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

County Council Caucus

Matters arising from County Council Caucus Executive Session:

• Recommend the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate and execute initial documents for Daufuskie Island Ferry embarkation relocation during upcoming construction of Highway 278 Bridge project. This passed unanimously. 

Watch the County Council Caucus here.

County Council Meeting

Presentation:
Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls gave a presentation on her office's FY2027 Budget Proposal. Watch her presentation here.

Agenda Items
Both of the following items passed 8-2:

• A contract to Nix Construction for construction of the Buckwalter Recreation Athletic Complex Expansion

• A contract to MUSCO Sports Lighting, LLC for the Buckwalter Recreation Athletic Complex Expansion

The following appointments and reappointments were passed unanimously

• Daniel Anderson and Bruce Kline, Construction Adjustments and Appeals Board
• Thomas Peth and Nancy Ludkte, Daufuskie Island Fire District Board
• Galen Sturup-Comeau, Disabilities and Special Needs Board
• Janet Porter, Library Board
• Barbara Childs and Henry Criss, Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority
• Bruce Yeager, Parks and Recreation Board
• Lynne Hoos, Zoning Board of Appeals
• Robert Bible, Board of Assessment Appeals
• Paul Manning, Beaufort County Transportation Committee
• Jessica Reitz, Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Board
• Chet Houston, Lady's Island/St. Helena Island Fire District Commission
• Nick Borreggine, State ATAX 
• Rick Krob, Bluffton Fire District
• Celina Morello, Caroline Atkins, Elizabeth Epstein, Design Review Board
• Sara Miller-District 4, Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Board
• Hattie Brown-District 1, Library Board
• Phil Mansker, Parks and Recreation Board
• Adam Saslow and Dee Simpson, Stormwater Management Board
• Charles Newton, Planning Commission

Ordinances for Third Reading
These ordinances passed unanimously.

• An ordinance reallocating 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. 
  
  Ordinances for Second Reading and Public Hearing
  These ordinances passed unanimously.
  
  
• An Ordinance to reallocate remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $739,108.13 towards existing projects as obligated to the Department of Treasury.
  
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute the necessary documents to convey a parcel of real property to Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry for development of workforce/affordable housing and other matters related thereto.

• An Ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute the necessary documents to convey five parcels of real property to the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust for development of attainable housing in partnership with Beaufort Memorial Hospital and other matters related thereto.

• 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 on the ordinance that includes civil penalties and recommendation to attend a gun education course. Watch the discussion here.
  
  The following items failed:
  An ordinance to add a new ordinance section Hate Intimidation Crime establishing the offense of hate intimidation and establishing a penalty for violations in the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances. Watch the discussion here.
  
  Ordinances for First Reading
  
  
• An ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Budget Ordinance for FY 2026
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the purchase of real property form the Town of Hilton Head Island for St. James Baptist Church relocation
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property to St. James Baptist Church following completion of the relocation project
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute any and all documents for the acceptance of a portion of Airport Circle which is to be abandoned by SCDOT
  
  The following items failed:
  An ordinance to appropriate fund balances to fund the USCB Convocation Center Project
  
  An ordinance to amend an ordinance to re-allocate funds from the 2025 GO Bonds to fund the USCB Beaufort's Convocation Center Project.

Resolutions
These resolutions passed unanimously

• Resolution of County Council of Beaufort County adopts a merit pay policy and associated appendix to the Beaufort County Personnel Handbook

•  Resolution to commission a Solid Waste and Recycling Enforcement Officer

• Resolution to accept a SC Aeronautics Commission Commercial Airport Entitlement grant for $1 million for the Hilton Head Island Airport Terminal Improvement Project Phase II
  
  
• Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to enter into an MOU with the Port Royal Sound Foundation 

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 gave another update from the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The committee is on schedule to present the final project list to County Council.  

The next meeting is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, in County Council Chambers, 100 Ribaut Road (map).

For more information on the projects being discussed, Council-appointed advisory committee members and a meeting schedule, visit Beaufort County Penny. 

Watch the County Administrator's presentation to Council here.

All County Committee and Council meetings are streamed live and
available on demand through

Looking for more details or a specific item not covered in this release? Check out BCTV for full meeting recordings, agendas, and other details! BCTV can be found on cable channels Comcast - channel 2; Sparklight- channel 9 and 113; Spectrum - channel 1304. BCTV also streams live on ROKU and Amazon Fire.