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

County Council Caucus

There was one matter arising from County Council Caucus Executive Session.

• To engage in discussions and negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements. Council voted to enter into an agreement with The Quick Group, LLC to conduct an administrative inquiry into the various departments under the control of the County Administrator. This vote was unanimous.

Watch County Council Caucus here.

County Council Meeting

Several proclamations were presented recognizing:

• The 75th Anniversary of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12
• The 25th Anniversary of Love House Ministries
• Sallie Ann Robinson's recent award from the James Beard Foundation

Watch the presentations here or read more below.

Agenda Items:

Presentation from the American Public Works Association (APWA) regarding Re-Accreditation of the Beaufort County Public Works Department

Watch the presentation here.

Ordinances for Third Reading

• An Ordinance to make appropriations for County Government and Special Purpose Districts for Beaufort County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027; to levy taxes for the payment thereof; to adopt service and user fees; to provide for the expenditure of said taxes and other revenues coming into the county; and other matters related thereto.
  The vote passed 9-2.
  
  
• An Ordinance amending Beaufort County Ordinance Chapter 102 Waterways. Article 1, sections 102-1 definitions, Article II, division 1, section 102-27, purpose, section 102-28, penalties, section 102-29, general prohibitions, section 102-30, dock rules, section 102-31, landing rules, division II, section 102-61, description, division 3, section 102-95, description, section 102-98, penalties, section 102-99 general prohibitions, section 102-100, dock rules, section 102-101, landing rules, Article Ill, section 102-133, definitions, section 102-134, penalties, section 102-136, student riders, section 102-137, public ridership.
  The Ordinance was amended to remove Section 102-136 in its entirety by a vote of 7-4, and Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance as amended.
  
  
• An Ordinance Providing for a 2026 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum.
  The Ordinance was amended by a vote of unanimous vote to make the wording of the ballot question more clear and the Ordinance as amended passed 8-3.
  
  
• These Ordinances for Third Reading Passed Unanimously:
  • An Ordinance to provide for the levy of tax for school purposes for Beaufort County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, and to make appropriations for said purposes.
  • An Ordinance Amending the Community Development Code (CDC): Table 3.1.60 (Consolidated Use Table), Table 3.2.40. H (T2R Allowed Uses), and Division 4.1 (Specific to Use).
  • An Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of Drainage Easements Associated with Drainage Systems in the Bay Pines Subdivision.
  • An Ordinance Authorizing a Lease Agreement between Beaufort County and the General Services Administration (GSA) for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) use within the Hilton Head Island Airport terminal.
  • An Ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Parks and Recreation Ordinance (Ordinance NO. 2018/41 Sec. 90-33) to change the Parks and Recreations Board's authority to set fees and rates.

Ordinances for Second Reading

• An Ordinance Amending the Community Development Code (CDC): Division 5.1 O (Historic Preservation), Section 7.2.120 (Certificate Of Appropriateness), Section 7.3.80 (Historic Designation), Section 7.4.50 (Public Hearing Scheduling and Notice), and Section 7.5.40 (Historic Preservation Review Board (Hprb)).
  Council voted 6-5 to move the item back to the Natural Resources Committee for further review and discussion.

Ordinances for First Reading

• These ordinances passed unanimously:
  • An Ordinance authorizing the abandonment of County Maintenance of a portion of Gibson Drive following petition by adjacent property owners and reclassifying said portion as a Private Road.
  • An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 2017 /12 to appropriate funds from the 2017 Series General Obligation Bond to the Station 34 joint Fire/EMS Station.
  • An Ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Ordinance to carry forward purchase orders and funds from Fiscal Year 2026 and prior for projects that have not yet been completed.
  • An Ordinance to reallocate remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $1,496,825.73 towards existing projects as obligated to the Department of Treasury.

Resolutions

• A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to contribute to the procurement by the applicant, the Town of Hilton Head Island, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located on Hilton Head Island, known as the Broad Creek Marina Tract (PIN# R51 O 011 000 0006 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($7,700,000).
  The vote passed 9-2.
  
  
• A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds for the procurement by the applicant, The Nature Conservancy, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located in the Town of Bluffton, known as the New River Forest (Portion of PIN#'s R614 045 000 0019 0000, R610 044 000 0126 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($42,000,000).
  The Resolution was amended to add language clarifying public vehicular access to the property. The Resolution as amended passed 9-2.
  
  
• These Resolutions passed unanimously:
  • A Resolution to approve Avis Budget Group, Inc. Rental Car Concession Agreement for Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD).
  • A Resolution to approve Enterprise Holdings Rental Car Concession Agreement for Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD).
  • A Resolution to approve GSP Transportation, Inc. Rental Car Concession Agreement for Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD).
  • A Resolution to accept South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) Grant 26-020 in the amount of $88,538.00 for Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD) Development Projects.
  • A Resolution To establish Beaufort County's Community Development Priority List.
  • A Resolution authorizing a new Stormwater Management Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Town of Bluffton.
  • A Resolution Authorizing a new Stormwater Management Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Town of Hilton Head Island.

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 official minutes and more, please visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov. 

County Administrator's Report

Deputy County Administrator Nicole Wood recognized several County employees. Watch the Deputy County Administrator's presentation to Council here.

Beth Cody, Fiscal Operations Manager
Disabilities and Special Needs

15 years of service

Daniel Allen, Lieutenant
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

20 years of service

Carolyn Wallace, Project and Development Coordinator
Planning and Zoning

25 years of service

Michael Stettmier, Master Sergeant
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

30 years of service 

The Beaufort County Public Works Department receives their Re-Accreditation from the American Public Works Association, presented by Ryan Blancke, State APWA President

County Council Proclamations

Watch the presentations from Council here.

Council Member Joe Passiment presents the Proclamation recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12.

County Council Member Gerald Dawson presents a proclamation recognizing the 25th Anniversary of Love House Ministries.

Council Member Paula Brown presents a proclamation to Sallie Ann Robinson, recognizing her recent award from the James Beard Foundation.

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 Sparklight (formerly Hargray) - channel 9 and 417; Comcast - channel 2; Spectrum - channel 1304. BCTV also streams live on www.BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.