The Beaufort County Natural Resources Committee met Monday and here are some highlights:

• Chuck Atkinson, Assistant County Administrator gave a brief overview of the financials and workload in County Building Codes and Flood Plains Management. Covering only unincorporated Beaufort County, the overview included new home permits, building inspections, the number of commercial permits issued, and HVAC permits.
  Watch the Building Codes presentation here.
  
  
• Highlights from committee action on the following agenda items:
  
  • Mike McShane, Chair of the Green Space Committee recommended no further consideration of the Broad Creek Marina Fee simple application and does not recommend funding
  • Recommend approval to Council to fund due diligence and negotiate terms of acquisition for the following Green Space Program Applications: Beach City Road, Buckwalter PUD, North Widgeon tracts, Old Wild Horse Road, Buckfield tracts, Messick tracts
  • Recommend approval to Council of an ordinance conveying property to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for the development of affordable housing and medical offices in Bluffton at 333 & 335 Buckwalter Parkway
• Kate Schaefer, Open Land Trust, gave a brief presentation and annual report of acreage and properties acquired throughout the year and their strong partnership with the Green Space Committee.
  Watch her presentation here.

The Beaufort County Council held their regular meeting beginning at 6 p.m., Monday evening. 

Below are some highlights from that meeting:

• Ordinances for Third Reading:
  • An ordinance amending a budget ordinance to reflect the approval of use of General Fund Fund Balance of $3.3 mil for Fleet Services vehicle and equipment purchases
• Ordinances for Second Reading
  • An ordinance amending the Community Development Code to allow lodging-Short term Housing Rental in Dale Community Preservation District
  • An ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to enter into a lease agreement with Mitchelville Preservation Project for Suite 134 and 142 of County-owned office building at 539 William Hilton Parkway
• Ordinances for First Reading
  • An ordinance placing land purchased by Project Micro into an existing multi-county industrial park

Matters arising from Executive Session

• Pursuant to legal advice regarding pending litigation: Beaufort County et al v AirBNB: Council voted to accept the settlement offer with the terms discussed in Executive Session. The fees not properly collected by Charleston AirBNB will be applied to the local ATAX.
• Pursuant to same litigation: Council voted to accept the fee agreement adjustment of the outside law firm which will result in a $60k increase to the County
• Pursuant to receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney client privilege (related to privileged communications by County attorneys with staff and council): Council voted to waive attorney client privilege and provide email communications between council members, administration and staff to the state Ethics Commission for the time period of 6/2021-8/2023

The next Natural Resources Committee meeting Monday, February 3, at 4 p.m.

Chat with Council will be Thursday, January 23, 6 p.m., at Bluffton Library.

The next regular County Council meeting will be Monday, January 27, 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:

Top Left: Wade Bishop, Director of Prevention Services, Nexus Care of Beaufort County
Top Right: Katie Godowns, Senior Prevention Specialist, Nexus Care of Beaufort County
Bottom Center: Vice Chair Tabernik presenting a proclamation recognizing Medicolegal Death Investigations Professionals' Week
Middle: County Administrator Moore recognizes and congratulates the most recent group of employee graduates from Beaufort County's Emerging Leaders program
Bottom: Willie Warren, Roads and Drainage, South of the Broad, recognized for 37 years of service to Beaufort County