Resources, News, and Announcements
From the Mayor’s desk – 11/21/25
Happy Friday! A lighter update this week, but I do have a few key items to share with you. I’m going to pause my letter next week with the Thanksgiving Holiday, so you’ll hear from me again on December 5th.
Beach & Parks:
Hay bales have been placed on the dunes. We do have some extra remaining at the main entrance that we will work to fill in any of the spots needing a few more.
EMC:
Frank and Janet are hosting a Town Hall meeting to discuss Emergency Management, next week on Monday the 24th, at 6PM City Hall. Please attend to see and hear the vision for VOSB Emergency Management and what is means for you.
Public Works:
We had a visit this week from Port O’Connor that was set up by Councilman Jon Gerber. This is an ongoing working relationship with our neighbors in POC that are about 7 years ahead of us on their journey to improve their AIRVAC sewer system and water quality. They have already changed out most of their AIRVAC sewer pits to either the new FLOWVAC pits with the elevated controllers, like we have in testing on Monument and Middle, or they have swapped for a completely redesigned pit from Qualvac. These redesigned pits address several of the key design failures of the AIRVAC system. The POC group shared how they navigated the funding challenges, construction management, and ultimately their transition to a sewer system that requires regular preventative maintenance instead of run to failure like we experience today. Changing out the AIRVAC components was a key step for them to get to where they are today. Qualvac will be working on an engineering review and proposal for our sewer system. More to come on this effort.
Human Resources:
The active search for a new City Secretary continues. We have assembled applications/resumes and are currently reviewing them in order to get to a short list of potential candidates for interviews. We hope to fill this position before the end of the year to allow for some transition with Amanda.
We have a meeting scheduled for December 1st with Clear Career Professionals to kick off the recruiting process for the new City Administrator. They will be here to meet with all department leaders, and all of City Council members.
Lastly, our Tourism Specialist Barron has decided to move on from his position at the end of the month. We will be looking to fill a position that is focused on promoting tourism and ultimately putting “heads in beds” for the rental community that pays the hotel occupancy taxes that fund this position. More to come on this job opening soon.
Other items of interest:
A Groin project update from our regular monthly meeting with GLO and Coast & Harbor Engineering this week. After securing the land last week for VOSB that is the extension of 332 to the gulf waters, including all right of ways, the GLO can proceed with completion of the Project Manual which is next step and leads to RFP and bidding the project. There are several steps and multiple agencies involved from here to the point where they accept a bid and execute a construction contract, but their estimation is 6 months from completion of the Project Manual to securing a successful bid, and contract. Due to the nature of this grant we need to have a financial review from the US Treasury & State Comptrollers that is projected to take 45 days post date of construction contract. Ah, government! So, assuming that the GLO completes the Project Manual by January (with the holidays that’s realistic), add 6 months to get to a construction contract, then add 45 days of financial review, and we could be starting construction in late August or early September. This is really best case scenario, but still a rough estimate of when we may experience the long awaited kick off of this Groin Project.
Next week after Thanksgiving will be the Christmas tree lighting on Saturday evening, November 29th. We will have a visit by Santa for the kids (and young at heart!), some refreshments, and a collection of great people from our island paradise. Please make your way over to the corner of Bluewater Hwy and 332 to visit with friends and celebrate the kick off of the Christmas season. This will be Barron’s last event with us, so please offer him thanks and well wishes for his work with us this year.
As always, I hope that you have a great day in wonderful Surfside Beach! A special message of congratulations to long time, multi-generational residents of Surfside who are getting married tomorrow. Have a wonderful day Rita & Seth!
Thanks,
Zach
05/01/2025
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The Village of Surfside Beach has been made aware of scam emails being sent to residents, falsely claiming to be from official city departments. These emails may request personal information, demand payments, or contain suspicious links.
Please Note:
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If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the City, mark it as spam. When in doubt feel free to call the City first. 979-233-1531
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— The Village of Surfside Beach
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