Abandoned May River dock out of water, on its way to dump

In less than 24 hours, an abandoned party dock went from a dangerous eyesore lodged in the May River sandbar to a twisted hulk of metal and wood in the back of a dump truck.

The dock, which had long drawn the ire of some Bluffton residents, was removed from the sandbar late Monday evening by a small group of volunteers led by town councilman and Bluffton Oyster Factory owner Larry Toomer and his nephews Roger and Daniel Woods.

Toomer said Tuesday that he "got tired of hearing everyone moaning and groaning about it," so he decided "let's get 'er done."

The structure was hauled to the waters next to Toomer's business Monday night.

On Tuesday afternoon, seven volunteers from Bluffton-based firm Ulmer Brothers arrived with a backhoe and two dump trucks.

An hour later, the dock was no more -- torn to shreds and loaded in the back of the trucks -- and on its way to a landfill.

Alan Ulmer, an owner of the company, said, "I grew up on this river ... and we just want to make sure the river stays safe and clean."

Toomer said the volunteer effort was necessary because government agencies had failed for years to address the problem.

Capt. Gentry Thames of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources law enforcement division said earlier this week that the agency was aware of the problem, but a quirk in state law prohibited DNR from removing it.

Because the dock was not a "registered or documented vessel," state laws relating to the removal of abandoned watercraft did not apply. Therefore public funds couldn't be used for removal, he said.

Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

Related content:

• Update: Abandoned May River dock could soon be removed, Sept. 28, 2015.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Abandoned May River dock out of water, on its way to dump."