IslandVibesIOP.com 17 3Largest city budget approval on record — Following almost no public discussion and few concerns, IOP City Council approved the largest budget in Isle of Palms’ history for the 2025-26 fiscal year with no tax increase. The new budget will include $32.7 million for projected revenues and $30.1 million for projected expenses. The measure passed on first reading April 22, 2025, then on second reading May 22 by a vote of 8-1 after a public hearing, and took effect July 1. Expenditures will include financing projects such as: • Reconstruction of two tennis courts at the IOP Recreation Center • Essential repairs and maintenance to City Hall • Beach access paths/walkover improvements • Beach preservation maintenance and monitoring • Marina dredging • Marina parking lot and public green space • Underground utility lines • Items identified by the city’s comprehensive drainage plan, including Palm Boulevard drainage between 38th and 41st avenues, and the Waterway Boulevard multi-use path elevation Full story: bit.ly/IOPCityBudget 2IOPPD successfully captures a manhunt suspect — Early in the afternoon on May 1, 2025, a group of Sullivan’s Island schoolchildren and teachers suffered non-fatal injuries following a crashed stolen car that ended with a police manhunt for a fugitive on the run. Officers from Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island police departments, alongside the help of other local, state and federal personnel, arrested suspect Justin Collin Adams of Greenville County. Adams was charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault and battery in the first degree. Adams’ apprehension came approximately five hours after police were alerted to an incident on the property of Sunrise Presbyterian Church near Breach Inlet on Sullivan’s Island. Full story: bit.ly/IOPManhunt 1Uber driver rescued from submerged car in IOP Marina — It started with persistent glaring lights in a pouring rainstorm and ended with split-second reactions that prevented a near-tragic accidental death. A few minutes after 9 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2025, Robert Heaton was sitting with an out-oftown wedding party under an outdoor weather cover at Islander 71 restaurant next to Isle of Palms Marina, trying to keep plates and cups from blowing away. In what seemed like an instant, Heaton too was in the water, swimming toward the vehicle, then trying to open the door against increasing water pressure and attempting to pull driver Peter Giusti to safety from an Uber. It all happened in about 90 seconds and took both rescuers a moment to realize how their quick reactions had narrowly averted a terrible misfortune. Full story: bit.ly/IOPMarinaRescue FEATURE Year in Review From Page 16. We will mail you POSITIVE VIBES anywhere in the U.S. POINT• SCAN• SUBSCRIBE Keep a piece of Isle of Palms with you no matter where you live. Robert Heaton Brandon Blackwell
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