The Beaufort County Council held their final regular meeting for 2024, Monday evening beginning at 5 p.m.

Below are some highlights from that meeting:

• Airport Administrator Jon Rembold gave a project update at Hilton Head Island Airport. Building is in progress, concrete is being poured, runways are being expanded. Renovations are about 45% complete.
• Discussion of the US 278 Corridor Project State Infrastructure Bank--authorize the County Administrator to draft a letter that the County is still interested in moving forward, did not vote to cover the $190 million short fall, the County is keeping project options open for the foreseeable future. County Administrator Moore is in continued talks with the Town of Hilton Head and SCDOT on how best to move forward on the bridge replacement project since the referendum failed in November.
• Discussion of the results of the third party review of the Mitchelville appraisals related to the purchase of the property from the Town of Hilton Head. Chairman Passiment amended it to include four points:
  • The County will find a third appraiser and the Town of Hilton Head must agree to the appraisal price
  • The County selects the appraiser
  • The County will spend no additional funds
  • Once the appraisal is completed the item will be remanded back to the Land Use Committee for reconsideration of the third appraisal
• Public hearing and second reading of an ordinance amending the budget to approve $3.3 million for fleet vehicle services and equipment purchases
• First reading of an ordinance amending the Community Development Code to allow short term housing rental in the Dale community
• First reading of an ordinance to invest $4.3 million in an infrastructure development project at Beaufort Executive Airport to construct airport hangars.
  • Council voted to send it back to Finance for further review and additional specifics including funding and timeline adjustments
• Approval of the 2025 Council meeting schedule with the understanding that some dates need to be changed and will be voted on in the next Council meeting
• Appointment of Patrick Mitchell to the Stormwater Management Utility Board for a 4 year term until November 2028

Highlights from the Consent Agenda:

• Approval of a resolution to extend the Broadband Everywhere program and expand the remaining ARPA funds to include new customers
• Approval to place land purchased by Project Micro into an existing multi-county industrial park project
• Approval to authorize the County Administrator to accept a federal subaward grant from SC Department of Public Health 

Matters arising from Executive Session

• Pursuant to legal advice regarding contractual arrangements regarding pending litigation: Beaufort County v Mashburn et al (Buckwalter Rec Center): Council voted to have the Deputy County Attorney negotiate the settlement with the terms discussed in Executive Session
       

The next regular County Council meeting will be Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6 p.m.

For the complete agenda for all meetings, click here.

To watch all meetings in their entirety, click here.

From the Administrator's Report:
Here are this week's County employees recognized for their hard work and service to our citizens:

• Left: Howell Youmans--Deputy Director of Beaufort County EMS
• Upper Right: Samantha DeMay-- Personal Property Tax Analyst, Beaufort County Auditor's Office
• Lower Right: Jerrod Houston, Beaufort County Mosquito Control Technician