Mayor's Message- July 2024

Happy July 4th! I hope you will have the opportunity to participate in the annual golf cart parade and fireworks. Both are always a great way to spend the day on the island.

A couple of much anticipated projects are complete or very close to completion – improved drainage outfall at 41st Avenue and our new public dock. First, thank you for your patience as the city works on these highly anticipated improvements to the quality of life on our island. The drainage project will provide much needed relief to an area that is impacted by significant tidal inundation. As a result of piping and covering the open ditch between Waterway Boulevard and the Intracoastal Waterway, the City added approximately 30 parking spaces for the marina area. The parking spaces will be free for residents with a valid resident decal.

I’m really excited the construction of our new public dock is almost complete! It will include a 16' wide pier and covered areas with benches and swings, a new floating dock with an ADA compliant gangway, and kayak and stand-up paddle board launches. The dock will provide a great spot to enjoy one of the best sunset views on our island and a great space for residents and guests to enjoy for many years to come.

As we continue to identify ways to improve our infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for our residents, the city is working with Dominion Energy to move power lines underground instead of having them overhead. Last year, Dominion Energy completed an undergrounding project at 21st Avenue and Palm Boulevard and we are working with them on another one scheduled this Fall to underground the power lines at14th Avenue. These projects improve the reliability of service and the aesthetics of our community, as overhead power lines can be unsightly and disrupt the natural beauty of our surroundings. Overhead power lines are also more susceptible to damage caused by storms which can cause outages and service disruption. The cost of the undergrounding projects is shared 50/50 between the city and Dominion Energy.

Undergrounding power line projects are costly and take time from concept, through design and engineering and final construction. The city also tries to limit construction projects to the “off-season” to minimize disruption during the busy season. Over the next few months, we will be reviewing the remaining identified projects for prioritization and looking to add new areas where it may be feasible to pursue undergrounding power lines.

Some great upcoming events to make note of:

July 4th – Golf cart parade and fireworks. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at 4th and Ocean Blvd. and Fireworks at Front Beach around 9:00 p.m.
July 18th – Farmers Market – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Rec Center
July 26th – Coffee with the Mayor – 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at City Hall, 2nd floor.
July 27th – IOP Beach Run – 8:00 a.m. at Front Beach. 5K/10K Run and 5K Walk and Youth Fun Run at 8:30 a.m.

Updated and additional information can be found at iop.net and you can receive updates by signing up for Sunnie – the City’s AI platform
for sending updated messages direct to your mobile device. To get started text “hello” to (877)–607–6IOP (467) or visit iop.net.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve! See you around the island.

Phillip Pounds, Mayor IOP
843-252-5359
ppounds@iop.net