A Conversation with Daniel Newquist, Town Administrator for Pawleys Island

By Karen Owens
Publisher

I have cherished Pawleys Island since 1991, with many fond memories of visiting with family and friends. As a South Carolina native, I experienced Pawleys not just for a week or two in the summer, but throughout the year. Some of my favorite times have been in the spring and fall, when the island feels a little more relaxed.

The Town of Pawleys Island is open year-round, not just from Memorial Day to Labor Day, as many might assume. That stretch is simply its busiest season. I recently sat down with Daniel Newquist, the Town’s administrator since 2022, to learn more about what is happening on the island and what may interest our readers.

Georgetown SC Gazette:

Let’s start with your background and how you became the Town Administrator.

Daniel Newquist:

Before coming to Pawleys, I worked for the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments for 13 years in its planning department. My work focused primarily on water quality, transportation issues and regional planning. One of the final transportation projects I worked on was the expansion of SC Highway 31 into Brunswick, North Carolina. Today, my transportation projects involve managing potholes, parking issues and golf cart traffic.

When I saw the Town post the administrator position, I was intrigued and applied. I moved through the interview process successfully, and four years later, here I am. I enjoyed my time at the COG, but this role has been a great experience.

Georgetown SC Gazette:

How big is the town and how many employees support your efforts?

Daniel Newquist:

Our jurisdiction is just the island itself, which has about 150 full-time residents. That said, we do work hard to manage relationships with Georgetown County and our various partners to collaborate and provide good customer service to those who receive their mail in “Pawleys Island.” In fact, Town Hall really serves as a quasi-visitor center for the community, as people stop by looking for recommendations on anything from bike rentals to restaurants.

We have two full-time administrative employees and three full-time police officers. We supplement our police force with four part-time officers during the busy summer season, when tourists visit the island in greater numbers. We also contract with outside providers for maintenance and building support, legal services, and other specialized needs.

Georgetown SC Gazette:

How has the significant growth along the Waccamaw Neck affected the town?

Daniel Newquist:

We understand that we are a public beach for the extended community, and we work closely with Georgetown County, particularly Emergency Services Director Loren Wallace and Deputy Administrator Brandon Ellis, as well as Midway Fire and Rescue, to address public safety concerns.

Swimming safety is one important initiative. During a recent six-month period, four drownings occurred, so Town Council wanted to strengthen outreach throughout the community and increase awareness about how to stay safe in the ocean. We have also partnered with the local YMCA to support swimmer safety education for its members and through our local schools.

In recent years, we have seen a large increase in the number of people traveling to the island by golf cart. The Town implemented a permit program for golf carts that aligns with current state DMV regulations for travel within a two-mile radius of the town. This year, we issued almost 1,000 permits.

Of course, it’s hurricane season so there is a lot of planning and coordination that goes into managing that.

Georgetown SC Gazette:

As summer winds down, what upcoming initiatives will require your attention?

Daniel Newquist:

The Town operates on a calendar-year fiscal year, so the budget will be one of our priorities this fall. We also use the off-season to address projects on the beach and at our public access points.

Another priority is educating residents about a new ordinance addressing historic preservation on the island beyond our National Park Service-recognized historic district. That district runs through the middle part of the island and is more honorific in nature. We recognize there are additional houses beyond the district that are more than 100 years old and historically significant as well.

As these houses have aged and required costly maintenance, more homeowners are weighing whether to make upgrades that comply with modern regulations, such as flood mitigation requirements, or tear down the home and build a new one. The Town has developed architectural guidelines to maintain the unique beach character we enjoy in Pawleys. Our Architectural Review Board is very engaged in reviewing new construction projects, including front porch guidelines, roof pitch heights and shutter materials, among other items, to ensure we stay true to those policies.

This historic preservation initiative will help us provide potential tax incentives for property owners who restore or maintain their historic homes. We will also establish a Historic Preservation Board, and it will probably take nine months to a year to go through the state’s process for full recognition.

Second reading of that ordinance will happen at the September Town Council meeting.

(There is a helpful Frequently Asked Questions document about Historic Preservation on the Town’s website.)

Georgetown SC Gazette:

Sounds like you have a busy rest of the year. How would you describe the town’s leadership and its involvement in local matters.

Daniel Newquist:

We are very fortunate to have a highly engaged Town Council that wants what is best for the town. Council members are involved in various projects and initiatives happening on the island, as are the members of our appointed boards and committees. Council members and the mayor serve two-year terms, and we gained three new council members in our last election in 2025. Each had experience serving on our Planning Commission, so they were well informed and ready to serve.

The Municipal Association of South Carolina is another invaluable partner. Charlie Barrineau serves as our field manager, and he has been a great resource for me on matters ranging from budgeting and Freedom of Information Act requests to strategic planning. The Association recently facilitated an excellent workshop for our new council, and our staff and committees have participated in educational webinars to enhance our understanding of local governance and best practices.