Surfside Beach administrator to step down as infighting among council members worsens
Surfside Beach Town Administrator Dennis Pieper is stepping down in September as tension among town officials erupts in more static and division.
Pieper announced his retirement after spending just over two years in Surfside Beach. Prior to arriving in Surfside, Pieper served in the city manager position in Fort Mill for about five years after transferring from Tega Cay in 2013.
Pieper noted that his departure isn’t an abrupt decision.
“I have been planning my retirement for quite some time,” Pieper said. “I am happy to announce that I am retiring in September after nearly 29 years of public service to our great state of South Carolina.”
Members of the Town Council have been at odds since the start of the year, with their constant division and infighting resulting in Mayor Bob Hellyer, Councilwoman Cindy Keating and Councilman Michael Drake suing the remaining members of council and the town over construction of the Surfside Fishing Pier.
The pier was partially destroyed in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew. Plans to rebuild the wooden pier into a concrete structure that will be raised 10 feet higher, providing more protection from storm surges has been in the woks for some time.
The council at its Aug. 3 meeting rescinded a July 1 vote to award the pier bid to Orion/FBi and restart the bidding process. Pieper was also tasked with researching whether the nearly $10 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help repair the pier could be extended.
As it currently stands, construction on the pier must start before Oct. 15 or the town will lose the funding.
