makeup. If you’ve ever watched an awards show, you’ve probably seen makeup artists applying airbrush makeup on celebrities as they walk down the red carpet. With that said, airbrush makeup isn’t just for the rich and famous; it’s for you, too!

This revolutionary technique creates a flawless finish and a natural look for your skin. We can brush off skin imperfections using high-def makeup products, leaving you ready for your close up on any special occasion. With airbrush makeup at Chroma Hair Studio & Spa, you can wear your makeup all day and never have to powder your nose. This unique makeup foundation is even smudge-proof and waterproof, meaning you can perspire and even touch your face without worry.

A few benefits of airbrush makeup include:

  • Lasts All Day Long
  • Even Application, Flawless Finish
  • Less Product, More Coverage
  • Easy to Layer
  • Perfect for Special Occasions like Weddings

If you’re looking for a cost-conscious way to stand out from the crowd, we recommend stopping by hair salon in Isle of Palms, SC. Our team will speak with you about your event, talk to you about your makeup preferences, and will work hard to give you the look that you’ve been craving.

Bridal Hair and Makeup in
Isle of Palms, SC

Picking the perfect wedding dress is tough, but choosing your hairstyle can be even more difficult. On your wedding day, you want to be sure that your appearance is stunning and flawless. The biggest day of your life is not the day to take chances with your hair or makeup. If you’re looking for the highest quality wedding hair and makeup services in Isle of Palms, look no further than Chroma Hair Studio & Spa.

Our flexible, talented hair stylists can handle your entire bridal party’s pre-wedding beauty routine. We have the experience to create any style that you’re interested in, whether you’re looking to achieve a modern or vintage look. We’ll even give you advice on what kind of hair and makeup to use for the wedding dress that you will be wearing.

Your wedding day hair and makeup can be applied at our salon in Isle of Palms or at your wedding venue – whichever is easier for you. We offer a relaxing salon atmosphere, skillful stylists, and only the best in professional products, such as Keratin Complex, Scruples, and Schwarzkopf. We also offer a variety of haircare products with non-toxic ingredients. That way, you can rest easy knowing you’re not inhaling strange fumes while you’re walking down the aisle.

Shopping on a budget? We offer a wide range of pricing so that your wedding day makeup and hair are stellar, no matter how much you’re looking to spend.

Professional Hair Coloring

Facials in
Isle of Palms, SC

Today, our bodies are constantly bombarded – by pollution, stress, and a host of other irritants. These problems often manifest on our faces, which can quickly become riddled with oil and other substances that leave you looking worn-out and tired. One of the most popular ways to refresh, rejuvenate, and reverse the signs of stress and pollutants is with a professional facial from Chroma Hair Studio & Spa.

Facials

We offer several facials at Chroma, including:

Collagen Rehab Facials

Collagen Rehab Facials

Rehabilitate your skin’s wrinkled, aging, or exhausted appearance with this innovative, collagen-targeted treatment. After an invigorating exfoliation and Youth Renewal Massage, our facial technicians saturate your skin with a powerful treatment of amino acids to help support your skin’s youth. With this facial treatment, collagen and elastin fill in facial lines to make your skin look firmer, while also making your skin feel younger. After our collagen rehab facial, you’ll leave our salon with an improved line appearance and renewed skin.

Acne Clearing Facial

Acne Clearing Facial

If you have been fighting chronic acne or hormonally-induced breakouts, our acne cleaning facials might seem like a miracle to you. This power treatment begins with a personalized consultation to find out your goals with our treatment. Then, we perform a deep pore cleanse and exfoliation that helps prevent future breakouts. From there, we apply our Amino Mask, which is packed with enzymes, AHA’s, antioxidants, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ingredients. With regular applications, this facial can help leave your face clean and acne-free.

Custom Blend Facial

Custom Blend Facial

There’s no facial more personalized to your needs than our custom blend facials. Each step is a fusion of science, aromatherapy oils, natural botanicals, and luxurious techniques combined with clinical-strength ingredients designed specifically to deliver results. The first step begins with a SkinReading® which we use to determine your concerns and goals. We follow that up with an invigorating cleansing, deep exfoliation, and relaxing skin sedation.

Find Your French Flair at
Chroma Hair Studio & Spa

If you're looking to switch up your hair color but can’t decide between Balayage or Ombre because, well, you don't know the difference – don’t worry. You’re not alone!

Balayage is a French technique for highlighting the hair in which the dye is painted to create a natural-looking effect. The goal is to create soft, subtle highlights that make your hair look like it’s been kissed by the sun.

While Balayage is the technique of painting the hair, Ombre focuses on the style of the hair. It is the transition of a lighter shade to a darker shade. Typically, Ombres work best for brunettes, but the style can is suitable for blondes too. To achieve the effect of an Ombre, it is crucial to have a smooth transition between colors. While the Ombre is a beautiful look, you’ll need to work with a professional to get the best results.

Luckily, we offer both Ombre and Balayage hair coloring at Chroma Hair Studio. Short on time? Busy schedule? Only available on weekends? Chroma Hair Studio offers flexible appointment scheduling to accommodate even the busiest clients. You deserve a fresh new style, and we’re here to help when the time is right for you.

The Top Hair Salon in Isle of Palms, SC

If you’re looking for a hair salon that offers high-end styling without expensive pricing, you’re in the right place. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and leave you feeling beautiful, whether you need a touch-up or a total makeover. We offer a relaxing salon atmosphere, skillful stylists, and only the best in professional brands. When it’s time for your next haircut, highlight session, or facial, look no further than Chroma Hair Studio & Spa.

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Latest News in Isle of Palms

20 years in the making, long-envisioned Magnolia project to see initial development in ’22

The first signs of development could soon blossom to reclaim a large contaminated industrial site on Charleston’s upper peninsula, nearly two decades after the process began.Highland Resources is expected to begin construction on the first phase of roads and underground utilities by the spring in the long-anticipated Magnolia project.The Houston-based developer completed the purchase of the 190-acre site in 2018 for $52 million through a bankruptcy auction after the previous owners faltered in the aftermath of the crippli...

The first signs of development could soon blossom to reclaim a large contaminated industrial site on Charleston’s upper peninsula, nearly two decades after the process began.

Highland Resources is expected to begin construction on the first phase of roads and underground utilities by the spring in the long-anticipated Magnolia project.

The Houston-based developer completed the purchase of the 190-acre site in 2018 for $52 million through a bankruptcy auction after the previous owners faltered in the aftermath of the crippling recession in 2008.

Highland invested another $35 million in environmental remediation that included laying down a fabric-like barrier and adding at least another foot of dirt on top of it.

“We remediated a lot of the contaminated soil, put down the barrier and added 1.6 million cubic feet of clean fill dirt,” Highland Resources CEO Clark Davis said.

The remediation work is the unsexy part of the project, Magnolia spokesman Jonathan Scott said.

“Once you see streets and sidewalks, it becomes apparent they are starting to build out this property,” he added.

The site, with much of it marsh, features 81 developable acres. The project will be divided into three phases with buildout over more than 15 years.

Street talk

The first 20-acre development project will include office, retail and apartments on the south end of the Magnolia site near an $8 million bridge built in 2010 as a connection from Heriot Street.

It has long been dubbed the “Bridge to Nowhere,” a label frowned upon by the developer. The first phase of vertical construction, set to begin in 2023 and two decades in the making, could undo the infamous moniker.

The 1,400-foot-long span is open to pedestrians but closed to vehicular traffic.

The second and third phases will include a mix of uses on the rest of the property, with plans for waterfront offices and possibly a hotel near the Ashley River.

A storm drain has been installed down the center of the site leading to the river.

“It’s large enough to put a small SUV through,” Davis said.

The site has been approved for 4,080 housing units, 1.05 million square feet of office space, 200,000 square feet of retail space and 1,040 hotel rooms.

At full buildout, Magnolia will add more than 10,000 residents to Charleston, already the largest city in South Carolina. At least 15 percent of the housing will be set aside as workforce units.

Building heights will range from three to nine stories with the tallest buildings concentrated in the middle of the development and five stories near the marsh.

The plan sets aside 24 acres of public parks, and it preserves more than 49 acres of marsh.

Most of the usable open space will be along the waterfront, creating a continuous park that will stretch into the marsh and include at least two public access points. The plan also includes neighborhood greens, parks, plazas and public squares as well as entertainment venues.

Construction on a waterfront park will occur along with development of the first 20 acres, Scott said.

Once one phase is completed, work on the next one will begin within 18-24 months under the current development plan, Davis said.

“We have a lot of interest from people who want to build out here,” Davis said. “We want something top quality and generational. … We are trying to find one master developer to come in and work on the project.”

The Highland CEO also pointed out the company has made its investment in the project for the long haul.

“We really believe in the project and intend to make a long-term commitment,” Davis said.

One tenant remains on the site. Parker Marine sits on the waterfront but is expected to vacate the property by the end of 2022.

History of contamination

Decades ago, the site was a heavy-industrial zone that housed fertilizer factories, a lumber-treatment plant and other businesses. Those former tenants left behind a legacy of lead, arsenic, creosote and other contaminants in the soil.

The first reuse plan began to emerge about 20 years ago. Led by Raleigh-based Cherokee Investment Partners, the Magnolia backers set out to scrub the dirt clean so it could be built upon, describing the big infill project as the largest redevelopment of polluted land in South Carolina.

The original investors formed two companies, Ashley I and Ashley II, which began buying up property in 2002. Over time, they closed 33 deals and amassed nearly 200 contiguous acres around Braswell and Milford streets. Their master plan called for a small city to rise from the former industrial wasteland.

But the ambitious deal faltered and never regained its footing. Hobbled by the 2008 downturn, cleanup expenses and litigation costs, Ashley I and Ashley II filed for bankruptcy in 2016, listing debts of more than $23 million. They also disclosed they had invested nearly $50 million in the Magnolia deal.

When Highland prevailed as the winning bidder, its then-CEO said the privately held firm cited years of experience dealing with contaminated real estate and successfully working with environmental regulators.

More than half of the land the company acquired was so contaminated that it was designated a federal “Superfund” site in 1994 by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Paperwork has now been filed to have that portion of the site taken off the EPA’s “National Priority List” in September.

Isle of Palms now has more free beach parking instead of less

ISLE OF PALMS — On a barrier island that months ago planned to eliminate 200 beach parking spots, the state Department of Transportation has asserted its authority and instead increased the amount of free parking.Described as a win-win solution by Isle of Palms’ mayor because other city parking restrictions will remain, the hard-fought compromise ends months of dispute over where cars can go at one of the Charleston area’s most popular beaches.“The issue of parking and beach access is greater than the Is...

ISLE OF PALMS — On a barrier island that months ago planned to eliminate 200 beach parking spots, the state Department of Transportation has asserted its authority and instead increased the amount of free parking.

Described as a win-win solution by Isle of Palms’ mayor because other city parking restrictions will remain, the hard-fought compromise ends months of dispute over where cars can go at one of the Charleston area’s most popular beaches.

“The issue of parking and beach access is greater than the Isle of Palms and affects the state as a whole,” DOT Secretary Christy Hall said in joining the mayor and city officials to discuss the work April 19.

They talked as highway department crews laid out more than 200 angled parking spots along one side of Palm Boulevard, a state-owned road closest to the beach.

Hall also announced that the speed limit on Palm Boulevard will be reduced to 30 mph, down from 35.

Opinions on the island were mixed.

“Stupidity!” yelled a man on a bike, riding past as Hall, Mayor Jimmy Carroll and others explained the plan to reporters on Palm Boulevard near 27th Avenue.

Resident Tamara Burrell, who was walking a dog on 27th Avenue, said the plan is a good compromise because parking on residential side streets like 27th will remain limited to residents.

“We’ve gone from no parking, to some parking, to more parking,” she said, giving a shorthand summary of the back-and-forth over what to do with the summer influx of cars that began to increase in rhetoric in 2020.

In 2020, the island restricted nonresident parking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, later in the year, officials announced plans to permanently reduce parking near the beach and charge for what remained.

It all came to a head in September when the Isle of Palms City Council approved a plan to eliminate about 200 parking spaces near the beach.

For the DOT, which has authority over parking along state-owned roads, the barrier island had pushed the issue too far.

Hall immediately rejected the plan to eliminate parking and in February threatened to revoke approval of the city’s entire 2015 parking plan.

“We were getting ready to go into a battle with them revoking our parking plan,” Carroll said. “Luckily, at the last minute, both Secretary Hall and Administrator (Desiree) Fragoso worked well together.”

The compromise that appears to have now ended the dispute adds more free parking along Palm Boulevard by installing angled parking where only parallel parking had existed. All the angled spaces are on the land side of the road where there’s a large right-of-way, while the beach side of the road will continue to have parallel parking.

“This is going to be so much better,” said Carroll. “It’s going to be organized parking on Palm Boulevard.” He added, “it increases parking on Palm Boulevard, but protects the neighborhoods and our parking plan. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

Police Chief Kevin Cornett said the new layout should improve public safety because it leaves a large shoulder area between the parking spots and Palm Boulevard.

State workers were still laying out the spaces late on April 19 but the final result is expected to be between 220 and 260 parking spots where there used to be 190, Hall said.

No palmetto trees were removed as part of the plan.

City Councilman Randy Bell said Isle of Palms had worked with DOT on the dimensions of the parking spots to assure they are large enough to handle even generously sized pickup trucks, while allowing 12 feet between the road and the back of the parked cars.

“The city’s goal is safe parking, not to keep people out of here,” he said.

That’s not the perception thousands of people had in 2020 when the city talked about eliminating parking and charging for what remained. Aggrieved residents of Mount Pleasant formed a Facebook group that later became an organized nonprofit, which filed suit against the city.

With the parking dispute seemingly resolved, Isle of Palms and DOT are still in disagreement over recent changes to the Isle of Palms Connector, the main bridge to the island. DOT recently added bicycle and pedestrian lanes to the causeway at the expense of a center lane reserved for emergency vehicles.

Both the city and SCDOT plan to conduct traffic studies to evaluate the results.

SC might make beaches provide free parking. Isle of Palms begs McMaster to veto bill

In a move that puts a South Carolina beach community at odds with both its neighbors and the state legislature, Isle of Palms voted Friday to oppose a state bill that would require free and unrestricted beach parking along state highways.The city’s resolution, which passed 7-0 during a special City Council meeting, carries no weight of law, but it does express the city’s di...

In a move that puts a South Carolina beach community at odds with both its neighbors and the state legislature, Isle of Palms voted Friday to oppose a state bill that would require free and unrestricted beach parking along state highways.

The city’s resolution, which passed 7-0 during a special City Council meeting, carries no weight of law, but it does express the city’s disapproval of a bill introduced by state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley.

The legislation would require South Carolina’s beach communities to provide at least some free parking on state roads.

It also would give towns the authority to include paid public beach parking and to use those funds to maintain, operate and preserve things like beach parking facilities; beach access, maintenance, and renourishment; traffic and parking enforcement; first responders; sanitation; and litter control and removal.

The Isle of Palms council meeting Friday morning took all of 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Two council members, Ryan Buchannon and Phillip Pounds, did not attend.

Mayor Jimmy Carroll, reading from the resolution, said the goal was to express the city’s opposition to the implementation of the legislation “by all lawful means necessary.”

It also urges S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster to veto the bill when it gets to his desk.

The resolution also claims the legislation “clearly discloses that barrier island communities, including the Isle of Palms, are being singled out and treated differently from other municipal entities in this state in a politically motivated, unconstitutional response to the City’s actions taken in the interest of public health and safety.”

It continues, alleging the bill “violates The Home Rule Act, which explicitly gives municipalities the sole power to control roads and streets within the municipality for the public health.”

“Home rule has always been a fundamental part of why South Carolina is so wonderful,” Councilman John Moye said in an emailed statement following the vote. “When home rule is threatened at this scale, issues that local leaders and communities know how to best address are suddenly being managed by politicians in Columbia.”

Isle of Palms, which is located across the Intracoastal Waterway from Mount Pleasant, has become the nexus of South Carolina’s beach parking drama. The back-and-forth over free versus paid parking has sparked debates over who deserves access to state’s public sands.

The debate intensified last year when South Carolina closed public access to its beaches, all of which the state owns, at the start of the pandemic in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. After McMaster reopened the beaches in late April, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach took a more gradual approach, issuing their own emergency orders to restrict public beach access and reduce the number of nonresidents coming in at the time.

Isle of Palms is facing a lawsuit over its 2020 decision to temporarily block nonresidents from using more than 750 parking spots near the beach, leaving just 10 free spaces for visitors.

All beaches are now open to the public.

Recently, ahead of the busy summer tourist season, the S.C. Department of Transportation installed approximately 240 angled spaces on the land side of the state-owned Palm Boulevard, stretching from 22nd to 40th Ave.

State Rep. Joe Bustos, R-Charleston, argued on the House floor last week that the bill was not ready for a vote and urged further debate.

“This is not a beach access bill. This is a beach parking bill, and we need to understand that,” Bustos said.

His attempts to table the bill were unsuccessful.

The local resolution that passed Friday now puts Isle of Palms at odds with Mount Pleasant, a neighboring town that in January passed a resolution to show public support for Grooms’ bill.

The bill, S. 40, passed its final reading May 13 in a 102-10 vote in the state House. It now heads to McMaster’s desk.

It is still unclear whether McMaster will sign the bill into law.

“Governor McMaster is still in the process of reviewing the bill and greatly appreciates all input,” said Brandon Charochak, a spokesman for the governor. “He will make a final decision in the coming days.”

Memorial Day weekend, considered the unofficial start of the summer tourist season, is next week.

A group calling themselves the Barrier Island Preservation Alliance welcomed the move by Isle of Palms on Friday.

The group’s stated mission is to foster dialogue and community engagement to address the unique challenges of barrier island beaches.

Morgan Harris, an Isle of Palms resident and member of the alliance, said council members share their goals.

“They, like we, want Isle of Palms to continue to be an open and welcoming community that is safe for families, businesses and visitors alike. And they believe, as so many of us do, that we, rather than Columbia bureaucrats and politicians, are best equipped to make decisions about parking in Isle of Palms,” Harris said.

This story was originally published May 21, 2021 2:12 PM.

South Carolina Professional Firefighter Association raises concern about low IOP pay

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina Professional Firefighters Association said the wages for the Isle of Palm Fire Department are not high enough.Th...

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina Professional Firefighters Association said the wages for the Isle of Palm Fire Department are not high enough.

The city of Isle of Palms said the lowest paid firefighter earns $12.55 an hour.

"They are not paying well. And they are not paying down the road, people are realizing it," said William Pesature, Vice President of the SC Professional Firefighter Association.

Pesature said in the firefighting world you want to build a team that has experience, training and standing.

He said the Isle of Palms is not doing that for their firefighters and a change needs to be made when it comes to pay.

He said the department has two problems: no fire chief for the last eight months and the firefighter pay rate.

"You should be able to afford a decent wage for your firefighters so that they want to stay there. If you have one of the richest cities in the state, and you are not taking care of your first responders? What's going to happen to your in an emergency situation?" he said.

Pesature said the issue should concern taxpayers on the island because when someone leaves the department the city has to pay to train a new employee.

"Training is very expensive. Because they have to pay for a person to go to school and then when they are supposed to be in the fire house (and) they have to pay someone overtime to cover their spot to maintain the standards of staffing," he said.

Read More: New signs going up at Johns Island bus stop to remind drivers to stop for school buses

ABC News 4 reached out to the city for comment. Desiree Farago, the city administrator said in part, "The City is in the process of finalizing a wage and compensation analysis with the goal of identifying market based and competitive wages for all City positions. We expect the report and recommendations for adjustments will be in place before the end of the year."

"We have also collected feedback from every member of the fire department regarding how we reward high performance and increase wages throughout their tenure with the city that will be incorporated into new compensation policies," John Moye, an IOP councilman, said.

Moye said the consultant's leading the wage compensation plan should be presenting to council sometime in September.

Commentary: Traffic, parking dispute overshadow what makes IOP great

There have been a number of news stories recently about the Isle of Palms, some of which paint the city and residents in a negative light. As a resident and president of a newly formed organization of homeowners and property owners on the island, I want to share our perspective.Isle of Palms has one of our state’s most treasured natural wonders — its beach. IOP is also home to a growing number of residents and visitors who are attracted to beach life and activities.As residents, we understand the rights of visitors ...

There have been a number of news stories recently about the Isle of Palms, some of which paint the city and residents in a negative light. As a resident and president of a newly formed organization of homeowners and property owners on the island, I want to share our perspective.

Isle of Palms has one of our state’s most treasured natural wonders — its beach. IOP is also home to a growing number of residents and visitors who are attracted to beach life and activities.

As residents, we understand the rights of visitors to access our beaches and we welcome visitors from across the Lowcountry, state and nation. The energy, enthusiasm and economic boost they bring is part of what makes our community great.

We were excited to see families visiting IOP for the Memorial Day holiday as we remembered heroes who gave their lives in service to our nation. It was also a respite from the controversy surrounding the way Columbia politicians have overreached and undermined the ability of IOP officials to do their most important job: keeping residents and visitors safe.

Our beaches are free and accessible. That issue has been unnecessarily confused with traffic volume and the number of vehicles parking on the island. There must be a balance between the rights and responsibilities of residents with those of visitors, and the best way to accomplish that is with a locally managed plan designed to provide safe access to our island for visitors while maintaining a safe environment for our families who live here.

One-size-fits-all Columbia mandates on localities do not work any better than one-size-fits-all mandates on states from Washington, D.C.

IOP always has been seriously committed to providing parking and beach access to visitors. You may not realize that IOP provides more than twice the number of parking spaces per mile and per public beach access point as the average South Carolina beach community.

With an average of 378 parking spaces per mile of public beach, we offer more public parking than Edisto Beach, Folly Beach, Surfside Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, to name a few.

We also take pride in the beauty of our community. Keeping the island clean is part of keeping it safe. IOP residents fund beach access trash receptacles and pickup.

Residents volunteer their time to conduct beachfront litter collection every week during the summer. They also hold neighborhood block litter pickups throughout the year.

IOP offers visitors amenities such as a recreation center, marina and two city-owned public boat ramps. The IOP Recreation Center hosts users from surrounding communities each day of every season.

Visitors use the marina, purchased by IOP residents, for their boating needs. Well-maintained public boat ramps offer families and sportsmen alike a perfect way to take advantage of the water surrounding the area.

With summer in full swing, IOP residents have formed the Barrier Island Preservation Alliance to highlight all of these things that make our community special, as well as to address the unique challenges we face. We hope other barrier islands will join us as we grow.

As always, we hope to see many of you on July Fourth. Usually, IOP residents and visitors celebrate one of our favorite holidays with an incredible display of fireworks. Unfortunately, public health considerations have forced us to cancel fireworks two years in a row.

Nevertheless, we look forward to seeing new faces on the island, whether they be locals or visitors, new residents or old friends, not only on the Fourth but every day thereafter.

Bev Miller is president and executive director of Barrier Island Preservation Alliance.

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