The Beaufort County 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 Attorney and outside counsel to negotiate a settlement on pending litigation for the amount discussed in Executive Session regarding Lisa Lynch v. Beaufort County. This passed unanimously.
  
  
• Recommend the County Attorney send a Cure letter to Justice Square Associates LLC informing them they are in default by material breach for the purchase sale agreement for the King Street and Wilmington Street properties. This passed unanimously. 

Watch the entire County Council Caucus here.

County Council Meeting

Presentation
Presentation by Lise Sundrla from Historic Beaufort Foundation of the Time Capsule commemorating Beaufort's bicentennial celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette's historic visit to Beaufort in March 1825. Watch the presentation here.

Consent agenda Highlights:
All items originated from the Public Facilities and Safety Committee.

Approval of contract to Gulf Stream Construction for the Rivers End Drainage Improvement Project.

Approval of contract to Low Country Commercial Services for janitorial services at Hilton Head Island Airport

Approval of a contract to W.M. Roebuck for the installation of traffic signal mast arm poles at Bluffton Parkway at River Ridge Drive.

Discussion Item

Proposed Hate Crime Ordinance
This originated in the March 2 Public Facilities and Safety Committee where a motion was made to bring it to full Council for discussion. Council members voiced concerns over wording and intent. Council directed staff to develop a resolution and then draft an ordinance. It will then be directed back to Public Facilities and Safety Committee for reconsideration.

Ordinances for Third Reading
Two ordinances were voted on unanimously:

• An ordinance authorizing the abandonment of a drainage easement off Gumwood Drive on northern Lady's Island
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a drainage easement on Leo Green Road
  
  

Ordinances for Second Reading and Public Hearing

Both items passed unanimously

• 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 postpone this until after a scheduled meeting with various stakeholders including County Council members, 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone, and Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner. 
  
  
• An ordinance amending the zoning map for 5 acres
  
  

Resolutions
All resolutions passed unanimously

• Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement with MCRD Parris Island for mutual Emergency Medical Services response
• Resolution recognizing April as Fair Housing Month
• Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port Royal Sound Foundation for collaboration on natural resource monitoring and outreach 

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. 

County Administrator's Report

County Administrator Michael Moore recognized several County employees in his report.