The Beaufort County Council met Monday. Below are some agenda highlights from each meeting.

County Council Caucus

Matters arising from County Council Caucus include:

• Recommend the County Administrator to execute a settlement on pending litigation for the six remnant defendants in the National Opioid litigation. This passed unanimously.
  
  
• Recommend the County Administrator to negotiate terms of a second amendment to the purchase agreement Justice Square Associates LLC. The negotiations authorize the Administrator to approve the assignment of the PSA from Justice Square Associates LLC to Mr. Dick Stewart.  This passed unanimously. 

Watch the entire County Council Caucus here.

County Council Meeting

Proclamation
Council Member David Bartholomew presented a proclamation recognizing March as Disabilities Awareness Month. Watch the presentation here.

Consent agenda Highlights:
This item originated from the Finance, Administration, and Economic Development Committee.

Approval of contract amendment to Fraser Construction for the Sun City Fire/EMS Station 39.

Agenda Items

Consideration of options to fund USCB's Convocation Center. County Chief Financial Officer Pinky Harriott reviewed the four options previously presented. Option 4--a total of $11.1 million that was originally budgeted for the future law enforcement center which is not ready yet--does not incur additional debt and does not add to millage. Watch the presentation, discussion and vote here.

Discussion of public education plans regarding the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and the upcoming referendum. Council discussed hiring a firm to handle all public communication regarding committee updates, projects, that once the committee sets their priority list, will need to be shared with the public. Council discussed the need to hire a professional firm to handle that pr campaign. Council asked County Administrator Michael Moore to begin the process of hiring a firm. Watch the Council discussion here.

Ordinances for Third Reading

• An ordinance amending the zoning map for five acres. This passed unanimously.

Ordinances for Second Reading and Public Hearing

• An ordinance adding a new section to Beaufort County Code of Ordinances to prohibit and make unlawful the discharge of firearms in certain unincorporated areas. Council voted unanimously to continue discussing the ordinance and solicit more input from the County Sheriff, Solicitor and other stakeholders. Council voted unanimously to send it back to Community Services and Public Safety Committee for further discussion. 
  
  Ordinances for First Reading
  Both ordinances passed unanimously.
  
  
• An ordinance to amend an ordinance to reallocate funds previously appropriated for Daufuskie Island Ferry embarkation points to Sun City Joint Fire/EMS Station #39.
   
• An ordinance to reallocate funds from the 2025 Series GO Bond for Passive Parks projects. All four projects currently underway will move forward concurrently. 

Resolutions
Both resolutions passed unanimously

• Resolution authorizing acceptance of an adjusted compensation plan for public safety pay bands, specifically the Beaufort County Detention Center employees.
  
  
• Resolution ratifying the findings and recommendations of the supplemental compensation and classification study for an Elected Official as par of the Beaufort County Classification and Compensation Plan.
   

To watch the full County Council meeting, click here.

Note: this is a selection of items from the Council Committee Meeting Agendas. To watch the meeting in its entirety, download the agenda and packet, view minutes and more, please visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov. 

Bernard Wallace
Beaufort County Parks and Recreation
Maintenance Technician

Recognized for 15 years of service

Rodney Scott
Beaufort County Grounds Maintenance
Crew Leader

Recognized for 15 years of service