The Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee met Monday and here are some highlights from the agenda:

• ACA Report: Assistant County Administrator/Acting CFO John Robinson introduced Finance Department members who presented financial updates on the General Fund, the Capital Improvements and Enterprise Funds. The Finance team then shared a new procedure for tracking expenditures entitled FY25 Budget Transfer Tracking--the program is delineated by department which allows for more efficient cost and budget tracking. The overall result is increased transparency of County spending.

The committee then voted to:

• Recommend approval to Council of an ordinance to establish new policies of centralized purchasing and competitive bidding, delegating purchasing authority to the County Purchasing Director, establishing procedures for the purchasing of goods services
• Recommend approval to Council of an ordinance accepting the transfer of authority for conducting municipal elections from the Town of Port Royal to Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections
• Recommend approval to Council of a resolution authorizing the County Administrator to accept block grant awards offered by SC Department of Alcohol and other drug abuse services
• Recommend approval of a contract to pave around Bluffton Township Fire District's training building
•  Recommend approval for appointment to the Beaufort County Transportation Committee for a 4 year term to expire August 2028
  • David Johnson
• Boards and Commissions Appointments and Reappointments
  • William Bedingfield, Bluffton Township Fire District
  • Mark Feinberg, Solid Waste and Recycling Board
  • William Cecil Mitchell, Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Adrian Scott, Sheldon Fire District Board                   

The Beaufort County Council held their regular meeting beginning at 5 p.m., Monday evening. 

Below are some highlights from that meeting:

• Presentation of a proclamation recognizing Lands End Woodland River Festival Day
• Presentation by State Senator Tom Davis--updates on County projects and state funding
• Time Sensitive Item from Finance Committee: first reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace the Beaufort County code establishing new policies of centralized purchasing and competitive bidding, delegating purchasing authority to County Purchasing Director
• Time sensitive item from Finance Committee: first reading of an ordinance authorizing Beaufort County Memorial Hospital to pledge revenues in connection with the issuance by SC Jobs Economic Development Authority of its healthcare revenue bonds
• Time sensitive item from Finance Committee: approval of resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the economic development grant application regarding Project Micro
• Public hearing and third reading of an ordinance providing for the appropriation of funds for FY 24/25 generated by Local H Tax
• First reading of an ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents, provide funding to purchase real property known as Cooler Tract

Highlights from the Consent Agenda:

• Approval to authorize the County Administrator to enter a local public agency agreement with SC DOT for three projects: US 278 Corridor study, SC 170 Corridor study, Intelligent Transportation System Master Plan
• Approval of resolution to adopt the 2023 Beaufort County Traffic Calming Policy
• Approval of a resolution authorizing the County Administrator to accept a solid waste management grant from SC Department of Environmental Services
• Approval of resolution to accept FAA Airport Improvement Project Grant for St. James Baptist Church relocation
• Approval of resolution authorizing the County Administrator to enter into a memo of understanding with the city of Beaufort for maintenance of County-owned property known as Boundary Vista-Logan

Matters arising out of Executive Committee:

• Council will move forward to receive legal advice relating to pending litigation and potential claims (opioid litigation, FAA matter)
• Items #30 and #31-Legal Advice relates to matters covered by attorney-client privilege and discussion of employment of persons regulated by a public body respectively to be discussed at the next Council meeting

The next Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee meeting will be Monday, September 23, at 3 p.m.

The next regular County Council meeting will be Monday, September 9, at 5 p.m.

For the complete agenda for all meetings, click here.

To watch all meetings in their entirety, click here.